Any nail polish nerds?

Scoot · 01-02-2012, 12:19 AM

This may seem like a totally odd question, but I'm wondering if there are any other chicks out there who are as totally obsessed with nail polish (or even other types of makeup) as I am.

It's a recent hobby of mine. I've worn nail polish pretty much every single day for the past fourteen years, but it was always chipped and I never took the time to take care of my nails. Then, this summer, I decided that healthy nails are pretty nails, and I started taking much better care of my hands. Before I knew it, I had a polish collection of 70 colors! I just installed some beautiful iron racks on a wall in my apartment to display my collection.

It's a little goofy, and I laugh at myself at times, but the way I see it, makeup can be a great way to instantly feel a little fancier, or to quickly change your look, and sometimes we all need that, right? I've never been fond of wearing a lot of facial makeup (too much effort), so my interest has mostly been limited to nail polish, but it bleeds over into lip balms/glosses/lipsticks and eyeliners as well on occasion. I even read cosmetics blogs, and write about my favorite brands/items - it's a little ridiculous.

Anyway, odd hobbies are always more fun when shared! Anybody else into this?

98DaysOfSummer · 01-02-2012, 12:26 AM

I am super lazy when it comes to nail polish and I'm terrible about actually getting manicures and pedicures (almost never, I just wish they were faster!) so I tend to keep super sheer/translucent natural looking colors on my fingers and toes because they look tidy.

However, I just got this really great polish from Sephora that I am loving. It's a dark silver/gray and when you hold a magnet over the wet polish, it makes patterns. So cool. I don't like long nails, and I really like dark polish on short tidy nails so this has been fun for me.

FeelinIt · 01-02-2012, 12:28 AM

ever try water marbling?? Its a bit of a process but you'll get more compliments on your nails than ever before!!
youtube: nail art water marble
so much fun!

Scoot · 01-02-2012, 12:30 AM

98DaysofSummer: I've seen that stuff! Nails Inc., right? It looks so cool, but I guess I always figure I would somehow not do it "right." I also prefer short tidy nails. My mom keeps her claws long and it always drives me nuts! I think dark polish on short nails looks incredibly chic and sexy.

I could do some serious damage at Sephora. -_-

Scoot · 01-02-2012, 12:31 AM

FeelinIt: I have! It didn't work out

My polish wouldn't "spread" in the water, even though I tried several different brands/colors. After about fifteen tries I managed to get ONE decent nail, but I ended up deciding it was too much work! I don't know how people manage to get the excellent results I see online. It's incredible.

98DaysOfSummer · 01-02-2012, 12:34 AM

The magnetic thing could not be easier. One thin coat, let it dry, one thicker and hold the magnet over each nail as you do it. I am AWFUL with nail polish and I can do it, I'm sure you can. It's so neat! I want the other two colors now.

treasureBelle · 01-03-2012, 07:32 AM

I love nail varnish; I recently received quite a lot for Christmas, which I was extremely pleased with!

I've never really got the hang of make-up; my eyes are to small for eye shadow, I'm sensitive around my eyes (so don't like eyeliner), I generally don't have a clue, and I'm a low maintenance kind of girl. Nail varnish is my saving grace - I love applying it, how simple it is, and it makes me feel that bit prettier.

Scoot, I am so jealous of your nail varnish rack - it sounds awesome.

Scoot · 01-04-2012, 11:17 PM

98DaysofSummer: Neat! I'll have to try it out sometime soon (as though I needed an excuse to add to my collection)

treasurebelle: Yeah, I just don't really have the patience for full facial makeup. I have oily skin - especially my eyelids - so anything I spend time carefully applying looks beautiful for about an hour and then slides right off, unless I cake on so much powder I look ghostly.

These are my racks though!

treasureBelle · 01-05-2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoot

These are my racks though!

Wow. I'm even more jealous now I've actually seen it. That's brilliant!

torito · 01-06-2012, 12:18 AM

I am jealous of the racks too!
My sister brought me up taking care of her nails, so I try to do the same with mine. They're a decent length (like 'fake nail' length), but I don't cry when one breaks so usually they're all different lengths haha.
I love doing my left hand (since I'm right handed) but I hate doing my right lol. I usually just do a plain french manicure, and my sister begs me to do hers whenever I'm over.
I just got the metallic polish while on vacation and I love it. I got the 3 colors for 30 bucks instead of paying 16 for one.. hehe.
I like to do nail art too, I haven't tried the water thought since I've been away from home for 6 months so all my good polishes were here.
I did moustaches for movember that everyone commented on.

Tina21 · 01-13-2012, 06:19 PM

Omg I only have 2 OPI polishes! Jealous! I have acrylics only because I'm a biter otherwise! I tried nail wraps for the first time on my toes, and they're definately not budging!

JellyBelly1908 · 01-14-2012, 02:32 PM

I love nail polish and have a huge collection! I love the pics of yours!!!

I need to get something similar, lol.

LW12 · 01-14-2012, 02:41 PM

I love nail polishes & make-up etc. At work I can't wear make-up or nail polish so its nice at the weekends to "treat" myself & put it all on. I had to google the water marbling thing. It looks so cool but I really don't know how anyone could do that for 10 nails. I would go insane!

4star · 01-14-2012, 03:08 PM

Gosh, I love those nail polish racks and your collection! Just the other day I got so excited to find out that Essie had come out with 5 new metallic colors!

I like to keep my toes done. Nail polish on my hands never seems to last long so I try to keep them filed and buffed to a shine. I still love my nail polish and settling down in a foot soak to make my toes all pretty.

I also love trying out new make-up techniques. I stick with certain colors but I have my make-up down to 5 minutes and it looks pretty great, even if I do say so myself.

Telorida · 01-14-2012, 03:33 PM

I can relate to this!

Until 2011, I was a chronic nail biter. My nail beds and smile-lines are uneven and damaged probably forever because of it, but that's ok. My New Year's resolution last year was to STOP. So I got myself a very nice manicure kit and any time I wanted to bite, I filed instead. I started to realize I bit my nails only when they were uneven. So mini-manicures were the solution.

About April, I started polishing them because they were getting LONG and NICE. But when the polish got imperfect, I would pick at it all because it bothered me.

I have never liked the bulky feel of acrylic nails, not to mention the damage done to the natural nail... so I was skeptical when a girl at work started getting manicures done with Creative Nail Design's Shellac. It had a mirror finish, lasted about 10 days without chipping or peeling, and was amazing. I went to get it done and loved it.

The second time I got it done, I paid close attention. It didn't look that hard to do - just needed the products and a UV light. When my nail tech left the shop I went to, I decided it was time to learn to do it myself. I googled and found a TON of at-home shellac-artists. My birthday gift was a light, top coat, bottom coat, nail art brush set, and a handful of colors.

I LOVE IT SO MUCH!