My Nail Art Experiments

Hey Everyone,
Every year I try to do something that I have never done before and if it sustains my interest, I try to master is over a period. So, this year my fascination took me to nails. I was always infatuated with nails though toe nails had higher priority than finger nails but then I got nail extensions for my finger nails and wanted to try nail art. I started with nail art and moved on to doing extensions etc.

Sharing few of my nail art designs

#ChristmasNailArt

#ChristmasNailArt

#ChristmasNailArt

#BlackandGoldNailArt

#BlackandWhiteNailArt

#PeacockNailArt

How do you like them. Please share your view in the commets

Signing off for now

Finally... Found my desired Red Nail Paint

Hey Everyone,

If you have been following my blog, you would know how desperately I was searching for a red nail paint... it's not just any red nail paint, It is a particular type of Red Nail Paint (Read here  for more on that)... and finally I am happy to say that I found it before the year ended.

So, without wasting any more time on that, let me introduce you all to my newfound love- Nubar G181 Fire Sparkle. It's a bright red with glitters and with a top coat gives a glassy finish. Absolutely what I was looking for... I found it the first time at BBlunt, RCity while getting a pedicure (Read here). Then I had to get my hands on it and which I did manage to a few weeks ago.

About Nubar Nail Lacquers

Nubar nail lacquers are Formaldehyde, Phthalate and Toluene free. These are few of the commonly found ingredients in nail enamel that are carcinogenic.

The finish is quite opaque even after the first coat. Couldn't wait to click few pics with Fire Sparkle

Nubar G181 Fire Sparkle Without Flash

Nubar G181 Fire Sparkle With Flash

Also, tried some simple nail art using Nubar Nail Art Pens... Another amazing product... will rave about it in another post!!

How do you like my favorite Red? Do leave your comment and share your views

Signing off for now

Quest for the Perfect Pedicure!!

Once you've seen or experienced better things, you cannot come back and be happy with the usual stuff. This is exactly what happened to me after spending few years in Land of Perfection- Japan and Beauty Conscious Singapore.

I love my feet as much as I love my face... a little more maybe ;)

Pedicure is one of my favorite beauty ritual done every 15-20 days. Moving back to Mumbai a little more than a year ago, I started on with my quest to find a place where i can go for my pedicure ritual. I tried almost every possible place- big to small, home service to the biggest salon brands and every time I think  the things are going on perfectly and this could be the go to pedicure place I am looking for... in comes a blunder. And more often than not it would be not applying the base coat while putting on the nail paint... (my pet peeve when it comes to pedicure) and I am back to square one making a note of not going back for pedicure. Another thing that bugs me is when the technicians/ therapists do not understand the difference between a transparent nail paint and a base coat. 

So, coming to the point... I went to BBlunt, RCity Mall, Ghatkoper for threading (Yes... that's where I go to from Powai to get my eyebrows shaped and their Therapist Manju does a fab job every time) and I decided to try their regular pedicure... hoping to get the service I was looking for. 

BBlunt is a well known brand for hair services. I am a regular with them for haircut as well.

Manju took me to their pedicure station and started with the service... Foot salt soak instead of a regular shampoo/ cleanser soak, nail paint removed and cuticles were tended to without cutting off the skin along... the feet were scrubbed to smoothest possible without a hint of dead skin remaining... believe me I've had problem here as well. the heels would be scrubbed for the sake of it and just a day later you can see the dead skin buildup. After finishing off with the foot scrub, followed by a massage, the feet were washed again to take of the remains of the cream. This was the first time I had anybody doing this in Mumbai... usually your feet are just wiped with the towel and that's also not done most of the time unless you instruct them to do so. Again I had my hopes soaring high and I waited for the next step...

I was asked to select the nail paint from a decent collection of more than 30 colours...(10-15 is the usual number that I have seen in most places) and in the meanwhile Manju started on with the base coat application on nails... I mean really? Getting a coat of base coat without asking for it and without listening to why it is not required with the particular nail paint I had chosen (Kidding me... are you??)... I was elated and then she went on with the nail paint and finished off with the top coat. She gave me open toed spa slippers to wear while my nail paint dries and I moved on for getting my eyebrows done... all the while in 7th heaven, blissful and delighted with the pedicure that I had just been through.

Along with that, don't get surprised if I tell you that I found my almost perfect Red nail paint there (if you don't know what I am talking about... read here). The shade is Nubar 181 Fire Sparkle... 

If you talk about the price, I would say it was decently priced at Rs.850/-. The products used were BCL Spa Organic range.

They also have a BBlunt Signature Pedicure, where they use all Dermalogica products priced at Rs.1500/- I am definitely going to try that out as well.

So it looks like I have found my go to place for pedicure... What are your expectations from your pedicure?? Share in comments.

Signing off for now!

Quest for a Perfect Red... Nail Paint... Is it too much to ask for?

RED... a colour that spells Class, Drama, Glamour and Confidence all at the same time.

After being successful in finding my perfect red for lips a few months back, I started on a quest to find the perfect red for my nails.

Red nails have been my favorite for my toes (FYI... I do not much like my fingernails painted as being a makeup artist I prefer to keep my nails short and like them au naturel).

Thanks to Shangri La Nail Salon in Singapore, I found a perfect Red for my toenails with them and never bothered to check the number and not sure of brand also :(

So after moving back to Mumbai, my only mission is to get that similar red. To explain the colour- it was a bright red with glitter finish but smooth texture... something like this China Glaze Ruby Pumps but with smooth texture. 

I am trying to get my hands on Ruby Pumps but till then I tried on various nail paints. In this post, I'll talk about four products-

1. Avon NailWear Pro+ Nail Enamel Firery Sky

2. Chambor Intense Nail Colour #445

3. Faces Hi Shine Nail Enamel Sparkling Cracker

4. Maybelline Color Show Glitter Mania Red Carpet

Now let me share my experience with these shades.

After the first coat, 

Avon was faintest

Chambor was pinkish red

Faces was dark and intense and quite opaque

Maybelline was again a pinkish red with glitters 

After second coat,

Avon was still a very translucent, more like coral red

Chambor gave a fairly opaque red

Faces was dark and intense more or burgundy red (very similar to Marsala- Pantone Colour of the year 2015)

Maybelline opaque but more towards pinkish red.

  

After this, I decided to give another coat for Avon and Chambor to get to know the exact color.

After the third coat of Avon and Chambor,

Avon was still not completely opaque and is coral red

Chambor is a pretty red and quite opaque.

So, the final verdict is-

1. Avon NailWear Pro+ Nail Enamel Firery Sky- even after 3 coats, it's not yet opaque and the color is a kind of coral red. Price is Rs. 135/- for 8 ml (Though I got it for Rs.99/- during sale)

2. Chambor Intense Nail Colour #445- after 3 coats gives the color which is almost like what I am looking for and is quite opaque. Price is Rs.299/- for 9ml.

3. Faces Hi Shine Nail Enamel Sparkling Cracker- gives the most intense color and is opaque in just  a single coat. The color is bit darker than I like but nice nevertheless. Price is Rs. 199/- for 9ml.

4. Maybelline Color Show Glitter Mania Red Carpet- Is a glittery nail color with glittery texture and the color is pinkish red. Price is Rs. 125/- for 6ml

All the nail paints lasts for a fairly good time. Even after 3 days, when I removed them, they were still chip free.

Which one I liked the best??

Avon is the best priced, Chambor gives the desired color (almost) while faces has the best intensity and coverage. But the glassy, jelly like look that I desired is still missing. So, I guess the hunt is still on...

Have you tried any of these colors? How do you feel about them?? Do you have any suggestions to help me with what I am looking for??? Please do leave a comment and help me... Please :'(

Signing off for now