Ever wondered how to get the nails of your dreams? We have, especially when it comes to removing gel and glitter polish. And how is it that practically every time you leave the salon postmanicure, your nails rarely chip? We have all the insider manicure secrets in today's Beauty Beat. On Kirbie: Banana Republic dress.
Summer is the best time to show off your perfect pedicure, but when you're strutting around in sandals or barefoot on the beach, there's nothing protecting your toes from getting scuffed up. And getting chipped polish halfway through your beach vacation is a bummer. So what's the trick for a pedicure that will last through Labor Day and beyond?
A gel pedicure. That's right, the mini-miracle manicure isn't just for your fingernails. Shiny and impervious to chips, it's the set-it-and-forget-it way to keep your pedicure looking perfect. (The only catch is that you'll have to go back to the salon to get the color taken off.) Though Summer may be ending, this is a pedicure you'll want all yearlong. Since it dries instantly, you can get a pedicure in the Winter, throw your boots on, and walk out the door.
Gel manicures are popular fixes for busy women who need chip-free finishes that will last. And recently, at-home kits have hit the market with brands like SensatioNail, Red Carpet Manicure, and Sephora by OPI (available soon) coming out with their own versions. Now that Spring is here and temperatures are rising, your hands and feet will be begging for a little attention — not to mention the benefits of long-lasting manicures and pedicures. Get tips on making your DIY gel set look good for weeks when you read more.
Editor's note: see an update of how the manicure wore after seven days after the jump.
Gel manicures are all the rage at salons, so it makes sense that someone would make an at-home version. That's exactly what Nutra Nail has done with the release of its UV-free Gel Perfect Gel-Color Manicure ($12). While the brand markets the manicure as a five-minute deal, in reality, I found that the whole process takes just a bit longer than your average nail polish time.
After thoroughly pushing back cuticles and filing the nails, steps that are essential in making this manicure look clean, polish activator (which is essentially nail polish glue) is applied to each nail on one hand. Colored gel polish comes next — I used Passion, a candy-apple red — and then the color brush must be cleaned off immediately with a special antistiffening solution that comes in the kit. Then, the same process is repeated on the other hand. Once the polish sets, which takes practically no time at all, you repeat this whole process over so that you've painted on two layers of color. See more when you keep reading.
