Nailette

The destination for all things nail: manicure tips, nail art designs, DIY nail hacks & more

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5 Great Gift Ideas for the Nail Polish Addict in Your Life

We all have that one friend who always has a new color on their nails, who is always wearing the coolest, cutest, most amazing nail art designs... that they painted themselves!

You'd love to get them something special, but another bottle of nail polish? They've got plenty of those. Try a gift subscription to Nailette for the latest and greatest colors, or get them something creative and fun that will surprise them (in a good way), and prove that you know just how much they love nail polish.

1) Donuts + Nail Polish = Best. Combination. Ever!

Get these fun and extremely adorable nail stickers here.

2) Every time they scroll through pics of mani/pedis on Instagram . . . they'll think of you!

This Etsy store makes nail-polish phone cases in a handful of colors!

3) Give them a practical gift they can use in their everyday nail-care routine!

Their nails will feel great, and smell great with this rose scented cuticle oil!

4) Add a personalized and colorful touch to your gift!

You get to choose the color and the name that goes on this beautiful glass nail file!

5) Mixing room decor with nail decor, it's decor-ception!!

This poster comes in a range of pre-made color schemes or you can customize one yourself!

You know that they love nail polish a LOT, so why not make their day and give them a gift that they'll love just as much?

- Sasha C.

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3 Surprising Ways Nail Polish can Improve Your Life

In this series, we explore creative ways of using nail polish to make positive life changes. See Part I here.

Most of the time, we paint our nails for the sole purpose of having them look pretty, but there are actually real life uses for painting your nails. Many of these you may have experienced, such as a change in mood, or a feeling that you get when looking at the color of your nails. There are also ways to paint your nails to break habits or remind you of something.

1. Improved mood

Certain (colors) are often associated with certain feelings, so painting your nails a certain color will make you feel a certain emotion when you look at them. For example, painting your nails yellow would boost your mood, while painting your nails black would make you feel powerful. You’ve probably experienced the emotion you get when looking at a certain color, and painting it on your nails would make you feel that emotion often.

Rihanna knows what's up with yellow (except for her middle finger..?)

2. Prompts memories

Not only can colors make you feel certain emotions, they can remind you of certain things. One comparison is getting tattoos. People often get tattoos to call to mind a happy memory or feeling, such as an image from their favorite childhood book, or a picture of a loved one. For my nails, neon colors remind me of summer and the beach, so a bright color might be useful if you’re feeling those mid-winter blues.

Suuuummer!

3. Breaks habits

Another use for painting your nails is to break habits. We all have bad habits such as overeating and being on our phones too much, and we can try to break these habits by using nail polish. To do so, paint one or all of your fingers in a dark, noticeable color and link that to your bad habit. Anytime you perform your habit, you will see your fingers, and it will remind you not to do something. Used in this way, glancing at your hands might just stop you from eating that extra piece of candy.

Alternatively, when you're about to indulge in your bad habit, you could try painting your nails instead. You won’t be able to do much until the paint dries, and hopefully by the time it does, the temptation will have passed. TV star Tory Johnson used this strategy to lose 72 lbs. in 20 months. Another strategy might be painting one nail each day you're successful, with the goal of getting all 10 painted.

As you can see, nail polish can be very effective for more things than just looking pretty. And even if symbolism is not your thing, painting your nails in your favorite color should be enough to make you feel good every time you look at them.

- Maggie S.

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Loving this #pink power strip by @Quirky

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Q&A with the Founder of Sweet Baby by Donna on Etsy

October Nailette boxes are on the way! In them we’ve included a special voucher for SweetBabyByDonna, our favorite nail care shop on Etsy. With a 5-star rating by 200+ users, Donna’s cuticle oils are hand made, natural, and come in a variety of delectable scents like Pink Sugar and Orange Creamsicle. It's the personal favorite of Yeari, the nail blogger behind The Crafty Ninja. Learn more about Donna and how she got started on Etsy below.

1. Tell us a bit about you.

I am a mom of two, ages 7 and 3. I have a wonderfully supportive husband. These three people completely fill my life! I have a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and I work full time at MD Anderson Cancer Center for the Integrative Medicine Clinic. I work on the regulatory side of our research. We run studies to help improve the quality of life of Cancer patients (acupuncture, massage, meditation, yoga, etc). If people would like to learn about what I do for my day job, they can Google “Lorenzo Cohen” and read all about what we do with and for cancer patients.

2. How did you get started with your Etsy shop, Sweet Baby? I became interested in nail art about two years ago. I’ve always enjoyed painting my nails and going to the salon but I got frustrated with salon manis because they were never very good and wouldn’t last past one day. A co-worker told me how I needed Seche Vite and another co-worker introduced me to the online nail community. I was hooked! As time went by I was having a hard time keeping my hands and fingers moisturized. Between the hand sanitizer and harsh antibiotic soap at work plus the chemicals from polishing my hands were really suffering. So I talked to one of the massage/aromatherapists I work with as well as my carpooler at the time because she made all of her own skin and hair products. I learned what ingredients target the skin and nail problems from over-washing and chemical use.

3. What’s most unique about your products? I love to blend my scents. Only one of them is exactly how it’s sold and that’s Pink Sugar. All of my other scents are blends I’ve created using essential oil and/or fragrance. My products are vegan friendly (except for the lip balm, it has beeswax) and soy/gluten free. (You don’t have to add this but it’s just interesting to know: The FDA has registered shea butter and argan oil as nuts but they are both known has having very little or no adverse reactions. I have a friend that’s allergic to almost everything and she has absolutely no problems with my products.)

Mmmm...apple pie, a favorite fall scent

4. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned about handmade vs. store-bought products since you started? Even before I started I preferred handmade over store-bought. I like being able to know the person and having that connection. But also the product itself can be a better quality than what is found in stores. The person pours so much of their heart and soul into what they do and it shows.

Burt's Bees on the left and Donna's on the right. See comparison review here.

5. If you had to pick between cuticle oil and cuticle balm, which would you choose? Ah I can’t! In the warmer months I prefer oil and balm in the winter months. But I don’t just use it on my cuticles. I use both all over my hands, on my elbow, and knees. I have actually stopped using lotion and moisturizers because oil is so superior. I have made body and facial oils for myself. I love how they don’t leave my skin sticky and slimy like lotion. So I guess if I had to give one up, I would give up balm since I use oil all over my body. But I sure would hate to give up balm!!

Sweet Baby cuticle oils come in a rollerball bottle for easy application

6. Any additional comments? Thanks Lynn for giving me the opportunity to share a little about myself and SweetBaby! I love reading things like this about my favorite indie brands so it has been a pleasure having a chance to share.

Enjoy and look out for another special collaboration in November boxes!

- Team Nailette

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Thoughts on Essie's new nail polish vending machines at airports? #essie #nails

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A Simple Guide to Making Your Own All-Natural Makeup Remover

Store-bought makeup removers are usually pretty hit-or-miss; often times they can sting your eyes and even cause acne. Removers can also be pretty pricey at up to $20 for just a tiny bottle!

So - today, we're going to teach you how to make your own DIY makeup remover using common household items. It's gentle on the skin and you probably already have most (or all) of the ingredients. And best of all, it works really well!

You Will Need:

- extra virgin olive oil

- liquid soap (I suggest Johnson's Baby Shampoo, because it is formulated especially to be gentle on the eyes, but you can use anything you have)

- water

- a container to store your makeup remover in (the container should have a lid that seals tightly so that you can shake up the product)

- measuring spoons

optional: a funnel to make the process easier

Let's get DIY-ing!

1) Add to your container: 4 tablespoons of liquid soap, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of water. (You can use whatever measurements fit in your container, but I think these proportions work well)

Once you pour your ingredients in, it's fun to let them sit for a minute and separate, before you shake it all up, so you can see the different layers.

What do the ingredients do? The liquid soap is the main thing that will be taking off your makeup, though the olive oil will help out a bit with that. The olive oil will mostly be moisturizing your skin, so when you rinse off your face, your skin will be nice and smooth.

2) Once all of your ingredients are in your container, make sure the cap is on very tightly, and shake until the ingredients are well combined.

This is what it looks like shaken up. Note that after the first time, it won't be as bubbly when you shake it up again.

And you're done!!

To use, just pour a bit on a cotton pad or washcloth and wipe away your makeup with ease. Then rinse off your face with water. It's as simple as that!

In just 5 minutes, you have your very own makeup remover. Whenever you want to use it, make sure to shake it up a bit, as the different parts will separate. I also suggest storing your makeup remover in the fridge, which will make it keep longer and will have a soothing and cooling affect when you apply it.

This makeup remover will last a few weeks, but I would recommend making a new batch every 2 weeks or so. Luckily, an entire bottle of soap and oil will serve for a LOT of batches! (Store-bought makeup removers last a lot longer because they have quite a few chemicals and preservatives in them.)

Enjoy!

-Sasha C.

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Quiz time: do you know what fruit this is? Would you eat it? #green #orange #yellow

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The Best Manicures from New York Fashion Week

Kye

At Kye, the model's nails were painted with matte black and white geometric designs.

Nonoo

The watermelon pink stripe down the middle of the white nails creates a clean but fun look.

Tibi

The imperfect black dots make these nails the perfect balance between messy and simple.

Angel Sanchez

This simple look at Angel Sanchez is unique and would look good in virtually any color combination.

Creatures of Comfort

This color block manicure is creative and uncomplicated. These nails would also look good in many colors.

Rebecca Minkoff

These nails are eye-catching in the coolest way possible. They might be a  little more difficult to attempt at home, though.

Desigual

This crazy, fun, colorful design is exactly what I would expect from Desigual. 

Ann Yee

This manicure is easy and clean. The different sized stripes keep it from getting too boring.

Carmen Marc Valvo

  The matte black is edgy and eye-catching, and the tiny silver stripe keeps it interesting and fashionable.

Wes Gordon

I really like the messiness of the manicure. The stripes make it almost tribal, but the neutral colors make it natural.

Sophia Theallet

The colors keep make these nails interesting and fun. I love how the two tip colors eliminate the need for any color on the rest of the nail.

Bibhu Mohapatra

These nails have a fierce design, but the colors make it more subdued.

Delpozo

There were a lot of half moon designs at NYFW. This once stood out because of the simpleness and color choice. 

Erin Fetherston

This design is ladylike and simple, and the clean gold stripe makes it stand out. Try a design like this for an interesting and classic manicure.

Lela Rose

The gray dot makes this design clean and modern.

Nanette Lepore

The blue ombre is clean and trendy. It reminds me of the ocean, and would be a nice farewell-to-summer design.

- Maggie S.

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It's #fall! #yellow #nature #trees

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A bright true #red by the amazing @tlsutter to celebrate the last day of #summer! #nails #celebritymanicurist

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5 Ways to Save Money on Nail Polish

A flourishing nail polish habit can quickly become expensive. From a growing collection of varnishes, in various colors, finishes, and textures, to an arsenal of nail decorating tools and embellishments, you may find yourself breaking the bank all too often. But never fear! We are here to help you keep your piggy-bank stuffed without putting a damper on your polishing pleasures.

Tip #1: MINIS for the win!!

At drugstores, like CVS or Walgreens, full sized polishes can cost anywhere from $8-10 (for a regular nail polish) or $12-20+ (for gel polishes and kits). At higher end stores like Sephora and Macy’s, the prices climb even higher, and still for only one full-sized nail polish. Purchasing mini nail polishes is a great way to get more bang for your buck and save a bit of cash, especially since even the tiniest bottles can last you 19+ double-coat applications. See us swatch a mini OPI here.

Tip #2: Hoist the flag and raise the SALES!

Always (always!) check the sale sections of beauty stores. You never know when you can score a bargain color at half price. Some of the best places to find these deals are TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Nordstrom Rack, and even Ross.

Of course, The one major downside to this approach is that most of the available colors will be ones that didn't sell as well. For instance, while I love Butter London, the only colors I spotted for 50% off at a Nordstrom Rack a few months back were Cream Tea (a boring white that took me 5 coats to be opaque) and Squatter (a sort of sickly looking green). Meh.

Squatter...a bit to green for my taste

Tip #3: Set up a SWAP!

Your friend was wearing such a cute color nail polish the other day and that shade would look fab on you! But you already have sooo many polishes and are running a bit low on cash. What to do? Try trading! Offer to lend her one of your polishes in exchange for one of hers. If you absolutely love it, then you can think about purchasing one for yourself later, or (fingers crossed) maybe she’ll even let you keep it!

How about trying  . a swap party! Call up a bunch of your best buds and set a time and place. Have everyone bring nail polishes, or other beauty products, jewelry or clothes they would like to swap out and let the trading begin! This is a great way to get hold of some fab new colors for a whopping total of ZERO dollars.

There are also quite a few swap groups online that you can find through Facebook, Pinterest, and other social media sites. Just be careful with who you choose as your swap partner, and note that shipping is ground-only!

Tip #4: Save up!

It always nice to buy yourself a treat every now and then, but if you're not careful the costs will add up! Try making a savings jar to feed your nail polish habit. If you get an allowance/pay check, set aside a bit each month until you have enough to go on a shopping spree. You can also fill the jar with any spare change you have floating around in your wallet/bag at the end of each day.

Tip #5: Put it on a budget!

Another way to save money is to set a monthly budget. This may require a bit of self-discipline, but it will definitely keep you from breaking the bank.

But hold on - we can help here! Join Nailette for just $9.99 a month or $9.99 every other month, and just make sure not to get any more nail polish outside of your box deliveries. That way you'll still get fresh colors regularly while keeping your spending totally under control.

Nail polish is a wonderful form of self-expression, and with these tips you can keep up your habit while not dishing out too much cash. Do you use any other ways to save money on polishes?

- Sasha C.

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Nothing like a Blue Bottle mocha to kick off the day #brown #coffee #goodmorning

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How to Make Your Own Matte Topcoat in Less than 10 Minutes

Move over shiny nails, because the matte look is in! Matte nails are a chic and modern trend. Many major brands such as Essie, OPI, and Zoya have released matte polishes in a wide range of colors over the past year.

But clearly, what you REALLY need is a matte topcoat that will matt-ify any color you want! Unfortunately these topcoats (like Essie's Matte About You) can cost from $8 to $13. But what if you can create your own matte polish for way less, using just a bit of that clear nail polish you have sitting around and some corn starch? Check out the steps below to create your own DIY matte top-coat!

You will need (adjust using this ratio for your desired quantity):

 -       0.25 fl oz. clear nail polish (that's half of a regular OPI/Essie full-size bottle)

-       ½ teaspoon of corn starch

-       A Post-It note

Create a funnel by shaping the post-it note into a cone and cutting a small hole at the tip

Place the funnel on top of the open bottle of clear nail polish.

Add the cornstarch into the funnel, and then into the bottle. Apply in small increments to reduce lumps in the polish and to make it easier to stir. To speed up the process, use a toothpick or a Q-tip to ease the cornstarch into the polish. Close the bottle and shake vigorously until it is mixed together. Repeat until you’ve finished using the entire contents of cornstarch.

Voila! It's that simple. I just created my very own top-coat for under $5 and in less than 10 minutes!

Can you spot the difference? I am wearing the matte topcoat on my index and middle finger and a regular shiny topcoat on my ring finger & pinky. Which nails do you prefer?

Give it a try and let us know how it goes!

- Sharon I.

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Say Yes to Nails

Wedding bells are ringing! Whether you're a bride-to-be, bridesmaid, or honorary guest, 'tis the season for elegant nails. Get your nails in shape with one of the chic looks we've assembled below! 

Bride and Groom

Transform your nails into the bride and groom by adding a tuxedo and wedding dress onto your nails!

Glitter French Tips – Try a modern twist on an old classic. Opt for glittery French tips that will sparkle when the sun reflects off them.

  Ombre French Tips

Another variation on French tips with a more subtle look.

  Love Message – Write ‘Love’ or your significant other’s name on your ring finger. It’s a sweet, little gesture that person will see it as he/she puts on the ring!

or

Keep it sweet and simple with a heart <3

  Something Blue

You no longer have to worry about that something blue. Personalize your message with blue nail art!

Accent Nail

Want to accentuate your ring finger? Paint it a different color or with glitter to make it stand out even more!

or 

Add some rhinestones to give it a little something extra!

  Lace It Up! – Add lace designs for a dainty, delicate look.

  Go Nude!

When in doubt, go for a classic nude shade. It’s simple and chic, and it won’t detract from your wedding ring.

What are some of your favorite wedding nail inspirations?

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Eye spy #nails in #orange and #blue

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What Your Nail Color Can Do For You

In this series, we explore creative ways of using nail polish to make positive life changes. This is Part I of III.

Have you ever walked into a room and experienced a shift in your mood? Paint colors are often chosen based on the function of a room. For example, blue is used in bedrooms for its soothing features, whereas yellow is a welcoming, warm color and thus is often used in living rooms.

We also associate feelings to certain colors. Red is considered an angry color, while people connect blue with sadness. People think of little girls when they see pink, and feel warm and happy after looking at the color orange.

Also, certain colors represent certain things. For example, white represents purity, which is why it is a popular color in wedding dresses. People often give their significant others red or pink flowers, because those colors represent romance and love.

Color therapy is the use of color as a healing medicine. The 7 chakras located in the body are all different colors, and it is believed that when the colors become unbalanced, exposure to a particular color can bring the chakras back to normal.

While you may not be a big believer in alternative medicine, you’ve probably experienced the feelings that certain colors can give you. Since we look at our hands frequently, using nail polish as a way to influence our body would be very useful. Below is a basic guide on what some basic colors signify.

Since all colors are rich in meaning, why not put them to use in your own life? For example, if you have a creative project coming up, try painting your nails blue to inspire greater creativity. Studies have shown that blue rooms can make people more creative; why not extend that color to your hands?

On the other hand, if you're feeling down and want to remind yourself to be more happier, pick a bright yellow for your nails. Every time you look at your hands, the yellow will remind you of joy.

Next time you need inspiration or feel like a mood change, try picking a nail color that symbolizes your aspirations. Stay tuned for parts II and III of this series on other ways you can make your nail polish work for you!

- Maggie S.

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Say Bye-Bye to Yellow Nails

Nail polish is a great way of expressing your mood and personality, as well as adding the finishing touch to any outfit. But a common problem for many lacquerholics is those pesky, yellow nails! Similar to skin, nails need to be exposed to oxygen in order to stay healthy. Thus, by coating your nails with nail polish, you are creating a barrier between the nail and the environment, making it harder for oxygen to penetrate through. The chemicals and pigments found in nail polishes can be absorbed into the nail, staining it, causing it to become yellow.

Follow the steps below to create a DIY nail whitener that only requires three household ingredients!

You will need:

Baking soda

Hydrogen Peroxide

A lemon

Step One

Combine 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Mix until you form a paste.

Step Two

Apply generously onto your nails.

Step Three

Rub the mixture into your nails for 2-3 minutes. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!

Step Four

Rinse!

Your nails will be significantly brighter and whiter! Check out the before and after photos below!

Before: My nails were stained a slight purple after removing my Zoya ‘Charisma’ nail polish and slightly yellow from excessive manicures.

After: The magenta nail stains are gone and my nails look a lot healthier.

Use this DIY nail whitener and you can say ‘au revoir’ to those yellow nails!

- Sharon I.