tips

Home manicure tips

 in Beauty / Nail Polish  tagged tips by

chanel fleur de pecher nail polish late spring 2020

photo: my current favorite polish, see original post here.

Do you normally head to a manicurist to get your nails done? Now that we are sheltering-in-place, are your nails going to pot? Never fear, you can learn how to do your own nails here!

I don’t like people touching my nails, so I have been doing my own nails since high school. I love wearing the current “IT” nail colors, as well as colors which fit my mood. It’s always fun to keep a few colors on hand so you can switch things up every time you do your nails.

If you invest in good nail polish, your home manicure can last for a week; and you’ll find yourself saving tons of money over time. After the lockdown is lifted, you may find you continue doing your own nails at home! It’s a huge money saver; and it gives you the flexibility to change your nail color at will. You’ll get hooked!

Here is my tried and true, home manicure routine. It’s simple, and not invasive. This is also how I keep my nails strong and healthy.

  1. Clean off any old nail polish using a nail polish remover which doesn’t strip your nails. This one is my favorite.
  2. Wash your hands
  3. Clip your nails. This is a great clipper.
  4. File your nails. These are great. Only the edges! Do not file or buff the top of your nails. This weakens them.
  5. Wash your hands
  6. Apply hand cream. Check out my favorites.
  7. Let your hands rest for fifteen minutes
  8. Apply a base coat, wait twenty minutes
  9. Apply first coat of color, wait twenty minutes
  10. Apply second coat of color, wait twenty minutes
  11. Apply top coat.
  12. Allow nails to set for half an hour before doing any type of work

I like to do my nails in the evening when I am relaxing and watching TV. I always make sure I have finished house cleaning for the day. It’s also a good idea to already be in your PJ’s, and have already washed your face, before doing your nails. The only thing I leave for after my nails is brushing my teeth; just in case I want an evening snack, or feel like drinking tea.

It is always a good idea to allow your nails to set and rest, even when they seem dry and hard. This seems to allow the manicure to last longer.

Why use a base coat? A base coat protects your nails from color staining. It can also protect you if you are using nail polish which isn’t five free. What is five free? Five free nail polishes are free from dangerous chemicals which could seep into your body through your nails. I always show, and promote, brands which are five free and healthy for your nails. So no worries!

I recommend using a five free base coat, then you can use any color you want; although I recommend sticking to five free brands for your color and top coat too.

Here are a few fun colors to try out at home, as well as tools you’ll need for your home manicure. You can rock the color of the year, or one of the season’s IT colors by Chanel. There are so many pretty colors out there to try out!

How do I keep my nails healthy? I like to let them breath once a month. It’s a good idea to keep your nails polish-free for twenty four hours, once a month. I try to time it so that my nails are polish-free on a day when I don’t have any plans, and no-one will see my bare nails. Although, if you keep your nails healthy, they will look perfectly fine bare. This is a tip my mom taught me when I started painting my nails in high school. It’s an old school tip, and it works like a charm!

Hopefully this helps you keep your nails looking fabulous while nail salons are closed. Feel free to share any of your own tips in the comment section below!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Cathy

Mask ideas for protection

 in General Fashion  tagged scarves / spring 2020 / tips by

pictured: black and white scarf (old, similar here) / hair claw (similar here) / white and silver earrings / red puff sleeve sweatshirt /

The CDC has recommended we should wear masks to protect ourselves and others when going out in public. They do not want us wearing surgical masks as our medical professionals need them at this time. This means we need to either make our own masks, or get creative. Since I am not handy with my sewing machine, I am going to get creative!

In the above photos, I took a square scarf, and folded it into an oblong rectangle. This gave the scarf several layers of fabric for protection. In addition, it fit around my head so I could clip it with a hair claw. Remember in the late ’90’s when hair claws were all the rage? I bet you have one somewhere in your accessory drawer! You can fasten it on the scarf the same way we used to fasten our hair with it; twist it, fold it, and clasp it!

In the above photo, I started out by folding the scarf into thirds.

Then, I took each side and brought them into the middle to create layers of fabric, which is added protection from droplets in the air.

As you can see in the above the photos, you take the back of the scarf once it is wrapped around your head, covering your nose, mouth, and chin, then you twist it, fold it, and clasp it!

This is a really easy way to make a scarf into a mask. I know there have been videos circulating the internet which show a scarf and two hair bands, but that version of a scarf mask falls off your face right away. This version stays put, and is easier to tighten in public, if need be, while keeping your nose and mouth covered.

The scarf I used is polyester, I recommend using a more textured fabric such as cotton or wool. This will stay put longer on your head. If you try and use a silk scarf, the claw will ruin it, and it will also be too slippery to stay put. You want something that will not slip off, so try and stick to a cotton or wool scarf.

Here are a few scarves, and a hair claw, for creating your own scarf mask:

In addition to going the scarf route, you can actually find really cute and fashionable masks which are made by artisans, crafters, and designers online. Here are a few of my favorites:

Do you ski? You may already own a neck scarf. Sometimes referred to as a ski mask, or balaclava, the neck versions are great for pulling over your nose and mouth. You can put it on your neck when you leave the house, then, when you arrive at your destination, simply pull it over your nose and mouth. When you get home, remember to carefully pull it off your head and place it in the washing machine. Just like a mask, it could be contaminated and you don’t want anything getting on your face, or shaken off the fabric and becoming airborne.

Here are a few fabulous neck scarves you can use as masks:

The recommendation is to have your nose, mouth, and chin covered. Remember to safely remove your mask without shaking it, and always wash it, or disinfect it, after each use. Never throw your mask away on the ground of a parking lot. Always bring a bag in your car to place the mask into when you are taking it off. If you don’t have a way to clean the mask between uses, keep it in a paper bag for 72 hours between uses, without touching or shaking it. This will help the germs dissipate. Lastly, remember to always wash your hands!

Stay safe and fabulous!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Cathy

Build your creative passion while sheltering in place

 in General Fashion  tagged lifestyle / spring 2020 / tips by

build your dream

photo credit: Her Creative Studio via Style Collective

We are currently in a shelter-in-place order here in the state of California. What are the conditions like where you live? If you are staying inside too, why not use this extra time to fulfill your life’s passion? This is the ideal time to start writing that novel you have always dreamed of creating, or painting that portrait you have haven’t had time to start.

Have you always dreamed of starting your own company? Start planning it now! Write a business plan, come up with a financial plan and marketing plan. Once you figure out your brand, choose a name! After ensuring the name is available, and not currently in use or trademarked by someone else, register the url! Be your own boss, you’ve got this!

Do you have an ambitious project in mind for your home? Have you been meaning to build a new deck, paint the house, or install new cabinets? Now is the time! Hardware stores are open, so you can pick up what you need in store, or order what you need online and have it delivered. So, start your project now; ensuring safety measures with any tools you use.

Think about something you have always been passionate about doing with your life, and make it happen. You have time. Social events and all extra-curricular activities have been cancelled or postponed until the shelter-in-place gets lifted. Your schedule is wide open! Go ahead and start your dream. This is the perfect time!

I would love to hear what you are working on. Share in the comments below, or email me!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy