Lacquer Envy

We love a good French Manicure. It leaves us feeling fresh, clean, and sophisticated. Not to mention that a French manicure will go with pretty much any outfit. Of course the only problem is that a basic French mani can get a bit boring. Next time you want a simple classic look with some extra pop try this fun mani!

For this look we mixed a half- moon design with a traditional French manicure. Start with your base coat and cure. Apply 1 coat of GelEnvy in Naturally Pink and cure. Take GelEnvy in Alabaster and paint your half-moon shape down near your cuticle and cure. Give this half-moon a second coat if desired. Now you can either leave your tips natural, or also paint your tips with Alabaster in a traditional French look. Add your top coat and cure.

We at Lacquer Envy wanted to do something fun and unique for our 4th of July nails. With so many BBQ's, and parties to go to, we love some fun nail art to show off. This paint splatter technique has a modern edge to it that is fun but still looks sophisticated. We got our inspiration from the famous American artist Jackson Pollock. He was known for his unique style of drip painting. He painted on huge canvases and his work is stunning. Here is a photo of him at work and one of our favorite pieces he made.

What better way to celebrate 4th of July than by celebrating an American artist. American flag nails might be tacky but this design lets you celebrate in style and gives you a conversation starter as well!

Begin this design by laying down some paper towels. Prep your nails, apply your base coat and cure. Take GelEnvy in Alabaster and apply two coats to each nail curing between each coat. Apply your top coat, cure and your ready to get splattering! (TIP: we sealed the white polish with a top coat because any mistakes with the splatter can simply be wiped off and you can try again without having to reapply your white base polish.)  Any tapered brush will work for the splattering. Take a disposable glove and cut off only the finger tips so your nails are exposed but nothing else. This will protect your hands from a splatter mess. We suggest going one color at a time. We started with GelEnvy in Sapphire Bangle and dipped our brush into it. Hold the brush with polish above the nails and without touching the nail whip it side to side. Strings of paint will fall down onto the nail creating a splatter effect. After splattering wipe off any access paint around the nail and cuticle. Leave your gloves on and cure your nails. Repeat this step with GelEnvy in Garnet Brooch. Cut off glove, apply top coat, cure and then clean up the area around the nails. (TIP: if you get some cured polish stuck to your fingers around the nail don't worry it will loosen and come off shortly.) The oils on your hands will help slough off the paint. Repeat this with your other hand and your done!

Tie-dye has officially crossed all fashion boundaries. It used to be thought of as sloppy, only for the hippie crowd, and unsophisticated. Oh how far tie-dye has come. Tie-dye is now killer on a pair of low rise skinny jeans or on a basic v-neck with our favorite boyfriend jeans for the weekend. Some of our favorite celebrities like Gwen Stefani, Kate Beckinsale, and Jessica Alba are rocking this tie-dye trend. To keep your tie-dye fashion forward, limit the number of colors in your print, or pick blues and purples for a classic color combo.

This tie-dye mani is officially our favorite Summer manicure. It is super easy to do, and is sure to get people asking you how you did your nails.

We went with white, purple, and blue, to keep this mani sophisticated. Start with your base coat and cure. Apply GelEnvy in Alabaster, and do not cure. With a small brush dip into GelEnvy in Sapphire Bangle, start at the center of the nail and paint a swirl. Wipe off your brush and dip into GelEnvy in Vibrant Violet, paint a swirl following along your first swirl. Use feathering strokes to blend slightly. The white coat of Alabaster polish left uncured underneath your painted swirl will help the colors bleed together and look like tie-dye. You cured your base coat, so if you don't like how a nail looks simply wipe your nail off and start over again until you like it. That is the amazing part about doing nail art with gel polish. Don't like how a design turned out? wipe off and try again. After your tie-dye swirls are finished cure. Top off with a coat of top coat, cure and you're done! Shop this look at www.shop.lacquerenvy.com

This nail design is created using the nail fade technique. After applying the base coat take GelEnvy in Alabaster and a second color of your choice. Start at the cuticle and apply your second color,halfway down the nail on each finger. Then take our sponge and blend the color down to the tip of the nail. Then take Alabaster and apply some to the tip of the nail and using a clean section of the sponge  blend it upwards then cure.  Repeat this process until the colors blended together and are solid. Remember to cure each coat as you go. Top off the nail with one coat of top coat and your done.

Soak-Off Gel Polish is very different from regular nail polish. It adheres more strongly to your nails and because of that it can damage your nails if you attempt to remove it by any means other than soaking it off with an acetone based remover. Acetone contrary to popular belief is not harmful AT ALL to your natural nails or hands. The only effect it has on nails and hands is a drying of the first layer of skin and that is extremely temporary. Some cuticle oil and or hand lotion after the soaking and removal of Gel Polish is all that is necessary to restore the lost moisture. 

Many Salons have really done damage, literally, to customers thought about Gel Polish. When taken off by Soaking and not scraping, Gel Polish cannot harm or weaken your natural nails in any way. Salons often rush the removal process because of a lack of patience and or too many scheduled bookings that do not allow for extra soaking time if needed. This tactic has lead many customers to think that Soak-Off Gel Polish is harmful to their nails and weakens them. If Gel Polish is removed by scraping or peeling it will pull up small layers of the nail with it leading to thinning nails. It is really important to understand it is not the polish itself that is harmful, only the way in which you decide to remove it.

When you have decided to remove your Gel Polish fill a bowl with acetone based remover and rest nails in solution. You can use one of our manicure bowls that makes it comfortable to rest your hand while it soaks. Another method of soaking the Gel Polish is to take cotton balls and soak them with the acetone remover. Place these cotton balls on your nail and wrap into place using tinfoil. Either option takes about 15-20 minutes. The polish when coming off should look just like lifted paint when paint thinner is applied. It flakes off and comes off with very little assistance. The more layers of polish you used the longer it will take to soak off. Once your polish has soaked off, your nail bed will be ready for a new application of Gel Polish. Remember, Gel Polish adheres most strongly to a dry nail so if you use oil or lotion on your nails make sure to swab the nail bed with alcohol or nail polish remover before applying your base coat.

Using these safe ways to remove your Gel Polish will keep your natural nails in great shape and you will find that with Gel Polish over your natural nails they remain strong, reinforced and grow much faster.

Have a great weekend everyone! Try and grab some wonderful sunshine!

It's almost Summer, and that means Pride Parades! Brazil, the largest of these events, held their annual pride parade in Sao Paulo this May. Each year they have an estimated 2 million plus people in attendance. This month cities including, San Francisco, New York, and LA to name a few, will be holding celebrations of their own.

These celebrations last anywhere from a weekend to a whole week. There are plenty of fun activities for families as well as fantastic night time parties. We love to celebrate and join in the festivities and of course that means an outfit to match! Here is the manicure we will all be rocking in our area for Pride. It is fun, easy, and will be sure to get you noticed!

For our rainbow colors we chose GelEnvy in, Garnet Brooch, Alabaster, Apricot, Night Tides, Cobalt, Vibrant Violet, and Amethyst. We wanted each nail to look a little different so on each nail we started with a different color. Following a traditional rainbow that starts with red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, we painted thin stripes of color on our nails after applying and curing our base coat. We then took our small nail brush and using small side to side motions blended the edge of each color together with the next. We cured again, and then followed up with a coat of top coat on each nail, cured one last time, and done!

Everyone wants softer smoother skin, and Summer is a great time to get your exfoliation routine up and going. Softer exfoliated skin not only feels great, but it makes a perfect canvas for any self tanning products you use letting your fake tan go on evenly and stay on longer. Any lotions or oils you use will absorb into your skin better and stay in the skin longer. Exfoliation is something everyone should be doing it is just a question of what is the best method?

On the market right now there are scrubs, loofah's, exfoliating gloves,even tools like the Clarisonic swirling brush. Since everyone has a different skin texture and tolerance to scrubbing, everyone needs a different exfoliator right? Wrong, It turns out that the best exfoliator is not only easy but cheap!

Most of us use very specific body washes, and face washes to fit our skin needs for moisture, wrinkle fighting, acne etc. So it is hard to find something that helps to exfoliate but meets those specific needs. But the truth is that you don't have to choose between good exfoliation and good skincare.

Brown sugar. Yep we said it. It is as simple as adding brown sugar to whatever product you already wash with! Whether you have sensitive skin, dry skin, oily skin, acne, wrinkles, you name it, brown sugar is perfect for everyone. Other scrub products use crushed walnut shells, teeny hard plastic balls, sand, or salt, to name a few. These scrubbing ingredients are often too coarse for skin and can tear the skin causing damage. Brown sugar is very fine and small enough to really cover a whole area of skin without missing spots. It will not interact with your cleansers and is not drying on the skin like salt is. It is perfect for those with sensitive skin as it is a pure ingredient.

For the face, apply your cleanser of choice to your face and smooth over all areas you want to wash and exfoliate. Your hands are now slightly wet and will pick up small amounts of brown sugar. We keep our brown sugar in a small container and dip our damp fingers into it and apply to our face rubbing in circular motions. You can add more sugar for a thicker scrub, or less for a lighter scrub. Make sure you apply enough so you can feel the sugar crystals. Your face wash should dissolve some of the sugar so just add more to your face if you feel the crystals dissolving. You know your skin best, so be aware of how your skin feels and the pressure you need to use. Scrub all areas of the face and then rinse. You will notice how smooth your skin is as you rinse it off! After exfoliating continue with your regular skincare routine. Whatever products you use after washing will now absorb into your skin better. It is best to exfoliate at night before bed as it can temporarily cause some redness.

TIP: Do not mix brown sugar directly into your body wash bottle or cleanser containers. You only want to mix brown sugar into the wash you are planning to use at that moment. Most people do not need to exfoliate every day so by keeping the sugar separate from your cleansers you can choose to exfoliate or not as you choose.

For the body we recommend the same method. In the shower apply your shower gel to the part you want to exfoliate. Then pick up some brown sugar from your container and apply to area and rub in using circular motions. Rinse and move on to the next body part you wish to exfoliate. This method is fantastic for hands and feet as well as the face and body.

TIP: To find the right brown sugar to exfoliate with visit your closest grocery store. You want to purchase brown sugar that has a very fine texture. We recommend light brown sugar. Brown sugar packaged in plastic bags makes it easier to see how fine it is. Opt for an organic brown sugar for an even more healthy scrub!

We simply love this exfoliation method. It is natural, easy, and doesn't require you to purchase other products. This method allows you to customize your scrub each time based on your skin's needs. You no longer have to have your cleansing products, and your exfoliating products. Now you can pick a cleanser that fits your skin's needs and simply turn it into a scrub whenever you want!

From Instagram to Twitter, celebrities love sharing their nail art, and we love seeing it! Beyonce, Vanessa Hudgens, and Alexa Chung recently shared their chic nail designs and we can't get enough.

Beyonce took to Instagram recently to show off her latest manicure with gold decals by Jean-Michel Basquiat. These nails feature small crowns the perfect accessory for any Queen. We especially love her Cobalt blue mani since Cobalt is a must have for this Spring/Summer. Beyonce just makes us want to rock Cobalt even more. Try a Cobalt mani with our GelEnvy polish in Cobalt. http://www.shop.lacquerenvy.com/Cobalt-02.htm

Vanessa Hudgens posted these recent manicures on her Instagram showing off her love of many different nail designs. From crazy and colorful nails for Coachella, to studded metallic rocker nails, Vanessa changes her manicure often and always has fun with it. You can get mint nails like her with GelEnvy in Creme de Mint. http://www.shop.lacquerenvy.com/Creme-de-Mint-07.htm

Alexa Chung is always a risk taker when it comes to her manicure. We are always excited to see what she comes up with next. Recently we are loving her Day of the Dead nails! So fun and simple. She also rocked some killer daisy flower nails on a deep navy polish that are perfect for Spring. Pop on a flower and try a similar nail design with our Lacquer Envy stamping plates. http://www.shop.lacquerenvy.com/Nail-Stamping_c5.htm

10 or more years ago it was a MUST to have your mani-pedi match. Even thinking about picking two different polishes for your digits was a huge no no. Oh how the rules have changed! We now mix and match everything. From your bikini to high end with low end fashion, we do it all.

When it comes to mixing and matching your manicure to your pedicure it can be chic and fun, just don't get carried away. Here are some must do mixing and matching, as well as a few must not's.

Think of your mixing and matching as a color story. In interior decorating there are often different colors in the same room but a common theme is very present and obvious. If your dining room was nautical themed your color story might include cool tan shades, pops of navy, white, and maybe another brighter blue. Think of your manicure and pedicure in these terms. They should complement each other and have a theme.

For example, this Spring has been heavy on the pastel shades and this is a perfect trend to mix and match with. Pastel colors tend to be muted and even though lavender is clearly a different shade than soft pink, the similar tones of the colors will match well together. Try this mix and match pairing with GelEnvy in Amethyst and Pearl Blush.

Want to try a beachy themed mani-pedi? Try pairing a bright white polish with a creamy mint polish. With mint being a huge trend for Summer this combination is perfect and fresh. Try GelEnvy in Alabaster, and Creme de Mint. We love this mix and match mani-pedi with a white bikini and barefoot sandals. Throw on some turquoise drop earrings and your all set.

When it comes to adding detail to your manicure or pedicure when mixing and matching just remember less is more. Want to mix and match your mani-pedi but also want an accent nail on your manicure? That works, but keep it subtle. Pick a light glitter or go with one nail being the color of your pedicure. Don't go overboard with a fancy print or wild 3rd color.

The biggest mix and match no no's would be picking two different patterns for your manicure and pedicure, picking wildly clashing colors like red and orange, or two different shades of one color. Stay away from these combinations and you will be fine.

There is a right place and a wrong place to mix and match your polishes. If you are attending a very formal classic event we would suggest picking one color for both your mani and your pedi. Save the mixing and matching for an edgy, fun event, or vacation. Spring and Summer is a good time to try this technique out. Most of all remember to have fun with it!

Summer is almost here and we are so excited to share with you our top 4 products to get gorgeous beach and pool ready feet!

#1

Getting the perfect Summer ready feet always starts with the skin. Get soft, beautiful feet with Baby Feet Exfoliation, this amazing product is a must have! Each packet comes with two plastic booties to slip on the feet that contain a liquid gel like product. Wash your feet with soap and water, slip your feet into the booties, sit back and read a book or watch some tv for an hour and done! Remove the booties and toss in the trash, wash your feet again with soap and water and wait for the magic to begin. In the next 3-5 days the bottoms of your feet will peel removing all calluses and rough patches of skin. There is no discomfort of any kind with this product and you will be left with soft callus free, moisturized feet!

This product is better for your feet than any salon visit. In recent studies it has been shown that having your feet buffed and scrubbed at a salon only stimulates your body's production of calluses and skin. So skip the spa and do this at home for better and healthier results. Pick up some, Baby Feet, at Amazon.com

#2

Now lets move on to the perfect tan. We love our skin too much to punish it by tanning out in the hot sun. As we all know sun tanning ages the skin, can cause cancer, not to mention severely dries out skin. The biggest anti-aging product out there is....sunscreen!! Yes prevention is the best way to keep the aging at bay. So stock up on sunscreen and slap on a fake tan and no one will know the difference.

Our favorite self-tanning product is Tan Towels, these amazing little packets deliver a natural glowing tan with minimal smell and transfer to your clothes and sheets. Tan towels come in a box with individual packets inside. Each packet contains a wet wipe that is coated in self- tanner. Throw one in your purse to use anytime, they are fantastic for travel.

Here is how to apply. In the shower buff the skin with an exfoliating glove using circular motions. Once out of the shower dry off and apply your lotion of choice to elbows, knees, ankles, and hands. One big towelette will cover the whole body, the half sized towelettes are perfect for legs, or arms. Take out the towelette and rub in circular motions all over the skin. Use your other hand to spread out the clear product and work into the skin. ( we don't recommend applying self tanner to the face as it can be very tricky and look uneven because of the fast rate at which your facial skin renews itself.) After you apply the towel to your skin toss it and wash your hands with soap and water. For the next 3 hours don't get your skin wet. We like to apply our towel before we go to sleep. That way you wake up with a glowing tan, you can shower to get the little bit of residue off and your ready to go. These towels are easy to build upon to get the shade you want. We often apply one towel, wait an hour and apply another one to get a darker shade. These towels fade nicely so no splotchy patches as your tan wears off. Apply one a week all Summer long and keep your perfect glow! Find this product on Amazon.com

#3

Now that we have the perfect canvas let's talk about toes! We love Summer because it allows us to play with color and that includes our toes! Nothing looks worse than chipped polish so we opt for our GelEnvy soak - off gel polish. This polish keeps its mirror like shine even when exposed to salt, sand, and chlorine! Sunshine fades regular nail polish leaving our toes looking dull. Not GelEnvy, this polish not only stays put for 2+ weeks making it perfect for any vacation, but keeps its shine and color no matter what. Make toes stand out with a neon pink like, Think In Pink, or a crisp white such as, Alabaster. Loving the mint green trend? Try GelEnvy in, Creme de Mint. Shop these chic polishes at www.lacquerenvy.com

#4

Soft beautiful feet? Check! Glowing tan? Check! Cute polished toes? Check! Now onto our favorite accessory! We simply can't get enough of these barefoot sandals!! They are inexpensive, come in so many styles and colors, and are perfect for Summer. Never know how to accessorize your bikini? What to wear to a beach wedding? Want to add a little something to your simple sandals? This accessory is our Summer go to. These chic pieces of crochet are elegant, fun, easy to wear, and pop into the smallest of hand bags.

Going to a beach wedding? You can't wear heels, sand will only collect in whatever shoe you opt for, so why not go barefoot? No one will even know you're not wearing any shoes! Don't feel like wearing heels to the resort pool? Pop on some barefoot sandals and add some glam to your bikini. Made of simple cotton these can be worn in and out of the water no problem. Try bringing a pair along to your yoga class. have some boring black sandals? Wear a pair of barefoot sandals with them to add detail.  Victoriya is the owner of Lasunka. She designs, and hand makes all of these barefoot sandals. Running $12-15.00 per design these sandals are a must. Shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lasunka?ref=l2-shopheader-name 

We are always looking for a new way to accessorize. From gorgeous bangles, to glamorous statement rings, finding the perfect accessory to highlight our chic manicure is a must. Recently we have spied Rihanna rocking a new accessory, a henna hand tattoo. The look is edgy, fun, and amazing when done right. Other stars like Vanessa Hudgens have also tried out this look. As with all trends, there is not only the problem of pairing this look with the right outfit, but finding the right time to wear it. Rocking this look to a garden party or your best friend's wedding shower this summer probably won't be a hit. Here are a few great times to try this look out for yourself.

A concert - a relaxed music event would be the perfect time to pull out this trend and give it a try. Try to pick a concert that is outdoors, more fun than serious, with a crowd that is there to have a fun time. Think Coachella, a rock concert, hip hop etc.

Summer time wine/art festival - again the atmosphere here will be fun, and artistic. Henna tattooing pairs well with flowy summer dresses making it hard to mess up this trend.

Vacation - it is always fun to try something new while on vacation and it will add interest to your vacation photos! Everyone will be asking you about it, and its always good to have a conversation starter while on vacay. We love  this trend paired with a cute bikini and chic sun hat so keep this trend for warmer weather.

For a trend like this there are a few things to keep in mind. Less is more when it comes to something that you can't take off right away. Henna dyes the skin so if you hate it, you might be stuck with it for at least a few days. Because of this, start small. Try it on one hand in a smaller design, love it? next time go bigger. Check out professionals in your area that do henna tattooing. One of our staff got a do it yourself henna kit in middle school and lets just say she and her friends went around school for a week with splotchy hands. This trend might be best left to a professional so that you are sure to get a fantastic design, and one that looks like leprosy.

When it comes to the polish color to pair with a henna hand tattoo, a neutral polish is a good place to start. It lets the tattoo be the focus. Rihanna has paired this trend with bright red, coral, pink, and black. Her nail style of choice is long and acrylic which is not our favorite. For a more fashion forward look, keep nails a medium length and use your natural nails if possible. Lacquer Envy in Apricot, Midnight, Deep Crimson, and Naturally Pink are great polish options to go with this trend and it doesn't hurt that these polishes give you manicures that last 2+ weeks making them ideal for a getaway or vacation.

Go try this trend for yourself and see if henna hand tattooing is a great accessory for your manicure!

To cut your cuticles or not cut your cuticles? We often waver between the two options trying to figure out what is not only the healthiest option, but what also looks the best. Getting cuticles out of the way is very important when applying soak -off - gel polish because you never want to apply gel to your cuticles. The gel will not stay stuck to the cuticle and will start to peel taking your manicure with it. Always remember to apply gel polish just below the cuticle close but not touching for best results.

Your cuticles exist for a very specific reason. They are what protects the area where your nail connects to your body keeping out harmful bacteria and infection. Without this layer of skin your nails would be left exposed while in the process of growing. Cutting cuticles the wrong way, or chewing them can let in this bacteria and cause you major problems. Here are some hard and fast rules to healthy and beautiful cuticles.

Rule # 1 Do not ever under any circumstances bite your cuticles. There are  tons of gross bacteria in your mouth and you are not only tearing open a place for it to get in, but you are coating the area in it as well. This is the biggest no-no and the fastest way to a nail infection.

Rule # 2 Do not let a salon push you into doing something you know isn't healthy for your nails. Salon's are the biggest perpetrator in ruining your nail health. They file your nail bed weakening your nails, they often use harsh chemicals that are bad for you, and they clip away at your cuticles and often cut you. I know everyone has gone into a salon and come out with a bleeding toe or finger. They simply only care about rushing you through and are not careful enough. For these reasons be clear if you want your cuticles pushed not cut, your nails buffed not filed down. 

Rule # 3 If you are going to cut your cuticles adhere to the following steps:

- Soak them to soften them in warm water before cutting

-Push back cuticles before cutting.

-Make sure you have a good cutting tool that is made for cutting the cuticle. Do not use anything else. 

- Less is more, start cutting by choosing a section and pushing down gently. If it hurts your cutting live skin and you are cutting too close to the nail. 

Rule # 4 Pushing back your cuticles is the healthiest way to go and can look great. If you want to use the push back method here is the best way to get manicure perfect cuticles every time:

- Soak your nails in warm water to soften them.

-Push the cuticles back and apply cuticle remover cream to nails and let sit for 30 seconds. ( remover only removes the dead skin that has stuck to your nail bed and is very safe.)

- Using a scraping tool or buffer, gently rub over the nail bed to remove the white dead skin.

- Rinse off hands and done!

Pushing back cuticles is the healthiest way to take care of your fingers however many of you may still opt to cut them. Whether you cut or push just remember to be careful and keep your tools nice and clean.

Not every shade of polish works with every skin tone. We have all come across a trendy new polish that we just can't wear because it clashes so horribly with our skin tone. Here are a few rules to live by that will always have you wearing the right polish for your skin tone.

Rule # 1 Picking the right color red can be tricky. If you have fair skin with orange or red tones you need to pick a polish that is a red/orange mix. We recommend GelEnvy in Garnet Brooch. For those with an olive, medium, or dark skin tone you want a blue/red polish like GelEnvy in Deep Crimson.

Rule # 2 There are a few shades that look good on all skin tones so stock up. White polish like GelEnvy in Alabaster looks fresh on every skin tone. Deep blood red like GelEnvy in Blood Moon is the perfect fashion forward polish and this dark hue adds the perfect amount of edge to any coloring. A light creamy pink is essential for any tone and is a must for any season. Pick up GelEnvy in Pearl Blush for that perfect pink tint.

Rule # 3 A big polish no-no is any color that matches your skin tone or is very close to it. This choice will only wash out your nails making them blend in with your skin which is not a good look.

Rule # 4 Yellow tones are a bad choice for almost all skin tones. When picking a light natural looking polish make sure there are no yellow tones in it. Yellow will make you look ill and sickly. Want to get in on the pastel polish trend but yellow isn't for you? Try GelEnvy in Amethyst for a light lavender that is perfect for Spring.

Get polished for Spring and pick up the perfect polishes for your skin tone at www.lacquerenvy.com

A little bit of glitter is the perfect addition to add to your manicure for the weekend. Going out with your girlfriends, have a romantic date planned? Take your GelEnvy manicure to the next level by adding some glitter. Apply one coat of top coat over your GelEnvy manicure and cure. Leave this coat sticky and sprinkle glitter on the nails where you want it. (We suggest trying a glitter tip, or a light sprinkling starting at the cuticles and going down the nail. Apply another coat of top coat over the nail and glitter and cure one more time. Wipe off the stickiness and done! Easy and adds instant pop. Shop this look at www.lacquerenvy.com