Little update

I got too busy to post again.  I've slowed down taking Clients and hardly even snap photos anymore if I do.  I've still got this shitty blackberry camera but I'm probably getting a new phone soon, we'll see if that's any better.

I also had to change my photo storage since Flickr demanded I sign up for Yahoo and well, Yahoo demanded I give them my cell # which will happen over my dead body.  Fuck you Yahoo and Flickr for taking my access away from my own photos!  Anyways, this is OPI Gelcolor Black Onyx with red holo foil dabbed on and this pic doesn't do it justice.  I loved wearing this.

I visited my sister in Delaware and picked up the CND Shellac Additives Paradise collection and tried it out over white Gelaze.  I picked up probably 8 Gelaze polishes down there as well for $5 a pop with my pro card when they were bogo in March. They're pretty good value at their regular $11 or whatever they cost anyways.  They are much thicker than other gels but I found they lasted just as long as other gels and no problems with removal at all.  I did test them out with a base coat and they ended up peeling.

Now this one is one of the LeChat Mood Gels in Twilight Skies.  It's neat but not my colour really.

Also while in Delaware I gave my sister gel extensions and painted them with Gelaze.

I've been so bad with taking photos you'll find many of my photos have a weeks worth of wear.This was my first mani with my brand new OPI LED light that I picked up in Delaware for a steal. I can now do my own nails in half the time with the LED light!

I used Gelish Mint of Spring with the new CND Sizzling Sand additive, Gelaze Turned up Turquoise and some silver holo glitter.  This was fun to wear.  Love the Sizzling Sand additive, I've used it several times.

I gave my other sister a crazy neon french with Gelish colours.  Just did a sloppy freehand job on them.

And of course my niece wanted rainbow nails just like mommy.  Even more sloppily done with just Billie polishes.

This one is Gelish Gossip Girl with black additive scrubbed in.

This was the last of my almond shaped manicures.  I'm just too lazy to maintain the shape. But I did really enjoy them.

And lastly I've gone back to my old standard squoval nails. This is OPI Gelcolor Can't Find my Czechbook with CND Additives in Midnight Tide.  Just a crappy rushed job.  Maybe I'll find some more time to post this summer, but then again maybe not.

Later
P

Chaos

...is the state of my life at the moment.  I've stopped taking on new Clients for awhile and am just too busy to paint my own nails, let alone others.

So this is one you've seen before but I liked it so much I decided to try it in gel polish.  I also made the 'moon' a little larger than I do typically on a ruffian.  The red is one coat OPI Gelcolor Big Apple Red with one coat of Gelish Big City Siren.  Then just a plain old black on top - OPI Gelcolor Black Onyx.  I did not like this one near as much as when I did it with regular polish but I think it might be the glitter (Gelish) that I wasn't too fond of.

I offered to do the Princess of Poo because I was feeling generous.  I used 2 coats of OPI Gelcolor Can't Find My Czechbook and used 1 coat of LeChat Hologram Diamond on the ring fingers.  Love this colour, it's just too bad that the photo is so dark.

And the little Countess of Caca, for the very first time, sat and let me paint her nails (well she sat as nicely as possible for a fidgety 3 year old).  And she hilariously demanded that I take a photo of her nails just like Mommy's and we almost rolled over laughing as she laid her hands down on the table in perfect position to take a manicure photo!  So how could I resist posting it for her?  I used one coat of an old purple Nicole by OPI polish but I can't be bothered to find out which one.  She sometimes lets me stamp a little konad star or two on her nails but this is the first time she let me properly paint both hands and didn't scream or wipe it off.  You may see more little countess nails in the future!

Later
P

Glitter Bomb

This is the post in which I dump all the glitter I own over my nails lol.

(In my best Julie Chen voice) But first....

I've been using Shellac/Soak offs for an entire year now so I feel I have to post a 'state of my nails' photo.  Just to prove that Shellac doesn't damage your nails:

I still have a very slight yellow colour to my nails but I am totally comfortable wearing naked nails now.  I haven't done any deep cleaning or buffing to them since my post from last October here: http://queenoffriggencrap.blogspot.ca/2011/10/chick-on-mission.html

My nails have always naturally been thin and weak due to 20 years of nail biting but the Soak Offs really haven't damaged my nails or made them weaker than they were previously.  I still have the same problem nails underneath - weak and peeling.  Wearing Soak Offs has helped for the most part to protect them and I don't have breaks as often as I used to.  I can't say enough how much I love this product!

So now on to the next Soak Off mani...

I started with one coat of LeChat Perfect Match in Hologram Diamond and added 2 shades of blue Martha Stewart glitter in a fade which isn't really visible here.  I then added a coat of Gelish Structure (clear builder gel) and added a few iridescent blue hearts and some silver hex glitter.  I topped it off with 2 more coats of Gelish Structure and finished it with Gelish Top It Off.  It's still not quite as smooth as I'd like so I may go back and lightly file down the bumps and add another coat of Top It Off.  You can't do that with regular polish!  Another reason to love this shit!

And then for no other reason than wanting to use different glitters, I did the same on my right hand in purple...

I like the purple one better except for the fact that I spilled the glitter a little too far down the nail on this hand.

So the trend-hater is starting a new trend lol...

I thought I would hate this and be afraid to go out in public but actually, I kinda like it.  Now let's see if anyone comments on my two different hands while out in public :)

Later
P

Shifting Gears

I've got a regular nail polish for you today.  I really haven't had much time to do another soak off manicure.

This is 2 coats of LeChat Dare to Wear Hologram Diamond.  I actually bought this colour in soak off gel but it came with a free regular polish.  It's just a medium sized holo glitter but I like it.  This will look great over my soak off gels.

A couple of weeks ago I was bored and swatched my soak off collection...

I have 59 in total!  Can you believe I own that many pinks?  Actually the pinks all came with sets I bought and they are great for my sister and also for everyone else I will soon start polishing because...

I am officially taking a Nail Tech course in September!  I've been doing soak off manicures on the cheap for friends and family only for a little while but I've recently been interested in nail enhancements too and after trying an acrylic set on my Mom I figured that I really should learn proper technique and sanitation so that I don't harm anyone.  The plan is after I'm done the course to start up a little side business as a mobile tech during evenings and weekends.  Maybe I can actually make enough money to pay for my nail habit!  Although I'm a pretty avid bargain hunter, I can safely say that I've easily invested thousands into my nail habit...ugh.  At 59 soak offs that probably average $12 each and over 700 regular polishes that probably average $3 each...yeah do the math.  Not to mention all the accessories - stamping plates, swatch wheels, crystals, stickers etc.  Holy shit am I insane?

So I forgot to post last time that not only did I buy an acrylic starter kit but I also scored some specialty glitter and holographic acrylic powders on Kijiji.

This is both the acrylic kit and Kijiji haul together and I paid $70 for all of it!  I've been a crazy woman on youtube and all over the internet reading up on techniques and creative acrylic uses and can't wait to see what's in store for me at the Nail course!  I'm hoping once I start getting clients and doing nails a lot more I'll be able to post a variety of manicure designs and get back to also posting a lot more often.

Later
P