I love nail varnish. Nail varnish, however, does not love me.
I put it on, all thoughtful with careful strokes avoiding getting it outside the nail… then BAM! – I smudge it putting on my PJs or hit it off my mobile. More often than not I also manage to paint some hair into it from the cat or fluff from a cotton ball. You can only imagine how great you nails look with fluff poking out.
If I am lucky enough no to do all the above while my nails are drying, I will chip it the next day opening a compact, putting on my earrings or opening my watch clasp. So all in all I am not very lucky with my nails!
On account of me and nail varnish’s ill-fated union, I decided to try out shellac – which is a long lasting manicure .
I have got it done once before and it lasted three/four weeks! Shellac creates a super shiny finish and is practically chip-proof. Last time I had over two weeks of perfect nails, then a few chips appeared in week three.
I got my second done shellac yesterday as an after work treat in Pomme Pe’Dour, Hammersmith. In total it costs £30 pounds, and an extra fiver if you already have a shellac on your nails to remove.
First your nails are smoothed and shaped – round or square (I chose round), before a clear base coat of varnish is applied. You then put your hand in an ultraviolet lightbox where the varnish sets. Two coats of polish follow – I picked a pink/coral colour to inject a bit of brightness to my days! Both coats require a blast of light in the little lightbox, another top coat and then you’re down! All in all it took about 45 minutes.
I went with my friend Rebecca who got a gorgeous French manicure (shellac too) which was £35.
The main thing that annoys me about shellac is the removal process – it needs to be soaked in acetone for 15 minutes and it is always best to get this done in the salon, otherwise you could really damage your nails! Last time I opted to do it myself and spent over 30 minutes soaking my nails and scraping off the varnish – not advised as my nails looked shook after it! So if you get shellac done you must account for going to get it taken off after three to four weeks.
On the topic of nails – I absolutely love Soap & Glory’s hand cream ‘Hand Food‘ – it smells beautiful, quite like Miss Dior Cherie perfume. My nails aways feel great and smooth after a manicure so I try to lash on the hand cream for the few days after to keep that just-out-of-the-salon feeling!
I keep this little tube in my handbag and on my desk at work!
All photos (c) blinkandyoullmiss, ask before using.
Kellebelle
x
Got the feather lashes in Hairspray and then just put some individual ones on the lower lash line. I’m a huge blusher fan, the one here is by Illamasqua (doesn’t say the shade on the compact tho’!) – used it on the lids as well!
SocialVibe