OPI: Blue My Mind

Choosing a not 'normal' color for your nails is fun I think. At least for me. This last trip I picked out this electric blue from OPI called 'Blue My Mind'. Cute name right? And man have I gotten a bazzillion compliments.

 

Next I think I'm doing my matte white again...

Working Girls Guide to A Mini Mani

I don't know about you but I don't have as much time as I'd like to get regular manicures. So this means that I mostly do my own nails and maybe once or twice a year I make it to the nail salon. In my purse I keep a nail file (I get the $0.99 ones, usually Target of CVS Pharmacy) and the Sally Hansen Cuticle Pen (any cuticle oil pen should work). 

When I have a conference call in which I don't need to take notes (or pay terribly close attention), this is how I give myself a mini mani:

• Bust out your file and give your nails a quick soft file, to clean them up and keep them fresh.
• I then rub the tops and edges all along my jeans as my 'buffer' almost like I'm sctratching my legs. One time I wasn't wearing jeans I used my paper lunch bag. This 'buffing' gets all that extra flake off so you can see the shape of your nails and keep filing at will.
• Then I use my cuticle pen (shown above) and paint a u-shape around my cuticles. No need to be precise here. Then I sort of use any excess to paint on top of my nail for good measure (I don't know if this actually helps any, but I do it anyway).
• Repeat on other hand
• I typically leave it for a while so the oils can get all nice and soaked in
• Wash hands with soap and water (hopefully your work has a restroom for this).
• One coat of Sally Hansen Max Support polish (or any quick dry topcoat you have).

Et voila! Mini Mani complete.

My Nail Routine

By some act of kindness, I have been blessed with strong nails that grow quickly. They also grow out long and straight. This does not run in my family. When I was young my mum would let me keep my nails long, as long as I kept them clean. If they got dirty, she chopped them off. I've also played soccer all my life, so during soccer season no nails were allowed. And then in the off-season (however short) I would grow them out as long as I could.

So for as long as I can remember, I've been in the routine of growing my nails out super long, and then chopping them all off to the nub. I will also cut them all off if 1 or 2 should break because one thing I hate is some really long while others are broken short. I think it looks so terrible. So I say my sad goodbyes and just chop away.

Typically when long I leave them natural with a clear topcoat, or a light nude pink and then go dark and bright when they're short. This is my before and after of my latest salon trip (and by 'salon' I mean my own bathroom).

Squared in shape, no polish or oils (as you can see in the closeup).

 

 

And I've decided to go WHITE!! Back in the day I remember using white out at school sometimes on my nails, lol. This is bascially the same look. Here Ive used 2 coats of OPI Alpine Snow Matte (this is where I discover I'm not a fan of matte polish) and 1 coat of OPI Passion as a topcoat (to cover up the matte look a bit).

 

I do really love the white nails (I feel slightly punkish?) so the verdict is that I will continue to use with a glossy topcoat until the bottle is gone. Then I will make sure I read the label first and buy a glossy white.

Automatic Pick-Me-Up

Having a bummer of a day so I decided to treat myself to an on-a-whim $20 Mani. Asked the girl to chop off all my nails and paint them a deep, dark red.

“Sure you no want French?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Dark red please.”
“Sure you no want long nail?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Chop them off please.”

She does her thing, and then reminds me to pay now before we paint (so it doesn’t get chipped). After a quick goodbye to my hard earned $20 bill I hand it over to her. And she comes back with $10! Oh happy day, things are looking up.

“Sure you no want lighter color?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Dark red please.”

She paints a swatch on her nail then shows it to me, as if to prove what a terrible color choice I’ve made. Ugh. She’s right. Damn her! I wrinkle my nose, shake my head, and give her the puppy dog apologetic eyes. She nods her head in silent understanding as I get up to go pick a new color.

Not wanting to disappoint again, I spend a little longer looking at my choices. It doesn’t help. Now I’m stuck at indecision point and can feel the eyes boring into the back of my head. Then I have a sudden epiphany, smile to myself, make a grab, and essentially skip back to my seat.

I hand over the nail polish bottle and she paints a swatch on her nail again, with a slight nod of approval this time. I giggle and stick out both my hands, ready to go.

Turns out that if you choose your nail color as if you were 5 years old again, it can bring a smile to your face. This one reminds me of Watermelon Bubblicious and it makes me happy. Super impractical and I love it!