Caviar Mini Bar!!
Now you can add even more texture to your nails, and more excitement to your manicure! The Ciaté Mini Bar comes with 4 solid colored nail polishes and 4 different colored beads. The tiny beads create a cool 3D texture on your nail like nothing else that you have ever seen!
What you do is paint your nail like normal with the solid color polish. After the second coat of polish, you pour the beads generously over the wet nail polish. Gently push down on the beads and let dry.
One downfall is the beads do not stay on for long. Washing your hands, dishes, hair will definitely cause the majority of the beads to fall off. BUT this is great for a party/holiday. The white beads are perfect for New Years Eve! This kit was $30 at Sephora and it is a great value! This kit will last a long time especially if you make sure you use the plastic tray and mini funnel to put the excess beads back into the polish container.
I have not seen this product in salons yet but I think it is only a matter of time! This is a great add-on service to any manicure! Applying the beads is easy and definitely DIY!
Crushed Velvet Nails
“Leading the way in nail art innovation, the latest kit from cult British nail brand Ciaté® brings decadent luxury to your fingertips. Featuring luxurious crushed velvet, this kit was inspired by excessive layering of exuberant textures, which was featured in fashion shows around the globe. The result? A truly unique, sophisticated, strokeable finish” -sephora.com
This kit can be found at Sephora, it includes a deep purple nail polish, the velvet powder, and a brush. What you do is paint one coat of the purple polish on like normal. Let dry for a few minutes. Next, you do the second coat of polish, one nail at a the time, sprinkleing the velvet powder on top of the wet second coat of polish. Brush off excess powder.
I tried this kit today using the instructions provided and I was not completely pleased with the results. The reason isthe velvet powder was barely coming out of the shaker. Next time I use this kit i would transfer the powder into a shaker that would allow for a more generous layer of powder. This kit was $19.00 at Sephora. It is a nice change since sometimes nail polish gets boring! Even if the velvet finish does not last the purpel undertone is really pretty, perfect for fall!!! I hope that the next application is more velvety!
Salon Tipping Advice
- Commission- This is when a stylist gets paid a percentage of the total dollar amount of services they perform. This commission varies by salon and can range anywhere from 30 to 80%
- Independent Contractor- This is when a stylist rents space at a salon. For example, the chair rental may be $500 per month. The stylist then keeps the money from all services performed that month and pays the $500 to the salon owner. This is not the only cost involved though. Often times stylists that are paid this way have to buy all their own products and tools.
- Flat Rate Wage- This is when a stylist gets paid a flat rate, often times minimum wage.
Gel Nail Polish
Artificial nails are becoming a thing of the past! Natural nails are trending, and with the gel nail polish now available in most nail salons your mani can last longer than ever! Gel polish must be applied in a professional nail salon due to the ultra violet technology needed to set the polish. This polish will last at least 2 weeks and will not damage your natural nail bed if removed correctly. Once this polish does start to chip, it is important to resist the urge of picking and visit the nail salon ASAP for professional removal. Many salons offer a gel polish removal/manicure all in one service. If you cannot make it to the salon, soak your nails in pure acetone for 15 minutes and then use a metal cuticle pusher to scrape the polish off the nail. You may have to repeat if the polish is not completely removed on the first round. Remember pure acetone is different than nail polish remover. If you do not have pure acetone you must visit the salon for removal. The best part of gel nail polish is you leave the salon with perfectly dry nails as soon as the service is completed! No more waiting under the dryer for an hour only to smudge your polish buckling your seat belt! The polish hardens and is completely dried by the UV light. This service is more costly than a basic manicure but you will have a polished looks for weeks rather than the few days regular polish lasts for…even if you do the dishes!
Princess For A Day
What do you think about this salon? What would be your thoughts walking into a salon that looked like this? Would you feel like a princess in a fairy tale land or would you think you were in Disney World? Well if you were thinking Disney….you were right! This is a photo of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Walt Disney World. This salon caters to both little girls and boys offering Princess and Knight packages. I would love to work in a salon that looked exactly like this, but that also catered women and girls of all ages! What woman doesn’t want to feel like a princess for the day?! This salon is decorated to perfection and every detail contributes to the overall theme. The custom salon chairs are so cute and I can already picture the menu of services…Princess Pedicures, Magical Manicure, Queen Cuts, Fairy Tale Facials…I love it!
Fall is here!!!
As summer winds down, the best season for fashion and a new style begins…Fall!! My favorite nail color this fall is “Head Mistress” by Essie. This color is part of the Essie 2012 Fall Collection.
- The Perfect 10 Minute Manicure
- Soak fingernails in warm soapy water for at least a minute
- gently push back cuticles with a metal cuticle pusher
- trim fingernails to desired length
- buff nails with a buffer block
- file nails to desired shape
- apply cuticle oil to cuticles and lotion to hands
- wash hands and swipe each nail with nail polish remover (this will make sure all the oils and lotions applied are off the nail and will help your polish to last a long time!)
- apply 2 coats of nail polish and a top coat
These 10 minutes every other week will keep your nails in tip-top shape! Make Monday’s your manicure day! Every Monday change up your polish color and every other Monday do the perfect 10 minute mani!
Welcome to Ashley’s Beauty Salon
Thank you for coming! My name is Ashley and I will be your stylist today!!! This blog will provide all your beauty needs. I will focus on everyday beauty tips for healthy hair, skin, and nails. How to sessions on the latest trends, as well as must have beauty products, salon etiquette, and how to have a spa day on a budget…all your beauty questions will be answered!!
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