Nail Solutions: Fun & Flirty Nail Designs Tips

Nail polish designs come in many different forms, ranging from glitter top coats to stencils that you can apply. If you like to have a little bit of fun with things, this may be an area you want to explore. If you don’t want to get too wild, there are some simple designs that you can create yourself without too much trouble. For example, you can try adding a diagonal stripe of color to your manicure to create a bit of interest. Simply select something that will contrast or complement the color that you used for the base color. It takes a little practice to get this right, but it can add a fun vibe to your look.

Another thing you can try is a little bit of a twist on the traditional French manicure. Use colors other than the typical white and neutral or pink for a look that is truly unique. Any polish you like can be used in this way, and it is fun to play around with different ideas. Either keep the top of the nail white and use another color for the rest, or color in the top with something fun, like purple or red.

At-Home Manicure With Duri Nail Polishes Contest Winner Announced

The "At-Home Manicure With Duri Nail Polishes" contest ended yesterday. And, we'd like to give a special thanks to everyone who participated. To assure that everyone had a fair chance of winning, we pooled all entries using Random.org. With that said, let's announce the winner!

Congratulations to the following:
NikkiBelk

NikkiBelk said.. My nail polish would be called "Purple Rain". It would be a tribute to the 1980's movie staring Prince. With everyhting being so retro I think it would be a hit. The color consistency would be a midnight purple and blue matte. Can you say "DIVA"!

You've won a free set of 6 Duri Nail Polishes in Trophy Wife, Slum Dog Millionaire, Money Don't Make Me, Formula For Success, and Luxury Time and Million Dollar Baby to 1 lucky Fashion Circle follower. Valued at $30!. Please send your full name and mailing info to contest@fashionwithfifi.com to redeem your prize.



"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"
Suzanna

Essie - Polishes That Never Fail To Impress

I have always been a huge fan of Essie nail polishes. You always know to expect high quality nail polishes in trendy innovative colors. That kind of product reliability is irresistible to me and has made me a loyal patron of these polishes. So when I got to try out an eclectic mix of new colors by the essie brand, needless to say, I was pretty excited!

First, I tried out an electric orange and a neon pink. When I first saw these brightly colored bottles, I was intrigued. And then, when I applied it and let my nails dry, I was shocked by the matte finish. It is so surprising and unexpected with such bold colors—in a good way!

‘Bright Tights’ is an amazing orange color that will add a pop of fun color where you least expect it. Since it has a matte finish, the color is a little more muted than it appears in the bottle. The consistency is a little bit thin, so I applied three thin coats to get a bright orange without any streaks. I absolutely loved how the matte finish looks when it dried!

‘Pink Parka’ is a neon pink polish whose matte finish makes it so interesting to look at! In the bottle, it looks like a shiny, Barbie-pink polish, but when it dries, the matte finish adds a whole new level of sophistication. The formula was a bit thin and took a bit of concentration in order to eliminate streaks and get an even, consistent finish. I applied three thin coats of this color as well and just adored the results!

‘Mink Muffs’ reminds me more of an exfoliating mud mask than an exotic fur. The rich, dark brown color is a nice alternative to the usual blacks, purples, and blues. Just two coats gave me a perfectly smooth, opaque finish that looks very professional. I personally love mixing black with brown accents, so I can see this color being the perfect accent to your favorite little black dress.

‘Chinchilly’ might perhaps be my newest obsession of the season. I have been craving a gray nail polish that strikes the impossible balance between too dark and too light. And I found exactly that with ‘Chinchilly’! I love that the color has a slight green tint to it, making it a little more interesting than the more traditional gray polishes. After two coats, I got a beautiful opaque gray that is so reminiscent of preppy Catholic school uniforms.

'Midnight Cami’ is the inkiest of navy blues that I have ever come across! I could have stopped with one coat, that’s how dark the polish is! The polish applied really well and I even found the thicker consistency easier to apply and avoid my cuticles. However, you will definitely need to use a base coat because the polish stained both my nails and cuticles an unsightly blue when I removed it. Other than that, this color is a great alternative to black polish!

essie nail polishes are available in a plethora of colors, which you can examine at your leisure here. Each bottle is $8.00 and is available either online or in select salons as listed on their site. Product Review

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Product Reviewz Erin Simpson

Product Review: Get An At-Home Manicure With Duri Nail Polishes

To me, trying on a new nail polish is like opening presents on Christmas morning. There is always that element of suspense where you wonder what exactly you will be getting. Colors inevitably transfer onto your nails differently and finding the right hue can be infinitely challenging.

I tried out a variety of colors by Duri, a Brooklyn-based company that produces nail polishes in bold, new colors. The colors ranged from light pink to lavender to deep red, so there’s a hue to suit any taste. I was very impressed with the smooth, rich formula. Two coats of each color was all it took to get a perfect, even finish. Getting uniform, even coverage that rivals a salon manicure is an elusive goal for me, but I found it refreshingly easy with these polishes. Check out these six great colors!

‘Silver Spoon’ is a light pink that looks as rich as its name implies. Two coats gave me a great sheer look while three gave me an opaque pink. I really like the versatility of the color and the subtle pink looks great with any outfit!

For a lavender look that is so reminiscent of spring, try ‘Penny Saved Penny Earned.’ What I love the most about this color is that it dries to an almost matte finish. The hue adds a sweet, pretty touch that won’t overpower any look.

‘Dress to Impress’ is a darker purple that has a lot more intensity than its lavender counterpart. These two purple shades are an interesting alternative to the usual deep, dark purples and reds that line most salon shelves. The finish is not too shiny but goes on true to color in just two coats.

I absolutely love the images that ‘Rags to Riches’ evokes as soon as you apply it. The dark, romantic color is the perfect departure from purple to brown and I bet even Charles Dickens would have loved this color!

When I applied ‘Party Like a Rock Star’ I was shocked by the bright red color that came out of the bottle—in a good way! Of all the other colors, this formula went on the smoothest and did not leave a single blemish or bubble on my nails. Seriously, picture your favorite vampire villain and this blood-red polish will not disappoint!

‘Social Ladder’ is very similar to ‘Party Like a Rock Star’ in color, but it had an added shimmer that made the finish slightly iridescent. This red was shiny without being too glitzy and would look perfect for the holiday season.

The Contest

Duri Cosmetics often give their polishes catchy names, and even naming them after movies. If you had the chance of creating a nail polish for Duri Cosmetics, what movie would it be named after and why? Also, describe the color. Would the polish have a matte, gloss, or suede finish? We'd like to know, get creative and describe your polish.

The Prizes

Fashionwithfifi.com is giving away a set of 6 Duri Nail Polishes in Trophy Wife, Slum Dog Millionaire, Money Don't Make Me, Formula For Success, and Luxury Time and Million Dollar Baby to 1 lucky Fashion Circle follower. Valued at $30!

Official Rules

1) To enter you must first be a member of the free to join "Fashion Circle" and be subscribed to Fashionwithfifi.com. Click Here: If you aren't already a free subscriber. Email subscriptions must be confirmed.

2. Next, leave a comment in this post telling us what movie would your polish be named after and why? Describe the color. Fashionwithfifi.com wants to know.

3) Shipping is Free to all U.S. subscribers. Foreign subscribers will have to pay for shipping.

4) Contest runs from now - Monday, November 2, 2009, through Monday, November 9, 2009 11:59 PM est. Winner will be announced on here on Fashionwithfifi.com on Tuesday, November, 10, 2009.

5) You must be 18 years or older to enter. Under 18 will need a parent's consent.

6) Shipping to P.O. Box is fine.

7) Winner will be chosen at random from the comments left on this post by subscribers and Fashion Circle members. Enter today and bon chance!

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Erin Simpson

Beauty Solutions: Beauty Secrets Nail Polish Corrector Pen

I’m right handed and I have to admit that I’m a tiny bit clumsy when I need to use my left hand to paint my right hand fingernails. Polish all over the cuticles isn’t something new for me and since I prefer bold nail colors, you can see I have a problem.

If you’re like me and your polish seems to go where it’s needed and where it’s not, you might want to consider a Beauty Secrets Nail Polish Corrector Pen. It is filled with acetone and has a little angled felt tip. If you misapply that awesome nail polish you'll just have to wait for it to dry and the rub it out with the tip of this pen. It will leave your manicure (or pedicure for that matter) looking salon perfect, as it should always be. If you are in the habit of painting you nails as you’re leaving the house and don’t give them time to fully dry before you’re out the door, it can be carried in your purse for a quick touch up in case you made any minor mistakes.

This product is more efficient than dipping a q-tip in nail polish remover because it’s more precise and it’s always ready – no need to go messing with the bottle of nail polish remover after your nails are done and risk it spilling on you hand ruining all your hard work!

If you love french tips but don't want to use those little sticky guides, you can also do the tip by youreself and then clean up the line with this pen. After that, use a topcoat and you're done! It doesn't get easier.

If you have acrylic nails or you prefer not to use acetone for some other reason, there are similar pens that contain acetone free nail polish remover, they are just a little bit harder to find.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

Micky

Spooky Halloween Design Nails (Contest)

Vampire Red Sil Spider Web B&W Skull Red Frech W/ Skull

Nail Halloween this year with four spooky designs of Kiss’ press-on nails available at leading drug-stores nationwide. These are perfect nails for Halloween parties and a day of trick-or-treating.

Kiss’ seasonal nail kits include 24 nails in 12 sizes with “glue tabs” to press on the nail to make them easy to apply and remove. At the end of the evening, simply run nails under warm water to loosen the glue tab and peel off from the side. No damage done to natural nails.

Availability:

There are four distinctive colors availible: Vampire Red, Silver Spider Web, Black & White Skull, and Red Frech W/ Skull (Pictured above from left to right). There are only two ways to get these nails. Kiss Halloween Nails will be on shelves now until November 1st at Walgreens.com, CVS, and Kmart nationwide. The other way is to participate in the Fashionwithfifi.com Spooky Halloween Design Nails Contest! Right now Kiss Nails is giving away complinentory packs to two Fashionwithfifi.com Subscribers. One subscriber will recieve a pack of Red Frech W/ Sulls, while another subscriber will recieve a pack of the Red Vampire.

Official Rules:

1) To enter you must first be a member of the free to join "Fashion Circle" and be subscribed to Fashionwithfifi.com. Click Here: If you aren't already a free subscriber. Email subscriptions must be confirmed.

2) Next, you'll need to leave a comment letting us know whether you prefer to use press on nails over getting a fancy manicure. Tell us why you choose one or the other. Is it cost? Is it time? Is it covinence? Fashionwithfifi.com wants to know.

3) Shipping is Free to all U.S. subscribers. Foreign subscribers will have to pay for shipping.

4) Contest runs from now - Tuesday, October 27, 2009, through Wednesday, October 28, 2009 11:59 PM est. Winner will be announced on here on Fashionwithfifi.com on Thursday , October, 29, 2009.

5) You must be 18 years or older to enter. Under 18 will need a parent's consent.

6) Shipping to P.O. Box is fine.

7) Winner will be chosen at random from the comments left on this post by subscribers and Fashion Circle members. Participants in this contest are encouraged to specify which nail pack they'd like to recieve. If a subscriber would accept either pack they're asked to mention that in their comment.

To see the full collection go to http://www.kissusa.com/.

Opi's South Beach Collection Review:

Take a lesson from Crayola’s book and go back to the drawing board!

Anyone who knows me is familiar with my appreciation of colors. When asked what's my favorite color, my response is usually "All of them!" There are just too many to choose from and I don't want to leave out one. As a child I placed Barbie aside and collected Crayola Crayons and paint..... Sometimes mixing together the paint and nail polish. They allowed me to express my self and creativity. Now that I look back, I was a cosmetologist in training but didn't know it. As I look at this season's nail lacquer collection, I can't help but to reminisce on my childhood memories.

I viewed Opi’s highly anticipated 2009 South Beach collection and have to say that I am very disappointed. This collection lacked bright hues gloss. Even the “Brightest of Bright” is outwardly dull. These shades are said to “Capture the color, the fashion, and the trend-setting excitement from the world’s most stylish celeb playground” but it does not. I don’t get the South Beach impression when I look at these colors. When I think of South Beach the colors that I envision are Sunset Orange, Laser Lemon, Salmon, Inch Worm, Caribbean Green, Pacific Blue, Pink Flamingo, Scarlet, and Radical Red (to name a few). It disappoints me when companies spend more money on marketing and advertising than the actual quality of the product.

Opi should take a lesson from Crayola’s book and go back to the drawing board.

Would I recommend buying from this collection: No, instead opt for Sephora by Opi. Same name, older colors and better varieties, but it’ll have to do for now ... here are 3 of my go for it! picks

I'm Wired Charge It! (24k gold)

Arm Candy