Pretty and Polished

Call it what you want, but I am catching spring fever!

I cannot wait to get out of these jackets and boots--I want to show skin, fingers and toes!

The warm weather always brings color with it, and my latest fascination is rocking bold and bright colors on my nails. Until recently, the only issue was finding a product that actually lasts because of my obsessive-compulsive disorder with washing my hands.

And after paying a lot of cash for manis and pedis, I was lucky if my polish job lasted 24 hours.

Luckily, I stumbled upon Star Nail, makers of Cuccio Color while working the America’s Beauty Show earlier this month and spoke with Elaine Martin, VP of Marketing and Sales. She schooled me on proper nail care between salon visits and later addressed some concerns with respect to the no-chip craze and sanitation.

For me, dry cuticles are a major concern during colder months, however keeping them hydrated should be considered year-round.  As Elaine explains, “Aging of the skin is worsened by dehydration. [The best way to care for your nails at home] is to hydrate them.”

Using cuticle oils, such as any one of Cuccio’s cuticle oil products on a daily basis will keep those fingertips conditioned and free from cracking or peeling. The oil feels very light and absorbs quickly into the nail bed. A little goes a long way—all you need is a tiny drop on each nail, then rub it in. 

To prevent nail polish from chipping, Elaine recommends a high quality polish like Cuccio Colour with triple pigmentation combined with their Nail Solutions Base and Top coat. As an artist, I am drawn by color. Their color scheme practically has every color of the rainbow coupled with metallics and trendy neutrals. So, like a big kid, I grabbed a few bottles to try out at home. Needless to say, I polished my nails a week ago and after washing my hands about a thousand times, they still look fab.

Obviously, I am a very frugal chick and will paint my own digits to save a buck. However, we all know that occasionally we need a pro to hit those feet.  According to Elaine, “One of the most common mistakes consumers make is not going to a professional,” and I agree. 

Yet, there are some professionals that tend to skimp on sanitation. Do not be afraid to ask a nail technician if the tools used are sanitized. “If they are not using clean and sanitized implements,” she says, “walk out.”

It is extremely important to pay attention to the cleanliness of a nail salon and not compromise your health for the sake of keeping a few dollars in your pocket. And speaking of health, there is no need to worry about the no-chip nail application process. Elaine explained that the use of UV lamps is not a new concept and has been in the nail industry since the 1980s.

“These myths are perpetuated by the dermatologists without true data. They just appear new to the US market."

To sum it up, she states studies have proved that the UV output of these lamps are less than the output of a typical office light bulb (that people sit under for 9 hours). Elaine also discussed the issue with no-chip nail polish damaging the nails.

“With all the regulations (Usa- FDA, Euro- European Union, Canada- Canadian Union) it would be impossible for a Global Company to create a product that causes damage to the nail.” 

She said nail techs [should] take ownership that improper prep (filing) and removal (scraping or removing with pure acetone and then scraping) are what's causing damage to the nails. When thinking about this, it makes complete sense.

It is always great to receive concrete information from industry pros about products and services that can be put to actual use, especially with health and beauty. As a consumer, I want products that not only work, but also have benefits according to my needs.

I am happy to see that companies, such as Star Nail, listen to their consumers and believe in creating products that offer real results. If you have any questions regarding nail care, do’s and don’ts, and so on, feel free to email me!

Photo credit pic of the model: Jason McCoy
Makeup: Jessica Williams
Hair: Cortne Williams
Model: Erin Taylor

WEBSITE for Star Nail: http://www.starnail.com/index.php?main_page=about&zenid=13940291ce30571e738bd54490bd657d