Can gel polish or gel extensions be removed at home? Yes, they can, but I always recommend having gel polish or gel extensions removed by a professional. If, for some reason, you are unable to make an appointment to see me, or can’t get to a professional salon, then you can do it yourself using…
gel nail polish
A-Z of Nail Terminology
How good is your nail terminology? If you have your nails done by a professional, or you use nail care products, you may have heard a few of these words, but do you know what they mean? ACRYLIC Known by nail technicians as Liquid and Powder (because all nail enhancements, including gel polish, are a…
How to have fabulous feet
With summer on the way, make sure that you have fabulous feet to go along with those strappy sandals! Yes, people do notice your toenails, especially if you’re wearing sandals, jandals, or going barefoot on the beach. If you don’t like the feeling of having someone touch your feet and won’t pay to have a…
Everything you need to know about Nail Extensions
Nail extensions, also known as acrylics, hard gels, fake nails, false nails, fashion nails, or nail enhancements, are coverings placed over natural fingernails to provide extra length or strength, or are worn as fashion accessories. Most nail extensions are sculpted to look like the natural nail a much as possible, while fashion nails are often…
How to look after your hands
Dry hands and uneven cuticles can be unattractive, uncomfortable and sometimes even painful, especially in winter when extremely dry skin can snag, crack and bleed. Looking after your hands and cuticles with a few simple tips can help to keep them soft, supple and nourished and make them look years younger! As with most things,…
Gold Leaf Nail Art Tutorial
This Gold Leaf Nail Art Tutorial is created using gold leaf foil and is fairly simple, so it may be possible for it to be recreated at home using traditional nail polish (if you have the patience to wait for the coats to dry), even though I did this using gel. I’ll do the steps…
Marbled Nail Art Tutorial
For this marbled nail art tutorial you’ll need: – Nail polish remover – lint-free wipes or cotton pads – an orangewood cuticle stick or cuticle pusher – 180-grit buffer or a buffing block (the ones with 4 different sides) – a 180-grit nail file – base coat – three contrasting nail polish colours of your…
What you need to know about different nail shapes
Have you ever noticed some of the more “exotic” nail shapes out there, while watching TV or paging through a magazine? This article explains the difference between the nail shapes and whether or not they’re suitable for natural nails or can only be done using acrylic or hard gel extensions. The first four nail shapes…
How to maintain your manicure
After paying to have your nails expertly done, you leave the salon and that’s it until your next appointment, right? Not exactly. Maintaining your manicure (or pedicure) requires a little bit of work from you once you get home. By doing a little at-home maintenance, you can get the most out of the service that…
Gel vs Acrylic Nails
Gel vs Acrylic nail extensions, which are best? Hopefully this will answer some of the questions you may have regarding the differences between gel and acrylic nail enhancements. All gel enhancements mentioned below refer to hard gel which is sculpted in a similar way to acrylic, and does not refer to gel nail polish (which…