How to: Rescue a nail!

Oh shoot. Cracked a nail?

Don't give up on it immediately! After a lot of stamping with the feet and cussing around, I usually just rip off the cracked tip. And yes, this usually makes me very sad. But no more sadness for me, because a while ago I discovered these neat little things called silk wraps.
A silk wrap is a synthetic nail reinforcement that is made from pieces of silk material. There are wraps made out of linnen and fiberglass too. If you don't have silk wraps lying around, you can use a tea bag as well!

You can also use silk wraps if you just happen to have weak nails or if you have cracked an artificial nail. And no one will notice them!

I like to use the Essence SOS Nail Repair Pads, one package contains 10 self adhesive pads. You can use every brand you like, these were easy to get for me. I think these aren't the strongest, but they do look mighty natural.
Self adhesive is the way to go, it makes everything so much easier.
I also use the Essence brush on nail glue. The brush makes it also easier, you definitely don't want to frustrate yourself using something with a teeny tiny spout. I'd suggest cutting the silk wrap into the right size before starting anything.

So far I haven't used these on myself, but I think I've applied them about seven times on my mom's nails. At first I was really struggling with it, but after a while I got the hang of it.

How to apply a silk wrap

1. Start off with a clean and nail polish free nail. Disinfect it with alcohol and roughen it up a little with a file.

2. Apply a little bit of glue on the crack. You can use an orange stick to keep everything in place while it's drying.

3. Place your fitted silkwrap on your nail by using tweezers. Leave a tiny gap, so you won't glue down your cuticles. Use the orange stick to push the entire thing down on your nail.

4. Apply one coat of glue on top of the silk wrap. Let it dry completely before going to the next step.

5. Apply one more coat of glue. When it's completely dry, use a buffer file, on the glue only, to smoothen everything out. Also file down any pieces of silk wrap that might stick out at the tip.

See? This wasn't that hard, and it's hardly noticeable! If the tear is pretty severe you might want to place a second silk wrap, to make it even stronger.
Depending on how many times you paint your nails these can last a pretty good time, let's say a couple of weeks. I know my mom is wearing a silk wrap that is already lasting four weeks! There is one thing though, you cannot use nail polish remover that contains acetone, because acetone will dissolve the glue.
If you want to get rid of the silk wrap, simply soak your nail in acetone for a few minutes and the silk wrap will come off just like that.

This was it for today, thanks so much for reading and till next time! -
Michèle

That Hat

So for my birthday this year, I used some of the money gifted me to buy a hat, yes, a hat. I am a lover of all things chapeau. I have a particular fondness for fedoras and stylized fedoras. I also recently acquired a newsboy cap that I wear far too often. Anyway. Today's nails are to match my newest acquisition in the land of hats....

That hat:

The nails:

The comparison:

I used American Apparel Office as a base color, to match the hat, and then painted a thin line of American Apparel Cotton along the tip edge of the nail, and a moon at the cuticle edge. For the lines, I used American Apparel Hassid, I wish they were more even, but my brush kept splaying out its bristles, I think its time for a new one. I topped everything off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.

A picture of my birthday cake. (the Fire cake! :-P I first came up with the idea and made this when I was 16. :)) I love fire, and I think that this cake looks like fire when you cut into it, sometimes they turn out better than others, and this was a fair/medium example. Turns out, if you don't make something for 13 years, you fall out of practice. ;)

Also, a picture of the lovely flowers my parents sent me! :)

one of the mums:

Airbrushed nails!

Airbrushed blue lace! Nail design inspired from June10 Nail Max issue. This issue is full of denims, florals and laces designs. LOVE!

My camera failed to capture the actual shade of blue. -____- The actual color looks more contrasting, a lighter blue base and a darker blue airbrushed lace design.

Airbrush is love. But it's also messy and tedious. HAHA. Pretty nails sure don't come easy.

Some samples I did few weeks ago but I know took forever to post them on my blog. Sorry!

Design from Nail Max. Pink airbrushed stripes. Embossed flowers and crystals.

Design from Nail Max. Airbrushed black and violet hearts on a white gradation base.

Design from Nail UP! I modified the base color from Peach (original design) to orangey yellow. And airbrushed black laces on!

Airbrushed nails!

Airbrushed blue lace! Nail design inspired from June10 Nail Max issue. This issue is full of denims, florals and laces designs. LOVE!

My camera failed to capture the actual shade of blue. -____- The actual color looks more contrasting, a lighter blue base and a darker blue airbrushed lace design.

Airbrush is love. But it's also messy and tedious. HAHA. Pretty nails sure don't come easy.

Some samples I did few weeks ago but I know took forever to post them on my blog. Sorry!

Design from Nail Max. Pink airbrushed stripes. Embossed flowers and crystals.

Design from Nail Max. Airbrushed black and violet hearts on a white gradation base.

Design from Nail UP! I modified the base color from Peach (original design) to orangey yellow. And airbrushed black laces on!

Bridal nails. Pink frills and mini bows!

Here's 2 sets of sweet and girly bridal nails.


Shimmer stardust all over!


Mini twin bows. Kawaii! :D

Girly pink frills to match her gown. ;)

Bridal nails. Pink frills and mini bows!

Here's 2 sets of sweet and girly bridal nails.


Shimmer stardust all over!


Mini twin bows. Kawaii! :D

Girly pink frills to match her gown. ;)

Black french, gold disco balls n stars.

Gel overlay on natural nails. Extension done on several nails.

I love the simplicity of this set of nails. Black and gold, with little gold stars. :D

So smooth and glossy!

Black french, gold disco balls n stars.

Gel overlay on natural nails. Extension done on several nails.

I love the simplicity of this set of nails. Black and gold, with little gold stars. :D

So smooth and glossy!

Make a Wish?!

:-P 29 years ago today, my parents were blessed with a fair-skinned, blue-eyed, redheaded…alien. ;) I was hideous, with my globe-like head and never-ending forehead. (the forehead hasn't much changed) They loved me anyway. (even without the foresight to know that I'd grow to become a crazy nail blogger one day) :-P How smart were they, right?! All joking aside, my parents are amazing, and molded me into the well-rounded, level-headed adult that I am today. :) Thanks, guys. For today's design, I did the top of a cake with icing and candles! The 2 and the 9 are supposed to be those big number candles. :-D

I used OPI What's With the Cattitude? as a base, with American Apparel Cotton for the frosting, CND Anchor Blue for the blue candles, CND Green Scene for the green candles, American Apparel Manila for the yellow candles as well as the flames, Essie Foot Loose for the magenta candles, China Glaze Salsa for the red candles, as well as the outline on the number candles, and finally CND Electric Orange for the orange candles, and the orange of the flames. For the non-pareil sprinkles, I used Migi Nail Art Pens to dot color on the 'frosting'. I topped everything off with Seche Vite top coat.

What should I wish for?

REVERSE APPLICATION

I am really excited about these nails because I used reverse application. It is something I have been working on. For all of you nail techs out there you can view a video on how to do reverse application at youngnails.com. This technique makes it possible to use hard to work with colors and you still get a fabulous smile line :)

This is opi gel polish in I'm india mood for love. I painted a little design on top. It's really hard to go wrong with pink and black. It always looks fabulous darling.

This client said I could do whatever I wanted. HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA (evil laugh) I've been feeling very creative lately so when I hear "do whatever you want" it really is music to my ears!

This is just a fun but simple design with purple and silver. Of course you can't go wrong with purple either because it is my favorite color! Love it!