Notd- Orly Gelac Haute Pink and TOWIE nail art

The nail of the day today is a bit of a special one. On Friday we had a customer in asking about a nail wrap just like Amy Childs from the TV show The Only Way is Essex. After doing some googleing we found the nails in question and notice it was not a nail wrap, but it was freehand nail art and 3d acrylic bows. Now I'm not one for taking fashion tips off TOWIE girls but I do like a challenge. I decided to give it a go. I have to confess this is my first attempt at doing any 3d acrylic designs. 

link to Amy's nails x

So to begin with I painted my nail and nail tips with Orly's Gelac. The Gelac process took me about an hour. Then I had some pizza ( it was a Friday treat!). I then thought it would be best to practice some 3d bows. After two practices I went for it and applied six 3d bows to my nails. Doing my right hand with my left was a challenge, but I think they turned out ok. That process took me about an hour as well. Then I added the dots which took about 10 minutes. Finally a top coat was applied and I was finished. 

Yes it was a challenge, but I think it was worth the effort and they have now inspired me to do more 3d designs. So I am going to be watching a lot of youtube videos on how to do different shapes. Keep your eyes open for the results. 

Gelicure Hybrid Gel Polish Review

Copyright © 2010 Palms Extra

I recently got the opportunity to sample Nubar's new Hybrid Gel Polish - Gelicure.  It has only just been shipped into the country so I was a very lucky girl. Gelicure currently comes in 24 varied colours from the neon Hot Pink to the classic pillar box red Vampire Red.  It can be used on natural nails and nail extensions  and also can be used for long lasting nail art.

So the application was very simple and very similar to the Gelac.
To begin with the nails are prepped and primed then the Gelicure basecoat  is thinly applied and cured for 2 minutes. The the Gelicure colour is applied in two coats and each is cured for 2 minutes. I got to choose my own colour this time and I went for Aubergine. Aubergine is a dark purple with mirco blue glitter flakes which gives it a nice shimmer.

Aubergine Gelicure 1 week later.

The Gelicure system is finished off with a high shine top coat which is also cured for just 2 minutes.

The application of the Gelicure was quite simple and the colour was very rich. I had been wearing it for 9 days and I have had a few compliments on the colour and it did not chip or scratch unlike the Gelac.

I had to remove the Gelicure as I was going out in fancy dress and wanted gold nails to go with my costume.
The removal was easy I wrap an acetone soaked pad around my nails and wrapped in foil and left to process for 10 mins.

After 10 minutes I removed the foil and the Gelicure had lifted clean off the nail leaving no residue. The condition of my nails were the same as when I applied it. I was a bit worried they may have weakened the way they do after false nails but they were fine.

Removal 

 
Overall I would say I prefer the Gelicure system to the Gelac, as it has a shorter cure time and went for longer without chipping. The choice of colours are great and they do intend to bring out another 24 very soon! I do love how they are dry instantly and it takes away the worry of pesky smudges.
But I know I'm a sucker for a pretty colour, so don't fear I will not turn my back on standard nail polishes and I will continue to review as much as I can x


Gelicure is available from www.palmsextra.com and www.idealhairandbeauty.com

Ibd Gelac - 14 day Manicure

So one of the most innovative products to hit the Nail market in 2010 is the hybrid gel polish. It is a UV gel polish which is applied like a normal polish, but is cured under a UV lamp, making it smudge proof, chip proof and lasts over 14 days! Nearly every brand has brought out there own version and today I am going to try IBD's Gelac.

It was quite a long process :

• Clean and prep nails
• Use ibd dehydrate
• Apply Gelac base coat cure for 1 min
• Apply Gelec cure for 2 min
• Apply 2nd coat, cure for 2mins
• Apply Gelac topcoat and cure for two mins
• Use uv wipe off to remove sticky film and finally finished.

The whole process took less than and hour and to be honest when you have it done at a salon it would be much less, as the nail tech can apply to one hand whilst the other is in the lamp.

Conclusion.
As this was a sample kit that I was sent I did not get to choose the colour and they sent me a dark burgandy red called Rich Raisin. It is not really a colour I would choose myself but it is acceptable. The high shine finish on the nails is pretty amazing and is nothing you would get from a standard topcoat. Also as soon as the polish is cured it is instantly dry so no smudging! I can't count the number of times I have perfectly painted my nails only to smudge it 3 mins later when I thought t was dry.
So overall it was easy to apply and gives a great finish, brilliant! Now it all depends on how long it lasts?