If you're a long time reader, you may remember aaaages ago (well, one year), I finally kicked my nail biting habit when I got gel nails. I'd bit my nails for a whole decade and there was no way I would ever naturally stop biting them, unless I never wanted to read a book again or get stressed! But gel nails work great on even the teeniest nails and your natural nails grow perfectly underneath. At the nail salon they do expect you to wear them very long and even when I requested them to keep being cut down, I still found it really weird to have them and after about a week they started snapping or cracking one by one, either due to chopping food or knocking them. But they managed to grow and I've been painting them obsessively ever since, and am now an official Barry M loon.
But in the past few weeks when I was just sorting out the end of the year, I wasn't changing my polish as it would have been a waste, and a couple of nails broke. I've been staying at my Nan's loads and as she doesn't have the internet, I've been reading loads, and that's when I don't even notice I've bitten off all my nails! So they were looking a sorry state when I was about to go for a job interview last week and so, during an England match, I popped to a local salon and has more gel saviours! Sadly they turned out a little unexpected.
The nail artists were all from Vietnam and not only did I leave with a few sayings, I also left with some superbly chav-tastic creations! I got powder gel this time and they are so strong and thick that there is no way they would EVER snap off. You have to be careful not to catch them on anything encase they pull up the nail they are stuck to, ouch! But it is amazing to have absolutely perfect nails and they paint like a dream. I didn't request any colours but the lady brought over a fluorescent green and a pink polish and alarm bells started ringing! Hot green and pink thick nails? That's not going to impress a high street fashion store if I'm repping some fantastic plastic! I didn't want to boss anyone around and things were getting lost in translation anyway so I suggested pink and blue, but it turned out the plan was for white tips with streaks and glitter. Really not me at all!!
Thankfully the designs just came straight off and I went for a Barry M lilac for the interview, where I saw all the girls have long nails anyway (can you guess the store?)! It's been a funny day today though where it's suddenly the middle of the evening and I was feeling pretty unproductive after spending hours trying to catch up with my google reader, to no avail. Then I remembered one of the fantastic Tuesday Tips from gorgeous Gem of Gem Fatale, an amazingly thrifty and creative blog, and it has actual English student-type references! I think I've been brainwashed by all the blog posts I've read today but it is truly nice to read fashion gossip that's actually understandable and accessible. I'm subscribed to too many blogs that are all five-billion-pound-camera shots and daily 5inch designer heels. Also I've been reading Gem Fatale for ages! Truly one of my favourite blogs.
One of Gem's previous Tuesday Tips was how to DIY some Wah inspired leopard print nails, including a very funny video! It was very easy to follow and now I've got one hand of marvy nails for work tomorrow, which might make up for having to wear jeans for the time being. Haven't worn skinny jeans in years arghhh!
I used NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel 108A Polyester Pink Creme (GREAT pink but quite streaky at first), Barry M Nail Paints in 279 Bright Pink and 47 Black, and Sally Hansen Double Duty Strengthening Base and Top Coat.
Fanatstic nails. Love the leopard print!SarahD:)
Posted by: My Republic of Fashion | July 06, 2010 at 01:55 AM
Lol very cute :)
Posted by: Jade | July 06, 2010 at 05:46 AM
well done with those leapord print nails, they look really great! ha ha, glad you could get those chavtastic nails sorted out xx
Posted by: Author in the making | July 06, 2010 at 09:05 AM
LOVE your leopard nails! :)
Posted by: Leia | July 06, 2010 at 09:53 AM
Wow they look actually amazing! Bloody good job!
<3
Posted by: Gem Fatale | July 06, 2010 at 10:56 AM
Your nails look great. I am thinking of treating myself to some lovely nails before holiday as I just never have time to do them.
Posted by: Style Eyes Fashion Blog | July 06, 2010 at 03:05 PM
I love them!!!! :D
Posted by: Cristina | July 06, 2010 at 03:55 PM
oh wow, i absolutely love how you painted your nails. i'm not a fan of the first set either, but i would have let them do it too!
Posted by: shelby | July 06, 2010 at 08:55 PM
Loove the nails, I haven't tried gems tutorial yet but must!
Posted by: Winnie | July 06, 2010 at 10:57 PM
Ah Selina! Those look FIERCE. You should do more nail polish posts!
Posted by: Jou | July 07, 2010 at 02:39 AM
Oooh, I want your nails. Especially the leopard print ones!
Posted by: The Clothes Horse | July 07, 2010 at 03:39 AM
The stripy nails were so 90s haha :p But your nails look FAB now with the pink leopard print. I need to learn how to do that!
sophistokat.blogspot.com
thenaturalway.onsugar.com
Posted by: Kat | July 07, 2010 at 04:02 AM
It's a bit good isn't it?! I get compliments wherever I go, an emo boy in Costa said they were pretty today, it's all good!
http://iliketweet.blogspot.com/
x
Posted by: Clare | July 07, 2010 at 04:50 PM
I love the leopard print!
Posted by: Cheryl | July 07, 2010 at 08:12 PM
i'm looking at leopard print fake nails and... i like them?!
oh, and i'm going out on a whim and guessing it's river island from the fact you're wearing jeans.
Posted by: Aimee | July 07, 2010 at 11:18 PM
I'm wearing the Barry M lilac right now :) i got the mushroom one too when I was in Boots at the weekend! The colour is more pinky lilac than I expected - but its purple!
"I've read today but it is truly nice to read fashion gossip that's actually understandable and accessible. I'm subscribed to too many blogs that are all five-billion-pound-camera shots and daily 5inch designer heels."
TOTALLY AGREE. This is why I love your blog, you're real, you right about money/life/clothes/friends crises, we can relate to you. You're not condescending, your pictures aren't touched up x100000 in photoshop, you're not 6 feet tall with a boyfriend with a well paid job that buys you designer everything. You're one of my favourite bloggers ever. Haha, it sounds like i'm bitter because on my blog I use a point and shoot, update sporadically, don't have an exciting, exotic life where I wear chloé's all the time or find cute little dresses in my local thrift store that suit my perfect size 8, lithe figure and then i capture said outfit with my thrifted holga camera.
xo
Posted by: Zoe | July 09, 2010 at 03:03 PM
Love the pink leopard print! I'm finally growing my nails at the moment, but I might see about getting some gel ones done after seeing yours, they look so pretty and uniform!
Posted by: fritha louise | July 12, 2010 at 01:25 PM