Nail polish – it’s all about OPI for me!
A few months ago, I decided it was time to quit chewing my nails for good. I’ve gone through many phases of not chewing my nails – it never lasts very long though. I end up get stressed out at work, usually on a Monday afternoon, and chew every single one off. Sometimes, I would just go into the bathroom, take the clippers out, and cut all my fingernails there so my coworkers won’t be annoyed by that biting noise (because it really, really annoys me!).
What was different this last time? Really, it’s a mix between an appearance and work-related thing. I don’t like the look of short, stubby, bleeding fingernails (duh), but I also do a lot of pointing and explaining at work. I print out a plan, section, elevation, whatever, and say – “This is where such and such will be” or “This is how I imagine this will work.” If someone was presenting something to me, and had those nasty fingernails like I used to, I would be distracted!
This time, to get myself to stop, I just painted my nails in one of my standby OPI shades – No Bees Please, from the GardenParty collection. I only put on two coats, and it turns into a nice, natural, sheer pink. Every time I looked down at my nails, and saw that pretty shade, I thought about how nice it looked, and how much nicer it would look if I would quit chewing them.
A friend introduced me to the OPI nail polish brand quite a few years ago, and I have been hooked ever since. Their polish is the highest quality I have ever used. It seems to always go on smooth, and does not chip for a long time (sometimes 5 days or more!).
I usually do stick to sheer shades, but have been branching out more lately to try some darker ones – see Crêpes Suzi-ette and Eiffel For This Color, above (along with two other sheers I like).
I always paint my nails at home though. I got a manicure ONCE. On a whim. At one of those “college-salons” where people go to learn how to cut hair and poor college students go to get their hair cut. The girl who did my nails did SUCH AN AWFUL JOB, that I picked the nail polish off as soon as I got away from her, and stopped at a store on the way home to buy those travel nail-polish remover pads. (She didn’t let the base dry and put it on WAY too thick. Duh.)
That turned me off manicures. Of course, I realize that was just her, and not all are that bad. But if I can do a decent job at home, I just do it there.
It’s easy with sheer colors, but the dark ones are different. Mistakes are more noticeable! You really have to devote the time and patience to putting on the dark colors at home. Below are a few tips I read in the November InStyle about wearing dark polish:
- Keep Them Short: Trimming the nails to 1/4″ past the fingertip keeps them looking more modern. You’ll be able to tell if it looks a little… vamp! Time to trim!
- Be Well Rounded: Have you heard of the “squoval”? That is the shape salons recommend for nails – a rounded off square (hence, squoval). Straight hard edges look a little – straight and hard and uptight!’
- Take Your Time: Set aside an hour – dark shades dry slowly. I like to read blogs or type while mine dry!
- Stay Smooth: Moisturize and take care of those cuticles!
And my advice? This is only from experience of mistakes I’ve made.
- Use a Base Coat: Dark polishes STAIN your nails. Use a base coat so it won’t be as difficult to remove the polish, and you won’t have funny colored nude nails!
- Try One Coat: After the base, apply one coat. It may be enough! These dark colors put a lot in on one coat, unlike a sheer, where you have to apply a few shades.
- Add a Clear Top Coat: If you do go with one coat, think about adding a clear top coat for a bit of shine and to protect your nails.
And two general tips:
- Buff Your Nails: Use a 4-way buffer stick. They work wonders and smooth our your nails beautifully. AND add shine!
- Know the Return Policy: If you are spending $8.50 on a bottle of OPI nail polish, make sure you can return it. Ideally, you can use those little fake nails thing in the store to see if the color will work on you, but they might not have them. I really thought Tickle My France-y was going to look great on me, but it didn’t. I gave it to a friend who thought it would look nice on her, and it didn’t (who does this polish look nice on?!). A friend told me I could return it at Ulta. Phew. They’re not all meant to be!
Any advice/favorite brands to share with me? What polish are you wearing these days, if any?
Themocracy
hehe well I am lazy, I go get solar nails done (really short) so that they a)last a long time b) I can’t chew on them (sometimes I try though) and c) I am horrible on nail polish.
I do my own nails too. I can not justify the expense when I can do it for free at home. I use clear or slightly tinted on my fingers, and almost always have a french manicure (french pedicure?) on my toes. I did buy Lincoln Park After Dark for my toes a few weeks ago and love it for the fall/winter. I love OPI, and it isn’t just about the clever names. I have never found nail polish that is as well made and gives as good of results.
I did NOT know you could return to Ulta. That is good to know!
I used to get my nails done twice a month … because they looked so good. But, when I learned my nail technician was leaving, I paid attention to how she did nails and started doing them on my own (following most of your steps above). These days, I just don’t take the time for my nails. And it shows. I want to change. Maybe your post will kick-start that change. My favorite brands are OPI for dark color and Essie for the sheers. I also use an OPI base coat and Seche Vite for top coat.
I’ll probably never stop biting my nails. I like ’em real, real short. It’s just too tough to do it with clippers.
Now, toe nails? That’s an entirely different story. I’d love to find a decent way to keep my toe nails as short as my fingernails. Since I don’t clip my fingernails, it’s really annoying to have to deal with my toe nails.
I wish I was more limber. 😀
I love this post! I’ve recently started getting regular manicures, and there’s a manicurist at the spa I go to who definitely does a better job than the other ones. It’s a real art, definitely. I keep my nails short and have been discovering that dark shades are just fine on a nicely shaped short nail! The last time I went, I absolutely fell in love with the Bastille My Heart shade from the France collection – I’m picking up a bottle for touch-ups next time I go back!
it is a beautiful touch.
I recently started to paint my nails again, in part because I’m really into details and while natural and beautiful nails have been large on my list, painted ones had not. but more so as a bonding thing, it seemed to give my coworkers and I something else to talk about besides work, something lite and fun.
Felicia – solar nails? I have to go look that up!
tori – I have heard so many good reviews of Lincoln Park After Dark… but I have never looked up what color it is! Time to do that!
Nilsa – Share your tricks! Did she do one stroke down the middle then one on each side?
ajooja – You crack me up! Isn’t it funny that we completely forget about our toenails until they become a problem? (Like cutting into your other toes when you are running?)
BelleEnchanted – Thank you! And Welcome! 😀 Bastille My Heart is such a pretty one! In fact, I think I like ALL the reds that are in that collection. Maybe I will go get a manicure for a treat sometime… I will ask my stylist to recommend someone!
de – We do seem to talk about polish a bit, don’t we? We should branch over to the other desks and see what those girls are doing about polish 😉
Normally I like the manicures b/c the pros do a better job than I ever can it seems…I’m just not as patient. And I like it when I go to a place where they massage your hands or put hot towels over your arms or whatever.
I think I am wearing “Eiffel for this color” right now! I like the color selection of OPI, but I think Essie tends to last a bit longer.
When I see you this week, I will tell you the story of the girl that did my nails yesterdat…she did a good job, but she was WEIRD and her story of why she was working there made me so sad!
diane – I really had to learn to be patient when I paint mine. And even now I just got a chip. Dammit! Maybe I shall try Essie. I am hearing a lot of good things about it! I am so excited I get to see you this week! And hear your story 🙂
I love the OPI nail polish! I really love their Nail Envy. I use it as a base and a top coat. It keeps my nails from chipping and splitting.
I also love the creative names of all the OPI polishes!
Robin – The names ARE fun! I wonder if the marketing team comes up with them, or if the designers get some say too!
I love doing people’s nails! One tip I have is for people who have ridges in their nails or other imperfections. Ridge filler is awesome. You can put it on before or after the base coat or even instead of the base coat. It results in a lovely, smooth bed to apply your polish and can be used as the base if doing a french manicure!
teeni – Is ridge filler just like a clear coat that fills in the gaps? That sounds like a really good tool, because some ridges cannot be filed down.
Most of the ridge fillers I have seen have not been clear – they do look more the color of the base of a french manicure so it is actually good for covering discolorations too. 🙂
teeni – Okay! I will keep my eye out for it!