The Best Manicure I've Ever Gotten

Manicures are my thing.  Usually I prefer to do them myself at home because I like to change my color often and I hate when my nails start chipping, especially if I've paid for it.  Doing my nails is relaxing.  Drink some wine, watch trashy TV, give myself a manicure- perfect night in my book.  Pedicures are a different story, I prefer to get those done.

When I was preparing to go on Spring Break to Cabo, I decided to go get a manicure along with the pedicure I desperately needed.  I picked a hot pink color I planned to get on both my hands and feet.  I really loved the color, but as the girl was finishing up my pedicure I noticed she was having trouble.  Turns out there was barely any paint left in the bottle and of course that was the last one in the salon.  She was able to finish my toes, but she wouldn't be able to do my nails the same.  I looked for another color, but couldn't find something I liked and didn't want something that would totally clash with my toes.  I decided to get a traditional french, which I very rarely get.

I couldn't have been happier with my decision.  It was the best manicure ever.  I felt like I had just gotten a brand new set of acrylic nails, but it was just my real nails.  The paint job was so good.  They used all OPI polishes, not gel!

His technique was different than I'd seen before and was so skeptical at first.  After he cleaned, cut and filed my nails and cuticles he added a base coat to half of my nail.  He then painted that half of my nail with regular pure white nail polish, it was not airbrushed or applied with a really thin brush.  At this point I was thinking, "umm thats a lot of white".  He then took a flat, but pretty thick brush, dipped it in nail polish remover and shaped the white part to look like a traditional manicure.  Once he was done with that he added two coats of a slightly tinted base to the bottom portion of my nails before adding two top coats over the whole nail.

I totally love the pale pink/ivory nail trend, but there's something so classic about a french manicure.  I was sooooo happy with this manicure I couldn't stop looking at it or obsessing over it for days.

Tips for a Lasting At Home Manicure

I'm the type of girl that always has to have her nails painted and I hate when they start chipping.  I also like to constantly change my color and call it a win for the day if my outfit matches my nails.  I don't have the time to redo my nails every few days when they start to chip so I've come up with a way to make my at home manicure last at least a week with no chips!  You're Welcome!

At the start of your manicure make sure your nails are clean and prepped for painting.  I usually start by  doing minimal filing- I like to keep the length as much as possible so I usually just make sure they're all the same with a clean shape. Then I soak my nails in soap water for a few minutes before I push back and cut my cuticles.  Clean nails/nail beds make it look like a professional manicure.  Next I wash my hands and get ready to paint them.

Once I've picked my color, which could take longer than I'd care to admit, I apply two even coats of the color and let them dry before applying the top coat.  The Top Coat.  This may be the most important part.  I have struggled with finding the perfect top coat, one that applies smoothly and isn't super sticky, if you know what I mean.  The top coat I've fallen in love with is the Sally Hansen, Complete Salon Manicure, 170, Clear'd For Takeoff!  Buy it.  You won't be disappointed.  As someone who doesn't really care for Sally Hansen polish, this is a good one.

Next I apply Julep Quick Dry Drops- which really do dry my nails incredibly quick.

BUT the real secret is what comes next.  About 2-3 days later I apply another top coat to really seal the deal.  This happens before my nails chip and makes sure they last a few more days.

The picture above was taken 5 days after I originally did my nails. After a weekend of football and tailgating my nails hadn't chipped and I added another coat to make sure they lasted a few more days!

Try this trick and let me know how it works for you!

New Feature: Friday Favorites

Many blogs that I read have weekly features, so I decided to start one on my blog as well.  This idea of "Friday Favorites" came from Lauren Conrad.

Here are a few of my favorites from this past week:

Sticking to a theme of my blog, Favorite Song:  The Band Perry, Better Dig Two

This is the newest single from The Band Perry and just as expected, it is awesome!!!! The first time I heard it I wasn't really paying attention and was confused on what the song was about.  Once I stopped and listened to the lyrics of the song I fell in love with it.  It is the ultimate love song, but with an upbeat feel and completely unique lyrics/story.

"If divorce or death ever do us part, the coroner will call it a broken heart"- pure genius!!!!

This song reminds me of couples like Johnny Cash and June Carter or Allie and Noah in the movie version of the Notebook, but not as tragically beautiful.  I love it!

 

 Favorite Drink:  Starbucks Vanilla Chai

Usually I like iced drinks, but Mother Nature has been having some mood swings this fall and some mornings are just too cold for it.  I love an Iced Vanilla Chai and a hot one is just as delicious!  I am eager to try the holiday drinks as well, but I'm sure this will be my drink of choice this winter. 

 

  Favorite Lips: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter, Cotton Candy

I'm experimenting with lip colors and love the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter thanks to Kate.  I want to buy more colors and see which ones I like best.  What lip colors do you wear?

Favorite Show:  Nashville!

It's obvious that I love country music.  I love everything about it and what it stands for, so that comes without saying that I love the city of Nashville, Music City.  I've only been there once but it is my favorite city (in the States,  I might be more in love with London).  So you could imagine how excited I was that there was going to be a show based there.  Well, true to form, I'm obsessed with the show.  It is filled with drama, country music and (some fake) southern accents.  It keeps getting better as the weeks go on and they just announced that it's been picked up for a full season.  I am so excited to see the plot thicken and drama un-fold! You should check it out!
 

 

Favorite Person: Daddy!

Most of you know my dad is awesome and everything a girl could ask for in a father!  But he gets extra recognition today because it's his birthday!!! Happy Birthday Daddy, I love you! One more year until you're officially over-the-hill, but you'll always be young at heart!

What are some of your Friday Favorites? :)

Nail Polish Obsession

I have a slight obsession with painting my nails... The first step is admitting you have a problem, right?  Done.

I hate having chipped nails and I hate not having them painted, so I'm constantly painting my nails.

I find some great ideas and pin them to my "Nail Polish Obsession" board on Pinterest to try them out myself.

Recently I discovered OPI's Germany Collection and want all of them more for their names than for the actual colors! - Nein! Nein! Nein! OK Fine!, Berlin There Done That, Don't Pretzel My Buttons, etc.  I admit, it's an issue!

I recently became a Julep Maven!  Julep is a type of nail polish and being a Maven means that for $20 a month they send me a box full of fun nail polishes based on my style!   They give you a quiz to determine your style when you sign up- American Beauty, Classic with a Twist, It Girl, or Bombshell.  I'm an American Beauty.  They'll send you the Maven box of your style each month or you can choose to get a different style box.  I prefer painting my own nails as opposed to getting manicures and I figure if I got my nails done regularly it would be more than $20 a month, so this is totally logical.  Plus, if I wasn't a maven I would be buying nail polish on the reg anyway!  Being a Maven makes it even more fun and who doesn't love getting packages in the mail?

If you sign up to be a Maven there are tons of rewards too!  They give you discounts on their other products and are always letting you "add-on" to your boxes.  If you're obsessed with painting your nails, like me, you should definitely check it out!

I am still on the hunt for a top coat that I love, so if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

In one of my Julep Maven Boxes I received Quick Dry Polish Drops and I love it!  The regular price for the drops is $14 (or $11.20 for Mavens) and I also received them with 2 nail polishes for $20! Great Deal! :)

Use my referral link or click the badge on the right to sign up to be a Maven.  
You could also use my invitation code when you register- 5354580!