BellaSugar

What Is Your Preferred Nail Shape?

BellaSugar — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 06:00:14 -0800

Short, square-shaped nails are in style, but just because young Hollywood stars are into this look, that doesn't mean that you have to like it, too. Long, manicured nails are beautiful, timeless and really show off dainty fingers and rings! Take this poll and let me know what your personal nail shape preference is.

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How-To: Choose a Nail Shape

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:00:11 -0700

When I was little, I knew of only two nail shapes: dagger (like that of my then mean older cousin - ouch) and bitten down to the nubs (like me - also, ouch). While you can wear your nails however you please, I've got some guidelines on choosing which nail shape might suite you best.

Generally speaking, try to match the shape of your cuticle to your free edge (the part you are filing). This will give you the most complementary finish. Another basic guideline is to shape the nail to give the illusion of elongated fingers. Remember to file nails in one direction, and check out some more tips below:

Oval - Looks good on most, particularly short, wide fingers.
Round - Great for short nails and those with very active hands, since round tends to break less.
Almond/Pointed - Elongates petite hands and fingers. It's also a very of-the-moment style, according to nail guru Deborah Lippmann.
Square - Works well to balance out long, narrow fingers.
Squoval - Softens wide nail beds. Also works well for short, wide fingers or long, big fingers.

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Trend Alert: Metallic, Bejeweled Nails

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:59:37 -0800

Katy Perry isn't the only celebrity hopping on the sparkly, encrusted nail bandwagon. Beyonce had similarly wild nails with heart-shaped jewels on them last night at the MTV Europe Awards, and Kristen Bell was sporting iridescent foiled nails recently, too. I think this trend is so creative and cool, but what about you? If you want to get the look, try Lippmann Collection's Celebrate polish trio or OPI's Designer Series.

Fake 'Em Till You Make 'Em: Acrylic Nails 101

BellaSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:00:03 -0700

There are few people with long, perfect nails who aren't using at least a little - and usually a lot - of acrylic nail powder. Acrylic powder is a polymer that, combined with a setting agent, creates a resin with properties similar to your natural nails, except even stronger and more flexible. Which means it's a great way to cover up a myriad of nail issues, and a life-saver even for non-biters and people who've never had a chip. To learn about the best ways to use acrylic for yourself, keep reading

Best of Bella

BellaSugar — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0700

32 hauntingly fun halloween hair and makeup ideas!
Gossip Girl: The season's top 10 looks so far.
Look ghoulishly good on Halloween: 10 easy vampire hair and makeup ideas.
Get even more kawaii with my guess the Japanese beauty invention quiz.
The bow-ed and the beautiful: 14 stars with wild hair bows.
What does your hair say about you?
Oh no, she didn't: The Gossip Girl beauty quiz.
How to choose eyeglasses by your face shape.
Bobbing for apples: 15 apple-inspired nail polishes.
Discover three tips on choosing a red lipstick.

Witchy Makeup Ideas: Wicked's Elphaba

BellaSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:00:38 -0700

When it comes to Halloween, there are a few standards. You can't get any more classic than with mummies, vampires, and of course - witches. Last week, I was inspired by the White Witch from The Chronicles of Narnia, a beautifully frosty costume choice. Today, let's go with a more standard interpretation, Wicked's Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. But this character is hardly witchy at all, just a little misunderstood. Beautiful in her own right, Elphaba's just not a hairy warts kind of gal. To get her look, it's all about going green, complete with emerald or gold nails, long wavy hair pulled back into pigtails, emphasized brows, and a cone-shaped hat. For Elphaba's schoolgirl look, wear wire-rimmed glasses, a blue beanie, and a braid tossed to the side.

To see more pictures of Elphaba in her full-fledged witchiness, just keep reading.

Best of Bella

BellaSugar — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0700

10 pretty, easy eyeliner shapes for Fall.
Four makeup tips you won't forget.
My awesome guide to Halloween nail polishes.
Seven pretty ways to wear the matte lip trend.
The exciting conclusion of . . . Can you guess the celebrities with these tattoos?
Five ways to make the Fall black lipstick trend wearable. For real.
21 hair and makeup looks you won't be wearing come Spring.
Get Kristin Bell's lovely updo from the Couples Retreat premiere.
Gossip Girl strikes again - this time with more Little J.
Got kinky, curly, or wavy hair? Read this.

Bella Donna: Florence Griffith-Joyner

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:00:03 -0700

Florence Griffith-Joyner, or Flo Jo, as most people know her, still holds the world record for the 100 and 200 meter dash 20 years after she last competed and 10 years after her untimely death at age 38. Although rumors of steroid use began to swirl after her stunning 1988 Olympic victories, and she retired only a year before steroid testing was to be implemented, the claims against her were never substantiated, and her records remain untarnished.

Besides being one of the fastest people ever to live, she was also a true beauty icon, an African-American woman with an athletic body and those signature long, perfect nails in a time when the first supermodels were emerging and the "right" look excluded most women of color and anyone who wasn't shaped like a very slender hourglass. She's a beloved figure for her sharp sense of style and work in the community, and she even had her own Barbie doll, outfitted in one of her awesomely '80s one-legged track unitards. Let's hope her records stand for a good, long time.

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Doing Drugstore: Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen

BellaSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:00:05 -0700

I'm a doodler by nature, and a dabbler in whatever unique beauty product I can get my hands on. It seems like nail pens are all the rage in the nail polish industry as of late, so when I heard about Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen, I had to give it a try.

There are eight shades in total, and because I wanted to give myself some glitzy black nails à la Paris Hilton's black French manicure, I purchased the white shade. The fine-tip pen is easy to use, and the polish dried pretty quickly. You don't have to have an advanced degree in art to create great shapes, but it was harder for me to finagle with my opposite, less-dextrous hand. The pros? Because it's water-based, it's more environmentally friendly, and mistakes are easily fixed with a cotton swab and water.

The cons? The polish has a tendency to drag unless your nails are completely dry, and since it's water-based, it rubs off rather easily. I'd highly recommend applying a top coat if you're looking for a stay-put finish. While I don't see myself drawing shapes on my nails all that often and the results weren't totally perfect, all-in-all, these nail art pens are meant to be fun, and fun is what they are.

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How To Strengthen Your Nails

BellaSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:00:14 -0700

With my nail polish collection rapidly growing, I've been switching polish colors as often as possible - which, of course, causes problems with my nails. So I thought it would be a good idea to give you some tips on how to protect your nails from damage, as well as help fix already-damaged ones. Vertical ridges, white marks, spots, peeling and brittleness are normal signs of neglected nails. Anything else strange going on with your nails could be an indication of a health problem. There's no need to freak out, but keep an eye on it and see a doctor if you suspect there's something funky going on there.

To see how to protect and strengthen your nails, read more.

Use a base coat: Using a base coat before applying color will protect your nails from any harmful chemicals in your polish, and also help prevent the polish from staining your nails. I like Butter London Nail Foundation, especially because it's formaldehyde-free.
Keep it short: Long nails are more likely to snag and tear. The best shape for your nail's health is square and slightly rounded on the top (some call this "squoval"). Clean under the nails regularly, and file any snags as soon as they happen.
Just say no ...to toluene, formaldehyde, and DBP, that is. These common nail polish ingredients can dry out and damage your nails, and formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. To see which nail polish brands are "three-free," check out this post.
Reduce remover: Ideally, you should limit your nail polish remover usage to twice a month. I know that sounds difficult, but try extending your manicures with a rock-solid top coat, like my personal favorite, Seche Vite. When it's time to remove your polish, use a non-acetone remover, and let nails breathe for a few days in between applications.
Soak: If, despite your best efforts, your nails end up a brittle, peeling mess, treat them to a warm oil soak. Just heat some bath or olive oil in the microwave, then dip your fingertips in for about 10-15 minutes. When you're finished, rub generous amounts of lotion or a good cuticle cream into your nails and cuticles. I'm a fan of Kiehl's Imperiale Cuticle Treatment ($19.50).

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