October 15 2009 - Nails In The News
National Magazines Honor Barielle
Barielle received prestigious industry awards from both Shape and Health magazines. Shell Shock, a nail polish from the Shades by Barielle collection, won Best Nail Polish in Shape’s first-ever Sun Smart Awards (May 2009), while Barielle’s Heel & Callus Treatment won Best Foot Product in Health’s Healthy Beauty Awards (October 2009).
Tags: BARIELLE
October 12 2009 - Nails In The News
Go Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, companies in the beauty industry are donating a part of their proceeds to help the cause, and some have released special colors and products just for the occasion. OPI offers its Pink of Hearts, a pale pink shade. According to Allure, $25,000 goes to Susan G. Komen for the cure.
Tags: MARKETING/PROMOTIONS, OPI PRODUCTS, POLISH
October 12 2009 - Nails In The News
Like Jewelry for Nails
As seen in October's Allure, model Angela Lindvall says Minx nail coverings in Golden Lighting are "like jewelry for nails."
Tags: MINX NAILS
October 9 2009 - Nails In The News
Dark Mani How-To
Celebrity manicurist Bernadette Thompson tells Allure readers how to apply dark polish. Dark colors are harder to apply, and mistakes are more noticable.
Thompson says dark colors will work with any skin tone, and one coat is less likely to chip. For a look that's not vampy, keep nails short and square. Buff them until they're smooth, as dark polish lasts longer on an even surface. Don't forget the anti-yellowing basecoat!
When applying, keep a gap between the tip brush and cuticle to prevent mistakes. Remove mistakes, and apply topcoat.
"Dark colors call attention to ragged cuticles, so moisturize yours daily with a cuticle cream or oil," Thompson says. Apply topcoat every four days to protect your manicure.
Tags: TECHNIQUES
October 9 2009 - Nails In The News
Nail Innovations: Gels and Instant-Dry Polish
Allure explains how OPI's Axxium soak-off gel lacquer and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color work and reviews the products.
Paul Bryson, OPI's director of research and development, explains that gels are applied like regular polishes, with a base coat, two coats of color, and a topcoat, but is dried under UV light after each coat. In the UV light, "the ingredients connect like chain mail, forming signficantly stronger bonds that can absorb pressure and bumps, making it nearly impossible for bits to break away," according to Allure.
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nal Color has a flat brush with a tip that's tapered at the edges to make application easier. The formula "contains plastic compounds to produce a service that flexes, rather than shatters, when it hits something hard," the magazine reports. A methacrylate polymer holds the lacquer together and a glass derivative creates a shiny coating.
Allure editors who tested the products say the gel manicure lasted three weeks without chipping, and the Insta-Dri polish stayed glossy and chip-free for five days.
Tags: GELS, OPI PRODUCTS, SALLY HANSEN
October 9 2009 - Nails In The News
Allure's Directory of Salons: Best of the Best
Allure's October issue includes its list of the best salons in the biggest cities in the country. The directory includes salon specialty, mani and pedi prices, and contact info.
Photographed nail salons are Rescue Beauty Lounge, Rita Hazan Salon, and Jin Soon Natural Hand & Foot Spa, all in New York City.
Tags: MARKETING/PROMOTIONS
October 9 2009 - Nails In The News
Allure Lauds Durable Polish
How can you tell which polishes won't chip easily? According to Allure, here are the polishes that last.
Base coat: Essie Ridge Rilling Base Coat for even polish application.
Topcoat: Seche Vite Dry Fast is fast-drying and chip-free for a week.
Polish: For a pale pink, try OPI Nail Lacquer in Bubble Bath and Essie Nail Polish in Naked Truth. For red, try OPI Nail Lacquer in Big Apple Red. For brights, consider Rescue Beauty Lounge Nail Polish in Coral and CND Nail Polish in Raspberry Parfait. For darks, use M.A.C. Nail Lacquer in Baby Goth Girl.
Cuticle Cream: Allure recommends OPI Avoplex Cutitlce Oil to Go for a hydrating formula that comes in a penlike applicator.
Polish Remover: Use Cutex One-Step Non-Acetone Nail Polish Remover Pads instead of a handful of cotton balls.
Tags: CND, ESSIE COSMETICS, OPI PRODUCTS, POLISH, SECHE VITE
October 7 2009 - Nails In The News
Stop the Nail Biting!
Nail biting not only looks ugly, but can injure the nail matrix and lead to infection. Shape magazine tells readers how to break the biting habit.
The magazine suggests getting a weekly manicure for a month to clean up torn edges and hangnails, and well-groomed nails might prevent further biting. Apply a hardening topcoat daily, such as Butter London Horse Power Nail Fertilizer, to keep nails strong.
Also try painting on bitter liquid such as the I Quit nail biting-prevention pen or using tea tree oil.
Tags: NAIL BITING