Long, perfectly manicured fingernails have been a fleeting thought of mine for a long time. Although I continually get my nails done, for a very long time I picked at my cuticles (gross, I know), picked at the polish when I was stressed and generally did not treat my nails particularly well, despite spending money on getting them done all the time. So they peeled and broke, and through a lack of any real effort to change my behavior, they looked like hell.
All the while, my amazing manicurist would tell me to put on Nailtiques in between manicures. It’s a protein that supposedly helps your nails grow.
Well, I finally listened to her, and guess what? It works! It is a freaking miracle. It takes about 30 seconds to apply the top coat daily, and another 2 minutes to dry, so really there are no excuses. The other amazing thing? Polish lasts for weeks. Seriously. I have had my nails done, applied Nailtiques every day, and two weeks later my polish looks good as new – and this is not the gel stuff, either; just regular polish.
You have to understand, I have been getting my nails done by the same person for a really long time. We have a relationship. Well, pretty much everyone at the salon has a relationship, as most customers have been going there for years – some twenty years, some fifteen, but all have been longtime customers. It is truly an amazing place. (And, no, it is not in Key West, it is in Hallandale, so if you are looking for a great salon in Key West, keep looking. I have yet to find one that is really outstanding. Nailtini was OK in a pinch, but Paradise of Beauty is where I will continue going for as long as possible.)
The other part of the nail obsession is color. Whenever new colors come out and they seem a bit extreme, the folks at the nail salon know that undoubtedly I will try even the most outlandish color. Why? It is nail polish. It is not a big commitment and if I hate it, I can just remove it. It is that simple. To that end, I have tried it all: the weird texture that is inspired by caviar (which I wore for Fantasy Fest with my Champagne costume and FKGuy’s caviar ensemble.) I have tried the one-finger-a-different-color, which usually results in people asking me “what it means”. Hint: It means nothing; it is just nail polish. Thought my
favorite today (subject to change tomorrow, because it is just polish) is the reverse French manicure, with dark purple tips and nude nails. Fabulous.
OK, I am off to plan my next fabulous manicure color/texture/design, but am open to suggestions. I think I will also have to solicit Nailtiques to become a spokesperson, don’t you think?
