Jennie Kay's Blog

Nails

Nails — 1 Comment
22
Jan 13

Chipped Mani Stylish Quick-Fix

I’m sure we can all agree that a chipped manicure is quite possibly one of the top biggest annoyances in the world. Okay — maybe the beauty aspect of the world. It is almost inevitable that at some point, the tips of your nail colors are going to chip away from using our hands so much. We have a perfect -and stylish- solution.

What you’ll need:
Chipped fingernails (check!)
A complimenting (darker) color
French manicure guides OR Scotch tape will do

1. Place the french manicure strip guide at the tip of the nail, leaving 2 or 3 centimeters to the top. This will allow us to add new paint to cover the chips.

2. Secure the tape or strip firmly. Polish your nail from the strip up. 1-2 coats per tip should do.

3. Remove the tape strips gently after a few minutes, revealing the perfect bright french-styled manicure. Say goodbye to those chipped tips, this should get you through the next few days or til your next mani appointment.

-JKBP

DIY Gel Manicure

DIY Gel Manicure … No appointment necessary

Though we all love to treat ourselves to necessary, yes, necessary beauty regimens, often times you will pay a pretty penny to satisfy these needs. In the beauty parlour, we are in love with our nails, manicuring, and long lasting looks that will survive cuts, color appointments, paper filing, and endless wedding-schedule-typing. We also however, are in love with saving money. More money saved = more money to spend!

By now I’m sure you’ve heard of the gel-manicure-gab. The nonstop gushing about how long it lasts, yet goes on just like regular polish. To be honest, though the process is much like a typical mani, it takes longer and can be much harsher on your nails and cuticles. Plus, at $30 + a manicure every 3 weeks, your wallet can take a bit of a beating.

We have discovered the perfect way to get long lasting color without spending $30+ every 3 weeks, without waiting on that uncomfortable salon bench, breathing in those icky-artificial nail fumes, and in the comfort of your home…from your couch. Much more in the style of Jennie Kay Beauty.

What you’ll need:

Nail file
Cuticle Clippers
Cotton Balls
Approx. 2X2 cut pieces of lint free paper towel
Rubbing Alcohol
A nail polish color of your choice (preferably a polish with no built in top coats, or any of that jazz…just plain old color)
A simple UV light (can be purchased at your local beauty store online for cheap)
Sally Hansen Gel Base coat
Sally Hansen Gel Top coat

As in any spa environment, give your hands a good exfoliation, soak, and moisturizing before you begin. This preps your hands & allows you to remove dead skin and file nails properly and efficiently. Plus, it allows you to relax! You wouldn’t believe how much stress we hold in our hands…relax! File your nail to your desired shape, remove any dead skin around your nail beds, gently.

After moisturizing, take a cotton ball and wipe away the surface of each nail with a bit of rubbing alcohol to prep it for polish.

Starting with one hand at a time, apply one coat of the Sally Hansen Gel Base coat to nails. Apply somewhat swiftly and quickly, as it becomes tacky within moments of hitting the air. Place hands in the UV light for 40 seconds, thus setting the base coat.
Apply 1 coat (2 coats if you are able to make it very thin) of a nail color of your choice. Be sure to apply thin and even coats as to not make the layers of your polish thick and gooey.
Set the nail polish beneath the UV light for 30 seconds.
Apply 1 coat of the Sally Hansen Gel Top coat to nails in a swift and thorough manner, being sure to apply evenly.
Place hand in the UV light and set this final layer for 2 minutes beneath the light.
After polish has set for 2 minutes, take paper towel square, apply rubbing alcohol to it and gently but quickly rub across the surface of each finger nail, removing the tacky top layer of your polish.
Repeat process on your 2nd hand.

Voila! Your hands will be dry, hardened and set, ready to go. This procedure takes all of 15 minutes and will last you over 2 weeks. No chipping or smudging will occur (if you follow the procedure correctly…I have had great results!)

Let us know how your experience with at-home gel manicures went!

-JKBP

Nails / What's Now — 3 Comments
4
Dec 12

Nail Trends: Velvet

Earlier this fall, we had the caviar nail craze…now, the spotlight is on VELVET nails. Though at first this sounded and looked somewhat bizarre, I can’t say I wouldn’t try it. It’s a cross between appearing both matte and fuzzy.

Neon/Pastel Velvet Nails. Source: forluminousskin.com

Oxblood/Red Velvet Nails, color of the season! Source: sbldmrc.blogspot.com

The colors and combinations are endless. Mix & Match, alternate, create a pattern, or simply do an accent nail. We’ll be sure to show you our version of the velvet nail soon.

Splurge: Ciate Velvet Nail Kit: $19 dollars
Pros: everything you need in one kit
Cons: price tag, only comes in 3 colors: beige, purple, navy. Hard to locate

Ciate Velvet Nail Kit

Steal: Recollections velvet specs & Nail polish.
Pros: Price! Colors and combinations are endless. Pick this item up at your local Michael’s Craft store.
Cons: None

Recollections Velvet Particles from Michael's Craft Store. Source: http://www.rockwildaz.com

Simply paint a coat or two of desired polish color, dust on the velvet particles, press a bit to evenly distribute fibers on nails, let dry and voila!

Sport these nails to your next holiday party. Velvet nails and red velvet cake? Sounds like a good time to me!

-JKBP xx

Hair / Makeup / Nails / Product tips! / Yourself — No Comments
25
Oct 12

5 Beauty Tips

Wouldn’t we all like our daily routines to go somewhat quicker and smoother from time to time? I’ve found myself countless times coming across amazing and sometimes lifesaving beauty tips, yet I always forget to jot them down. I’ve decided to create a list of five of the best, random, and most relatable beauty tips I’ve come across and used that can be a great help when pressed for time. I’m sure I’ll provide more than five more in the near future, but for now, read on.

1. Sleep on your face? Wake up with sheet marks, puffy eyes, unruly brows, and resembling the phantom of the Opera?
Simple. Splash warm water across your face serveral times, followed by several splashes of cold water to soothe irritated skin, seal your pores and wake you up. Blot your face dry, especially your eye area. Use an old (clean!) toothbrush, spray a shot of hairspray on the brush and comb and tame your brows. Eyes being extra stubborn and puffy today? One of the oldest tricks in the books… I kid you not about this one. Hemorrhoid cream. Yes. Hemorrhoid cream! It contains an anti-inflammatory property that can fight puffy eyes. Dab a pea sized amount under your eyes, and even on red blemishes, and voila!

2. Forgot to book your hair color appointment with Jennie Kay Beauty?
No worries, simply call her and make your next apppointment! No, but really . In the meantime, use your finger, or a comb to tousle and zig zag your part. A straight part shows your roots, whereas a zig zagged line disguises them. Another quick fix — find an eye shadow in a color closest to your hair color and brush onto roots, it’ll hold you over if you’re in a pinch.

3. Late for a date, Scaley skin?
To avoid flaky and dry skin, moisturize immediately after showering or bathing. Your pores are open at this time and make it easier to absorb the moisturizer. Face and body included in this.

4. Without nail polish remover?
Swipe a coat of clear over your polished nails and wipe off immediately. This process removes the color beneath as well.

5. I can’t find a bobby pin….again!!
If you’re like me, you’ve been there, dumping everything from your purse to locate the miniscule skeleton of that one bobby pin you knew you threw in your purse. A solution, finally. Throw a magnet into your purse with a few bobby’s stuck on, it’ll make them a wee bit bigger at the bottom of your bag and they’ll all be in one place. Can’t find bobby’s in your vanity? Grab one of those $2 paperclip holders from CVS or Staples, who said office supplies weren’t for beauty supplies? Genius!

-JKBP

Look what Jennie Found / Nails / Style / trends / What's Now — No Comments
26
Jul 12

Breaking: Top Coat News

For all of you nail-polishaholics out there, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the treat OPI is providing this Fall. The company is featuring a special James Bond Collection, featuring hues and shades inspired by the classic films. What we’re most impressed about, however, is the amazing top coat they’ve created for this collection.

Photo Cred: OPI Facebook page

A special edition top coat containing 18K gold flecks called “Man with a golden Gun”. The bottle itself is grin worthy, an opaque metallic gold color. Sure it’ll cost you a bit, at $30, however, the effect it gives your nails and the glam factor is pretty neat.

Would you dish out $30 for this OPI limited edition polish?!

-JKBP

FASHION / How do you do... / JK Loves / Nails / Product tips! / What's Now — 2 Comments
2
May 12

For the love of…Caviar

So since we’re on the roll of showing you guys some bright and outrageous trends of the spring and summer, we figured we’d share one of the most recent; the caviar manicure. Now we know what you may be thinking, fish eggs?! nails?!

Featured: Ciate Caviar Mani Kit

The caviar mani is named because it is a process of polishing your nails and adding micro-beads to your wet nail, thus giving the appearance of a caviar, textured layer across your nails.

Currently, the caviar nail kits run for around $25 and was brought to Sephora last month, however, they’ve run low on stock and it’s become quite hard to find.

Because we love our blog followers, we’ve decided to share a little secret with you guys on how to DIY caviar mani for a fraction of the price!

All you’ll need:

* Martha Stewart Microbeads (can be found at your local Michael’s Craft) — there is also a brand called “Reflections” which has these microbeads as well!

* Your favorite colored polish — either a complimenting color, matching color, or something completely random depending on the look you’re going for

* Clear Top coat

* A tray/bowl- to catch the excess beads

The process is simple:

Please note, for this caviar method, you will do each nail through the process one at a time.

1st: Place one coat of colored polish on all ten of your fingers. This will serve as a base coat for your second coat of color

2nd: One finger at a time, polish a second coat of polish.

3rd: On that same polished finger, hold it over the tray or bowl and gently sprinkle and coat the nail with microbeads.

4th: After coating nail with beads, gently push down on the beads to form a uniform and flattened surface and to ensure a better stick of the beads to the nail.

5th: Take a top coat and simply add it to just the tip/edge of the top of your nail to prevent chipping.

6th: Repeat for the rest of your fingers!

Voila! You have an expensive looking but cheap caviar mani!

Be sure to pour the excess beads from the bowl back into your container to use again. You can also use the caviar mani to accent your current manicure by doing it to your ring finger on each hand.

We love this trend

-JKBP

FASHION / JK Loves / Nails / Style / What's Now — No Comments
2
May 12

Dip Dyed Fashion?!

To follow up with the recent ombre and dip dyed hair trend, we are seeing more of this trend in fashion as well.

Think dip-dyed clothing, and manicures. Slightly reminiscent of acid-wash jeans of the 80s…with a modern, punk-glam, or even chic look.

Some more drastic than others…

Would you incorporate a dip dyed piece into your closet or your manicure regimen??

-JKBP

JK Loves / Makeup / Nails / Style / What's Now — 1 Comment
21
Mar 12

Tangerine Tango

What better way to channel Summer (with recent 70+ degrees in New England, it happens to be closer than we think!) than with a bright, cheery, loud and playful ensemble or makeup look? A color you’ll see this year worldwide is the Pantone color of the year, ‘Tangerine Tango’. What is a Pantone color of the year? It is a color shade declared by the Pantone company which is mass-adopted by various industries (print, textiles, paint, and etcetera).

Tangerine Tango Fabric Palate

This attention grabbing color is sure to stand out against the rest, offering a wide spectrum of oranges, corals, and subtly neon.

Check out some of the spring runways’ and designers’ use of Tangerine tones!

Fashionologie.com; nymag.com

Not daring enough to sport a bright orange frock? The thing is, you can incorporate this bright color in minor details, whether it be a simple accessory or lipstick color. Try a slightly more subtle grab at it, with tangerine nail polishes, and makeup hues…

Photo Creds: lovingyou.com; makeup.com; trend911.com; glamour.com

Accessorize with tangerine hues!

Kate Spade Tangerine Bib Necklace, Tarte Blush in Tangerine, Essie Polish in Tangerine, Kate Spade tote in Tangerine & Hot Pink

Spring is here, bring on the colors!

-JKBP

JK Loves / Nails / Style / What's Now — No Comments
12
Mar 12

Stiletto Nails..Love em or Leave em?

Stiletto Nails are showing up everywhere. A trend I am not sure I would try…but here at on the JKBP blog we like to discuss it all! I personally prefer my nails short & squared, a bit more practical and classic. However, some fashion fads seem to be more about being adventurous and crazy than practical. Stars such as Lana Del Ray, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, & Beyonce, have been spotted with these daggers. Some more drastic and claw-like than others…