Back in Black

Back in black – polish that is. Once reserved for the punk and gothic counter culture, this eye-catching hue now makes a bold statement in film, on the runway, and on the streets. Fashionable celebrities such as Gwen Stefani and Sarah Michelle Gellar have been seen rocking this sophisticated look of late. In fact, Gwen had all of the models in her L.A.M.B Fall 2011 runway show sporting striking black manis.

The key to an awesome all black manicure is well-groomed nails and the perfect shade. Union Jack Black from butter LONDON is my personal favorite! Let's not forget that Halloween is right around the corner and any gals go-to hue for added drama is definitely dark and sexy shades of black. Want to dress it up? Try a matte top coat for a velvety effect or add a glitter top coat for some sparkle!

Glamour's Ode to Nails!

As compared with hair and makeup, nails often get the short end of the stick when it comes to media coverage. There are many consumer magazines dedicated to hairstyles and cosmetics, but there is not one consumer magazine that focuses solely on nails. A handful of professional publications geared towards Nail Technicians exist, such as Nails, Nailpro, Scratch and VietSalon magazines. However, these periodicals aren't sold on newsstands or in book stores and most of the general public aren't aware of them.

That's why I get extremely excited on the rare occasions when a fashion or beauty magazine takes a moment to focus on nails, which is exactly what Glamour magazine has done in their October 2011 issue. Their "10 Things We Love in the Nail Universe" list is an homage to what is hot in the nail industry right now. It includes mentions of several of my personal favorites including fatigue green and classic red polish, what they refer to as "nail polish rings," which are actually called Finger Bands (created by the amazing Nonie Creme of butter London), boys with neat nails and the talented Patricia Yankee of Dashing Diva.

I was backstage with Nonie as a member of the butter London Nail Tech team for the Vena Cava runway show when she introduced Finger Bands to the world and knew they were going to be an instant hit. Barely minutes after the show ended the press and audience members in attendance were frantically tweeting about the look acheived by painting perfect circlets of nail lacquer around two or three fingers of the hand. It's a lot more difficult than it looks and requires a steady hand and attention to detail.

In the past couple of years, celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Beyonce and Rihanna have been making bold fashion statements with their manicures. Nails as fashion accessories are becoming the norm as celebrity trends trickle down to the general public and into neighborhood nail salons. Hopefully the media will catch up with the rest of us and put the focus where it should be a little more often...on the nails!

The Miracle of Melt Away

One of the most common nail-related issues that plague the general public is dry, rough and raggedy cuticles. They are everywhere! Another common occurrence is an overgrowth of the cuticle onto the nail plate that prevents the even application of nail lacquer and actually causes lifting and chipping of the product. Proper cuticle care is incredibly important, which is why it is a particular focus of the Nail Tech when performing a manicure or pedicure. Making sure that the nail plate is clean and free of dead tissue not only improves the appearance of the nails, but allows for optimum results to be achieved with nail enhancement products that range from nail polish to acrylics and UV gel.

The Founding Creative Director of butter London, Nonie Creme, works with top designers at Fashion Week in New York and London each season, including Betsey Johnson, Alexander Wang, Calvin Klein, Pringle and Victoria Beckham. Their high-fashion nail line is proud to be 3-Free, which means they do not contain harmful formaldehyde, toluene, DBP or parabens. Their line of nail products includes a vast array of ultra chic shades of nail color with cheeky British names, as well as high quality nail treatments and luxurious lotions.

I was first introduced to the miracle that is Melt Away Cuticle Eliminator when I was originally drafted as a student member of the butter London Nail Tech team for NY Fashion Week Spring 2011. The atmosphere backstage at a runway show is controlled chaos, as hair, makeup and nail artists simultaneously work their magic upon the models. The idea is to be like a hummingbird and hover near the model as you work while trying not to impede the progress of the hair and makeup artists. There isn't any spare time to use nippers or soak nails before pushing back the cuticles, but they must be tended to before nail lacquer is applied. Anything that streamlines the process and allows the Nail Techs to do their job more swiftly while still getting salon results is a must-have! 

The process is extremely simple: brush a thin layer of Melt Away right onto the cuticles and wait approximately two minutes. Then use a cuticle pusher to gently slough off the dead tissue and a lint-free wipe to remove any excess product. For home users, a small manicure brush can also be used to scrub away dead tissue in lieu of a pusher. It is very important to thoroughly remove any excess product to avoid irritation to the skin from prolonged contact. According to butter London, weekly use of Melt Away for gentle cuticle exfoliation will gradually decrease cuticle size and hardness until they are constantly thin, soft and easy to deal with. After using this product for a solid year on myself and my clients, I can attest to the fact that it really lives up to those claims. A tried-and-true staple in my mobile Nail Tech kit, I can honestly say I never go anywhere without my Melt Away!