Marbling & More Stiletto's

Layered marbling in Gel:

In these stiletto's I used the same marbling technique, but wanted a softer look, so I used a more opaque gel over the marbling. 

Grow into your nails...

Most women agree, we just feel better when we have our nails done!  If our nails can be sparkly and LONG so much the better.  One common problem with getting a new set of enhanced nails (when you're not used to them) is that the sudden length can be hard to deal with.  It can be quite painful to hit an acrylic or gel nail hard enough to break it, and discouraging to walk around with a broken nail.

One way to combat this is to start off with an overlay on your natural nail, and start GROWING out your enhancements.  You can enjoy a lot of design and color (as much as you like) starting with your existing nail length, and get used to your enhancements gradually as your now reinforced nails grow out. 

The best service to start with is a Gel Manicure or a natural nail overlay.  Once your nails are a bit past fingertip length, you will be getting a traditional enhancement service, and can choose from any of the variety of options available!

This set was done on September 22nd...

And this set was done on November 3rd...

Is Gel BETTER for you?

One question that comes up a lot:  which is better for you, gel or acrylic?  This is a tough one to answer, since it depends on a variety of factors.  First, I think it depends on what you're really asking!  Do you want to know which causes less damage to your natural nails, or which is better for you?  

Are Gel Nails More Natural?  Often you will hear that gel is "better" or more "natural" and thus more expensive.  First and foremost... gel and acrylic products are both in the ACRYLATE family, so gel is not "more natural" than acrylic.  Gel is, however, shinier than acrylic, which is why I include a Gel topcoat with all enhancement services.

Are Gel Nails better for you natural nails?  Any time you are getting nail enhancements, gel, acrylic, wrap, dip, etc. it requires a certain amount of nail preparation which causes some VERY MINOR "damage" to the natural nail.  Proper nail preparation is identical whether you are getting a Gel Manicure, Gel Nails, or Acrylic Nails.  The days of "roughing up" or "etching" the nails are past - so when done properly (and REMOVED properly), your enhancements should have no long-term effects regardless of which product you choose. 

But Acrylic smells!  Another common complaint is the smell of acrylics.  At PANACHE I use the Salon Pure Air (with triple filtration) at my table for dust and odor control.  Generally even during a service the odors are minimal.

Do Gel Nails cost more?  Gel products themselves do cost a bit more than acrylics, plus those UV lights are spendy, so there is some justification for a higher price.  I believe that the choice of Gel vs. Acrylic should be made based on the best product for your nails, lifestyle, and design choices, so I charge the same price for both.  Both gel and acrylic are strong and versatile products.  Gel is non-porous and so is often a better choice for you if you have your hands in water a lot or handle hair color.  However, a non-porous gel top-coat can be used over acrylics to give the same benefit!

Usually I will select the product best-suited for the design a client chooses.  Some things are easier to accomplish in gel, some are easier in acrylics.  It's difficult to do impressions in gel, and it's a bit trickier to marble acrylic...

SOLAR NAILS?!?

Ok, so I've had this conversation three times this month already, so it must need a blog entry!  Unfortunately there are terms in our industry that are being mis-used, which makes it very confusing for people when they are inquiring about services at a new nail salon.

SOLAR NAILS  This is actually a BRAND name for Pink & White acrylic products from Creative Nail Design.  If you are paying extra for these SOLAR NAILS - ask to see the properly labeled containers, and look for the names "Creative Nail Design" (company) and "Solarnail" (brand).  Unless your nail tech is using the actual products, they are simply using the term Solar Nails generically (like you would use "Coke" or "manila" envelope).

Today this term is still commonly being used in certain salons, sometimes as a term for Pink & Whites and sometimes meaning gel nails.  Either way, it is generally sold as something that is "better for your nails" or "a higher quality product" - and usually costs more.  Often, the actual SOLARNAIL products are not even being used.

So here's the skinny.  I do PINK & WHITES.  I do GEL nails (no extra charge).    So, in todays terms, maybe I DO do SolarNails???  Umm, ok, no - I don't... but the products  I offer are high quality professional products, mostly from YOUNG NAILS! 

Design Services

It seems lately that I've been doing a lot of sets with no smile lines.  This is a great option for those who like to extend the life of their designs, but I miss the crispness of having a nice clean smile line! 

The nails I am wearing right now contain quite a few design options: stilletto, liquid art ~ this is what gives the nails the cool stained glass effect, impressions, and multiple confetti's.

Other design options available include marbling, tie-dye, gel paint, spinners, polymer art, engraving, mylar... the possiblilies are endless!

POWDER GEL?!?

There are many misleading terms being used in the nail industry, either by nails techs who don't understand the services offered, or by less honest techs who are inflating their service price by making you think you're getting something "extra"!

One of the more common terms to be aware of:  POWDER GEL This term is often used by nail techs who are applying acrylic nails, but using a gel top coat.

There are several types of enhancements available to you, two of which are ACRYLIC (liquid & powder) and acrylic oligomer GEL (um, it's gel). Any time your nail tech dips their brush into a liquid (monomer) then into a powder (acrylic polymer), you are getting ACRYLICS! If you are getting gel nails, the substance used will look like a GEL! Typically when you are having a gel service done, you will be putting your hands into a UV light repeatedly throughout your service.

Gel nail Harvest design!

There is nothing wrong with having a service that includes acrylics with a gel top coat ~ that is one of the most common service I perform! It's almost impossible to tell the difference visually between acrylics & gels when the gel top coat is used. Just be aware of what you are paying for!

The industry standard seems to be that you will pay anywhere from $2-$8 extra for a gel top coat. It's also fairly standard to pay $10-$15 more for true gel nails.

At PANACHE your gel top coat is always included in the basic service cost, and there is no extra cost for gel nails.

My commitment to YOUR beautiful nails!

As many of my clients already know, I was blessed to receive extra training from the very start of my career by one of the best educators around, international educator and senior mentor of Young Nails, Tracey Reierson.  This weekend I am traveling down to California for two days of continuing education, which will be taught by three international educators (including Tracey and Young Nails co-owner Greg!).  The class will include hands-on training in technique and design, all with the goal of providing you with a higher level of service! 

If you haven't already been in to Panache, but would like to find out more, feel free to call for a free consultation.  I would be happy to schedule a time just for you, and go over the wide variety of options available to create your custom look.

RockStar Toes with purple flames

RockStar Toes with purple Gel flames

Fall Colors

One great way to change the look of your nails while extending the life of the design is to add gel art.  Shown here is the original four-tone set in acrylic with gel paint:

Two weeks later, after a "Pink" fill and a change-up to midnight blue gel flames:

Add-on pricing applies to gel paint services.

Polymer Clay Art Slices

POLYMER CLAY ART SLICES are the latest service option available for the best RockStar services in town!

Available now in several unique designs, either to cover most of the nail (unbaked), or in smaller pieces as an accent (baked).  Many designs will be limited edition, so when they're gone, they're gone!  Love animal prints?  Coming soon in tiger, zebra and leopard prints!    

Add-on pricing will applies to this service.

What's Next? Service options for acrylics

There are a variety of options available to you at each service appointment once you have a set of RockStar enhancements on. To help demonstrate this, here is one client who chose a few different options. First, we put on a Full Set of RockStar French acrylics:The basic pricing for this service includes your choice of any two colors (solid or glitter) or any one color plus any of the many types of confetti that I have to choose from!

At her next appointment, she opted for a RockStar French Back-Fill in white and Tippy Cup Turquoise:

It is always possible to switch from RockStar French to Pink & Whites or vice versa! I do not completely remove the set to change colors, so there is no "soaking off" in between. A Back-Fill involves first doing a "Pink" fill at the cuticle area, followed by filing off the existing tip and restructuring the extensions with the new color choices.

At her third appointment, she opted to receive a "Pink" fill (new product at the cuticle area) and keeping the same free edge colors. For something extra fun, we added gel flames in a soft white and sprinkled some Funkadelic glitter over the top:

A Reformed Nail Biter!

***UPDATE*** I'm adding a new picture after 4 weeks with acrylics on! We did these last Tuesday!

I was able to do a nail transformation on a (newly reformed) nail biter ~she promises me that she never does if she has nails on. ( TRUE!)

Here's the Before shot: And the After shot (original set):

After the second back-fill - boy do her cuticles look AWESOME!

Oh, Happy Feet!

Here's a picture of my RockStar toes at day 30. I'm ready for a new color, but they're holding up well. I finally got around to my LO-O-O-NG overdue pedicure, since I had NO takers who wanted to give me one! I absolutely love, love, love the Footlogix line and am so glad I chose it for the studio foot services. Here's a before and after... Stop reading now if you're squeamish. I had a close-up up the big toe which really shows how great this stuff is, but really, e-e-ewww.

Pompeii Purple Gel Manicure

Today we soaked off DD's acrylics and are now trying out the OPI Axxium Gel lacquer in Pompeii Purple! Very pretty, and I love her tiny little pinkies!

Rockstar Toes

I'm really loving these RockStar Toes in Neon Rose with a custom glitter fade. For those who are new to the world of Rockstar Toes, I use a soakable gel called MANI-Q from Young Nails, and this stuff is the bomb! Um, hmm, I better check with the kids to see if it's still okay to say that...

Anyway, as described on their website, mani-Q is: A CLEARLY BEAUTIFUL, SUBLIMELY RESILIENT, ENTIRELY NEW NATURAL NAIL CARE GEL. WITH PROPER APPLICATION (IT) WON'T CHIP, CRACK, OR BREAK - NO MATTER WHAT - FOR FOUR LONG WEEKS. Add in some fun color and glitter (fully embedded into the gel), and you have Rockstar Toes!

On Monday I braved the big city, and went down to Seattle for the OPI Axxium Soak-Off Gel Lacquer class. Is that a mouthful, or what? I'm really excited about this product, since it's a great alternative to nail polish and will enable me to provide a natural nail manicure that lasts two weeks - or longer!

I really wanted to leave the gel lacquer on my nails for a few weeks to see how it did, but not having my nails on is like cutting the last 1/4 inch off my fingers. Not pretty. Well, it was, but you know... Not as pretty as the four glitters I'm sporting now!

Neon Blue Nail Thingies

**Edit** Post re-named in honor of Josh.

Here is a picture of DD's new set that we did yesterday ~ Neon Blue with a custom glitter blend in sculpted acrylic (what else?). No fun name for these, as they're just a fade ~ I don't think I could ever remember to call them anything else.
Still very cute though. She was in such a hurry to get to work that she didn't give me much time to take pictures, so the details are not very good. I swear, her pinky is the size of a five year olds'! I particularly like the index finger where I filed off all the glitter. :D

I recently discovered by accident (it's a long story) that I can put my "spinner" in sideways. This is great for the extra large beads that I picked up at Michael's a few weeks ago. So here's a picture showing my super-spinner in my Parade nails. I admit to being completely addicted to having a spinner, plus it really irritates DH sometimes when I play with it. What could be more fun than that?

Puh-Na-chee???

It's incredibly difficult to come up with a name for a business. After hours of mind-numbing searching, tongue twisting, and metaphor seeking, I decided on "Panache Nail Studio". Which, btw, Aunt Sallie told me people would think was pronounced 'Puh-Na-chee' and wonder if some Italians decided to take on the nail market. Then today, after reading my blog, someone (to remain nameless) said to me "So, you decided to go with Puh-Na-Chee, huh?". It wasn't Aunt Sallie.

I don't have the little upside down "e" to really show this, but it's "Pe-näsh". Two syllables, and the original Italian word was pennacchio. Which actually would've been a great name, but no one would ever find my blog if they had to spell that! Just for fun, here are some definitions that I found online:

• distinctive and stylish elegance; a feathered plume on a helmet
• carries the connotation of a flamboyant manner and reckless courage
• flamboyant, energetic style or action; dash; verve
• the quality of being able to do things in a confident and elegant way that other people find attractive

As of right now, I'm sticking with the name. But I reserve the right to include a pronunciation guide on all printed material.

Bedrock City Nails

So DD (dear daughter) thinks I should name all the nail designs, or rather, that I should let her do it! I did this sculpted acrylic set on her in March, and they were so pretty and fun! A little too wild and crazy, maybe, for those new to seeing some pizzazz in a nail tip, but we'll convert them one at a time. :D Rather than the typical "tiger stripes" or whatever, she came up with "Bedrock City". Don't they look just like what Wilma & Betty would have worn if they had been lucky enough to have acrylics? We loved these in Neon Pink with Rainbow Black, but just about any colors would work.

DD is definitely a challenge client. She has teeny-tiny little nail beds that are sunken down in deep cuticles, plus she has ski-jump nails! So she has to get a fill about every 7-8 days or she starts lifting. On top of that she's a picker. Give her the tiniest little speck that's not perfect, and she'll pick pick pick... which, btw, causes lifting! Her record for keeping nails on without any lifting is about 10 days, and that set was done by my favorite Young Nails guru - Tracey, down in California - what a talented lady! I'm guessing the only way to beat that record would be using tiling cement? Hmmmm....