The Busy Mom's Mani

OPI A Woman's Prague-ative

(3 coats)

from the Spring 2013 Euro Centrale Collection

I understand how hard it can be to find the time to pamper yourself with things like manicures. But over the years, I've developed a method that allows me to do a home mani in a short amount of time right before I go to bed. The secret is the fast-dry topcoat- my nails are completely dry by the time I hit the sack, and I don't get sheet marks at all! Start to finish, a mani takes me less than 20 minutes. Who doesn't have 20 minutes to pamper themselves?

And my secret to pretty nails? Always keeping them painted! It adds strength and keeps them from breaking.

So without further ado, here are my favorite nail products, shown in order of use for the perfect salon-quality mani. For all products, I start with the pinkie of one hand and continue on to the other hand before I move to the next step. And there's no need to let the coats dry in between steps- just start with the same nail each step.

1. Sally Hanson Instant Cuticle Remover. To have a long-lasting mani, you've really got to prep your nails. Removing cuticle overgrowth is a key step. I apply this all around my cuticles, wait a bit (you can wait longer that it says), then use the thumbnail of my opposite hand to push back/scrape the cuticles. I typically do this twice. Find this at drug stores and mass-market retailers like Wal-Mart and Target.

2. Orly Bonder. This rubberized basecoat overrides any oily residue on your nails and gives your polish something to stick to, another secret of a long-lasting mani. Find this at Sally Beauty.

2.5. Apply your favorite shade of polish. I'm a firm believer that if you use the right base and top coats, any brand of polish can work. Some of my favorites that vary widely in price are OPI, China Glaze, Sally Hansen and NYC.

3. NYC Grand Central Station. This is my new HG topcoat... it works just as well as the pricy Seche Vite, but it's only $2! You know I love a bargain. Find this at drug stores and mass-market retailers like Wal-Mart and Target.

4. Poshe Cuticle Care.  Keeping your cuticles neat and free of hang-nails is another secret to making your manicure last longer. This product is fabulous and I massage this into my cuticles twice a day to prevent hangnails and prevent cuticle buildup. Find this at Ulta for around $9.

5. Nail Polish Remover Dip-It. I change my polish pretty often, and this little treasure makes it quick and easy. Inside this tub are plastic bristles that really help scrub the polish off. Find this at mass-market retailers like Wal-Mart and Target for around $3.

Now, if you are trying to remove a glitterbomb polish, that's another issue, and you'll need to visit this post on my nail blog to see the trick for that.

Do you have any nail products to recommend to me? I love trying new products and would love to hear about your favorites!

Did you know I love nail polish so much that I've got a separate blog just for my nail polish reviews and pictures? Visit me at http://www.manicuremommas.com/ if you like nail polish as much as I do!

Ask the Product Junkie.... Mani Tips

Jillian Inc. says: Totally agree with Mr. - that you could make a career. This isn't so much about a particular product but, in your opinion, what is the KEY to a good at home manicure? (base, top coat, etc?). How do you do yours? I really need to do mine myself but they always turn out looking like crap. Thanks!

Great question Jillian! I've been painting my nails since middle school, and through the years, I've found there ARE a few things that make a difference. I have a post here when I discuss the products I use and the order in I use them in. However, I think two of the steps are by far the most important so let's discuss them here.

1. Cuticle care. My mother was strangely incessant about pushing my cuticles back when I was growing up. Every morning she'd use a pencil eraser to ease them back. Although I hated doing it at the time, my mother was on to something: Taking care of your cuticles equals less problematic nails. Less splits, tears, and breaks.

Although I don't push my cuticles back with an eraser anymore, I do two things in particular to take care of my cuticles. First, a few times a week, before I apply fresh polish, I use a product like Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover. This softens the cuticles and allows them to be pushed back off the nail very easily. Having your cuticles pushed back allows a better, longer lasting application of nail polish.

Second, I use a cuticle cream with AHA at least once a day to keep them moisturized and maintained. Poshe Cuticle Care and CND Cuticle Eraser are two good ones.

2. Top Coat. A quick dry top coat will change your life! My potion of choice is Seche Vite, but there are quite a few different ones you can try- from what I read, based on body chemistry, some people have better luck with other choices. Others to try are Poshe, Out the Door, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri..... there are quite a few out there- you'll just need to figure out what works best for you. Most quick dry top coats need to be applied immediately after the last coat of polish is applied.

I usually start my mani about 9 and am done by 9:30 and go to bed at 10 and have perfect nails when I wake up.

Hope these tips helps Jillian!

Spring Has Sprung.... on my nails!!!!

(this was posted today on Manicure Mommas, but I couldn't resist sharing here as well.....)

Sally Hansen Real Nail Polish Strips in Girl Flower

I've been dying to try these, but for one reason or another, hadn't gotten around to it. Now that I have The Spring Fever, I thought it was a perfect time to use them.

I LOVE that the pattern is forgiving..... if you look closely at the tips, you can see that I didn't do that well at ripping off the extra... but since the pattern is varied and has some white flowers, it's not that big of a deal. In person, you cannot tell at all.

Application time took me about 18 minutes, and I imagine it would be less next time now that I know which sizes fit my nails.

I can't remember exactly what I paid, but I believe I got these in a BOGO 1/2 price sale... I also have Misbehaved.

I added a top coat of Revlon ColorStay in clear because I heard that a topcoat extends the wear.

I will definitely report back and let you know how long they last for me.

Speaking of Nails

Keeping your cuticles neat and clean is one of the keys to making your manicure last longer. My mom used to use Delore on me when I was growing up and I hated the smell so much! I shudder just thinking about it. I'd sneak in the bathroom and wash my hands as soon as I could to get it all off.

My blog crush Katee uses CND Solar Oil, which I haven't tried.

However, I've been using Avon's Cuticle Oil Pen with Lavendar and I absolutely love it. It smells so good, nothing like Delore! And right now they are having a special and you can get two for $6! And free shipping!

Follow these steps to ensure you get your free shipping AND your ebates rebates.

1. Visit Valerie's site first to make her your default rep

2. Log into ebates to get 5% back and go through them to get to the Avon site

3. Once the Avon site pulls up again, you should see Valeri's name near the top of the site

4. Choose your products and then use code REPFS or FSANY to get free shipping (if one doesn't work, try the other)

Happy Shopping!