­
Pages Menu
TwitterRssFacebook
Categories Menu

Posted by on Oct 15, 2013 in Beauty, Nails | 0 comments

Swatches: Gel II and Gel II Reaction

I first found out about Gel II from the Nails Magazine Next Top Nail Artist competition.  As a participant I was sent a package of goodies that included their Polish II.  I really loved the colors and super smooth application of the lacquer.

I recently had a chance to get to know the Gel II and Gel II Reaction line a little more and I have to say, I was pretty impressed.  The things that really stood out for me about the line:

  • No solvents – less drying on nails
  • No base coat needed – base coat is built into the color formula
  • Close to 200 colors!
  • Super shiny top coat
  • Matte is a big trend this fall, and since many of the colors dry matte you can wear the trend pretty easily without additional buffing or another topcoat.
  • It’s LED curable – 30 seconds per layer makes for a super fast service.  Can cure by traditional UV if you don’t have LED lamp.

The cool things is that there is also a complimentary Polish II line that matches all of the the Gel II (except for the Gel II Reaction), and it is also a base coat free formula. It also has an optional base coat if clients have ridges, or if you want a smoother application with some of the chunky glitters.

I ran out and bought a slew of colors to play with, but even so I’ve barely got 1/8th of the collection.  Still, I think you an idea of the fun range available with this line.  Available at select distributors and online at GelTwo.com  Try your hand at the Halloween art work contest while you are at it.

Gel II Reaction – Just like the mood rings, the polish reacts to temperature.  The main color changes when exposed to warmth.  In most of these shots you can see the free edge is the original color. I love this stuff!

Champaign (sic) Fizz

After Dark

Aloha Bay Bay

Beach Bali-Ball

Hawaiian Hurricane – an example of the matte

Hibis-Kiss

Mai Tai Fine

Malibu Sunrise

Shark Bite – another example of matte

Sun Goddess

Gel II Soak off gel

Chateau Noir

Disco Daisy

Femme Fatale

Music of the Night

Prima Donna

Secret Engagement

Unmasked Madame

 

 

 

 

Share
Read More

Posted by on Sep 10, 2013 in Fashion, Nails |

MBFW: Diego Binetti, Carolina Herrera and Morgan Taylor polish

September 10, 2013

Patterns and lace played a key role at Diego Binetti by adding charm to hemlines and romanticizing the manicures. Three white nail looks were designed by Danielle Candido with the DIY nail art fan in mind:

1. Exaggerated moon manis using Morgan Taylor All White Now as the moon and Morgan Taylor In the Nude as the base accented other nails polished in In The Nude.
2. A crisp white cross-hatch mesh look gave the illusion of texture under gleaming top coat Make It Last.  
3.  Lace Moon Manicures added drama to fingertips with white lace from moon to tip and In The Nude at the moon.   
At Carolina Herrera‘s show, where elegance reigns, Gina Edwards created a delicate, feminine look for the hands using Heaven Sent, a milky white polish, on soft oval-shaped nails.
Share
Read More

Posted by on Sep 7, 2013 in Beauty, Fashion, Nails |

MBFW S 2014: Carmen Marc Valvo, Nonoo, TOME and Morgan Taylor

September 6, 2013

The soft, feminine sheer tulle and futuristic accents at Carmen Marc Valvo provided a stark contrast to sharp geographic prints on peek-a-boo pieces. This divergence was mirrored by an edgy nude manicure with black French tip created by Gina Edwards for Morgan Taylor using the Morgan Taylor lacquers In The Nude and Little Black Dress.


German painter, Gerhard Richter inspired Nonoo‘s artful, elegant, ladylike Spring 2014 collection. The polished clothes were further accentuated by a painterly nail designed by Gina Edwards. The base coat on all nails was a creamy spearmint Mint Chocolate Chip and each hand included an accent nail displaying a replica of a dreamy marbleized Gerhard Richter painting using a mixture of Mint Chocolate Chip, blended with the strong opaque white All White Now, punched-up pastille green Later Alligator and classic pale pink Luxe Be A Lady.


TOME’s menswear-shaped pieces colored with soft satiny pinks and muted metallics were balanced by foundation-shade nails custom mixed by Morgan Taylor to match each model’s unique skin tone. The understated manicures and pedicures enhanced their natural coloring and acted as an extension of their fingers and toes.

Morgan Taylor is a prestige professional lacquer collection of 100 shades that debuted worldwide in May 2013. It is sold exclusively in salons, retail price is $8.50 per bottle. For salon locations visit www.MorganTaylorLacquer.com.

Share
Read More

Posted by on Sep 6, 2013 in Beauty, Fashion, Nails |

MBFW S 2014: Tanya Taylor and Morgan Taylor

September 5, 2013 – Icy pale pink manicures and pedicures punctuated Tanya Taylor‘s collection of crisp whites and bold bright stripes and floral prints. Lead nail stylist Gina Edwards polished hands in Morgan Taylor’s rose-tinted white, One and Only. Modern pedicures in I’m Charmed, a soft opaque pink accented pointed patterned shoes.

Share
Read More

Posted by on Aug 25, 2013 in Nails | 0 comments

Poke me: Facebook Nail Polish is real

One of the hottest trends for nails this fall is blue.  What is one of the most recognizable blues on the internet?  Facebook blue.  Good timing, then, that the company has put out “Social Butterfly Blue” in time for the trend.

Huffington Post’s Bianca Bosker recently spotted the polish, which has been selling since the first of the year at Facebook’s Menlo Park campus store.  It would be a fun one to add to the collections for under $5 a bottle.

source  Photo by B Bosker 

 

Share
Read More

Posted by on May 28, 2013 in Nails |

What’s in Your Wallet? Vanity Credit Cards

I’ve seen vanity license plates and never given in, but i finally caved to the vanity credit card.  There are a host of companies that allow this little, free luxury, and you get to set up the images and preview before you commit (see above).  With an option to change images every 30 days, you can really build up an interesting way to flash the portfolio.  Check details – some providers up the interest rate with custom images.

Have you ever done a vanity card? What is the most interesting way you’ve shown off your work?

Share
Read More