CND Paradise Collection

Is it summer yet? With temperatures in the 90s here, it sure feels like it already. CND has your answer to all things summer with their new Paradise Collection.  

My local salon, Salon-de-Lis, posted this photo on their Facebook Page - Nail Artist Marly used CND Desert Poppy with CND Additive Tropic Sunrise.

Image Courtesy of Salon De Lis

Please enjoy the following release - all images courtesy of CND.

CND Open Road Collection

Summer collections may be appearing on beauty supply shelves, but it's still spring around here. CND came out with a twist on the normal pastel trend with their Open Road Collection.

Please enjoy the following press release. All images courtesy of CND.

CND’S OPEN ROAD COLLECTION INSPIRES LIMITLESS BEAUTY

Industry leader presents NEW free-spirited spring shades and emerging nail trend

CND Intimates Collection

CND has continued to bring new Shellac shades to help outfit every woman. Please enjoy the following - all images courtesy of CND.

NEW CND SHELLAC™ INTIMATES COLLECTION

UNVEILS natural beauty  

Four delicate colors expand the Power Polish™ lineup to 61 superior shades

CND NYFW 2014 - The Blonds

The show that I was excited the most for was CND. They have been doing looks for The Blonds for awhile now, and they are always show stoppers with amazing nail work. Please enjoy the following. (All images courtesy of CND.)

Halloween Nail Art

I'm currently rocking some nubs after snapping not one but three nails last week, so hopefully this posting helps you and I alike find some creative ways to celebrate Halloween with our nails - long or short. All images courtesy of their respective companies.

If nail art isn't your thing, Dermelect Cosmeceuticals has 4 brilliant colors that will help accent your costume or show off your holiday spirit.

Head Turner

A brilliant tangerine creme - perfect for pumpkin related costumes.

Decadence

A metallic espresso - great for a witch or zombie look.

Red-iculous

This classic red creme works great for blood related manicures.

Persuasive

This delicate peach is perfect for princess costumes.

Dermelect ME Anti-Aging Nail Lacquers ($14) at Dermelect.com and high-end apothecaries, beauty boutiques, salons, spas, medi-spas and doctors offices.

Next, Pure Ice has 18 scintillating and stylish shades in their new Perfect Potion Halloween Collection including a Glow in the Dark polish to help you mix and match for the perfect manicure.

Perfect Potion Halloween Shades

-Glow In The Dark

-Cheatin' (glittery purple)

-All Night Long (sparkle blue)

-Hit The Floor (sparkle red)

-I'll Never Tell (glitter brown)

-Superstar (white)

-Blackout (black)

-Can't Stop (coral pink)

-Free Spirit (sea green)

-Silver Star (silver)

At only $1.99, the price is definitely right to collect them all and rock several different looks. Pure Ice is available at Walmart and Walmart.com

CND is constantly being the innovated one that thinks outside the box, and this Halloween they created Hollywood-inspired nail looks to die for. Ask your favorite salon to help recreate these Shellac looks or the last one is done with Vinylux for the at home DIY-er!

 The Redrum - Inspired by the cult classic "The Shining". Created by Heather Reynosa-Davis, CND Education Ambassador.
1. Apply a thin later of CNS Shellac Base Coat and cure for 10 seconds in the CND UV Lamp.
2. Apply two thin layers of CND Shellac in Wildfire. Cure each layer for 2 minutes.
3. Apply a thin layer of CND Shellac in Black Pool - DO NOT CURE.
4. Use a style to etch the letters into the wet Black Pool revealing Wildfire underneath. Cure for 2 minutes.
5. Apply a thin layer of Shellac Top Coat and cure for 2 minutes.
6. Wipe with 99% Isopropyl Alcohol to remove top film.

The Dracula - Inspired by Bram Stoker's 1931 classic horror film. Created by Kris Kiss, CND Education Ambassador
1. Apply CND Shellac Base Coat and cure for 10 seconds in the CND UV Lamp.
2. Apply two coats of CND Shellac in Cream Puff. Cure each layer for 2 minutes.
3. Apply CND Additive in Black Pigment from cuticle towards the center.
4. Apply CND Additive in Red Pigment from the edge towards the center.
5. Apply drops of isopropyl alcohol randomly on black pigment area.
6. Lightly apply CND Shellac in Wildfire over red pigment area and cure for 2 minutes.
7. Lightly dust CND Additive in Steel Dreams over black pigment area.
8. Apply CND Shellac Top Coat and cure for 2 minutes.
9. Wipe with 99% Isopropyl Alcohol to remove top film.

The Alien - Inspired by Steven Spielberg's 1970s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Created by Torie Bastian, CND Education Ambassador
1. Apply two coats of CND Vinylux in Steal Gaze and wait for it to dry (8.5 minutes).
2. Using a striping brush, draw two large almond shaped eyes using CND Vinylux in Black Pool.
3. With a striping brush, outline the shape of the alien's head and fill in the surrounding area with CND Vinylux in Midnight Swim.
4. For additional effect, use a sponge dipped in CND Vinylux colors of your choice to create a nebulous, space-like look. Let dry for 1 minute.
5. Apply CND Vinylux Weekly Top Coat.

ORLY brings you 4 polishes that are sure to give you just the right of glitz and glam for any Halloween Look.

Black Pixel, Right Amount of Evil, R.I.O. and Monster Mash; $10 each at OrlyBeauty.com. Additionally, ORLY is offering free shipping on all orders over $16 with the code FALLFREESHIP from now until November 15th. Any guest who makes a purchase using FALLFREESHIP is additionally eligible to receive a coupon code for 20% off their next order. All 20% off coupon codes are eligible for savings through December 15th.

Finally, Gelish brings you a great Spooky Eyes nail art from head manicurist Danielle Candido. This is great for those who may not be able to dress up at the office but can rock a look on their nails! (And it's also for someone like me who may be a little nail art challenged!)

Prep the nails first: Apply Gelish MINI Nail Surface Cleanse on to a lint-free wipe to clean the nails. Push back the cuticle and clean the surrounding nail. Apply an adhesive tab to the plastic pusher and lightly buff the nail to remove the shine. Apply Gelish MINI Nail Surface Cleanse to a lint-free wipe to remove the dust and clean the nails. Dehydrate the nail plate with Gelish MINI pH Bond. 

1. Apply a thin coat of Gelish MINI Foundation Gel to the nail, making sure to cap the free edge. Use a clean orangewood stick to clean up any excess Gelish MINI Foundation Gel from around the cuticle or under the nail. Cure in the Gelish MINI Pro: 45 LED Light for 45 seconds. After curing Gelish MINI Foundation Gel, a tacky surface will remain. 

2. Apply a thin coat of Gelish MINI Black Shadow to the entire nail bed from the cuticle to the free edge.  Cure in the Gelish MINI Pro: 45 LED Light for 45 seconds. Apply a second coat of Gelish MINI Black Shadow for full coverage. Cure in the Gelish MINI Pro: 45 LED Light for 45 seconds. Darker colors, such as Gelish MINI Black Shadow may need to be cured longer. 

3. Using the larger end of a double-ended dotting tool, place two dots of Gelish MINI Sheek White on the nail bed next to each other. Cure in the Gelish MINI Pro: 45 LED light for 45 seconds. Using the smaller end of the double-ended dotting tool, place two smaller dots of Gelish MINI Black Shadow inside the dots of Gelish MINI Sheek White. Cure in the Gelish MINI Pro: 45 LED light for 45 seconds. 

4. Seal with a thin coat of Gelish MINI Top It Off Sealer and cure in the Gelish MINI Pro: 45 LED Light for 45 seconds. Your nails will remain tacky until they are cleansed. 

5. Apply Gelish MINI Nail Surface Cleanse to a lint-free nail wipe to remove the tacky surface. To finish, apply Gelish MINI Nourish Cuticle Oil to the skin surrounding the nail plate and massage into the cuticles.  

There you have it! No matter what your skill level or what products you have, there are many options to rock a great manicure next week for Halloween. Stay tuned to PolishGalore to see what I ended up wearing next Thursday!

NYFW Spring Summer 2014 Round Up

I was actually very interested in New York Fashion Week this year. I even considered hopping a plane and going to watch! Instead, I ended up watching from my computer screen and even though it's come and gone (and London had theirs too), I thought you might be interested in some of the show highlights that I enjoyed.  (All images courtesy of the companies that they represent unless otherwise noted.)

CND

When I think of Fashion Week, I think of CND and how hard they work to create amazing designs. This year, they unveiled 36 unique designs at The Blonds Spring/Summer 2014 Fashion Show at MILK Studios in NYC. 

butter LONDON

I didn't realize butter LONDON was hitting the US soil so hard but now I see it EVERYWHERE. This year, they launched their own exclusive Fashion Week shade The 444, a champagne glitter.

However, I felt like butter LONDON played it safe with fashion week - lots of nudes & matte top coats. One show that did get wild was the LIBERTINE show where lead manicurist Katie Jane Hughes, butter LONDON Global Colour Ambassador started with Union Jack Black and then added holographic foil & applied several colours to the nails includes crystals and studs and finally a small red pom-pom on the accent nails.

Morgan Taylor

I still need to share my brand overview on Morgan Taylor - both lovely fashion forward young women who are really digging in their heels with their brand. I was happy to see them at fashion week, such a young brand to have such a powerful position.

BUT THEN they also went the nude, light, and matte way. Rawr.

The stand out was the Betsy Johnson show (duh). Lead artist Danielle Candido created an "Aurora Borealis Mani" using a silver base of Could Have Foiled Me, layered with Adorned in Diamonds and finished at the tips with Sweetest Thing.

Zoya

Can't forget them! Zoya has been providing custom nail colors for their designers in recent fashion shows. Each designer nail palette was created in direct collaboration with Zoya Color Developer Rebecca Isa (who officially has my dream job). Once again, the designers tended to go with soft colors but the Peter Som set spoke to me most. 

Zoya Edie (blue cream), Zoya Alexa (green cream), and Zoya Stella (peach cream). “The inspiration for the Peter Som custom trio was - Where land meets sea… - the serene marine blue represents the water, the vibrant green represents the lush plant life surrounding the water and the soft peach is the delicate first bloom of spring flowers. Eddie and Alexa are full coverage and very pigmented so that a shaded half-moon mani can be achieved; which is exactly how the shades were worn coming down the runway”.

There you have it! Hope you enjoyed my picks from Fashion Week!

Live from Cosmoprof North America 2013!

So after missing my flight, being rerouted 5 hours out of my way, and showing up 7 hours late, having my laptop wireless card go southside, my iPad not charge and a migraine the size of Texas, I am in Las Vegas for the Cosmoprof North America show!

Yesterday I met with a large diverse group of brands - NCLA (yes, it's in all caps!), China Glaze (Gelaze anyone?!), OPI (item coming this fall that I am jumping up and DOWN for!), Barielle (great story line behind each collection), Seche (much more pigment and boldness!), ORLY (flakie IN matte top coat!), Jessica (glow in the dark snowman ornaments anyone?), nubar (where have they been), and much more.

Tonight I have more meetings set with brands like essie, and CND plus something extra special that I hope I can talk about. Unlike last year, more items are embargoed this year... some I can't talk about until December! Some I couldn't photograph. But despite that, just know that this is the place to learn about new nail trends ... when I can talk about them!

Be prepared, tell your friends. 

Cosmoprof posts are coming!

Happy polishing!

Pamper Mom Pretty with CND

Mother's Day is Sunday (ahem) and if you're anything like me, you'd love a gift certificate for a manicure & pedicure. Give her the honor of a great manicure and pedicure from a quality salon with quality products like the following from CND!

Now, the best way to find a CND certified salon is through the CND website. It's important that the salon location that says they have Shellac is actually using all the proper products, tools and procedures to make sure you get all the benefits of the CND services.  You may remember that I reviewed a local salon that uses Shellac, and I know that they are using all the proper tools but they haven't been CND cetified yet (working on it).

Start out with the CND Citrus SpaManicure to exfoliate, refine and moisturize the hands leaving them silky smooth for days and follow with the CND Marine SpaPedicure, a conditioning ocean-inspired bled.

Then follow it up with Shellac! New to summer are four bright colors.

Grape Gum

Lobster Roll

Pink Bikini

Water Park

Not a fan of the brights? There are 51 other CND Shellac colors and remember, you can always layer shades for a custom look.  

So far I've tried:

• One coat of Purple Purple and one coat of Moonlight & Roses which resulted in a nice lilac shade.
• Two coats of Hollywood, a pretty red, with a top coat of Mother of Pearl, a light holographic scattered glitter, much like China Glaze Fairy Dust for a scattered holo red.
• My own "Bridezillionaire": pre-designed "rock-n-roll darks" of Rock Royalty with Iced Coral.  This results in a purple base with a blue to green shift shimmer.  Then I had a layer of the Zillionaire added for some glitz.

The combinations are endless. Not to mention 14 days wear, mirror-shine and zero dry time. Go one step further and give her a follow up appointment so she can have her Shellac safely removed by a professional and try out another combination!  Happy Mother's Day!

CND Shellac Spring

I REALLY wish that this powder blue was available when I got married - I would have had my nails done with it, no question.  (For the record, I wore nubar purple aster.)

CND SHELLAC™ INTRODUCES THE SPRING 2013

SWEET DREAMS COLLECTION

COLOR RANGE EXPANDS TO 47 WITH FIVE NEW DELECTABLE SHADES

AND INFINITE LAYERING OPTIONS

December 2012 – CND Shellac™, the Original Power Polish™, is set to celebrate spring with five new power pastel shades, available March 2013 in salons worldwide. CND Shellac is the Original Power Polish system that goes on like polish, wears like gel and comes off in minutes with no nail damage.

“Drift off on a cloud of confections with the new CND Shellac Sweet Dreams Collection,”says CND Co-founder Jan Arnold. “The new pastel colors can be worn on their own or layered to create a reverie of never ending dreams.”

Indulge in a world of delectable sweets and indulgent treats with
CND’s NEW Sweet Dreams Collection:

Grapefruit Sparkle
Cake Pop
Lilac Longing
Azure Wish
Limeade

Discover the new CND Shellac Sweet Dreams Collection at a salon near you by visiting www.cnd.com. CND Shellac is a professional salon service product available in 65 markets globally. Manicure prices typically range from $25-$45 and pedicures from $40-$60 depending on location.

Since launching in 2010, CND Shellac has transformed salon service manicures and pedicures, delivering 14-day flawless wear and mirror shine with zero dry-time, no chipping and no nail damage. CND Shellac comes off safely in minutes with convenient, hygienic CND Shellac Remover Wraps that precisely target the nail to limit skin exposure to acetone. With CND Shellac Nourishing Remover, which recently launched in fall 2012, removal time has been reduced by 20 per cent, making the process only eight minutes.

About CND
Founded in 1979 and based in Vista, CA, CND (Creative Nail Design, Inc.) is the global leader in professional nail, hand and foot beauty. Deeply committed to advancing the nail care industry, CND devotes significant time and resources to product research and development, education, and customer support. CND is an industry-leading advocate for the role of nail care in personal beauty and fashion.

CND Holiday Season

Okay, so maybe Christmas is over, but if you're like me (cough), there are some late gifts being delivered.  Why not give the gift of CND?  I especially am gaga over their Scentsations (I have a bottle on my desk of the Lavender and Jojoba) and this year the special edition Solar Oil smells AMAZING (I found sample in a magazine).  If you can scoop any of these up, DO IT before they are gone.

Fall/Winter CND Shellac

A luxe line-up of rich tones with shimmering metallics becomes the perfect accent to any holiday party outfit! Manicures range $25 - $45 and pedicures $40 - $60. CND certified salons for gift certificate purchase can be found at cnd.com/find-salon.  

Holiday Scentsations

These scented lotions moisturize skin and bring holiday cheer to the senses. Choose from Celebrate (hint of vanilla, berries and fresh floral), Enchant (hint of sandalwood, amber and floral), and Delight (hint of amber and floral). $12.00 US/$15.00 Canada.

Special Edition SolarOil

The tried and true cuticle saver special edition formula features a new fragrance of heliotrope, vanilla, and golden amber. $11.50 US/$14.40 Canada.

Cucumber Heel Therapy

Prevents moisture-deprived feet in the cold winter months by aiding cellular repair and speeds the healing of dry skin. $15.50 US /$18.80 Canada for a 2.6 oz jar.

CND: Shellac Fall 2012

During my meeting at Cosmoprof North America Las Vegas with CND, I got to see some of the new items coming out for Fall 2012.  While they haven't abandoned their colours and effects line, they aren't expanding it right now.  However, they are coming out with 6 new Shellac shades in the fall, bringing the total of Shellac shades to the perfect number... 42.  Yeah buddy.

The one thing that I hate to part with, but will be giving my local salon, is the Shellac nail card.  This has the current 36 Shellac colors plus a few layered looks.

Oh I love Shellac.

So, more on these upcoming fall colors.  I wasn't able to see them swatched or in the bottle but I was assured they are lovely.  :]

And now, please enjoy the press release that goes with it.

Winter Wonderful: 6 New CND Shellac™ Power Polish™ Shades

Color Palette Extends to 42 Shades of Gorgeous

June 20, 2012 – CND launches six new shades of CND Shellac™, the original Power Polish, available November 2012. The new, luxe line-up features a range of rich tones accented with shimmering metallics designed to perfectly accessorize graphic florals, chromatic finishes and tea stained fabrics inspired by the top looks from the Fall 2012 Fashion Week runway.

CND Shellac helps you accessorize any outfit with the only resilient color that promises non-stop mirror shine, zero dry-time and 14 days of flawless wear. Worn by fashionistas, Hollywood’s elite, everyday women and nail professionals alike, CND Shellac has paved the way for a new category of nail color.


CND Shellac comes off gently with convenient, hygienic CND Shellac Remover Wraps that help to limit skin exposure to acetone by keeping the remover on the nail. Building off CND Shellac’s convenient and gentle ten minute removal process, CND Shellac Nourishing Remover, out in September 2012, will reduce removal time to eight minutes. CND Shellac Nourishing Remover is infused with macadamia and Vitamin E oils to condition nails and softly remove color.

CND Shellac is a professional salon service product. Manicure prices typically range from $25-$45 and pedicures from $40-$60 depending on location. Visit cnd.com to find a salon near you.

About CND
Founded in 1979 and based in Vista, CA, CND (Creative Nail Design, Inc.) is the global leader in professional nail, hand and foot beauty. Deeply committed to advancing the nail care industry, CND devotes significant time and resources to product research and development, education, and customer support. CND is an industry-leading advocate for the role of nail care in personal beauty and fashion.

CND Additives

So the #1 complaint I've heard about CND Shellac is that "there aren't enough colors."  Well, this summer, CND came out with 12 pure cosmetic-grade pigments that can be layered over CND Shellac or mixed into gels or acrylics.  Now you're only limited by imagination.  I tried to go play with these while at Cosmoprof, but as luck would have it, the Additives got locked behind a closed door meeting when I showed up.  Instead, I have the pretty press release!  CND Additives are only sold to professionals, so ask your salon when they are getting them for your next CND Shellac manicure!

Ask for ADDITIVES! CND Introduces ‘‘Additives’’ for No-Limits Artistry at the Nail Salon


July 2012 --- CND introduces an exciting new way to achieve the ultimate nail artistry at your local salon -- Additives. This vibrant collection of 12 pure cosmetic-grade pigments enhances any manicure or pedicure and can be layered over CND Shellac™ or mixed into gels or acrylics, making your nails truly unforgettable. Sophisticated, runway-inspired and chic, Additives are fashion’s hottest way to redefine "nail art." 

"Women like to make statements with their nails. CND Additives let you explore the inventive and personalized world of nail art. Prepare for your nails to get noticed in a whole new way!’’ says CND Co-Founder, Jan Arnold


Now, nail addicts can experience an even more valuable, creative and customized service with CND Additives signature colors, textures and finishes. Ombre, opalescent glass, sparkling finish, nearly neon --- there are infinite possibilities!

CND Additives are a professional-only product launching in salons globally in July 2012.

Salon-de-Lis, Kingsville, Texas

Image courtesy of Salon-de-Lis Facebook Page

I was once told that living in South Texas and being into beauty was an oxymoron... that we were 10 years behind the trends.  I wouldn't say 10 years, but it does seem like we do tend to fall behind in what's going on in the world of beauty and fashion.  I had heard of Salon-de-Lis from my Mom originally, when her hairstylist moved to this location, and then I physically visited the location during their ribbon cutting for the Chamber of Commerce.  When I first went by, the nail room was in the front, with the normal China Glaze and OPI in the room, but because they were busy with the ribbon cutting, no one could really tell me what nail services were offered.

Fast forward a few months, and while I was reading my Facebook feed, I saw that Salon-de-Lis was now offering Shellac by CND!  I immediately jumped to make an appointment for a pedicure due to my upcoming Las Vegas trip and I knew that I didn't want to have my toe polish flake off or chip while out of state at a beauty convention.  I was able to sign up straight from their Facebook Page (bonus!) which leads to the website Vagaro - a web based appointment calendar.

I received a phone call a few days later asking to reschedule my appointment.  The woman who was going to perform my services was no longer available on that day, and in the end, it worked out better for me to move the appointment.  The owner, Lisa, offered to even come in early to the salon so I could get in and out in time for my flight, which was a nice gesture.  At this point, I had not spilled that I was a nail blogger, but she saw we had mutual Facebook friends and remembered my blog through other conversations I had with said mutual contacts.

I went into the salon a few days early to see (a) if Salon-de-Lis offered the entire Shellac process and (b) what colors she had available.  I had printed off some color combinations from the CND website because I knew I wanted to layer my colors.  The polish room had moved to another part of the salon since the last time I had been there, and the new room had a neat display of all their polishes.  I asked to see the Shellac set up and was pleased to see the official CND lamp, Shellac polishes, base and top coats.  I narrowed my choices down to 3 possibles, and was set to return the following Saturday.  Turns out, I didn't even need my printouts because Lisa had the same printouts available in her salon, with the colors that she offers already pre-marked.

On Saturday (July 21), I was running a bit late (if you saw my Instagram, you'll see I packed in 16 minutes, nervewracking!), so I called to let them know I was about 15 minutes behind.  I arrived and was offered a drink (I chose water), and was seated in a nice plush salon chair with a pull out drawer for the pedicures.  I didn't need a pedicure, just my nail lacquer removed and the Shellac applied, and since Lisa now knew I was a nail blogger and understood Shellac, she asked if 2 shadows (new hires) could watch.  I didn't mind at all, so the duo came in to observe.  (It was actually a brother & sister that just graduated from cosmetology school and were still new to nails.)

Lisa is very adamant about using the entire Shellac system from start to beginning and not short changing the client by mixing and matching products or systems.  I chose to put on one coat of Purple Purple and one coat of Moonlight & Roses which resulted in a nice lilac shade.  Lisa took care to make sure no gel was on the cuticle area during the pedicure, my foot was relaxed during the UV lamp, and that she wrapped the tips (which is difficult on toes but not impossible!).

There were only 2 downsides.  The first was that I was the first Shellac pedicure, and so her pedicure chair was not set up properly for Shellac.  In order to make me comfortable, she would polish one foot, then hold the lamp on the foot rest while I placed my foot inside.  While that cured, we'd small talk until the light went off, then she'd polish the other foot and hold the lamp during that foot's curing.  It made the procedure last longer only because instead of being able to polish one foot while the other was in the lamp, she was making sure my foot was comfortable.

The other downside was that when it came time to remove the sticky layer, she used 91% isopropyl alcohol instead of 99%.  While it removed the sticky layer and kept the shine, I knew it wasn't "right".  Salon-de-Lis is still working on getting their CND Certified certification and being added to the CND website - all in good time.  Edit: I talked to CND and they said that 91% IPA is 'okay' but the 99% IPA is the professional grade and makes the nail the glossiest post-service and is what is recommended for the Shellac procedure.

The best part of my Shellac pedicure?  As soon as it was done, and I mean the second it was done, I put on my shoes.  Yep, just slipped them on.  No need to wait for anything - just put them on.  I went to the reception area where another woman was waiting and asked what I had done (because my nails were bare) and I said "Oh, I had a Shellac pedicure."  She was freaking out that I was wearing shoes.  NO smudging, nothing.

I paid $30 for my pedicure which is now almost 2 weeks old and you can't tell one bit.  It's still extremely shiny, no chipping, and the grow out is nearly non-existent.  My toe nails grow much slower than my finger nails so I figure I'll get easily another 2 weeks out of this pedicure before having to go again, and I definitely will go again.  I'm not sure how much a spa pedicure with Shellac would cost, but I'll be finding out.

I don't have current pictures of my pedicure because I'm not fond of feet to begin with but I did take this one picture (no filter) for Instagram, so please don't look if toes aren't your thing.  This was taken on the day of the Shellac pedicure, after putting on and taking my shoes off.

Salon-de-Lis is located at 506 E. Kleberg in Kingsville, Texas.  Their phone number is (361) 592-5472 or you can book an appointment via their Facebook Page

Studio One, Portland, Maine

As you can see above (and I mentioned earlier!) I got engaged on 19 June 2012.  It was short and sweet - he took me to the restaurant where we had our first date, pulled out the box, asked me to marry him.  :]  We were traveling to Maine, his home state, at the end of June, and I really wanted to get a Shellac manicure for the week long trip that would end with his family reunion.

I originally was going to a place near my town to have it done, but due to family circumstances, I had to cancel and pray for a place in Maine to get Shellac done.  I checked the CND Salon Locator and found Studio One, in Old Port, Portland, Maine.  It was about a 30 minute drive from where we were staying, so I convinced the fiance to go and we could check out some cool architecture.

I decided not to make an appointment and instead to just "walk in" and see what kind of service I could get. To my delight, they had an opening in 45 minutes, so we headed downstairs to Anthony's to eat (which was amazing, by the way).

The salon itself is very open and inviting while still maintaining a professional vibe.  The magazines available are current (which you don't really think about but when you're at an appointment early, it makes a difference!), and they offered me a water, but I declined since I had just eaten lunch.

Now, I cannot for the life of me find the business card from my manicurist, so I do apologize that I am not mentioning her by name.  

Studio One offers other gel services too, such as Young Nails, but I was pleased to see that for the Shellac services, all the CND products were being used.  Mixing and matching products can result in flawed results for the client.

Because I had just recently had a manicure, I didn't need my nails trimmed or shaped, and I chose to put on Hollywood, a pretty red, with a top coat of Mother of Pearl, a light holographic scattered glitter, much like China Glaze Fairy Dust.

I ended up spilling that I was a nail blogger, so my manicurist did not explain the entire process to me but I really loved that she had it down to an art on her side.  She would have one hand in the UV lamp while the other was being polished, and then she would move the lamp over for me so I didn't have to twist my wrists or cross my arms to get to the lamp.  It was a relaxing hour that ended with a soft hand scrub with a CND spa scrub.

The ONLY complaint that I have was that at the end of my Shellac manicure, instead of using 99% isopropyl alcohol to remove the "sticky layer" that sits on top of the nail after the top coat has cured, she used pure acetone.  I literally drew my hands back in horror and said "What is that" after smelling acetone, and she assured me that she did this with all her Shellac manicures.  

This is not what CND has said to use.  CND has explicitly said that only 99% isopropyl alcohol should be used to remove the "sticky layer."  Acetone is used to break down Shellac through the microtunnels that is created by the Shellac coats.  Needless to say, I allowed her to wipe my nails with the acetone, and as a result, my nails felt rubbery until the day I removed said Shellac.  She also did not apply Solar Oil after my manicure, but I asked for some anyway, and she provided it from her desk.  (I was not offered a mini bottle to take home.)

I paid $30 for my Shellac services on 26 June.

Freshly Shellac-ed!

Other than the "rubbery" feeling, I was very pleased with my Shellac manicure from this location and if I was in the area again, I'd come back.  I would, however, stop her from using acetone this time on my finished nails.

I removed my Shellac on my own on 10 July 2012 without any issues.  CND does not recommend for the client to remove her Shellac on her own to maintain the integrity of the nail.  

Shellac - 10 days later! 

I had zero lifting, splitting, tip wear, or any other problems after my 14 days... I just wanted a nail polish change.  :]

Edit: I had the original dates wrong. I wore this polish for 14 days, not just 10.

Shellac Day 14

Left Hand - Day 14

Right Hand - Day 14