Tutorial: How To Apply Nail Tip Extensions Like a PRO

HeLLo everyone! Today I'm gonna share what I've learned at the nail school for past few days.

First of all, please, ignore all extra glue around the nails. I like to put a little too much glue when I work with my practice hand because it holds fake nails much better.

Products for use:

U don't have to use the same things as I did. Use what U already have. Also all these products I got from nail school, they are all Odyssey Nail System professional products.

1. Start with short rounded shaped nails. 

2. Pick up 10 appropriate size of regular nail tips and place them on work table in front of U suitable for further use.

Nail tip should completely match nail plate (not bigger, not smaller). For example I pick nail tips based on the coincidence with the middle part of the nails. This method works the best.

3. On each of the nail tip there is specially designed space for gluing. This is easily noticeable on the inner side of nail tips. Apply glue only to specially designated area. Mostly I used gel glue for each nail tip and I also placed one drop of regular nail glue on the middle of each nail tip.

Apply nail tips at the angle of 45 degrees. Spray glue dryer on each finger, gel glue doesn't dry without glue dryer. ( I don't have UV lamp)

4. With a tip cutter cut nail tips and leave free edge for about 1cm (usual length) or any other length on request. 

5. With 150/180 grit nail file blend nail tip extensions to the actual nail. Don't touch/file natural nail, it will damage it. Start filing from the left bottom corner and gradually move to the other side of the nail tip. Sometimes stop and check where else to correct, and in which place is better not to touch more. It doesn't have to be absolutely flat, there will be a small overhang anyways. 

6. Now it's time for sanding file first and next for soft nail file. It will make the nail surface more even and smooth in touch. Using both of sanding and soft files on natural nail is ok.

7. After that with a small scissors cut silc fabric customized for each nail. It is better to insure the nail extensions with piece of fabric simply because just using glue it's not enough, not enough power for extended wear.

8. Place silk on each nail and apply regular nail glue on top of everything. Spray glue dryer to speed up the drying process (regular nail glue can dry by itself nicely!) Make sure to apply glue evenly leaving no silk gaps. 

9. After that use sanding file one more time. Apply regular nail glue and gel glue to finish this step. Spray glue dryer. Make sure it's clear underneath the nail tips by using heart/round shaped nail file. And completely finish of with miracle shiner. 

Of course U can make any other nail shapes like round, oval, pointed or semisquare. But for me it's easy to make square shape on practice hand. 

To remove the extensions: cut off nail tips with nail clipper and use kitchen foil wrapping only use pure acetone. Before do it apply a cuticle oil around the nail so it not dry the skin. 

Summer Juicy Nails

HeLLo everyone! The summer time awakens the most optimistic emotions, isn't it? In the summer of 2012 also trendy coral, yellow, orange, blue, purple and green polishes. And when will experiment with color polish but in the summer! Colorful polishes in perfect harmony with fun jumpers, bright swimsuits and cheerful T-shirts. I don't have anything yellow and orange for eveyrday wear but I thought this color combination will look trendy and suitable for any summer outfits.

My right hand looks a bit different and it's just because of the wrong lighting. I have the same design on my both hands.

How To Get Done This "Summer Juicy Nails":

1. Apply base coat as always. Apply one layer of sheer beige color all over the nails.

2. Sponge neon yellow and neon orange colors on nail free edges only. 

3. Apply any kind of flakies to make everything looks combined.

4. With a small detail brush and black acrylic paint draw some random stripes, commas and dots.

5. Make sure to seal everything with a layer of clear top coat.

Thats it for Summer nail art :) I'm apologize if something doesn't work in my blog I already contacted blogspot team but of course they don't fix it and don't replay. Yeah, they don't work as always! 

Trendy Pedicure For Summer 2012

Summer is just around the corner. And in my case, summer has come for some time already. And it means that toes should be prepared in advance for summer shoes and perfect pedicure. Pedicure trends of this summer will include animal prints, french tips, nude or natural toes. Fashionable shades of nail polish would be all rainbow/colorful shades, all shades of yellow and orange at the height of fashion this season. Pink and crimson shades stays in the trend in 2012 as well. Add glamor and glitz to nails helps metallic shade. This doesn't necessarily have to manicure match a pedicure. Among other innovations in the field of a pedicure is skin-pedicure and phyto-pedicure (cumulative use of medicinal herbs).

Yesterday I've changed my pedicure based on summer trends and I made French tip on my toes for very first time. 

                

       How To Get Pedicure French Tips:

1. Apply base coat and wait untill it completely dries (about 30 mins).

2. Place French Tip stencils and apply French white polish. U can use regular white polish but U'll have to apply a few coats so it looks nice and opaque. 

3. Gentely unstick the stencils.

4. Apply sheer beige polish on all toe nails.

5. Add some decorations, in my case I used some white and black flower stickers.

6. Apply shimmer top coat.

Skin Food - Ruby Party

HeLLo everyone! Feel really tired right now but soooo happy :) My family spent whole day together :) We was at Dinosaur Expo and had so much fun. My kids like absolutely everything especially fighting and moving dinosaurs. Also we had a chance to see 5D movie about dinosaurs of course and it was soooo scary LOL~ I felt like I really flying and submersion all those sounds and wind and even mountain smell like was absolutely realistic. Wow! I'm so impressed by 5D movie effects.

I know a lot of U wanted to see swatches of Skin Food polishes from my previous haul  and today I'm back with one of the most prettiest polish I bought recently.

 Skin Food Party Tox Nail collection Ruby Party polish #2. 2 coats on. Pink jelly polish with lots of micro holo glitters to it as well as light pink hexagons. Very-very sparkling polish with a little bit rough surface. It applies very nice and smooth and dries pretty quick too. Absolutely adorable color suitable for everyone.

 Very hard to get my camera focus because of all bling-bling particles.

I also bought some more Skin Food glitter polishes because I really do like them a lot! The cotton pads and sun cream samples I got for free :)

I swatched and played with all of my new polishes. And all of them looks exactly as in a bottle, except of Aqua Party and Pearl Party they both looks absolutely the same shade.

Edit: I swatched all the Skin Food polishes I've got.  It 2 coats of each color.

I think thats it for today. ThanQ all for taking time and visiting my blog :)

Frill Flower Nails and Skin Food Goodies

HeLLo everyone! I finally am able to try out one of the latest nail art trends on my nails. I mean nail stickers a.k.a. patches. I couldn't use them on my long nails because they are natural and curved but now since I have shorter nails I decided to go out and buy some new patches. The other day I visited Etude House store and looked for their new nail polish collections but everything looks to me very boring except of new magnetic polishes. But I saw only 5 different color and I already have the same shades from other brands. So I end up buying only this patches I'm wearing right now and gel top coats.

My local Etude House store have some different sticker designs and all of them are so cute and girly. I chose this one which looks like Lollita style to me :)

 Etude House Sweet Nail Art Sticker set in Frill Flower. Koreans are humans too and have only 10 finger nails but 2 extra ones was added just in case. 

I really do like the designs and the quality is good enough. It's not cracks after top coat application. But it was hold only 1 day on my nails. After shower procedure at night all my nails was chipped. I will not but them again!

 For the main base color I used VoV Nail Cone collection polish in Beige Muse #1297. The stickers are absolutely not transparent but I like to apply base color at first just in case if some of stickers woudn't suit my nails perfectly. Anyways, this is 2 coats of natural beige color. It has creme finish, dries in normal time but leaves some strips during application. I also think it's because of the brush it's kindda hursh.

Also, yesterday I visited Skin Food store and seems like they have so many new nail polish collections. I just needed black liquid eye liner but I will definitely go back and buy some more polishes from them. Because they are absolutely nice and glittery.

Thats it for today. Have to go back and read more nail art books because I have my first exam in June :)

Meet my "Brand New" short nails

HeLLo everyone! I cut off my nails :( Feel very sad, miss them already but I'm not allowed no one to train on all of my nails (that's my own rule!) I'll give only my 2 thumbs and nothing more! Otherwise I will ask to the school provide me with their own model. As I understand they absolutely don't care in what would nails looks after all acrylic and glue applications! But I do care about my natural growing nails and thats why I'm so upset by the school. As I saw today one girl applied acrylic nails 3 times on all of her nails and prepping and filing was every single time before applications, I was in shock!! Her nails looked like a thin sheet of paper and she felt great because she made the application in time *my bulging eyes*. 

It's only was 4 lessons at nail school but I feel like I hate it with all my heart and can't wait when it will over! I love nails and everything about the nails but I never thought it would be like that. The school and the teacher make me stop caring about my natural nails and think about other stuff like artificial nails, gel nails and fake nail tips and all such FAKE things but it's completely totally absolutely not need to be to concentrate on "step" because people (the most part) in my area like to apply gel nail polish and get some very simple hand care and nail art for everyday wearing and thats all. I understand that it's overall program but they psychological impact on me personal (don't know about other girls in my class tho) and I'm sorry that I started learning it because my love to the nails grows into huge hatred. Because I have to fight for growing my natural nails every single lesson! I love to make my nails nice and beautiful so other women see them and ask to make their own. If women see diseased nail clippings who is gonna ask to do their nails? I'm ready right now to stop and not continue my education, but my hubby is very exciting to open own nail shop/salon and I just can't ruin his plans! These 3 months are gonna be real hell for me. 

On my short nails I have a combination of 2 polishes which are Lioele matte polish in "Merry Green" and Color Club's flakies in "Covered in Diamonds". 

I usually don't like green polishes but this one by Lioele looks absolutely gorgeous when matte finish and with a clear top coat on as well. Very beautiful color. Applies nice and easy. One coat looks very nice and opaque already but I applied 2 layers anyways. It has very wide brush and dries fast.

The flakie polish by Color Club includes green, gold and blue pieces to it. I don't like this polish a lot, the flakies applies very uneven and make a rough surface. Even after 3 days of wearing this polish I still clinging on different things.

This is the shortest nails this year and I will not cut them shorter as the teacher says to me. Now it will only 

growing nails back! The school decided attacking the wrong person, I will grow out my natural nails long in 2 months anyways!! 

"Snake Skin" Nails

HeLLo everyone! Today I had another lesson at the nail school and we learned how to apply artificial nail tips and cover it with a layer of silk. It was very interesting and easy at the same time :) But for further nail care practice I have to cut off my nails which makes me sad for the last few days. 

Also I began to drive the car by myself without my hubby on the seat beside LOL~ I feel much more independent to some extent :)

For today's mani I have "Snake Skin" nail tips on :) I got a lot of compliments for my nails :)

How To Do "Snake Skin" Nails:






1. Apply base coat as always. Apply 1 coat of any sheer beige polish all over the nails.

2. Apply creme white polish on nail tips only.

3. Apply foil glue on white tips and wait about 3-4 mins 'till it dry and then apply "snake skin" foil on.

4. Apply clear nail polish on top of foil it prvents foil from cracking.

5. Apply silver hexagons by using a dotting tool.

6. Seal everything with a good layer of clear top coat.

Thats it for today and for my last post with long nails :)

My Professional Starter Manicure Kit

HeLLo everyone! Yesterday I had another nail lesson and it was cool! My teacher decided to skip the first week lessons of polishing and filing nails for me because I already know how to do that and start with applying artificial nail tips and blending it to one solid nail surface. I've never tried it before and it was very interesting to work on. I actually took all my manicure kit home just to practice more on the last lesson and today I also want to try sculpture white acrylic french tips.

But as I promised I'll show all my manicure stuff I got from the nail school (actually it's called academy).

I have 2 cases which are full packed and both are soooo heavy. It's an Odyssey Nail System products, popular in Korea. 

My black traincase includes all of this >_<  It's kindda everything LOL~ Different numbers of files, clippers, scissors, buffers, dust brush, glue, nail polish remover, aceton, nail polishes, silk wrap, nail forms, acrylic brush #8, nail tips, hand sanitizer, brush cleaner, etc.

And the other case contains all this which doesn't fit in the black one :) The white stuff it's colorful acrylic powders, more acrylic powders in white, pink and clear, set of hand care sample size products like hand mask, hand scrub, lotion, cream, etc. The rhinestone wheel is empty here but I already placed there my own studs :)

So, here are all products I practice at school with.

And actually on my way home I visited Lioele store one more time and bought more Art Club polishes. There wasn't too much of them and I got most of the colors. The cotton pads I got for free.

On my nails I still have the same blue dramatic french mani and white flowers but actually today I'm gonna change it and I have a very good idea for that LOL~ Anyways, thats it for now! Thanx for taking ur time and visiting my blog :) Have a great day U all!

My First Day at Nail School

HeLLo everyone! I want to share experience about my first day in the nail school. So, first of all there is only 3 girls in the class including me. And I already got all my material to practice with ( professional starter kit I'll show in my next blog post, becauce there is a bunch of different stuff and I brought just one traincase with me ). And the books! The first book Korea Nail Art Exchange Association it's just a lot of theory and tests, we are gonna have our first exams later in June. But the second Beauty Stylist Nail Art book is so nice! There is so many information about everything, very basic articles but very helpful at the same time. Basic manicure, pedicure, different kinds of nail disease, hand massage, free hand painting, airbrushing, 3D sculpting and all those type of info!

For example here is an article about table organization of a nail technician.

The location of the nerve cells in the palms and the right and relaxing hand massage.

Basic pedicure.

One-stroke technique.

The very first lesson was totally easy for me because we learened basic nail polishing and filing.

For the polishing the teacher showed 3 different ways (see below). My favourite way to polish nails is the second method. But it never wasn't so principle for me to make only 3 strokes and no more to cover the whole nail, I always thought it isn't matter how many strokes U do with a nail polish brush but the application have to look nice, even and clean. Am I wrong? 

The filing was very arguably for me as well. The teacher said to hold the nail file that way ( see below) and it feels absolutely uncomfortable for me. I more prefer to hold it on the right side and work with the other and not with the middle nail file area. Hmmm...  

Because I already knew how to polishing and filing nails I was "released" early and I went to see some Etude House new nail polish arrivals. Unfortunately thier new Jelly Pop collection is super-super boring, just 2 shades of coral and pink polishes I only bought gel top coat. And there was buy 1 get one free. I got my second top coat for free. Also I bought hand butter which is very moisturizing and I love it and some black lace full image stickers. The BB cream samples and cotton pads I got for free :)

Btw, Etude House have some shades of magnetic polishes, but I already have all those colors from other brands and I didn't any got them.

The next place I visited it was Lioele store. I wanted to try their polishes for a long time but it was quite boring as well. Most of their polishes are Matte finish and I bought only 2 of them Emerald Green and Yellow. Also I found there Art Club polishes and I will definately go back and buy some more! The brush roll is for my nail art brushes to bring them at school safe and the rest of the stuff I got for free as well, forgot to take a picture of some facial mask samples tho...

During these days I'm wearing this nails. Very fresh and summery colors, it's very hot over here already >_<

My right hand doing nice and polished too :P

Thats it for my first day at school. Tomorrow I have another lesson.

But it's all for now :) Thanx for ur time :)