Nail Report: This Stuff Works!

 After I wrote my previous story on nails and manicures, my friend Carole revealed her nail care secret. Every day or so she brushes on a coat of Nailtiques Formula 2. Her nails always look nice so I thought I'd give it a try. I did and I'm impressed. Sometimes, by some fluke, my nails will grow consistently longish, but very soon they start to split and break and my brief rendezvous with pretty nails is over. But I've been using this stuff for two weeks and I have long (for me) nails. And they feel strong! And they're not splitting!

See! 

It comes in three formulas and #2 seems to be the one for most people. The best part is, I can swipe on a coat before I head out the door, it dries quickly and it gives a nice shine to my nails. And it's fine to apply nail polish on top.

To celebrate my new nails, I just bought a bottle of OPI "French Quarter for Your Thoughts."
Love the name.

Naked Nails No More

OPI nail polish, starting at the pinkie: Break a Leg-Warmer,
Frankly I Don't Give a Damn, Caught With My Khaki's Down,
 Illamasqua's DWS, then on my thumb, OPI's Metro Chic.

When I notice a woman's beautifully manicured nails and then I look down at my often unkempt ones, I feel a pang of envy. Silly, because I know it's within my abilities to do something about it. My nails are usually short, naked of polish, carelessly filed and with cuticles that could be neater. My excuse is that I use my hands a lot cooking and gardening, but truthfully there's some laziness and disinterest. 

To get a professional manicure takes time, effort and another appointment to make. And some of my cheapness; it's hard to part with 50 smackers for something that I'll probably chip or ding in a couple days. San Francisco is rife with cheap nail salons, which hubby Matt calls chop shops. On Cortland Street, our closest neighborhood shopping area, there are three chop shops within a block and a half of each other. Occasionally, I go to one where it's 18 bucks for a mani-pedi. My nails come out looking better than when they went in, but for me the experience is tedious and less than satisfying.  There's the intense smell of acetone, the fluorescent lighting and the annoying distraction of an overhead TV constantly flickering and flashing. 

Jules wearing OPI's Suzi Takes the Wheel.

But lately, some new nail polish shades have caught my eye. I like the new greys; they're trendy and neutral at the same time. I first noticed the new grey on my well-manicured colleague, Jules. And yes, I felt a twinge of envy. I've learned to pay attention to that twinge. Envy is a call-to-action for me. So, I started a personal nail campaign, giving myself a home manicure and dutifully moisturizing my cuticles before I went to bed. After a week or so, my hands and nails looked good enough that I could experiment with color. Sephora is the best place for that. The staff was indulgent and helpful one lunch hour at the Powell Street store as I applied five different shades to my left hand. When I got back to work, no one said a word about my multi-colored left hand, but I was entertained!

Teal is big too. From the April issue of "W", starting at the top, OPI's Fly,
Estee Lauder's Teal Topaz, Julep's Diane, and Essie's Mesmerize. 

Another colleague, Jessie, always shows up Monday morning with beautifully manicured nails. I asked her about it and this is what she said:

"Getting a manicure and pedicure is my weekly therapy. It's all about me for the next hour and being in that moment; reading People magazine, enjoying the massage chair, closing my eyes and relishing in a hand and foot massage. Any outfit no matter how gorgeous can be ruined with unslightly hands. I think having nicely groomed nails is a quiet statement of caring for yourself... it's like taking the tip of your finger and straightening the picture ever so slightly. Aaaah, perfect." 

It's Sunday, and I think I have some picture straightening to do.