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.

New York Fashion Week: Fashion's Night Out with Deborah Lippmann

Some days I'd like to be anywhere but here. I'd love to leave my boring life here and do something glamorous- visit New York during Fashion Week, hit up the shows of the hottest designers. I can see it all in my mind, my sleek hair and towering Christian Louboutins, the people, the shows...

Of course, then I remember I'm actually me, and those towering Louboutins would KILL me. I much prefer a pair of Docs, a ponytail, and some jeans. Still, wouldn't fashion week be something? Then I get this in my email...

New York Fashion Week is just around the corner. Can you believe it?! Kick off the week at Fashion’s Night Out on September 10, 2010 at Barney’s New York from 6-10 pm with fashion manicurist Deborah Lippmann.

Stop by New York City’s iconic department store on Madison Avenue (at East 59^th Street) and receive personal nail consultations with Deborah Lippmann. She can help select which colors are best for your skin tone and pick out shades for any occasion. She can also provide tips and tricks on how to find the right nail shape for you and how to give yourself a professional quality manicure at home.

Her new fall colors – Bad Romance, a GaGa blackened fuchsia, and Across The Universe, a blazing blue and metallic green glam in sheerest navy – will be on display for sampling and for purchase.

Wow. Would it be amazing to get to meet Deborah Lippman or what? Ahhh, excuse me while I get lost in my dreams of Fashion Week one  more time...

*Images and press release courtesy of Deborah Lippmann's PR firm.

Nail Art Mockups In My Sketchbook

Eek! This was supposed to post and didn't. I'm going to backdate it and put it up anyway. Sorry for the weirdness you may have to deal with!

I've kept a sketchbook for years. It goes back to when I was in art school. Those teachers made us buy a sketchbook every semester, the fancy hard-back kind with the special paper inside. I was always so intimidated by those books that it was too hard to let go and let myself doodle in them. We didn't have a lot of money back then, so the idea of spending $25 on a sketchbook to doodle in and goof off? It felt like sacrilege! Hardback sketchbooks deserved actual art on their pages, things that were more finished. My poor doodles and scribbles felt as if I was defacing the pages instead of building my skills!

Even now, 12 years later, most of those books are mostly empty. I still feel weird putting my strange rambles and doodles into them, because it feels like my scribblings aren't worthy of such a quality book. The good news is that I've found a way around that idea. Instead of using the giant, expensive sketchbooks I go to Office Depot or one of the big-box stores and get cheap notebooks. Some have unlined paper, some have lined paper, some even have graph paper! Because they're so inexpensive, I can write grocery lists or poetry on them, I can sketch things that are bizarre and silly. They're my sketchbooks, and I'd be lost without them.

I don't just sketch in them. There are lists of things to do, ideas for stories, ideas for nail art,  character studies. I'll list quotes from the moment, observations from daily life, descriptions of events that made me laugh. Sometimes I'll jot down funny things that happened to me along with a sketch to convey information. It's a small, working record of my life, both creative and not, that I can flip through for inspiration for for reminders to do things I need to do.

One thing I've recently started doing is creating mock-ups of nail art designs. My sketchbook works perfectly for this, since the nail polish doesn't seep through the page. It sits nicely on top, dries quickly, and creates a permanent record of nail art inspiration for me! I'll also jot down where the idea came from, like in this picture to the right. Luxuriousnails on youtube does wonderful nail art. Check her out!

Not all of my nail art mock-ups are done with nail polish, though. Sometimes I'll be sitting and doodling, playing with variations on a theme. In this photo, I was playing with variations on bold graphic visual elements, like concentric squares and varying sizes of circles. I very much enjoy bold elements like these, although repeating them with nail polish can be quite a chore. I have plans to try out my gel pens with a pale polish, or my opaque gel pens with a darker polish. I love the idea of neons on black... I think neon bubbles on black could be lots of fun!

I have more pics after the jump...