THE BODY SHOP COLOUR CRUSH

http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/values/happy_colour.aspx

After my previous rant about nail varnishes not having appropriate names for there colours - what do I find?! The Body Shop nail varnish range - Colour Crush - not only has names but a quiz to identify our 'Happy Colour'. Yeheee!

I completed the quiz and found that my happy colour is 'Almond Kiss'. Surprising as I fancied myself more as 'Devil Red' or 'Sparkling Purple' [neither of these colours exist in the Body Shop range]. With all the nail art and nail varnishes I own and apply I thought I would be something fancier, only to reflect and realise I don't actually wear nail varnish day to day as a Beauty Therapist so Almond Kiss would be perfect!

These polishes are free from formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and camphor. There are no animal products so they are vegan friendly. Plus they contain Marula Oil, which is Fair Trade product (A cold-pressed oil that protects skin, hair and nails from harsh conditions). Basically they are calling it the 'nail loving formula'.

CHAMPNEYS NAIL COLOURS

We all associate the name Champneys with luxurious spas and skin care products. Their collection includes' nail polishes. Champneys holds a special place in my heart because they have maintained 'naming' nail polish colours. We can choose our colour by name; such as Flamingo, Raspberry, Garnet, Champagne etc., which allows for no ambiguity. I know I will get the correct shade of pinks and burgundy's.  This makes my love of nail varnish names exciting; the colour Twilight will always be the same shade. Not like those lazy companies that just about manage to 'number' there varnishes which is all very vague, or give names of no significance to the colour.

Champneys nail polish collection adds a glamorous finishing touch to beautifully manicured finger tips. With a unique formula, free from nail nasties such as toluene, formaldehyde and DBP, these nail enamels provide the durability and flexibility needed for maximum protection and prolonged wear.

Well done Champneys!!

http://www.champneys.com/shop/product-category/hands-feet/nail-colours
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MORE AIRPORT VARNISH

Waiting in Tunisian airport and not impressed with the Duty Free. Similar to London Airport, nail varnishes have a low profile. Again only one company displaying enamel - L'Oréal this time. On the bottom shelf a miserable display of tatty nail varnishes - only noticed because I searched for them. In fact initially they looked like spare stock left at the bottom of the display. I didn't ask, and I appreciate  from a business point of view it wouldn't be worth holding stock for a product where there is no demand; but then how can there be demand for a product that doesn't have a profile? Two airports in 7 days and nail varnishes are not promoted. I wonder is this the norm? Have they researched and found travellers are not interested in painting their nails? Is there no one out there looking for a bargain on a quality nail enamel? Am I the exception to this, wanting to change my nail varnish colour to suit my outfit? Who would I contact to complain? yes complain that nail varnishes are not represented in duty free...

NIGHTMARE PEDICURE

Travelling is a time of great expectations. We all have our little routines that define if it's a good holiday or not. I always visit a spa or salon in the area I am staying. As a beauty therapist I am interest in New treatments and how old treatments are adapted to suit the client or the therapist requirements. Here I am in Tunisia - good time for a pedicure you would think.
Therapist was pleasant enough. She took the same foot spa with the same water from the previous client to me - I couldn't believe what I saw - the water was hot & looked clean - so maybe I got it wrong -  my feet were in soak look enough for my skin to wrinkle. She then laid me on a massage table with the foot spa at the end, knees bent. Working on one foot only, clipped toe nails, rasp soles of feet, painted nails & applied a thin layer of Vaseline on the out side of the foot. With this foot completed she then did the same on the other foot. Overall look was acceptable. So why am I horrified? She used the same water for her clients, the same tools without cleaning them. No foot massage, no pushing back of cuticles, no base coat, no top coat. This treatment  took less than fifteen minutes and cost Dina 44.25 that's £15! All my training and the training I pass to my learners could never justify this treatment - often I talk about adapting the treatment and adjusting to the needs; this therapist took it to the extreme. Ohh the joy of being English -  I just couldn't, wouldn't make a fuss. Now I have to convince myself not all Tunisian therapist are like this, even if this one is working in a four star hotel!!

AIRPORT NAIL VARNISHES

Checking out the Duty Free at the Airport.  At first glance disappointing.  The nail varnishes are under represented! I can name 8 different nail companies without thinking too hard. How many are represented at the airport? Guess - 1, yes one!! OPI with a single stand representing the whole nail industry. I know they have Gwen Stefani with the autumn colours and the Festive, bling varnishes are very nice but they made a true mark with the 18k gold top coat. For those of you that do not know it's the clear coat of varnish that we use to seal your colour varnish. Yes gold has found a new market. Last year gold was in marmite, this year smirnoff vodka and hiding away in Gatwick airport OPI have 18k Gold Nail Varnish I leave the UK confident in the knowledge that my  industry has left me speechless,  like they say "don't speak" I mean what could we say?

MOBILE WORK STATION

I have fallen in love. It's a mobile work station. A cleaver little design that holds the varnishes upright, but also unrolls into a work station. Marking the work area, protecting the clients furniture and therapist resources in one place.  Only a mobile therapist would feel the passion, near love I feel for this case.  My only concern and why I have not ordered one yet - it needs to be on wheels... pure extravagance for the nail therapist, but a beautiful gift from those who care :) http://www.roobeauty.com/product.php/101020/double-it-imperial-purple

NAIL POLISH GIFT SETS AND MORE

I wasn’t looking for a nail varnish – really I wasn’t, but you know what it’s like once you start looking- what can a girl do? Christmas is nearly on us and the nail varnish companies have been feeding us their ideas of Christmas colours.

Nail INC, OPI, ORLY and ESSIE to name a few are full of ideas of what colours we should be wearing for the festive season. Even M&S have launched Call the Midwife – strange enough name for a box set, but the advert states “I have this fantasy about painting my nails cherry red- talons, gleaming in the light” Hmmm stranger still. [PS it is on special offer 50% discount £3.25 – get a set while you can]

Meanwhile Jacava nail polishes. Have beautiful looking gift sets for nail varnishes. There are box sets of 8 varnishes that work out at £3.25 a bottle – not a bad price, but then a single bottle is £8.30!? Jacava obviously want to sell sets only. If you want the empty gift box it cost £20!

http://www.jacava.com/nail-polish-gift-sets.html

The nail varnish industry haven’t forgotten the younger market, you can get peel off varnish - Glitter babes - 6 Piece Peelable Nail Polish Set lets girls create a rainbow on their nails! It's a perfect for creative kids who love funky new looks…. Double hmmmm.

I think the best nail varnish product/tool I have found this season is from Roo Beauty. Roo have an amazing collection of nail varnish storage thingies – from rolls to boxes and even a nail technician pouch!  Now that’s going some…

Season’s greetings to you all!!

http://www.roobeauty.com/section.php/4013/1/nail-polish-storage-sets

ORLY NAIL ART

I tell my learners all the time about French manicure, not being the same as nail artistry. French manicure is when the nail looks clean and healthy. Not when it has a white,obviously painted free edge. Anyway to keep me from getting on my soap box below is a complete quote from ORLY because I couldn't say it better. 
"Established in the 1970's, ORLY created the iconic French manicure to complement Hollywood star's entire on-set wardrobes. After being showcased on Parisian catwalks, ORLY became an instant classic that is still as popular today and remains the trendsetter when it comes to fashion for nails. Taking influence from the catwalk, ORLY's seasonal collections go hand in hand with fashion trends and showcase everything you need to keep your hands and feet in the red carpet style they deserve".
Have a look at their nail art colours - they are so vibrant and on special offer!!

http://www.lookfantastic.com/brands/ORLY.list?switchcurrency=GBP&searchFilters=Y29uY2Vzc2lvbiMtbGZpbnRcOmNvbmNlc3Npb25fY29udGVudDoqIU5haWwgQXJ0I2VuX25haWxwcm9kdWN0dHlwZV9jb250ZW50Ok5haWwgQXJ0IVJlc3RyaWN0ZWQgQ29udGVudCBGaWx0ZXIjcmVzdHJpY3RlZDpmYWxzZSE%3D&affil=thgppc&kwds=43700005675252867&gclid=Cj0KEQiAtZWkBRC9ibSfhoKEyLYBEiQA5fDxkWm8iw4bbhSilzEhQG8hunoYjsROZuBZ0grY92YlYcEaAl218P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

MICRO NAILS V 4 SIDED BUFFER

'Micro nails' verses '4 sided buffer'. Either electric or manual buffers are used for smoothing ridges in the natural nail.
Recently Boots launched 'micro nails'. A little machine that takes the hard work out of buffing (it's not that hard to manually buff).  My concern is the uninitiated using a tool like this. They may thin their natural nails causing discomfort that  could last months! These types of tools have instructions, but how many people actually read them?
I am all for the '4 sided buffer', a little effort. It allows you control over how much buffing is achieved. Electric (or battery) operated buffers are faster. The user needs more control to avoid friction burn.
Good practice with either buffer is to never buff in the same area. Move around the nail plate, covering the whole area. Use the smoothest (grit) side of the buffer as soon as the nail plate is smooth. Plus most of all don't buff nails just because you can. It really isn't necessary.
In my decades of experience I rarely come across a set of nails that needs to be smoothed out. A little buffing to give shine for those who do not wear varnish is all that is needed. 

In fact my worst set of ridged nails was a man who is a mechanic; He had an annual manicure the day he took his wife out for dinner. http://www.micronail.co.uk/nail-pics

As nail techs we may want this little machine to add to our tools. Think about it nail technicians, can you work hygienically with this machine? It's made for home use - can people be trusted to use it carefully? We will hear the results before next year this time.

GWEN STEFANI AND OPI

OPI have launched there autumn colours.  Green, orange, purple and surprisingly silver and gold. They're obviously including the festive season in the collection. Or is it because Gwen Stefani has joined OPI for a second time for this limited edition festive season colours? These colours are beautiful even without Gwen...

http://www.opiuk.com/shop/nail-lacquer/collections/gwen-stefani-holiday.html

GUY BOURDIN

It was a pleasure to visit Somerset house. It is a beautiful building,that is well maintained. What a joy to see a Christmas tree decked out with Fornum and Mason hamper baskets. The Christmas feeling has been extended to ice skating and is well attended; considering it's a Monday afternoon.

I am here for an exhibition. There is a showing at Somerset House of Guy Bourdin's 40 year career . The show features more than 100 of the photographers works from 1955, when he was Man Ray's protégé through to 1987. The show also features Polaroid test shots, paintings, working drawings, sketches and previously unseen images as well as Super 8 films he made while behind-the-scenes on shoots.
It was wonderful to see his planning process, as I discuss and encourage in class with my groups. 2D plans and mood boards before putting onto the actual models.
I have included a few of the photographs that particularly appealed to me, I know Guy's career starting while advertising shoes, but I suspect he was a leg man. Even after this stage in his career legs dominate his work. I have included a photograph of my own leg - just in case anyone out there is looking for a leg model....

At the end of the exhibition the souvenir shop is stocked high with books and products related to the exhibition rather than the usual collection of sweets and key rings.
NARS make-up had a comprehensive stand displaying their products.
A great book collection. Two dedicated to nails and nail artistry by Madeline Poole and Sharmadean Reid. I was tempted, but I put them down and stepped away before it was to late...

This is an excellent example of the type of work students completing the Diploma in Nail Technology Enhancement will be able to achieve. As specialist in nails, make-up and body painting they will have all the skills an artist similar to Guy Bourdin would need to complete the looks they want to achieve.

It's a pleasant afternoon out. 27th November-15th March. Somerset House, Strand WC2R.
Somersethouse.org.uk

http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual-arts/guy-bourdin?gclid=Cj0KEQiAwPCjBRDZp9LWno3p7rEBEiQAGj3KJiuAAVsAh7AojwSEMw1yoN_Mca9ZGp-9vISV52PoicoaAt8C8P8HAQ