Hot new stuff in the area of nail polish?

[My Darn Snake Legs]

Hello folks,

My wife is really into nail polish (has a daily blog about it, etc), and I would really like to get her something related to it for Christmas. Unfortunately, as a Dudetm, I'm only mildly aware of what is out there in the area of cutting-edge-nail-decorating-technology.

She's not into decals and little jewels and such, but things like konads are up her alley. Any ideas?

[badbadrubberpiggy]

OPI (and a few other brands) have been putting out matte nail polishes like these recently. I don't love them, since you can't use topcoats or use hand lotion while wearing them (it ruins the effect), but it might be worth a shot.

Or, you could get her a gift certificate for a manicure at a nice salon.


ETA: the site I liked to does say "coming soon", but it's an older site, I just liked the pictures it had - they are available. Stores like Trade Secret carry them, and all the OPI polishes - if you have a mall near you, they probably have a Trade Secret. The salespeople there will also be able to help you.

[My Darn Snake Legs]

She's actually got most of those. They're among her favorites. (You can use a top coat on them, but it will definitely change the effect/color. She uses hand lotions with them all the time, but I've never asked her if that changes them at all.)

Good suggestion, though!

[Sigmagirl]

She has a nail polish blog? Can people post on the blog? Have somebody post for you and ask, "What's a great gift for somebody who's really really really into nail polish and has everything?"

Googling, I see several nail polish blogs! Scope out the other ones for suggestions!

[My Darn Snake Legs]

Originally Posted by Sigmagirl

She has a nail polish blog? Can people post on the blog? Have somebody post for you and ask, "What's a great gift for somebody who's really really really into nail polish and has everything?"!

That is a darn good idea. I need to learn to be more sneaky!

[Green Bean]

A nail polish blog? Would you consider posting a link?

Does she do them herself or have them done? Or both.

I was going to suggest getting whatever was new from OPI, but I see that that's been covered. Sometimes, OPI puts out sets of mini-bottles. A set of those might be nice.

[My Darn Snake Legs]

I sent you a PM with the address. (If someone else wants it just drop me a PM.) She does them herself every day. She's got a lot of colors, but that doesn't mean she doesn't want more. I'm certainly going to look into sets.

[SMullen]

There's at least one magazine for nail professionals. If your wife doesn't subscribe already, you could get her a subscription. I like the site.

http://nailpro.com/

Here's another one:

http://www.nailsmag.com/

I love beautiful nails but the best I've been able to do is go a few hours without raggedy cuticles. Right now they're a mess.

[Katriona]

Originally Posted by My Darn Snake Legs

I sent you a PM with the address. (If someone else wants it just drop me a PM.) She does them herself every day. She's got a lot of colors, but that doesn't mean she doesn't want more. I'm certainly going to look into sets.

Lucky Magazine is touting OPI's "Over the Taupe" as THE color rihgt now. Allegedly a good one for all skintones. And I love their sets of mini-bottles.

[Green Bean]

Okay. The deed has been done by the designated mole (aka me)

I was really sly and said that "my sister" reads the blog too, so maybe she could suggest something that hasn't been on the site yet.

I love a the smell of espionage in the morning.

[BigT]

Originally Posted by Green Bean

Okay. The deed has been done by the designated mole (aka me)

I was really sly and said that "my sister" reads the blog too, so maybe she could suggest something that hasn't been on the site yet.

I love a the smell of espionage in the morning.

I see a possible flaw in your story--if your "sister" reads the blog, your wife may not want to tell you anything on there because it would ruin the surprise. Did you cover that? (Don't if you haven't--maybe she won't notice.)

[Cat Fight]

Originally Posted by My Darn Snake Legs

She's actually got most of those. They're among her favorites. (You can use a top coat on them, but it will definitely change the effect/color. She uses hand lotions with them all the time, but I've never asked her if that changes them at all.)

FTR I think it is so cute that you know this! Love it when someone is supportive enough of their partner's work or hobbies to absorb crazy random info about it.

Depending on her blog, you might even be able to get her free stuff for her to post about. Maybe your gift could be making her an intro letter and becoming her part-time publicist!

[My Darn Snake Legs]

Originally Posted by BigT

I see a possible flaw in your story--if your "sister" reads the blog, your wife may not want to tell you anything on there because it would ruin the surprise. Did you cover that? (Don't if you haven't--maybe she won't notice.)

Yep, my lovely wife noticed that too. Apparently Green Bean and I aren't as efficient in our sneaky-ness as we thought we were.

Originally Posted by Cat Fight

FTR I think it is so cute that you know this! Love it when someone is supportive enough of their partner's work or hobbies to absorb crazy random info about it.

Depending on her blog, you might even be able to get her free stuff for her to post about. Maybe your gift could be making her an intro letter and becoming her part-time publicist!

Thanks! I try to keep up. She was teaching me about glitters, gels, cremes, mattes, and flakes last weekend. You might be amazed by what I know about handmade bath and beauty products, too.

I have some friends who have done the "get free stuff and review it" gig before. I'll see what I can find out about getting that started. She already gets some extra samples and such when she buys things from some vendors. I bet there's a good way to magnify that.

[Green Bean]

Originally Posted by BigT

I see a possible flaw in your story--if your "sister" reads the blog, your wife may not want to tell you anything on there because it would ruin the surprise. Did you cover that? (Don't if you haven't--maybe she won't notice.)

Man, I'm a lousy spy. I was so proud of myself for thinking of it too!

[lisa listens]

These seem kind of interesting. http://www.revlon.com/ProductCatalog...&ProductID=194 I don't know how well they work, just found them but I plan on trying one or two.

[Green Bean]

Okay, I emailed her directly as she suggested. I said:

I can't believe I just asked for advice on a gift to surprise my sister on a site that she actually READS!

She's going to make fun of me so bad....

Yes, I would very much appreciate some gift suggestions. I guess the fact that she's getting a surprise won't be a surprise, but I'm sure she'll love whatever it is.

Thanks!

I'll post what she replies with. Unless she complains about her husband, in which case I'll post a thread in IMHO about a really sticky etiquette problem.

Gosh, I hope I don't end up having to fake any actual nail product knowledge! If I do, I hope you'll all help me figure out something to say!

[Green Bean]

Wow. She's quick. And smart.

She wrote:

Hi Again,
I'll make sure to get back to you soon about this. I just wanted to let you know that I deleted your message so it can still be a surprise!

I replied

Thank you so much! Good idea to delete it. You're a better sneak than I am.

[My Darn Snake Legs]

Originally Posted by Green Bean

Wow. She's quick. And smart.

Yep. And she married me. Can ya believe it?

I don't think she's going to quiz you or anything. At worst she'd ask you what kind of polish your sister is into. Don't feel like you have to take the ruse too far. I don't generally like to carry out espionage where family is involved.

[badbadrubberpiggy]

Originally Posted by My Darn Snake Legs

Yep. And she married me. Can ya believe it?

It's those darn snake legs, women go mad for 'em.

[Green Bean]

SHE SHOOTS, SHE SCORES!!


Here is Mrs. Snake Legs wrote to me this morning:

Does she have Konad? If not, I think that would make an awesome gift for a polish lover. I know Scrangie has a coupon code for OC Nail Art (I believe. You can check her blog to double check). If she already has it, perhaps your sister might like a few colors from China Glaze's Romantiques collection for a different Konad experience.

I'm not sure what she has in her polish stash, but I've always wanted a higher end polish (Chanel, Rescue Beauty Lounge, Lippmann, etc.). I'm a poor college student so I don't want to pay $20 for one polish (even though I always hear how great they are!), but I would LOVE to get one for a Christmas present!

Again, I'm not sure what kind of stash she has, but I always want to use new basecoats and topcoats! Definitely try to stop at Marshalls or TJ Maxx to see if they have any Barielle products or cheap polishes. Quirius has a topcoat that I absolutely love (even more than Seche and Poshe), unfortunately they are closed right now You can always put together a little kit of a basecoat, topcoat, a glass nail file, and one color (if you want you can throw in an orange stick, cuticle softener/remover, cuticle oil, etc.). Again, this all depends on how much stuff she already has.

Please let me know if this is the information you were looking for. If you wanted specific polishes, etc. just let me know and I can try and help!

(bolding mine)

I replied:

Thank you so much! That's exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I never thought of a high-end polish. She would love that. I also like the idea of a little basket with various things. We always need more basecoat and topcoat, right? She already has a ton of Konad stuff, so I have no idea what else she would want.

I didn't know they had nail stuff at Marshall's or TJ Maxx. I'll have to check that out.

Thanks again, and thanks for such a fun blog. I'll let you know what I pick out and whether she likes it.

So there ya go. She also suggested the China Glaze Romantiques, but you should check to see what she has already because she didn't say she didn't already have them.

I looked on the Quirius website, and they did have polish color charts. If she doesn't have one, maybe she'd like one. Do they have them for Konad?

For what it's worth, my favorite base coat is Orly Bonder and my favorite topcoat is Sherani Tufcoat.


And please please tell me you're going to print out this thread and give it to her after you give her the present!!!

[My Darn Snake Legs]

Thanks! That worked out better than I thought it would. Such a list!

She actually sent me an email this morning asking how someone got to her blog from the Dope. She has a tracker that shows her who/where/when visits her blog. She doesn't read here, and I hope she doesn't find it before xmas.

Originally Posted by Green Bean

SHE SHOOTS, SHE SCORES!!

And please please tell me you're going to print out this thread and give it to her after you give her the present!!!

Heh, I might just do that. At the least I'll show her the thread. She loves getting comments on her blog, so feel free to keep reading/posting there if you like.

[Green Bean]

Originally Posted by My Darn Snake Legs

She actually sent me an email this morning asking how someone got to her blog from the Dope. She has a tracker that shows her who/where/when visits her blog. She doesn't read here, and I hope she doesn't find it before xmas.

Oh. I clicked the link in your PM. Should have C&P'd. I hope she doesn't notice that I've never been there before.

Well, even if your cover is blown, I'm sure she'd be charmed by your efforts.

[mariposalabrown]

I know that I would give my right leg for a bottle of Chanel Jade. If you can find a bottle somewhere you would be amazing, it's big with the fashionistas right now.

[DiosaBellissima]

My favorite Chanel polish is Vendetta, which you can check out here. It's very in at the moment and a really cool color in general.

[Freudian Slit]

Originally Posted by My Darn Snake Legs

That is a darn good idea. I need to learn to be more sneaky!

Or can you post anonymously, or as a made up name?

[freckafree]

This isn't new, and it might not even be hot, but I have this exact thing. The seller is correct -- the cylinder holds tools, the clip in the center holds the polish bottle, and the saddle-shaped thing is to rest your finger on as you paint. Heck, if you're interested, I'll send you the one I have. My mother gave it to me years ago in a desperate effort to get me to stop biting my nails. Didn't work. Seriously, if you're interested, PM me.

[sinusoidal]

I have tried Rescue Beauty Lounge, and their color selection is great. Grunge was the "it" color a few years back, and is very sophisticated and wearable, but unique. That might be a good choice. Stormy was a cooler gray than I expected, but also good. Bikini Bottom is a fun jelly blue, so if she's into bright colors this might work. It really is more of a summer color though. I wasn't impressed with their base coat.

I have heard Lippmann is some top quality stuff, specifically Addicted to Speed. No personal experience however.

Chanel... They are trendy, (and omg Chanel!!!) but I have heard that their polishes chip pretty bad. That said, I am also dying to try Jade. So I guess if you're going Chanel, make sure you get a trendy color because it's probably not worth it for a pink or red.

Best of luck!

[zweisamkeit]

I like her blog (I PMed the OP to get the link), but can I offer one teensy weensy tiny bit of advice for her? Please don't be offended! I just wish that she took her pictures with better, cleaner lighting. All of the pictures have the indoors yellowy-orange tint to them and it distorts the color.

[My Darn Snake Legs]

Actually, that's another idea that I have for her xmas. Good lighting is a problem in our house. It's been hard to find a good lighting source that is close to a good surface for picture-taking. I'm going to see what I can do about improving that for her.

[SMullen]

Hey, I think zweisamkeit has a great idea! One thing I like about nail websites is the sharp, clear images. Something to improve the photos on the blog would be a great gift!

[FalconFinder]

This isn't expensive, but I used this recently and found it to be the coolest thing since sliced bread!

It was the easiest time I ever had of painting my nails. It was fast, easy, and the color was great and durable. Might be good for those times when she needs to put on a nail color quickly and mess free!

[Scarlett67]

Looks like this thread is under the (I think) 3-month zombie limit . . .

This thread came to mind the other day, and just now I stumbled on it while looking for something else. I'd love to know how it turned out!

[lookingglassny]

"my favorite base coat is Orly Bonder and my favorite topcoat is Sherani Tufcoat."
The same advice I give my clients. Green Bean, where did you come up with that combo? I used to suggest it when in Somerville, NJ.

[Green Bean]

Hey yeah! We need closure, here!

Originally Posted by lookingglassny

"my favorite base coat is Orly Bonder and my favorite topcoat is Sherani Tufcoat."
The same advice I give my clients. Green Bean, where did you come up with that combo? I used to suggest it when in Somerville, NJ.

Must be a Jersey thing. I'm in Westfield.

I'm not entirely sure why I started using those products. I suspect it was at the recommendation of the lady at the little hole-in-the-wall beauty supply place by my house.

What do you do?

[lookingglassny]

My family owned Flemington Beauty Supply (1972-2000) and Somerville Beauty Supply (1987-2007). Our neighbors owned (Basking) Ridge Beauty Supply (late 80s-90s). After leaving NJ, my wife and I opened the Looking Glass Salon & Supply in Saugerties, NY.

[Green Bean]

Nice! It's so helpful to shop at a store where the people know what they're talking about.

You should totally start an "Ask the Beauty Supply Expert" thread. I'm sure a ton of people would have questions.