A Nail Hack You Can't Go Another Day Without

If you ever paint your nails, ever at all, you need to know this tip. I tried it yesterday, even amidst a sea of disbelief, and you know what? It honestly worked. Want a fabulous salon-like pedicure without waiting for 6 days for your nails to dry completely? Go into your kitchen and get greasy.

The first attempt, using olive oil cooking spray.

My bestie told me about a hack that she had seen on the Dr. Oz show to make your nails do a usper dry like they do at the salon, but without the fairly expensive finishing spray to dry your paint. Cooking spray, specifically the kind containing olive oil. I removed all of my old polish with 100% acetone (don't bother with that non-acetone stuff, get the hard s***), clipped and filed down the edges of my nails (and for those of you that don't file, I highly suggest it. Use a medium grain file and file the same direction over all of your nails before painting, you get a nice, even edge, it only takes a minute or two and it's seriously worth the extra effort). I did two coats of colored polish, a coat of glitter and two coats of basic top coat, waiting about 1-2 minutes between coats, let it sit for 2 minutes or so and sprayed my feet with cooking spray. It felt wrong, greasy, and slimy. I waited 2 or 3 minutes for the oil to sink in to my skin and rinsed my feet off in the sink with warm water. The rest of the oil I massaged into my toes for softness sake. To my surprise, after washing off the oil, I found that my nails were smooth and dry, if not neccessarily hard as a rock. I could, however, put my shoes on without fretting about marring my pedicure.

I tried it again at a different time, looking for continuity in my Mythbuster's heart, and found that it does work with other types of cooking sprays, but I would say that the olive oil spray specifically works very well. The second time, I used a canola oil spray. While it worked, I would say that my nails did not feel as hard and dry as they did with the olive oil spray.

Cleaned, filed, painted with polish and two coats of clear polish.

Slightly slimy, yet highly moisturized piggies.

Immediately dry and patriotic pedicure.

Why Do I

Why do I...get my nails done?

I am a mother and a wife. I work full time to provide for my family. When I work, my hands have a tendency to get destroyed (anyone that has worked with freight will understand). Within the space of one shift, my nails are generally demolished, no matter how many coats of top polish that I put on or how long I patiently wait for them to dry. However, having my nails done appropriately (generally meaning a full set of gel nails for me) makes me feel more confident. I know that I am the type of person that does take note of minor details, like a person's shoes, or their hands, or if they try a new hairstyle out. Having nail polish that is over half peeled and cracked off makes me feel truly insecure, as if everyone is judging me. As I type it out, I see how utterly ridiculous that it to jump that far, but nonetheless it drives me insane. Having bare nails makes me feel like an unwilling nudist.

I recently started going to a new nail guy with a close friend of mine and I have to say, I know that there are lots and lots of fabulous and important things to put your money towards, but I do not regret getting my nails done. I've been twice now and I love having my lovely nails on every morning when I wake up. My hands look pretty and professional. My fingers look long and delicate. My wedding ring doesn't look as if it's out of place on some raucous teeny-bopper's digits. Above all things, it makes me feel feminine and I treasure that. It's not that I have difficulty in that department generally, I'm not a tomboy by any means, but I do love the feeling of being a precious, beautiful flower of a woman.

Nails by Brandon Tran

Getting my nails done is also the one of the only things I do only for myself. They are the only thing that I consistently spend money on just because I like them. It's a gift to myself. Not because they are necessary by any means, not because I am rolling around in cash and need somewhere to give it to. Just because I think that I am important enough to pamper myself every 4-6 weeks.

Also, it is so much more satisfying to flip someone the bird when the light makes your glitter tips flash in their face, isn't it?

Oh no she didn't!...Yes, yes I did.

What do you do only for yourself?

Let's Talk About...

Let's Talk About...Louboutin nails

Have you seen one of the newest nail trends? The Louboutin manicure. Let me refresh your memory:

They are...different, no? Obviously pulling from an infamous shoe designer who need not be named,

again, these nails are perhaps for the sophisticated few. However, as a girl who currently has a full set on, the underside of a nail is not generally an attractive spot. If you pay attention to details like hands and feet and shoes, as I do (I know I'm not the only one), I'm sure you've been put off from admiring someone's fabulous nails when they flip their hand over and it looks like something you would find on the Walking Dead. It gives an unexpected pop of color, and I do particularly love it under the black nail.

I still like the trend under the nude nail, but it leaves something wanting. Stiletto nail besides, that's for a different post.

What  do you think? Do you like the Louboutin nail, or should we leave the red-bottom's to heels and baboons?