Wedding Wednesday- strong nails

Natural nails are more popular than ever with the addition of gel color for lasting shine and additional strength. 

Post acrylic or winter weather can wreck havoc in the natural nails. Nail Envy comes in 6 formulas and now also 4 neutral colours. OPI has developed a different formula to meet clients individual needs. The sensitive peeling polish is formaldehyde free and protects the nails with antioxidant vitamin E and emollient-rich kukui nut oil. It also contains aloe vera to soothe and hydrate damaged nails. 

For optimum nail health combine Nail Envy with AvoPlex cuticle oil. AvoPlex is a nourishing nail & cuticle oil made with avocado oil that is 5000x more nourishing than vitamin E! It also contains vitamins and phospholipids to help rebuild the skin. 

Apply Nail Envy every other day and massage AvoPlex cuticle oil into nails & cuticles twice daily. Once a week remove,  file nails to ensure a smooth edge, and repeat for up to six months. Then, change Nail Envy for Nail Maintenance. 

Wedding Wednesday- 'correct toes' support for glam shoes

Wedding Wednesday- glam shoes and party feet are essential at weddings. Podiatrist, Helen Seamer recommends 'Correct toes' to keep feet comfortable in heels. This pliable plastic contraption fits between each toe to give support in closed-toe shoes. 

'Align, restore & strengthen your feet' says Helen Seamer, podiatrist at All About Feet. These medical grade toe spacers can help a variety of foot problems especially those with bunions and corns. 

Fingers & Toes Tuesday- Stay polished!

Nail polish lasts about a week and the gel nail finishes such as Shellac and OPI Gel Color last up to two weeks. 

A friend's New Years resolution was to be 'more polished' in many ways- eticate, appearance, manners, etc. Here are three tips to ensure your appearance is 'more polished'. 

1. Make the most of this splash of colour by matching it to your outfits for the next week or two! 

OPI liquid sand in Kiss Me at Midnight

2. Ensure your polish colour compliments or blends with your accessories. 

Top Left- sun dress Top Right- House of colour eyeliner in Electric Blue and OPI liquid sand in Kiss Me at Midnight Bottom Left- matching nail polish and eyeliner Bottom Right- Boden glitter bag 

3. Coordinate makeup with your nail colour. For example if you're wearing pink polish wear a pink lipstick. 

Feature Friday- top 10 hand creams

Healthy hands don't come naturally, they take a bit of tender loving care. Hands get exposed to detergents, cleaning agents, and the elements on a daily basis. All of these age the hands. By applying hand cream regularly you can help to protect and prevent the signs of ageing. 

Smarties nails using OPI Gel Color and Avoplex handcream 

Marie Claire have researched and composed a list of their top 10 hand creams. 

www.marieclaire.co.uk/beauty/galleries/28404/11/best-hand-cream.html 

Valentines Day!

Fifty Shades of Grey the movie is launched today! OPI's launched its version of 50 Shades of Grey in January. 

Mixing up the grey with Shine for Me on top of Russian Navy for my date night with the hubby tonight & Mr Grey tomorrow! 

What's your favourite combination? 

Treatment Thursday- DIY pedicure

Keeping feet soft and presentable between salon appointments can easily be forgotten until it's time to wear summer sandles. Here are four hacks to keeping your feet looking nice all year round! 

1. Use a Pumice stones- these are an essential in any bathroom to use all year round. For £4 this block will keep your feet soft between pedicures. Simply put the size of a 5p amount of shower gel on the pumice bar and scrub the base of your feet regularly in the shower. 

2. Soak your feet after a long day- Soaking salts help relax and soften sore & tired feet. After soaking for 10 minutes apply a foot cream and a cosy pair of socks. 

3. Apply a Foot Cream- after every shower to help the foot cream absorb, and just before bed to give your feet a moisture boost. 

4. Cuticle oil- is often overlooked but very beneficial for the cuticles on your toes. By rubbing oil into your cuticles it promotes nail growth and helps strengthen the nails. 

Whatever your budget you can still look after your feet either with a DIY home pedicure or getting the salon treatment. You're on your feet all day everyday & looking after them is important- not only with wearing proper fitting shoes & socks but also maintaining the condition of your feet. 

Treatment Thursday- Winterise your feet

Thermal pedicures are the perfect deluxe treatment to warm you up over the winter and to help soften those hard working soles. Once the feet have been scrubbed, soaked, filed and cuticle work is complete a moisture mask is applied to the foot. The warm booties enhance the penetration of moisture into the feet and add more relaxation to a pedicure.

Treatment Thursday- gel nails

The difference between a gel finish and a natural polish on nails is the durability and length of wear. There are many types of gel polish in the market now, and having used several different brands my favourites are Shellac by Creative and Gel Color by OPI. These ranges offer a great range if colours and the application is quick with an instant dry finish.  They also don't damage the natural nail because they are applied directly onto the nail without any abrasive buffing.  

OPI classic colour- Lincoln Park After Dark 

The New 2014 Fall Nordic Collection 

My Dogsled is a Hybrid

Removal and aftercare are important for natural nail health. Make sure you have your gel nails professionally removed instead of peeling them off as this removes a layer of the nail.  Cuticle oil helps to keep the nail and cuticles moisturised.  Wearing gloves whilst cleaning, doing dishes, or dealing with any type of chemicals, paint or detergent will prolong the wear of the gel and also protect your hands. Maintain that salon finish longer by having a gel manicure. 

Treatment Thursday- NEW neon polish

The new OPI neon range has just arrived and there's a unique twist with this launch. It comes with a special basecoat that is a thick white to offset the neon color. 

It's called 'put a coat on' and once you've used OPI's chip skip to promote longer lasting polish, paint one layer of this tipex white basecoat. It dries quickly leaving a matte finish. 

Next apply two coats of your favourite OPI neon polish. I chose 'down to the core-al' a vibrant coral to enhance a summer tan. Each layer will set within a couple of minutes and appear matte, but please note they can still smudge or dent. 

To achieve a glossy finish apply one layer of topcoat, I used OPI formaldehyde-free Start to Finish to seal and help protect the bright neon finish. 

Treatment Thursday- Gel Nails

There are many different brands and types of gel nails. Having been in indistry for over 10 years I've been able to watch this treatment develop from gel in a pot applied with a brush, a treatment which used to take about 2 hours to what now takes only 30 minutes and is applied like a polish! 

I now use OPI gel color and am also trained in their Axxium (gel and a mini paint brush) and Shellac. I have worked with Jessica, Creative and OPI on a professional basis and my preference is OPI because of their colours and the quality if their polish. 

Gel nails have been designed for those who are harder wearing on their nails and with whom nail polish only lasts a day or two, no matter how well it's applied. It has also been created to maintain the shine and finish that a client leaves the salon with after a manicure. If you take care if your nails and follow the aftercare then gel nails should last two weeks. 

They need to be professionally removed with acetone pads and foil to help the gel lift from the nail so it isn't damaged. If you peel, bite or scrape the gel off of the nail it will damage the top layer of the nail leaving it weak and rough. Always remember to use a cuticle oil to nourish and promote nail growth. My favourite is OPI the Avoplex cuticle oil to go (£9.60) as I can keep it in my handbag & use it on the go. 

I know there are kits in Groupon that you can buy to do your own nails at home, so wether you are a professional or DIY specialist OPI have created a list of tips to help with gel application.