Textured treats

This summer it's all about nail textures and effects! Instead of simply having either matte or shiny nails why not be more daring and fun with the various texture polishes that are out there. We have already seen the launch of the Velvet Manicure earlier this year and now the nail world has released new textures to treat us. There are textures for every occasion and for everyone's style and here I have picked my favourites.

Illamasqua Speckled Nail Varnish gives an affect similar to a birds egg with the small speckles in the polish. The polishes come in pastel shades of blue and mint with contrasting speckles for maximum affect. I love this texture. This look was seen on the cover of Scratch magazine for their Easter edition! If your wanting these beautiful polishes then don't be shy as these are limited edition and I'm sure they won't be in stores for long.

Every summer the rock and roll trend comes into fashion and this summer it's no different. Nails Inc have launched their leather look texture nail polish. This polish when dry gives the look of matte leather and the pack even gives you an extra rock and roll edge with small skulls that can be applied to your nails too! These nails are sure to rock your summer nights. The "Bling It On Leather & Skulls" pack is on sale now at www.nailsinc.com. This style has even been seen worn by Alexa Chung!

OPI have done it again. They have launched a new range and instantly started a new nail trend. OPI have created a Liquid Sand nail varnish range. Most glitter polishes need more than 2 coats to give all over glitter coverage but with the liquid sand technology the glitter is evenly and heavily distributed giving excellent coverage. The effect when the polish is dry is matte and rough giving the look and feel of sand. These polishes come in various colours including a limited edition James Bond vixen range too with colours being named after characters such as Pussy Galore and Jinx. If you've ever wanted to be a Bond girl then how's your chance!

Magnetic polishes aren't new but Essie have revamp the look. They have created a range of polishes that comes with a magnet that will, when used over two coats of the nail polish, create a reptile skin texture! The deep burgundy shade called "Sssssexy" is my favourite. Simple but affective this polish is perfect for summer holidays and parties.

Nails Inc are spoiling us with yet another 2 textured polishes! Yes 2! The first is a denim effect polish. This polish when applied is glossy but dries down to a matte textured finish. Just like denim! The double denim trend can now be worn on your nails. Amazing. The next is a Concrete effect! This polish dries matte and grainy just like concrete. Including doing the obvious grey colour varnish Nails Inc have decided to go bright with tones of blue, yellow and red for an ultra summery look. Stunning.

So whatever your style and for whatever occasion you can have amazing textured nails in beautiful colours. I can't wait to see what textures you'll choose for summer! Let me know which are your favourites in the comments below! Remember to sparkle to the tip!

Bio Sculpture

The phenomenon that is Bio Sculpture is a nail treatment that promotes the growth of your natural nails. The products cure under a U.V.A light and with 150 colours it's hard not to resist. The colours are super strong, soak off easily, non chipping and hard wearing but when removed does no damage to your natural nails. The products require no buffing, no primer or bonding before applying the colour meaning that there is no dehydration of the nails helping to keep the your nails as healthy as possible. Helping to promote their growth. Bio Sculpture is the original and is still the only soak off gel brand that can reshape and sculpt while still promoting the health of the natural nail.

Bio Sculpture have had many firsts in the nail industry since 1988. To start with it was registered as the world first soak off gel that cured under UV light and created a hard wearing crystal clear finish. In the same year Bio

Sculpture then created Sculpting Gel. A gel that was flexible and that could create a natural. Looking nail extension. Two firsts in the same year for the nail world. In 2010 they released Treatment Gels that helped technicians customise nail treatments to their individual client needs. Since then has expanded in to 30 different countries making them the leading nail care brand and is only getting bigger.

The colours are updated twice a year for spring/summer and for autumn/winter. Meaning you will always have that seasons hottest colours asap. The colours are amazing. With every shade of purple, blue , pink and nude imaginable the range just keeps growing. With he addition of glitter and florescent colours. Offering nail technicians even more nail possibilities.

Since its release in 1990 "pilar box red" still to this day remains as their most popular colour that created a non chip colour for three whole weeks. They now even offer nail wraps and nail art.

With few salons offering this service many mobile nail technicians are keen to start the Bio Sculpture Course that teaches technicians how to use their products and can even offer then clients! Looks like we will be seeing a lot more of Bio Sculpture. Remember to sparkle to the tip!

Perfect painting

Nobody wants boring nails, anyone who's into fashion and beauty knows how important it is for your nails to look stunning. They help to perfect and finish off any look and can change your whole image. Choosing the right colour polish to top your nails is essential. With all of the amazing colours and effects available it can become easy to forget that painting your nails correctly and neatly can be quite difficult and time consuming. However, although it is time consuming they will be completely worth it. Here are some hints and tips on how to paint your nails like a professional.

Always remove any old nail polish that is already on your nails, even if chipped. Remember to file and shape your nails prior to applying colour too along with removing cuticles for fantastic looking nails. Always use a base coat to keep your nails from turning an unhealthy yellow shade and always apply a base coast before your coloured nail polish. Start at the white half-moon above the cuticle and apply in an upward motion. Let the base coat dry for 4 to 5 minutes before attempting to apply colour. This will help the colour polish to stick to the nail more easily. It also helps to pretext your natural nails from the damaging effects of polish such as staining and peeling, along with giving your nail polish a more even texture. 

Apply two coats of polish for a professional, salon-quality finish, remember to allow each coat to dry before applying the next one. This will help you avoid messing up your manicure. Start painting your nails with a stripe in the centre of your nail, then to the left and then a final stripe to the right covering the whole nail. This helps to subtly focus the colour in the centre of the nail. Letting your nails dry while sitting around doing nothing can be boring, but it’s also the only way to make sure you don’t smudge your polish after applying it. Plus, it might be a good excuse to get some much needed down time. Practise makes perfect. 

If you've gotten some nail polish on your cuticles, fingers or anywhere else, don't worry. Dip a Q-tip in some nail polish remover and gently remove the extra polish. This will make sure your nail polish job is clean and neat. Then apply a top coat. This helps to add extra shine to the nail polish and it also helps to seal and protect the colour, giving you at least an extra week out of the nail polish. Finish off your nails by applying cuticle oil to help keep your cuticles healthy and moisturised. 

Then you have beautiful nails for at least 2 weeks. Enjoy making your nails look amazing in lots of different polish colours and polish textures and always remember to sparkle to the tip!

Little Minx

Minx nails are known nation wide for being the go to nail brand for nail wraps. Minx creators Dawn Lynch-Goodwin and Janice Jordan have traveled the globe extending fashion to your fingertips and have done the nails of A list celebrities such as Rihanna, Katy Perry and Beyonce along with collaborating with high profile designers such as Alexander McQueen and Thierry Mugler. Their nail work has even been on the covers of Vogue and Harpers Bazaar. Very impressive. Minx have created many collections of nail wraps each with a separate theme or trend each as stunning as the last. My favourite collections are the spring and summer 2013 collection which is filled with pastels, brights and even a 2 metallic tones an the Boutique collection which is filled with Baroque style prints in deep purples and golds. The collections that Minx offer range from highly decorative printed nails to very classic and simple which means there is a style and colour to suit everyone's taste.

Minx nails are a flexible film that shrink-wraps to natural, gel, and acrylic nails using heat. With the application time only being on average 30 minutes you can have stunning celebrity nails in no time! Removing the nails are also a breeze, simple use heat to break the seal and peal off starting from the sides. Minx nails last on average about 14 days on finger nails and 4-6 on toes giving you great wear and style that lasts. No smudge and no chips! Seasoned technicians can even go on a Minx nail course which teaches how to properly apply their products and how to properly remove them meaning you can then pass on your Minx talents onto your clients. Your clients will love this as Minx Nail Wraps are not available to consumers directly but cost no more than a bottle of ordinary polish. Wow.

It's Minx Nails 5th Birthday this year so what will Minx surprise us with next? I can't wait to see. Remember to sparkle to the tip!

The Miracle Oil

It's essential to have good looking and healthy nails and Dadi Oil is the answer to weak, dry and brittle nails, adding shine and strength. The luxurious oil helps with flexibility and preventing brittleness meaning its perfect for dry skin on your hands. Dadi Oil is a 95% certified organic nail treatment which penetrates deep in to the skin and nails promoting health. The oils can be purchased in large and small amounts which makes daily use simple. The miniature Dadi Oils are perfect for carrying around with you in your bag then you can ensure you always have great looking skin and nails. The oil is also non-greasy meaning you doubt have to worry about your skin feeling greasy after application.

Dadi Oil is infused with a beautiful blend if 21 of natural essential oils including Citrus, Vanilla, Lemon, Bergamot, Rosemary, Lemongrass and Lavender giving the oil a stunning fragrance. Application is also so simple and quick which means it can be perfectly added into nail treatments. To apply simply massage the oil into the cuticle and the surrounding skin. Then massage any excess oil into the hands.

I love using this product and use it on all of my clients to protect healthy skin and nails. This product can be bought at any wholesalers. Remember to sparkle to the tip!

Your best foot forward

We all love a good manicure and even better is a pedicure to go with your fantastic new nails. The Footsie Bath Beverly Hills Foot Spa is the way forward for pedicures. Sleek, professional and durable.

The bath comes with 10 disposable liners which are fitted to the tub making it look professional. The liners also help with cleaning and tidying too with them being one use.

The bath also has a generous 7 foot long retractable cable meaning that there are no dangerous cords lying on the floor and it also helps keep to you station tidy and professional.

The tub is 6" deep offering enough water to give a therapeutic soak and allows for foot treatments such as masks, creams and scrubs to be washed away easily without spilling.

The bath has vibration function offering your clients a gentle massage during their soak. The "noise reduction" system ensures that the vibrations are as quiets a possible helping you maintain your calm an relaxing atmosphere and station you need. The bath offers four vibration functions meaning you can choose one specially for your clients needs. The functions are "heat and vibrate", "heat only", "vibrate only" and "off". Perfect for ultra relaxation. You can even control the temperature of the water to suit your client!

I'm certain this will be huge or pedicures in every salon and used by nail technicians everywhere. Remember to sparkle to the tip!

Professional Beauty London 2013

Sunday was the Professional Beauty show in London. This is one of many various major events to happen in the beauty calendar with all the major nail brands such as OPI, Essie and IBD along with new brands that had just been launched at the event such as Morgan Taylor. The event was held at London Excel and was home to everything beauty from teeth whitening, tanning, massages, make up and nails! Free samples, try outs and demonstrations were everywhere. Along with booklets and leaflets galore.

Many stands holding offers on their products, for example the teeth whitening brands discounted the pricing from around £263 to just £60! I had the pleasure of trying out a new eye massager called Anti-Ageing Eye Care & Eye Massage Mask that helps to make the muscles and skin around your eyes firmer and help slow down ageing. Along with a hand an arm massage from Clarins.

There was also a stand for Bio Sculpture. They had manicures being performed along with selling their training courses and products. I was excited to receive a free product from Morgan Taylor a new professional brand supported by Luella Belle (product review coming on this soon). I also purchased the Beverly Hills footsie bath (another product review coming). I was very excited to get my hands on some of the ultimate fix a brand new product for nail drying.

The day seemed very busy with lots of people from the beauty industry as well as a little visit from Lauren (The only way is Essex) promoting her tanning range Lauren's way.

The event was a great success for me. I got my hands on some very exciting products and can't wait to get reviewing these. I thought the location was great the facilities were very modern. Really looking forward to the next one now!

Remember to sparkle to the tip!