I always wanted to go to the Caribbean...

I have a problem. It's a great one, but it's a problem, regardless. I'm indecisive, and now I have a box full of untried polishes that is just almost impossible to choose from. Seriously, I'm sitting here looking and just totally overwhelmed. For this mani, I decided to ask a friend to choose my color.

"Pick a color. Any color, I'm bound to be able to come close to it..."

She laughed at me, then said, "Well, I'm wearing this sort of teal-blue-green color on my toes... how about that?"

And that's how I decided on today's color, Wet n Wild's Caribbean Frost.  I like it, I think, but I don't think it likes me. I can't quite decide if I like it on me or not...it's so green! But it's an absolutely lovely color, with just enough shimmer to make me smile.

Unfortunately, I had the same problem with this one as I did with Wet n Wild Eggplant Frost. I'm going to have to try it over a bare nail, maybe it's my base coat causing the problems? Whatever, these two polishes were horrible to work with. The polish didn't want to go where I wanted it! I'll try it without a base coat first, and then maybe try thinning it out a bit with my polish thinner. It's frustrating, because these are absolutely beautiful polishes!!

I finally managed to get the polish mostly where I wanted it, though, with only a few curse words. (I have a bit of a potty mouth when I'm frustrated... or, well, when I'm breathing. :D) A coat of Seche Vite made things look even nicer, and I managed to get this cleaned up better than ever before, I think. I'm finally getting the hang of using acetone and a brush to clean up. It only took me what... 3 months?

One good thing about how Caribbean Frost is how well it stamps. I've gotten a bit OCD lately, so whenever I get a new polish, I put it into my spreadsheet, then I do a sample stamp with it onto a small sticker. That way, I have a reference of how well it stamps without having to remember details on all of my polishes! I've managed to go back and do sample stickers on about 1/3 of my polishes... the ones I think would stamp well. It's so much easier than having to dig through the spreadsheet!

Clearly, this one stamps like a dream. I want to see what it looks like over black. Ooooh, that's an interesting idea for the future! *rushes over to make a note in her spreadsheet* Sure, that might be geeky, but it helps me remember what I wanna do!

So yea, this is what I've worn for the past day or two. I have to admit, it's growing on me. I think I'm going to have to stamp on it to see what it looks like then...

Then again, knowing me, I'll destroy it totally. I'm good at that! Oh well... stay tuned for tomorrow's exciting conclusion to Wet n Wild Caribbean Frost! Will it be stamped on? Will it be a masterpiece, or will it be ugly! Wait and see!!

WHEW!! They're finally finished- my non-bumpy, non-scratchy lace-embedded nails!

I am so excited to share this that I am almost speechless. I have finally finished the lace-embedded nails to a point that I would wear them happily. My lace nails are FINISHED! They're hard to photograph, but they're so cute! Yes, these babies have actual lace embedded into the finish, and yet there are no sharp pointy bits sticking off the edges, and no scratchy bits on top. They have all the beauty of lace, yet none of the irritating texture!

There are a few patterns in, because I didn't have enough lace to make them all identical. It's something to consider for next time if they sell. Also, I was unsure on the price. Do you think they're priced too low? Too high?

This was a serious learning curve. When I first attempted it, I was left with a nail that had lace bits poking out at the sides. Each bit would then soak up topcoat, becoming a tiny sharp barb that would make wearing these pretty much impossible, in my opinion. Add to that the texture of the actual lace on top and these were pretty, but unwearable for me. The solution?

Elbow grease. I wish I had a better answer for you, one that's fancy and high tech. But no... it came down to finding each little pokey part, trimming it as closely as I could, then filing it smooth with an emery board. Then I would take my buffing block and work through each step, until it was buffed to a glass-like shine. Tedious?

You have NO idea.

And yet, I wasn't finished. No... there was still that pesky lace texture to deal with. I bought a bottle of Seche Vite, hoping it would self-level all my problems away. It didn't. So... once again, I sanded those lumps and bumps away until I was left with a smooth surface, then buffed and polished them til they shined. What can I say, I'm determined. And look at them shine...


So yea... that's the big secret I've been holding on to. It's not something particularly special... it's just an amazing amount of work... mind-numbing, fingertip-erasing work. I've sanded my brains away, and for now, they're available for $24.95 through my Etsy shop. Here's hoping someone jumps on them, because I'd really love to make some more in other color combinations (black and red, anyone?), but I need the money from sales to buy more supplies! So go, look, and if you know someone who might be interested, maybe you could toss them a link? Thanks!!

Everyone Needs A Manicure Kit!

I am not an organized person. Don't get me wrong- I try to be. I have great ideas, and I plan out how I'm going to really do it this time, but then the next time I go to look for nail clippers I realize they aren't where I left them last. Then I'm stuck digging in drawers and looking on shelves, and wondering just who had them last and what they did with them. However, this all changed recently.

The folks at KISS were kind enough to send me their Professional Manicure Kit for evaluation purposes. I've been using it for a few weeks now, and I have to say I am really pleased with it. It's come in handy several times already, and has proven absolutely priceless when I'm working on nail tips. It's also wonderful to use when you're frankening, but I'll get to that in a bit.

When you take everything out of the kit, you find there's a tray with items tightly pressed into it, as well as a few items behind the tray. While the tray is in use, the kit is jam-packed so tightly that I wondered how well everything would fit! There are the obvious bits- clippers, a sapphire file, cuticle nippers, manicure scissors. There are also things which are nice to have- the 4-sided buffing block, the large emery board, and the metal cuticle pusher. Finally, there are cuticle sticks, small emery boards, and a cute little nail brush with soft bristles.
 

Once I freed everything up, though, I found that it all fits wonderfully, with room for more stuff should you need it. I have needed to put more stuff in since I took these photos, and it's working out beautifully!

Looking at the various contents, they're not all of super-high quality, but most of the contents are really nice and usable. The emery boards are a bit rough for natural nails, but that's the case with all emery boards. I generally use them anyway, then go over it with the buffer block to smooth out those microtears on my nails. It works for me, usually. The clippers are fine, the manicure scissors are fairly light, but work extremely well. The metal cuticle pusher seems a bit rough, but I don't think I'd use it for that purpose. The buffing block is wonderful, and I really like the nail brush.

I'd like to make one request, though. The are lots of blogs about how to manage your cuticles. I never thought mine could be pretty until I started using cuticle remover, but I haven't cut mine once. I believe cutting your cuticles is unnecessary and can be unsanitary, and I don't intend to cut mine anymore. My request? I'd like to ask you to read what these ladies have to say about cuticle care, and reconsider what you're doing. If you're comfortable cutting afterward, then at least you've thought about it. :D

Lacquerized's Guide to Happy Cuticles

iVillage's Cuticle Care Guide

The Goth Girl's Guide to Cuticle Care

Finally, I'll end on a lighter note, now that I've frowned at you about cutting your cuticles! This single tool may be my favorite from the entire manicure kit. I don't think I'll be using it on my cuticles, but I have used it to clean under my nails. It's also the absolute perfect size to use as a scoop to pull out glitter or pigments when you're frankening polishes. It works to stir as well, and cleans up with no problem at all. I love it so much!!


Overall, this set is totally worth $9.99 at your local shops. You can keep it with you if you get your nails done at a salon so they can use your own tools. Or you can simply keep it at home like I do, keeping all your manicure goodies safe!

Do you have a manicure kit? What's in it? What's your favorite tool for doing your own manicure?

Manicure kit was provided by PR for evaluation.

Dollar Store Haul - Awesome Finds!

Yesterday was awful. (Note the lack of blog post yesterday... I just couldn't write. Blah!) It was one of those days where everything I touched went wrong, everything I said was misunderstood, and ended up with me sitting in the car with my husband, crying like an idiot because things were just so horrible. The tears didn't last long, and my husband is an amazing guy who managed to cheer me up immensely. Still, it was a very unpleasant day.

He decided a trip to the Dollar Tree was in order. We were right across the street filling my monthly meds anyway, so it wasn't a big deal to hop on over. He even acted as my hands while I used my crutches to hobble around the store. (It's kind of hard to shop when you can't carry a basket or push a cart!)

I ended up finding lots of goodies! Normally my local Dollar Tree doesn't have that great a selection because it's so small, but yesterday was definitely the exception to the rule! There was the usual selection of LA Colors Art Deco stripers, of which I only own a few. I picked up blue and silver glitters, because everyone needs glitter stripers, yes? But tucked away in a little hidey-hole were these four Maybelline Express Finish polishes!

Now, ages ago (before I started this blog!) I'd seen a post by Colette about her massive Dollar Tree haul, and I saw some polishes that I absolutely NEEDED. The aluminum line seemed so interesting to me, but I knew there was no way I'd find them at my tiny little store. But there they were- two aluminums, a matte gold, and a water polish! Can you believe it??

The water polish is downright bizarre to me. It's so thin and pale and runny, I don't quite get the point. Is it just supposed to make your nails look bruised and discolored? Do you wear it over something else? Do you layer it til it's... I don't even know. But one blah polish out of 6 isn't bad at all!

The glitter stripers are cute. They're good for nail art, and they're also good for frankening. I cannot get over how gorgeous that blue is... I picked up two other glitter polishes that color yesterday and put them back, so I'm glad to have gotten this one! It's just vivid sapphire blue glitter in a clear base, but I absolutely adore it!

The silver glitter is your typical, run-of-the-mill silver glitter in a clear base, but I didn't realize I didn't have one until the other day when I reached to grab one and then saw I didn't have it! That was an interesting moment! So when I saw this at the Dollar Tree, I grabbed it!

Then there are the other items I got. I needed some basics, since my lace nails destroyed my large emery board and my 4-sided buffer block. That was a LOT of buffing, let me tell you! So I bought a 4-pack of emery boards and a 8 sided buffer. I thought that was going to be that, and it was more than enough, but once we got to Walgreens to pick up my meds, I saw the most perfect set of nail decals EVER.

That pack of nail decals? OH. MY. DOG!!! There are cupcakes n crossbones, little skulls in bows and skulls in top hats, devil kitties and bats and... it's SO ADORABLE I could DIE!!! I mean it... I saw these and squealed so loudly that my husband heard me all the way across the store. It was worth it, too! Just look!

So, that was my haul. Other than a quick 1 coat swatch on all of them, I haven't done my nails in 3 days. It's been really, really grumpy in Laynieland. I'm hoping to change that soon! To help that, tell me about your latest purchases- have you found something amazing and vintage? A hard-to-find? Cheer me up! :D

Dashing Diva Golden Nails... Are You Brave Enough To Rock A NY Fashion Week Look?

Photo credit:  Eric Yu from Dashing Diva

Mmmm, New York Fashion Week, I love you. For anyone interested in fashion, this is like Christmas! Take this nail look that was done by celebrity nail technician Pattie Yankee and the Dashing Diva nail team for the Cushnie et Ochs show on September 9th at Lincoln Center. This is absolutely LUSH, and I think anyone could wear it: male, female, long nails or short. All you need is a powerhouse attitude!

Wondering how they created this look? Believe it or not, it's something you can achieve at home! All you need is a metallic nail foil and something to adhere it to your nails with. Simple instructions can be found all over the web, like at Transdesign.com's nail foil information. You can also search YouTube for nail foil tutorials, and you'll find a ton!

Photo credit:  Eric Yu from Dashing Diva

For those of you trying to get the most bang for your buck, I can't recommend Dollar Nail Art enough. I know lots of people who've shopped there with fantastic results, and everything on the site is one dollar! I know, that's nuts! Try classic in gold or silver, understated with pastels, or go wild with some of the crazier patterns! This stuff is tons of fun, and if you don't quite get it right the first time, keep trying. It gets easier!

Have you ever used a nail foil? What did you think of it? Would you do it again? Leave me a comment, and tell me all the details, I wanna hear more!

Information and photos provided by Dashing Diva PR.

Lace Nail Art- A Preview...

I've been working very, very hard on a set of lace nails for my Etsy shop. Wait, what's that? You didn't know I had an Etsy shop? Turns out you're not alone. I'm doing another quick promo for the nail sets in my shop, plus a teaser for the set I've been working myself silly on.

I mean that quite seriously, by the way. As an example of what I've been doing, look at this emery board. It was new when I started. Now it's garbage. Those white patches aren't stuff in the file, that's bare board where the abrasive bits that have been rubbed off. This poor board is shot!

But it's so worth it. I love these nails more than I thought possible... so, briefly, here's a sneak peek of an upcoming post (and addition to the Etsy shop):

Sweet, isn't it? That's real lace, by the way. You'll hear more as soon as they're finished, and I can stop working on them. :D

Also in the shop are some really fun nails. I've got a set of nails that are pure holographic glitter, gorgeous and sparkly with all the colors of the rainbow flashing. I've got rainbow nails with a holographic topcoat- like rainbows topped with rainbows! There are rainbows nails with black zebra stripes on top- I call them the Pride of the Wild. I've also got a set of gorgeous, more understated gradient nails that shift from pink to red topped with a holographic topcoat. And finally, my favorites, I've got vibrant paint splatters on a black background.

I love these nails, and I'm hoping you will too! So go check them out, and if you see something you just have to have, well... you know what to do. :D

          ♥ Laynie

Incoco Dry Nail Appliques in Ruby Shoes- My Nails Are Glittery!!

Ahhh, Incoco, how I love your products. Your dry nail appliques make my life so easy, and my biggest wish is to have a giant basket with five of every Incoco shade, just waiting for me to try and pick one to wear! Today's mani is Incoco's Ruby Shoes, which is a glorious glittery ruby shade that makes my heart smile!

If you don't know, Incoco appliques are little stickers made of actual nail polish. You pick the right size for your nail from the strip, peel the polish off the backing, and press it onto your nailbed. A  quick file removes the end of the sticker from your nail tips, and then you've got a perfectly dry nail that you can immediately touch with no problem! There's no muss, no smell, no inconvenient drying time. They're amazing!

Today I chose Ruby Shoes, simply because I am a sucker for red glitter. This doesn't disappoint. The glitter in this mani is almost impossible to photograph, for some reason, but please believe me that this is so gorgeously glittery that I can't take my eyes off my nails! However, unlike glitter polishes, this applique is totally smooth to the touch. No topcoat needed, this mani has it all included!

Something else to keep in mind: The first time I wore Incoco appliques, I didn't really know how to apply them. As a result, I wound up with a few nails that weren't completely covered. I didn't realize that the appliques will stretch some, so that you can make them fit!

Luckily, I saw a video on YouTube that showed how to apply the appliques properly. This made application SO much easier! There's also a video that gives tips on how to adjust the appliques for optimal fit. I cannot recommend these videos enough. They're made by Incoco, and explain things so simply that I had no problem getting my nails looking faublous!

Also, stay tuned: I'm planning a photo tutorial on how to apply these in the next day or two. Pictures are taken, I just haven't had time to get it together. Stay tuned!!

Incoco Dry Nail Appliques were supplied by the manufacturer for evaluation.