I've been admiring the Sally Hansen Salon Effects for some time now, afraid to commit to actually trying them. My experimentation with nails has only ever gone as far as nail polish. There was a fear element to trying something new.
I love fun designs for nails but have found it to be near impossible to do myself. It was time for me to bite the bullet and try Salon Effects. They are nail polish strips that you simply peel off a plastic backing and place on to your nails. Simple enough, right?
The kit comes with 8 strips for each hand. Plenty of sizes to fit your nails (almost) perfectly. There is also a nail file and wooden cuticle stick used to help prep and finish your new nail look.
These nail polish strips are sadly not the easiest product in the world. You will struggle a bit to mold them to your nail, and may have to stretch the strips to make them fit properly. The biggest problem is removing the excess. After a few nails, you get the hang of it. I found that folding the strip over your nail, then pulling at the sides (using your nail as the sharp edge) is the best way to remove the excess. Then you can use the file to clean off the pieces that still overhang.
Only two of my nails were covered perfectly without a slight crease at the tip. I'm sure the more times you use the Salon Effects, the easier and better it becomes. If it is your first time, like it was for me, then choose a print. I used Check it Out, a houndstooth print, that was able to cover up a lot of my mistakes. At a regular distance you would never see them, only when you're very very close are the creases and other little mistakes visible.
An added step I took was to use a clear coat of polish over the strips to really bind them to my nails. The only fear I had with the Salon Effects was that they'd peel just as easily off. The clear coat of polish solved this problem. Just like with regular nail polish, the strips need ample amount of time to dry and harden. I put them on last night before I went to sleep and today they are perfectly hardened and I don't have any of the worries I had had originally.
I would recommend the Sally Hanse Salon Effects for anyone who, like me, doesn't have the time, energy, or patience to put into making detailed nail designs.
If you would like to purchase Salon Effects click HERE. If you want to learn more click HERE.
I have been in search of the perfect red nail polish for quite some time. With Christmas around the corner, I was determined to find it for the Holidays. The perfect red nail color came in the form of Essie's Russian Roulette. It is a red's red; bright and eye popping. I was fearful of getting a red that was too light and became more of a pink, and I was also worried about getting a red that was too dark and leaned toward burgundy. This nail polish doesn't have either of those problems.
Take a look for yourself, I think I've found a fantastic Christmas red.
It only took two coats to make the color this sharp. I absolutely love it. What do you think?
If you would like to purchase Essie's Russian Roulette for $6, click HERE.
My latest nail polish is that of Essie's Peach Daiquiri. I was looking for a really vibrant pink color, as my nails haven't been pink for a year or more. The color lands more on the fuschia side than bright pink, which is good because I didn't want it to be too bright. I've been determined lately to do really summery nails before the fall weather hits and I must turn towards the muted nail color shades.
This color was much thicker than some of the others so you may be able to get away with only one swipe of the brush. I did two just to be on the safe side.
You can purchase Peach Daquiri HERE for $5.
This is my absolute hands down favorite nail polish. Again, as with all Essie nail polish, you need a few coats to really get a strong color. The Mint Candy Apple color is like having Tiffany blue on your nails and what girl wouldn't love that. It's a very bright color so you should expect people to notice it. If you like the color blue and love nails that make you happy when you look at them, definitely try Mint Candy Apple.
The bottle appears more green in pictures but its a Tiffany blue color on your nails. Purchase Mint Candy Apple HERE at Amazon for about $5.
Yesterday, I painted my nails an amazing lilac color. I've been loving purple colored nails lately. It's my last ditch effort to have fun playful nails before I have to turn to the darker colors for fall.
I used Essie's Lilacism. I love Essie because of their wide variety, especially with the more vibrant colors. But, it should be advised that with Essie Polish you must do at least 2-3 coats if you want a strong color. It's a tad more purple than it appears in the picture below.
Essie is selling Lilacism on Amazon for $0.25 (That's right, 25 cents!) right now. I'd definitely pick it up now if you can, otherwise its $8. Here is the link to purchase.
