Howdy y'all!
Two posts in one day, must be some sort of recent record for me. I barely get to post at all. Plus, I get my nails done all the time at school so others can work on completing their "Book", which is the state board proof of 4000 manicures, pedicures, enhancements, drills, repairs, etc, that is required at the time of our state exams. It's usually OPI, not usually mine (stuff goes missing, I don't take my good polish to school, I just use what's available) and I basically have nubbins now. I had to take them off. Two broke, were repaired by a friend at school and then broke all over again so I did the big snip. Blah.
I'm starting to learn acrylics. I hate them. I won't be offering them. I will learn to do them and do them as well as I am able, but I don't really want anything to do with them. They're pissy and difficult and not good for your nails. Plus they take FOREVER. I will offer gel polishes, I'm working on getting the light I want right now through a fellow student with an esthetician's license, so she gets the good deals. I don't personally care for them, but they are everywhere and it's going to be necessary to offer them. I also plan to offer VinyLux as a UV free option. I like those a good deal better, removal is hella easier and the price point is much more manageable.
Speaking of which, the mark up on nail products is obscene. I am now able to shop at the supply houses and DAY-UM. Unreal. I may have mentioned that before.
I haven't started on gel nails yet. The jury is out. I have a ridiculously expensive AXXIUM light that was part of my school kit that will just sit if I don't. We'll see how I feel about them once I start actually trying to use them. They're so versatile...I don't know. Just not sure yet.
So these are my latest ramblings on nail school. I need to go find some sustenance as I need to get ready to motor in about an hour or so. This night schedule is a killer!
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
A really wonderful Vegan Polish Resource
https://veganclaws.com/vegan-nail-polish-resource/
I just found this, immediately sent a comment thanking the writer and subscribed to her blog. Please take a look at it, it's probably the best resource I have found out there, I can't believe I haven't found it before. What I love about it is she links you to the correspondence she's had with the various companies so you can see for yourself what is said, plus she is really clear on what is or isn't completely vegan and why in the products. I found this fantastic. While I'm very worried about testing on bunnies or monkeys or any other critter, I'm not so worried about the plight of the silk worm, though maybe that is bad.
...
Well, now I feel like I need to go on a Save the Silk Worm crusade.
This introduced me to some new brands I want to check out!! Take a look for yourselves and see what else is out there. The only thing that would make this perfect would be a linky to places to shop for these. Maybe it's in there and I missed it, I only have a little time before I need to scram to get ready for school. Which is going well, sorry I'm not sharing that here, I get really tired. Night school sucks.
I hope all is going well for all of you! Happy Talons!
I just found this, immediately sent a comment thanking the writer and subscribed to her blog. Please take a look at it, it's probably the best resource I have found out there, I can't believe I haven't found it before. What I love about it is she links you to the correspondence she's had with the various companies so you can see for yourself what is said, plus she is really clear on what is or isn't completely vegan and why in the products. I found this fantastic. While I'm very worried about testing on bunnies or monkeys or any other critter, I'm not so worried about the plight of the silk worm, though maybe that is bad.
...
Well, now I feel like I need to go on a Save the Silk Worm crusade.
This introduced me to some new brands I want to check out!! Take a look for yourselves and see what else is out there. The only thing that would make this perfect would be a linky to places to shop for these. Maybe it's in there and I missed it, I only have a little time before I need to scram to get ready for school. Which is going well, sorry I'm not sharing that here, I get really tired. Night school sucks.
I hope all is going well for all of you! Happy Talons!
Monday, October 28, 2013
How Being Cruelty Free isn't possible in nail school, and other various rants
Arg. So I have completed my first week in school towards becoming a nail technician. I've done one manicure, observed part of a spa pedicure and been studying my brains out. It's weird how my school does it. Everyone starts at different times. I'm the only one who started this month, so I had to do the manicuring chapter and then 3 other chapters to be on the same page as the rest of the class. Everyone I know there will be gone by January some time. Two already have spots in salons, one, ironically, where I get my hair done.
I was informed Friday that I'm far behind on manicures and pedicures. I haven't learned pedicures yet. And everyone else is so far ahead of me that I have no one to practice on. They're all wearing gels and acrylics. And of course the obligatory mean girl I have to win over. Why is there always a mean girl? And how did I get so far behind? How far behind am I? I understand we accomplished nothing with me last week. I don't understand! I had no direction! I don't know what I'm doing!
They're big into nail art, most of them. I'm wearing nail art right now. I'd show it to you but I only know one color name, it's OPI and I didn't do it. I don't want anyone thinking I did this art when I really just sat there trying to watch the process.
Nail art is so not me.
I'm going to have to learn to do it, I will have to submit some as a part of my classwork, but...so not me. I'm thinking of ideas and I ordered some cheapy stuff (beads, rhinestones and whatnot) to help me out and a good set of brushes. I hope they're good anyways. Not like I'm going to know the difference. They were very highly rated on Amazon and had a good amount of different brushes for me to play with and I got everything for less than $20. I did my first attempt which was black and purple horizontal stripes for a school fashion show Friday. They weren't very good. The brushes were very tiny and the purple was being uncooperative and I suck. Basically. It will never be my forte. I can probably offer to stick on some rhinestones and maybe learn to paint some stuff. Spa manis and pedis and standard wet manis and pedis are probably going to be my main thing. UV gel nails scare the crap out of me as does the drill thing. Who looked at a dremel tool and said "HEY! Let's use that on nails!"? But I will learn to do that, too. Just probably won't really, you know, offer it as a part of my services.
So here's the deal. EVERYTHING is OPI. Everything. Polish, tools, lotions, scrubs...all of it. OPI is supposedly cruelty free but their parent company definitely is not and I try not to support any kind of profit from animal testing which rules out a lot of companies with testing parent companies. Any Lauder company, though that's the one I slip on the most, Nars, Shisheido, just about anything at the drug store. Incidentally, if you didn't know, Sinful Colors was bought by Revlon. Good-by cruelty free status. My KIT will be OPI. It's a gigantor train station case thing on wheels with one of those telescoping handles like on a suitcase. It's really quite nice, I confess that openly. However, it has a big old plate on it embossed with a big old OPI. The girls decorate these up with stickers and whatnot because there really is no way to tell them apart without that. Lots of hearts and butterflies. I have a ManGlaze sticker because...I'm me. If I can score something like pin-up girls or skulls I'm all over that shit. Because...I'm me. Something cutesy and sweet would feel like posing. As will carting around a big ass case from a company I don't support. Will I have to cave on OPI? Just to have a recognizable brand on my table? I sincerely hope not.
So...I can either drag my really expensive cool stuff in there to support my cruelty free choices and risk losing them when I can't afford to replace them let alone buy lunch, and still have to use school stuff to fill in what I don't have, or I can suck it up, get through the next 5 months and then pick up where I left off with companies I am willing to support, which...that's probably the answer. Finding a part time job has proven challenging. The schedule just doesn't work.
So apart from that...school is OK. I don't know what I'm doing, which I hate, I am learning the routine, but today is another day of fumbling through as I don't know how theory classes work or even where they are. I think I know. Not sure. I've been kind of left to my own devices which means I observe some and study a lot. Our teacher is one of only a couple, possibly only two, left on the floor at night so she's gone a lot looking at hair styles and sometimes getting styled. I find this lack of structure very frustrating. I'd rather three or four of us would start at once and go through together, but I suppose that cuts into school profit as then there are weeks when no nail services can be offered to the public. Still. I don't like being the only newb though the other students are helpful and open for the most part.
Right now I feel weary. I have tests today as a part of theory and I don't know how that's going to go, though I can retake them if I flunk. I didn't sleep well at all. I'm trying to review now, but you can see how that's going. Not well!
I hope your talons are happy and you're hanging in there! Posts will likely be few and far between with school. It eats up an amazing amount of time, though I hope that will get better as I'm doing more practical work and less book learnin'.
Take care, everyone! 'Til next time!
I was informed Friday that I'm far behind on manicures and pedicures. I haven't learned pedicures yet. And everyone else is so far ahead of me that I have no one to practice on. They're all wearing gels and acrylics. And of course the obligatory mean girl I have to win over. Why is there always a mean girl? And how did I get so far behind? How far behind am I? I understand we accomplished nothing with me last week. I don't understand! I had no direction! I don't know what I'm doing!
They're big into nail art, most of them. I'm wearing nail art right now. I'd show it to you but I only know one color name, it's OPI and I didn't do it. I don't want anyone thinking I did this art when I really just sat there trying to watch the process.
Nail art is so not me.
I'm going to have to learn to do it, I will have to submit some as a part of my classwork, but...so not me. I'm thinking of ideas and I ordered some cheapy stuff (beads, rhinestones and whatnot) to help me out and a good set of brushes. I hope they're good anyways. Not like I'm going to know the difference. They were very highly rated on Amazon and had a good amount of different brushes for me to play with and I got everything for less than $20. I did my first attempt which was black and purple horizontal stripes for a school fashion show Friday. They weren't very good. The brushes were very tiny and the purple was being uncooperative and I suck. Basically. It will never be my forte. I can probably offer to stick on some rhinestones and maybe learn to paint some stuff. Spa manis and pedis and standard wet manis and pedis are probably going to be my main thing. UV gel nails scare the crap out of me as does the drill thing. Who looked at a dremel tool and said "HEY! Let's use that on nails!"? But I will learn to do that, too. Just probably won't really, you know, offer it as a part of my services.
So here's the deal. EVERYTHING is OPI. Everything. Polish, tools, lotions, scrubs...all of it. OPI is supposedly cruelty free but their parent company definitely is not and I try not to support any kind of profit from animal testing which rules out a lot of companies with testing parent companies. Any Lauder company, though that's the one I slip on the most, Nars, Shisheido, just about anything at the drug store. Incidentally, if you didn't know, Sinful Colors was bought by Revlon. Good-by cruelty free status. My KIT will be OPI. It's a gigantor train station case thing on wheels with one of those telescoping handles like on a suitcase. It's really quite nice, I confess that openly. However, it has a big old plate on it embossed with a big old OPI. The girls decorate these up with stickers and whatnot because there really is no way to tell them apart without that. Lots of hearts and butterflies. I have a ManGlaze sticker because...I'm me. If I can score something like pin-up girls or skulls I'm all over that shit. Because...I'm me. Something cutesy and sweet would feel like posing. As will carting around a big ass case from a company I don't support. Will I have to cave on OPI? Just to have a recognizable brand on my table? I sincerely hope not.
So...I can either drag my really expensive cool stuff in there to support my cruelty free choices and risk losing them when I can't afford to replace them let alone buy lunch, and still have to use school stuff to fill in what I don't have, or I can suck it up, get through the next 5 months and then pick up where I left off with companies I am willing to support, which...that's probably the answer. Finding a part time job has proven challenging. The schedule just doesn't work.
So apart from that...school is OK. I don't know what I'm doing, which I hate, I am learning the routine, but today is another day of fumbling through as I don't know how theory classes work or even where they are. I think I know. Not sure. I've been kind of left to my own devices which means I observe some and study a lot. Our teacher is one of only a couple, possibly only two, left on the floor at night so she's gone a lot looking at hair styles and sometimes getting styled. I find this lack of structure very frustrating. I'd rather three or four of us would start at once and go through together, but I suppose that cuts into school profit as then there are weeks when no nail services can be offered to the public. Still. I don't like being the only newb though the other students are helpful and open for the most part.
Right now I feel weary. I have tests today as a part of theory and I don't know how that's going to go, though I can retake them if I flunk. I didn't sleep well at all. I'm trying to review now, but you can see how that's going. Not well!
I hope your talons are happy and you're hanging in there! Posts will likely be few and far between with school. It eats up an amazing amount of time, though I hope that will get better as I'm doing more practical work and less book learnin'.
Take care, everyone! 'Til next time!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Illamasqua Venous, some Halloween glitter and a GRRRRR
I haven't blogged in awhile, not seriously. If you read me, you already know this and maybe you are cursing my name, or thanking me, depending on how you feel about my posts and their general silliness. Today, in the midst of my unemployment (I had a brief moment of wishing I hadn't done it and then I thought about the job. That was all that took. POOF. It was begone.) I thought...I need to post something. Anything. So editing photos was not something I had done in awhile, either. Yeahhhh. Picasa editing has been done away with, you now must edit in google+. Not a fan. And I can't add TEXT. So...I can't help protect my photo work from unscrupulous evilbayers who steal your photos to sell their shit. Not. Amused. I've been looking for another way. If any of my fellow bloggers are out here and reading, please comment and let me know what you do. I don't want to hog up valuable hard drive space with ridiculous amounts of photos for the blog...what do you all do? Help! A different hard drive? I can maybe do that. A different website? That would be great. Any and all help is appreciated.
So here are my very theft available photos of Venous on it's own that I took months ago as well as my current Venous fun mani with Glow in the Dark pumpkin polish! (very likely not cruelty free, which I hate.)
Pretty green cream, this is a lot lighter than in real life, but it does have that dusty quality to the color. Wow, never mind the nubbin!
2 coats of lovely goodness, but still lighter than in real life. I think some of my photos from today turned out truer. I have a different phone, because I'm that serious of a blogger I use my phone for swatching, and it is much nicer.
And the box label. How much do I love these? A lot. Like...mondo a lot. Like I want to kiss the genius at Illamasqua who decided to put a color reference on the name dots. Not only is Illamasqua one of my favorite brands for about anything, but they are so stinking smart. Love love love.
I like Venous, it's a pretty, very rich and deep green. Not forest green or pine, but just deep velvety green. Much more so than my swatches show. I'm so frustrated I didn't even go back and try to adjust them. GRRRRR.
I mean, come on Google. Don't you know that photo theft is rampant??
**seethe**
So I finally actually decided to wear this for real the other day and it's wearing well. This was partly brought about by the release of all things Halloween, including the nail polishes! I'm on a pretty strict no-buy, having no money does that to you, but when I see the Halloween polishes I splurge a little. These are only $3 and I can never resist. I'm pretty sure they are not cruelty free but I'm trying to find out. I'm a bad cruelty free person. I try. I think I've mentioned that's all I can do, right?
OK. Look what a little digging produces: Pumpkin Polishes,
and a little more digging found one list that lists them as cruelty free. Do with that what you will.
It's the spooky eyes side! These two make a pretty good match. The pumpkin polish is really very sheer. Like...clear level of sheer, I could detect no color. So I immediately took it off, redid the base coats and found Venous as a good match for the base, though really anything would have worked.
The happy eyes picture! The bottles are two faced little Jacks. It's so fun. Halloween polishes are the best. If you want definite for sure cruelty free status, the coffin polishes are made by Wet-n-Wild. I have a couple fun Halloween ideas for those, so hopefully I fix this photo issue and can show you!
OK, here we go. This is a very color true photo of Venous, even with the top coat sparkling things up. This really did turn out pretty. The glitter from the pumpkin is really tiny, though not micro, and it's amazingly smooth. The polish was a tad goopy to apply, but I have to say, I was impressed with the finish. The sparkly spread evenly and with very little trouble and the thing with a goopier polish is it freakin stays where you put it. I kinda like that. A little thinner wouldn't have hurt things, though.
And those pencils are awesome. They're mechanical pencils that look like pencils and they're small for us teeny handed people. Look for them today at your local Evil Empire outlet. That's where I got mine and I'm hooked.
But little black and white puppies steal and chew them. Be forewarned.
Last shot coming up!
Whoa, little blurry. Sorry. If I could have edited these I would have known that! GOOGLE! Haven't you ever heard if it's not broke don't fix it?? Learn it! However, it's very color true so I'm leaving it.
Watch...my blog will be deleted for something like "Excessive rage" or something.
And yes, the glow in the dark really works! I just don't have a photo of that.
This was a fun combination for any time, I recommend you try these little pumpkins if you see them. This one will work equally well over anything, it's so sheer. On a lighter polish you might see more of the blue in it but I can't see it being any kind of problem.
What do you think? Love it? I do!
Happy Talons!
So here are my very theft available photos of Venous on it's own that I took months ago as well as my current Venous fun mani with Glow in the Dark pumpkin polish! (very likely not cruelty free, which I hate.)
I like Venous, it's a pretty, very rich and deep green. Not forest green or pine, but just deep velvety green. Much more so than my swatches show. I'm so frustrated I didn't even go back and try to adjust them. GRRRRR.
I mean, come on Google. Don't you know that photo theft is rampant??
**seethe**
So I finally actually decided to wear this for real the other day and it's wearing well. This was partly brought about by the release of all things Halloween, including the nail polishes! I'm on a pretty strict no-buy, having no money does that to you, but when I see the Halloween polishes I splurge a little. These are only $3 and I can never resist. I'm pretty sure they are not cruelty free but I'm trying to find out. I'm a bad cruelty free person. I try. I think I've mentioned that's all I can do, right?
OK. Look what a little digging produces: Pumpkin Polishes,
and a little more digging found one list that lists them as cruelty free. Do with that what you will.
And those pencils are awesome. They're mechanical pencils that look like pencils and they're small for us teeny handed people. Look for them today at your local Evil Empire outlet. That's where I got mine and I'm hooked.
But little black and white puppies steal and chew them. Be forewarned.
Last shot coming up!
Watch...my blog will be deleted for something like "Excessive rage" or something.
And yes, the glow in the dark really works! I just don't have a photo of that.
This was a fun combination for any time, I recommend you try these little pumpkins if you see them. This one will work equally well over anything, it's so sheer. On a lighter polish you might see more of the blue in it but I can't see it being any kind of problem.
What do you think? Love it? I do!
Happy Talons!
Monday, September 16, 2013
I'd have to be crazy.
So, when I quit this asylum that has been my job there were countless counter offers. I didn't even ask what the pay increase would be, it wouldn't be enough. I didn't care. I still don't. When people call inquiring about the position I am completely detached. I've been really unhappy there.
Today, the boss came to me and asked me to stay a little longer. I told her I'd think about it because I'm just too freaking nice. I don't want to. I was so excited this morning for it to be my last Monday.
I just re-read yesterday's post. I'd have to be out of my mind. I don't make that much, I'm not giving up a ton of swag by not doing it. It doesn't extend my benefits any longer and honestly, I kind of like the idea of sticking my immediate supervisor with my month end because while I am not generally vindictive, it would just amuse me to take a nap and know her ass was scrambling.
I think my story is that my BFF has to go back to Europe for work and she and Dads have put their heads together to send me along as a surprise vacation. Because that not only says no way am I staying but it also says "and I don't need you people", too.
I'm a rubbish liar though, so...But honestly. I'd have to be nuts.
Oh, and the fish yelling lady has teeth in her bra, too. That happened today. Yep. I'd have to be crazy.
Today, the boss came to me and asked me to stay a little longer. I told her I'd think about it because I'm just too freaking nice. I don't want to. I was so excited this morning for it to be my last Monday.
I just re-read yesterday's post. I'd have to be out of my mind. I don't make that much, I'm not giving up a ton of swag by not doing it. It doesn't extend my benefits any longer and honestly, I kind of like the idea of sticking my immediate supervisor with my month end because while I am not generally vindictive, it would just amuse me to take a nap and know her ass was scrambling.
I think my story is that my BFF has to go back to Europe for work and she and Dads have put their heads together to send me along as a surprise vacation. Because that not only says no way am I staying but it also says "and I don't need you people", too.
I'm a rubbish liar though, so...But honestly. I'd have to be nuts.
Oh, and the fish yelling lady has teeth in her bra, too. That happened today. Yep. I'd have to be crazy.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Life is weird.
My job is hell. That's how I refer to it. When I'm leaving for work I say I'm going to hell. It's noisy, it's often smelly, I'm not compensated for everything I handle and I am interrupted constantly.
It's a psychological fact that has been recently proven that we lose 10 IQ points in the course of a task each time we are interrupted. I should drool there. I used to joke at my last job that I was considered to be little better than a trained monkey but at this one, given everything, I'm not as gifted.
Hell.
Couple this with the fact that it's nearly impossible to get any time off because my boss is constantly gone and I have to cover her job, though she doesn't cover mine when I have to be out, (She runs morning reports. Big woo.) and I have to squeeze my days off (NEVER around a holiday. EVER. Oh no. She gets those, as she told me verbatim about one.) in around her PTO schedule...Effing hate it there. I hate it.
So...I sat down with Daddy Warbucks, who informed me he was sick of this shit, sick of my being strung out, overworked, mistreated, tense, nervous, and generally miserable, and that he would help me financially if I was able to come up with a plan. I ran to the only thing I could think of: get my nail license. So I am. Tomorrow I go in for my last Monday in that vile place of banjo tent revival creepy music, coughing, crying, begging and fish scolding (not even making that up) and into school for 600 hours of training to start doing nails for serious. Getting a conventional job wasn't working and my resume is freaking intimidating. It's in.tim.i.da.ting. I haven't had an interview in over a year. If luck holds I should be able to get the other table with BMWWU and therefore will have a friend and mentor in place already and I can start working. Bless my friends, they are being both supportive and anxious for me to start taking them on as clients and so I feel I'm already building a clientele. I understand if they don't follow through, though I hope they do, and as part of what I'll be learning is salesmanship I'm hoping I'll take clients on fast and start doing something I will hopefully love rather than something I'm only good at.
And too, I'm really ready to start putting beauty into the world rather than comforting the suffering. Not that it isn't worthwhile, it completely is, way more so than the admittedly kind of frivolous thing I'm planning to do, if you only look at the surface. But I believe doing this well is an art and art is important. It elevates the human spirit, I honestly believe that. I know for myself that a good mani-pedi can make me feel better for days because I've done something comforting and relaxing for myself and because I feel a little more confident. I bet you feel the same if you are reading this. Giving someone that is important, too.
My one girlfriend pointed out that I have a niche to exploit and I'm making mental notes of things I want to cultivate to separate myself from others in the area. I have some ideas.
So I'm excited about this. I had some wrinkles finding a school, but I have gone past that. I start at the end of the month once I turn in my paperwork and write the check. I plan to take a little time off to recharge. My job has killed little pieces of my soul just from all the just...petty bullshit. I mean, I don't know how else to say it. Having to tamper my natural temperament and inability to keep my mouth shut has killed a piece of my soul. That sounds so mellodramatic but it's how I feel. That I have a part of me I need to resurrect. The part that has joy in simple things, that relishes quiet rather than craves it, that isn't afraid to let my personality shine through. I feel I've been squished into a robot mold from months of overwork, pressure, deadlines and criticisms.
However. My head is bloody but unbowed. (Thanks DP, though you'll never read this.)
Once I get some detox time in I plan to look for a part timer because it's not fair for Daddy Dubya to foot all my bills and the cost of school as well, plus essentials like gas, food, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. It simply isn't. And hopefully I can make some bank and love what I do when I'm done. As you know, a good manicurist can do OK for herself and work anywhere and is recession proof. And I intend to become good. Great if I can swing it.
Thank you all for listening and for reading and especially commenting and sticking with me. I hope to get back to this, but I don't know when. I enjoy doing it and sharing what I find.
For today, I secretly squirrelled a color idea from a friend so I need to get some nails did and let him know what he inspired! (Thanks, L! Though you don't know what help you were yet!)
Maybe I'll get it posted. We'll see.
Love you guys!
Happy Talons!
It's a psychological fact that has been recently proven that we lose 10 IQ points in the course of a task each time we are interrupted. I should drool there. I used to joke at my last job that I was considered to be little better than a trained monkey but at this one, given everything, I'm not as gifted.
Hell.
Couple this with the fact that it's nearly impossible to get any time off because my boss is constantly gone and I have to cover her job, though she doesn't cover mine when I have to be out, (She runs morning reports. Big woo.) and I have to squeeze my days off (NEVER around a holiday. EVER. Oh no. She gets those, as she told me verbatim about one.) in around her PTO schedule...Effing hate it there. I hate it.
So...I sat down with Daddy Warbucks, who informed me he was sick of this shit, sick of my being strung out, overworked, mistreated, tense, nervous, and generally miserable, and that he would help me financially if I was able to come up with a plan. I ran to the only thing I could think of: get my nail license. So I am. Tomorrow I go in for my last Monday in that vile place of banjo tent revival creepy music, coughing, crying, begging and fish scolding (not even making that up) and into school for 600 hours of training to start doing nails for serious. Getting a conventional job wasn't working and my resume is freaking intimidating. It's in.tim.i.da.ting. I haven't had an interview in over a year. If luck holds I should be able to get the other table with BMWWU and therefore will have a friend and mentor in place already and I can start working. Bless my friends, they are being both supportive and anxious for me to start taking them on as clients and so I feel I'm already building a clientele. I understand if they don't follow through, though I hope they do, and as part of what I'll be learning is salesmanship I'm hoping I'll take clients on fast and start doing something I will hopefully love rather than something I'm only good at.
And too, I'm really ready to start putting beauty into the world rather than comforting the suffering. Not that it isn't worthwhile, it completely is, way more so than the admittedly kind of frivolous thing I'm planning to do, if you only look at the surface. But I believe doing this well is an art and art is important. It elevates the human spirit, I honestly believe that. I know for myself that a good mani-pedi can make me feel better for days because I've done something comforting and relaxing for myself and because I feel a little more confident. I bet you feel the same if you are reading this. Giving someone that is important, too.
My one girlfriend pointed out that I have a niche to exploit and I'm making mental notes of things I want to cultivate to separate myself from others in the area. I have some ideas.
So I'm excited about this. I had some wrinkles finding a school, but I have gone past that. I start at the end of the month once I turn in my paperwork and write the check. I plan to take a little time off to recharge. My job has killed little pieces of my soul just from all the just...petty bullshit. I mean, I don't know how else to say it. Having to tamper my natural temperament and inability to keep my mouth shut has killed a piece of my soul. That sounds so mellodramatic but it's how I feel. That I have a part of me I need to resurrect. The part that has joy in simple things, that relishes quiet rather than craves it, that isn't afraid to let my personality shine through. I feel I've been squished into a robot mold from months of overwork, pressure, deadlines and criticisms.
However. My head is bloody but unbowed. (Thanks DP, though you'll never read this.)
Once I get some detox time in I plan to look for a part timer because it's not fair for Daddy Dubya to foot all my bills and the cost of school as well, plus essentials like gas, food, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. It simply isn't. And hopefully I can make some bank and love what I do when I'm done. As you know, a good manicurist can do OK for herself and work anywhere and is recession proof. And I intend to become good. Great if I can swing it.
Thank you all for listening and for reading and especially commenting and sticking with me. I hope to get back to this, but I don't know when. I enjoy doing it and sharing what I find.
For today, I secretly squirrelled a color idea from a friend so I need to get some nails did and let him know what he inspired! (Thanks, L! Though you don't know what help you were yet!)
Maybe I'll get it posted. We'll see.
Love you guys!
Happy Talons!
Monday, July 22, 2013
CND VinyLux - Wow
BMWWU put this on me last time, two weeks ago. It's a new system from CND.
I've never been a big CND user, I just never got into them. I know they make a great product, I understand them to be cruelty free, but I never jumped on that band wagon. It's not something I can go anywhere locally and look at or buy because I don't have a license of any kind. I'm just a simple addict. They were one of the spearheaders of the gel revolution but I hope this well overtakes that trend because I do not like so many things about gels, it's well documented in this blog. The removal, in particular, plus all that extra UV light exposure. I don't like it. It peeled, it yellowed, it damaged my nails...blah. Hate.
Well, I let her do this because it didn't require all that mess. And it's uh-may-zing. I only have the one swatch because I don't have this color, it's BMWWU's and while I had intended to photo the wear after EIGHT DAYS (yeah, you read that right) I kind of spaced. Plus, while I don't mind reviewing colors she's applied, for wear discussion I like to apply for myself. The reason being I'm not trained, I'm no expert. I'm a regular gal, I've learned from the school of hard knocks and maybe I won't always do things exactly as they should be done from plain old lack of experience and know-how. You know, probably a lot like you.
So the deal is, with this VinyLux there is no base coat. You DO have to have their top coat, but I bought mine for the same price as the polish, so bonus. There is a wide array of colors, something to suit everyone, and the price point where I bought mine is so completely affordable. The color I'm going to show you is "Coming Soon" there, but I have faith in this e-tailer. I've bought from them many times and always had great service and fast shipping. The only thing I find them not very competitive on is Ruby Wing and the Color Club Halo Hues collection, which is an amazing holo collection but they are not marked down. They're too popular, I think. I can do best on Ruby Wing at Meijer, if you have those where you are. $5/bottle as opposed to $8 everywhere else. I do love those, too. They're so fun.
...
Hope no one from Meijer is reading this! Don't mark them up, please!
I was afraid of staining, this is a pretty vibrant color but there was none and it removed like normal polish. It took a little bit of soaking the cotton ball on there just to make life easier, but that was my own choice. It certainly does NOT require soaking your nails like gels, not by a long shot. I've tortured you long enough.
Here's the color:
Limeade. And OOOO. I checked the spelling on that to be sure and discovered one of the ones I'm lemming is no longer "Coming Soon" but full on arrived! DANG! I have no fundage. CRAP. Being a grown up sucks.
OK, back to the regularly scheduled programming. This is listed as a "Semi-Sheer" but we didn't like that look so this is 3 coats. The polish will not dry on it's own, you MUST have the top coat. Their top coat, the special kind. It has all kinds of hocus pocus stuff on it about how it's supposed to work which experience has taught me...take with a grain of salt. I don't know how it works and I don't really care to be honest. It will harden in ambient light, though if you have a UV or LED light it sure won't hurt it to sit in there for a little while. (Wear sun screen!) The idea is that as this is exposed to ambient light it will continue to harden and I did find that to be true.
This wore for a solid 8 days before I got so restless and sick of the color I had to remove it. It probably could have skated longer. The right hand was showing signs of tip wear and some minor chipping. I don't know if you can repair this or not, as I've mentioned this one isn't mine.
Because of the nature of this polish the top coat comes in a black bottle which I would keep in a drawer in the box. As soon as it sees ambient light, it's going to start to cure. BMWWU said she's seen signs of it thickening just from applying it on people. The polishes are in regular clear bottles, which is nice because you can see where your usage is. I don't like that about gels either. Is there anything I like about gels? Nothing is coming to mind....
Ok, so where to look into buying. 8ty8beauty.com - creative
I like this e-tailer a lot. Tons of product, great prices, I mean, look at the China Glaze and Orly prices if you don't believe me, or Seche, or Poshe...those aren't AS discounted but still a little better. If you can tag them on another order you blend them in on shipping and it works out. They no longer carry OPI, not that I care, but you may. They were culled in the great OPI hate the little e-tailer raid of a few years ago. However $3 for Color Club? Hells yeah. They ship fast, they carry a ton of stuff and I've never had a problem. I don't know what these VinyLux are going for at salons but I bet it's not $5.25. I also love that they have listed the colors and told you sheer, opaque, etc. That's stuff you just can't tell from a website unless they help you out. Nice size pics on these as well.
If you're interested, there is a mini set available for a little bit of nothing. It has 4 mini colors and a mini top coat. Great way to try a nice variety of their colors and finishes and this new system without investing a ton. The entire set is less than a luxury brand and I almost guarantee it will wear a lot better.
So that's what I know on that!
Gonna give it a shot? I think you'll really like it.
Happy Talons!
I've never been a big CND user, I just never got into them. I know they make a great product, I understand them to be cruelty free, but I never jumped on that band wagon. It's not something I can go anywhere locally and look at or buy because I don't have a license of any kind. I'm just a simple addict. They were one of the spearheaders of the gel revolution but I hope this well overtakes that trend because I do not like so many things about gels, it's well documented in this blog. The removal, in particular, plus all that extra UV light exposure. I don't like it. It peeled, it yellowed, it damaged my nails...blah. Hate.
Well, I let her do this because it didn't require all that mess. And it's uh-may-zing. I only have the one swatch because I don't have this color, it's BMWWU's and while I had intended to photo the wear after EIGHT DAYS (yeah, you read that right) I kind of spaced. Plus, while I don't mind reviewing colors she's applied, for wear discussion I like to apply for myself. The reason being I'm not trained, I'm no expert. I'm a regular gal, I've learned from the school of hard knocks and maybe I won't always do things exactly as they should be done from plain old lack of experience and know-how. You know, probably a lot like you.
So the deal is, with this VinyLux there is no base coat. You DO have to have their top coat, but I bought mine for the same price as the polish, so bonus. There is a wide array of colors, something to suit everyone, and the price point where I bought mine is so completely affordable. The color I'm going to show you is "Coming Soon" there, but I have faith in this e-tailer. I've bought from them many times and always had great service and fast shipping. The only thing I find them not very competitive on is Ruby Wing and the Color Club Halo Hues collection, which is an amazing holo collection but they are not marked down. They're too popular, I think. I can do best on Ruby Wing at Meijer, if you have those where you are. $5/bottle as opposed to $8 everywhere else. I do love those, too. They're so fun.
...
Hope no one from Meijer is reading this! Don't mark them up, please!
I was afraid of staining, this is a pretty vibrant color but there was none and it removed like normal polish. It took a little bit of soaking the cotton ball on there just to make life easier, but that was my own choice. It certainly does NOT require soaking your nails like gels, not by a long shot. I've tortured you long enough.
Here's the color:
Limeade. And OOOO. I checked the spelling on that to be sure and discovered one of the ones I'm lemming is no longer "Coming Soon" but full on arrived! DANG! I have no fundage. CRAP. Being a grown up sucks.
OK, back to the regularly scheduled programming. This is listed as a "Semi-Sheer" but we didn't like that look so this is 3 coats. The polish will not dry on it's own, you MUST have the top coat. Their top coat, the special kind. It has all kinds of hocus pocus stuff on it about how it's supposed to work which experience has taught me...take with a grain of salt. I don't know how it works and I don't really care to be honest. It will harden in ambient light, though if you have a UV or LED light it sure won't hurt it to sit in there for a little while. (Wear sun screen!) The idea is that as this is exposed to ambient light it will continue to harden and I did find that to be true.
This wore for a solid 8 days before I got so restless and sick of the color I had to remove it. It probably could have skated longer. The right hand was showing signs of tip wear and some minor chipping. I don't know if you can repair this or not, as I've mentioned this one isn't mine.
Because of the nature of this polish the top coat comes in a black bottle which I would keep in a drawer in the box. As soon as it sees ambient light, it's going to start to cure. BMWWU said she's seen signs of it thickening just from applying it on people. The polishes are in regular clear bottles, which is nice because you can see where your usage is. I don't like that about gels either. Is there anything I like about gels? Nothing is coming to mind....
Ok, so where to look into buying. 8ty8beauty.com - creative
I like this e-tailer a lot. Tons of product, great prices, I mean, look at the China Glaze and Orly prices if you don't believe me, or Seche, or Poshe...those aren't AS discounted but still a little better. If you can tag them on another order you blend them in on shipping and it works out. They no longer carry OPI, not that I care, but you may. They were culled in the great OPI hate the little e-tailer raid of a few years ago. However $3 for Color Club? Hells yeah. They ship fast, they carry a ton of stuff and I've never had a problem. I don't know what these VinyLux are going for at salons but I bet it's not $5.25. I also love that they have listed the colors and told you sheer, opaque, etc. That's stuff you just can't tell from a website unless they help you out. Nice size pics on these as well.
If you're interested, there is a mini set available for a little bit of nothing. It has 4 mini colors and a mini top coat. Great way to try a nice variety of their colors and finishes and this new system without investing a ton. The entire set is less than a luxury brand and I almost guarantee it will wear a lot better.
So that's what I know on that!
Gonna give it a shot? I think you'll really like it.
Happy Talons!
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