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Thread: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

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    Default Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    I am looking to cut down my manicure and pedicure budget. I'm a fan of shellac (thanks JD) since it can withstand my furious typing and other activities... but I want to begin doing moreof my own manis/pedis. Asides from investing in buying my own UV dryer for shellac and gels (which I will soon!) - what are your favorite base/topcoats? Especially for longevity?

    Is a rubberized base coat the bee's knees?
    Is the trick to reapply the topcoat every few days regardless of quality?
    Is Seche Vite the end all be all?

    Any insight towards how to make a DIY mani/pedi polish top notch?

    Thanks!





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    So how many stumps can you fit in your pussy?

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    Featured Member luscious sadie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    this is totally MY THREAD. I paint my nails every day to match my outfits. My nail polish collection has grown from two bottles to over 50 in the last two months. Even with that swell, I still pay less now than I did per month on manis and pedis.

    even though it is on a different forum, this thread has a LOT of info on keeping up your nails, what brands of polish are good, places to order them and has a nice list of nail blogs. Members also post pictures of their manicures almost daily.

    the best thing that I can recommend off the bat is buying a quick dry top coat. The recommended brand is Seche Vite. It takes about 10 minutes to fully dry and will keep your nails chip free for a lonnnng time. especially if you're typing or doing physical work. If that brand isn't available to you and you don't want to order it online I would suggest going to the drug store and seeing what brands they have of fast-dry topcoat. I had a Bourgiese one that I loved for a long time. RIP top coat.

    keep in mind that price isn't always an indicator of how good a formula will be and that sometimes you just get a bad bottle of something. I am a big fan of OPI, Essie, Zoya and China Glaze. I am also a big fan of the cheapy brands that you can get for 1$ in bargain bins.

    I LOOOOOOVE polish <3

    also, when you're ready to get fancy, check out nail stamping using Konad and Bundle Monster plates!
    [/center]

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    THANK YOU!

    I *love* the look of stamping plates but worry about my left hand (shaky, useless) and have no idea how to go about it so will read read read

    Have you ever gotten those funky Minx nails before? They are SO gorgeous! Ive seenSally Hansen's knock off version and tried it but it lasted like 6 hours haha.

    Nail art is so cool to me - but I always feel like a total poser haha

    Thank you for the link!





    Quote Originally Posted by Procrasturbator View Post
    So how many stumps can you fit in your pussy?

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    This is my pick, recommended a long time ago in Oprah's magazine. I've used the toenails which has some use-- I actually take the leftover nails from my manicure kit and cut and file them down and find they actually work a lot longer than the actual pedicure nails. However, as far as the manicure goes-- I've worn these for longer than a week and always pick them off (there's a little removal kit you can get to limit harm to your nails-- however after picking them off a few times you kind of get the knack for limiting damage.) I've also had to move a huge king sized bed where I actually had to dig my nails INTO the mattress and pull around tight corners and not one nail came off. Pretty damn good for $7 before coupons (great for when you have a CVS coupon to use, and occasionally you see $1 off kiss products, which is great as they have eyelash supplies too.)



    What I do want to try are crackle polishes and the thin sheets of patterned nail laquer that you put on your nail:



    and


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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    i'm all about seche vite topcoat with daby nail hardener (i put a coat on every other day or so, whenever i remember) over it. still looking for a great base coat - wasn't impressed with seche base. trying out orly bonder base this week - so far not too shabby.

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    ^what's a good topcoat that dries quickly?

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    Quote Originally Posted by FiendishGyrator View Post
    ^what's a good topcoat that dries quickly?
    seche vite dries in about a few minutes so (the only downside is it tends to dry up in the bottle before you ever finish it, so you have too keep nail polish thinner around).
    i also have "out the door" which is pretty decent too, but i like seche vite better.

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    I always manage to do the stamping better with my left hand since I can move my right to get it all aligned properly.
    [/center]

    Quote Originally Posted by Laurisa View Post
    Money can't buy happiness, but poverty can't buy shit.

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    Wow, Konad is pretty cool!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c8YTe0xSV0

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    Quote Originally Posted by FiendishGyrator View Post
    ^what's a good topcoat that dries quickly?
    Rimmel do a high-gloss lycra topcoat that dries hard in 2 minutes. You'll find it in most drug stores, pharmacies, and stores like Walmart.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    "Good Girls keep diaries....Bad Girls don't have the time..!!"

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    Seche Vite dries really quickly but I've found that it peels up on my nails after a few days, has anyone else noticed this? I've tried different nail polishes underneath but literally my nail polish will peel off in big chunks leaving my nail bare underneath. Probably a weird way to word it, but it's so frustrating especially because the topcoat is expensive. I think I'm going to try putting a nail strengthener and then a layer of the Seche Vite topcoat.

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    ^ I just wanted to add a vote for Seche Vite, though I've had that same peeling result unless I make sure I put down very thin layers.

    But ever since my first gel mani/pedi, I've been permanent hooked on gels and it never occurred to me to just buy my own UV dryer and gels until I read this thread. That's such a good idea.

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    Quote Originally Posted by Noa View Post
    ^ I just wanted to add a vote for Seche Vite, though I've had that same peeling result unless I make sure I put down very thin layers.

    But ever since my first gel mani/pedi, I've been permanent hooked on gels and it never occurred to me to just buy my own UV dryer and gels until I read this thread. That's such a good idea.

    That is such a good idea! I'm really sick of my seche vite peeling so I'm going to try the thin layers.

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    A really good quick drying top coat is "Beauty Secrets: Top Coat". Sounds pretty generic but I see it all the time at Sally's and other beauty supply stores. It's the one that kind of has a blue tint, and it comes in a large round bottle. It's like $9. Sometimes I partner that with "Won't Chip" from Orly.

    And if you girls haven't started water marbling your nails yet, I suggest you try. Coolest. Thing. Evarrr.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziUBMEzshgo

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    I love the water marbling thing. Its so quick and easy to do
    Last edited by Afroangel; 08-04-2011 at 09:39 AM.

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    Quote Originally Posted by Noa View Post
    ^ I just wanted to add a vote for Seche Vite, though I've had that same peeling result unless I make sure I put down very thin layers.

    But ever since my first gel mani/pedi, I've been permanent hooked on gels and it never occurred to me to just buy my own UV dryer and gels until I read this thread. That's such a good idea.
    I hear you. Ive been addicted but then did a count of the cost over the past few months and was like uggggghhhhhhh. Plus one (and pretty much the only) upscale salon I went to just brought out a portable UV curer instead of putting my hands uh under the table (you know those built in ones).... and I was like "slow down, Im spending extra here for licensed nail estheticians and you're bringing out a 4lb thing from your closet?"

    This one has great reviews and is on sale: http://www.amazon.com/Thermal-Spa-49...2741850&sr=8-1

    I haven't bought it yet since I am trying to budget better on beauty items, but Im keeping an eye on it. I dont know what your experience is but the OPI gels don't seem to last on me as long as CND or ibd... and what is great is that those are cheaper! This site sells them at a decent price: http://head2toebeauty.com/nail_gel_polishes/ngp_ibd.htm

    Also to anyone reading this - don't buy the CND shiny top coat or Seche Vite base coat (for regular nails), neither have been my cup of tea but Im going to try out Seche top coat

    Thanks everyone!





    Quote Originally Posted by Procrasturbator View Post
    So how many stumps can you fit in your pussy?

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4Fai...eature=related

    using white nail polish, rubbing alcohol, and newspaper print-- either words or comics.
    plus a top coat.

    Van Gogh's Starry Night:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuIxH...eature=related

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    Holy sh!t

    Thank you! Im going to subscribe to her channel - I had no idea nail art was so easy. Thank you thank you





    Quote Originally Posted by Procrasturbator View Post
    So how many stumps can you fit in your pussy?

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    If you don't want to spend too much, I've found Revlon products to be reliable. You can get quite a few of the colours in mini bottles. Their base/top coat in one and quick dry liquid are good.

    I've also been using Rimmel fast-drying nail polish, and it's about the same quality. Don't buy Loreal Titanium polish. It's more expensive, but chips off easily, and my two bottles went thick and unusable after three months! And no, I didn't store them in sunlight or warm rooms.

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    Base coat: I swear by Orly Nail Bonder. It's a rubberized base coat. It keeps even the cheapest of polishes stuck to my nails for at least 10 days. It makes it so that I only have to repaint because my nails grew out, heheh.

    I rarely use a top coat because I'm lazy although I do have Orly's In a Snap and Out The Door. I find that fast-dry top coats "shrink" up and can shorten the lifespan of a good mani.

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    i actually love the Rimmel base/top coat combo one. it is cheap and works the best of any i have tried (from cheap to very expensive). I put a lot of work into my nails, so I've tried tons of things, lol.

    It does seem to vary a bit from girl to girl. Also with which polish you use. Though price is not always an indicator of that either. I've had $1.99 polish that was great and very expensive that wasnt. I tend to use OPI 99% of the time.

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    Default Re: Keeping manicures fresh - DIY (aka base/top coats?)

    Quote Originally Posted by nicole84 View Post
    i actually love the Rimmel base/top coat combo one. it is cheap and works the best of any i have tried (from cheap to very expensive). I put a lot of work into my nails, so I've tried tons of things, lol.

    It does seem to vary a bit from girl to girl. Also with which polish you use. Though price is not always an indicator of that either. I've had $1.99 polish that was great and very expensive that wasnt. I tend to use OPI 99% of the time.
    I've already posted about Rimmel earlier - however another top-coat I use often is 'Honeypot' which is a really high gloss top coat that dries rock hard and protects my nails for weeks without chipping. I don't know if you can get in the US - but if you 'Google' Honeypot Cosmetics you'll get the website.
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