Join the Cult on Pinterest!



Are you a Cultie yet?

Cult Nails is giving you the chance to win $100 worth of Cult Nails products!


This giveaway is being hosted by Cult Nails BUT Maria has given me the special privilege of choosing a "Blogger Choice" winner who will receive $30 worth of Cult Nails products!

AND starting tomorrow here on PolishGalore, you will have the opportunity to win $50 worth of Cult Nails products!!!  Talk about a great October!

Cult Nails [Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Instagram: CultNails] is available in their shop for $10 a bottle.

PBA Updates!

It's Friday!  The Professional Beauty Association has had a busy September, and I wanted to let you know what's been going on!

First, they have a new look, logo and tagline as part of it's newly unified association and direction. 



PBA members and the industry at large will start seeing fresh, cohesive visuals along with PBA's new tagline: Advancing OUR Industry. This new direction is part of an enhanced marketing and branding campaign designed to unify the various aspects of PBA's mission.

Along with the new look, PBA is honing its focus on five core program areas: Government Advocacy, Education, Charitable Outreach, Signature Events, and Member Services. PBA believes investing in these areas is critical for both its members and the industry. By creating a more consistent look and messaging, PBA members will be able to better recognize and take advantage of the many programs, opportunities, and events the association offers.

Secondly, Schwarzkopf & Henkel, manufacturer of Smooth 'N Shine®, will sponsor the "2013 Smooth 'N Shine® Cosmetology Scholarship." With a grand prize of up to $25,000 and ten $1,000 scholarships available, students currently in high school or high school graduates enrolled in or intending to enroll in a program resulting in a cosmetology (hairstyling) license are eligible to enter. All applications must be submitted by October 31, 2012. Winners will be notified by January 15, 2013.

To enter, eligible applicants must submit two letters of recommendation and a typed essay  describing the qualities they possess that will make them "shine" in cosmetology school and their future career. Proof of enrollment / intended enrollment in a cosmetology program is also required. (See application for full details.) 

"Schwarzkopf & Henkel is thrilled to promote beauty education through the Smooth 'N Shine Cosmetology scholarship program. Our goal is to help and inspire these deserving students to reach their full career potential and be successful in our industry," said Kathy Alaama, Vice President of Marketing, Schwarzkopf & Henkel.

Applications will be reviewed and scholarships awarded by a committee appointed by the President of PBA's Beauty Professional/NCA membership section. All scholarships are funded by Schwarzkopf & Henkel and administered by the PBA Foundation. Scholarship awards are final and the grand prize winner will be announced at the International Salon & Spa Expo (ISSE) Long Beach on January 28, 2013.

The "2013 Smooth 'N Shine® Scholarship" application and additional information is available at www.probeauty.org/scholarships,or by calling PBA at 800.468.2274.

Also this month, the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is proud to announce the newly elected and reelected members of PBA's Leadership Councils that will continue to guide the association through the coming year. Comprised of highly-respected beauty professionals, all of which volunteer their time to serve, their terms begin September 1, 2012 and will end on August 31, 2014.

PBA has four Leadership Councils: Beauty Professional/NCA, Distributor, Manufacturer and Salon/Spa. Each of these councils addresses the needs and issues of their respective area of focus. The overall Governing Council oversees budgeting, legislation endorsement, strategic planning and addresses issues that affect the industry as whole.

The Beauty Professional/NCA Leadership Council has elected Peggy Sue Schmoldt as the newest member of council. Joining her will be reelected members Marlene Bridge, Mark Goodman and Grace Santiler Nowik. Santiler Nowick will retain her role as council president.  

The Distributor Leadership Council has elected Paul Gauvin of WS Beauty Supply, Brandon Ranney of Creative Salon Concepts, and Karl Sweis of SWEIS, Inc. as the newest members of the council. Renee Shakour of Essential Salon Products was also reelected.  

The Manufacturer Leadership Council has elected Michael Riley of Scruples Professional Salon Products Inc. as the newest member of the council. Kevin Barrett of Fromm International, Reuben Carranza of P&G Salon Professionals and Scott Hagstrom of Helen of Troy were all reelected.

The Salon/Spa Leadership Council has elected Tiffany Conway of CoCo Cheveux Salon and Holly Zapata of K Charles & Company Salons as the newest members of the council. Rejoining the council are Scott Buchanan from Scott J Salon & Spa as council president and Bonnie Conte from Avalon Salon and Day Spa.  

PBA encourages industry professionals to join PBA and take an active role in the association. PBA is led by industry volunteers and represents the interests of the professional beauty industry. In addition to the Governing and Leadership Councils, volunteer members can also serve on committees to support the association's activities by helping to plan events, direct government affairs activities and more. probeauty.org


The Professional Beauty Association's (PBA) purpose is to advance the professional beauty industry by providing its members with education, charitable outreach, government advocacy, events and more. PBA is the largest organization of industry professionals with members representing salons and spas, distributors, manufacturers and beauty professionals/NCA. Visit probeauty.org or call 800.468.2274 (480.281.0424) to learn more.

Cult Nails Happy Ending


As I mentioned earlier, I'm getting over a nasty upper respiratory infection but am trying to keep you entertained with some awesome polish!  My desk looks a bit like the following polish - covered in pretty colors!  Today I have Cult Nails Happy Ending, an array of shredded glitters in a clear base.  I decided to put it over my Time Traveler manicure.  This is 2 coats of HE followed by Wicked Fast.


So for the most part, the glitter is shredded in medium chunks but I had this one amazingly huge piece that was stuck to the top of my brush, so naturally, I included it in my manicure.  Fun and fantastic!


Believe it or not, I found that my polish was actually pretty smooth after just one coat of Wicked Fast top coat.  Normally I have to pull out my Lynnderella Glitter Tamer for items like this.  As for "How does it compare to Happy Birthday" or any other multicolored glitter, I'd have to say it's the shredding - irregular in shape and size which makes this super unique.  Also I love how well it applied to the nail.  I didn't have to fish my brush around or store my bottle upside down to make the glitter fall to the brush.  Excellent purchase!

Cult Nails [Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Instagram: CultNails] is available in their shop for $12 a bottle.

Win It From ORLY!

I do apologize for my absence - I'm currently battling an upper respiratory infection, as is my whole family.  Fun times!

Please enjoy the following from ORLY!  This is time sensitive - you have until October 5th!  *PolishGalore is not sponsoring the following giveaway.


Please click to see larger

In conjunction with the DVD release of Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows” ORLY will be giving away the Blu-Ray DVD and ORLY Dark Shadows inspired collection to three winners each day from Sept. 25 to Oct. 5.  To enter, simply have to “like” the ORLY Facebook Page, then fill out the information on the Dark Shadows Blu-Ray Giveaway tab!

Nail Files: High Heels and Low Class Breakdown

Image Courtesy of TV Guide Network Facebook Page


In The Salon
Katie is having a party with booty parlor products [Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube] and has invited a small select group of staff to join.  Can you smell the disaster about to happen?  Add a stripper pole, some crotchless panties and a drunk Joyce and watch the fireworks.  Katie calls Joyce up to her office to explain and Joyce could care less.  This girl is just asking to never be hired again - anywhere.

Katie is looking at franchising!!!  I think one would do amazingly well in Austin, Texas but even that is too far away from me (4 hours).  However, you know I'd go to it!  I don't know if there is a Painted Nail Miami yet - haven't played with Google yet.

Celebrity Sighting!
Alex and Donya but who are they?  My Google search resulted zero results.  Anyone else know?  Edit: I think they may be the twins behind Condition Culture?

In Katie's Life
TV Guide has offered Katie the opportunity to do some stand up on their new show Standup in Stilettos.  Katie did some stand up when she first moved to LA so this was right up her alley, but she hadn't done any in awhile so this was going to be interesting.  She tried to start off with her nail salon jokes but Katie forgot the number one rule of public speaking... know your audience!  So she started some improv off the crowd and it went much better.  During the real thing for TV Guide, she had a pretty decent time.  I haven't watched it yet myself, but I'm going to check my On Demand and see what I can find.

The Mish Mash
I do believe the yellow Louboutins that Katie wore to Standup in Stilettos were the ones she wore last year to Cosmoprof.  I could be wrong but I don't think I am...