DIY Gel Nails in Con-Fuschion

For those of you concerned about the damage gel polish might do to the nail, here's a look at my bare nails after a solid year of wearing gels. 

My nails look as good as they ever did. In fact, they split and break a lot less with gels on because the gel polish acts to thicken the nail and in essence, to provide a protective coating. The nail surface is very smooth and the cuticles look pretty good, if I do say so myself. 

Here are the polishes I used for this particular manicure, in conjunction with my MelodySusie mini LED nail polish dryer (The LED dryer is awesome, it dries each coat in only 45 seconds, versus two minutes using a UV dryer).

I used IBD Just Gel Polish in "Con-Fuschion." I like to use IBD polishes for the color coat, because their polishes are very complex and multi-faceted, whereas the Gelish colors are more opaque and flat. This particular fuchsia has a VERY subtle blue and pink shimmer in bright daylight. 

Here's a look at how they came out: 

A Hint of Sparkle

About a year ago, my mom suggested we get gel manicures. I didn't know what they entailed, but her friend couldn't stop raving about them, so I was game. The process was somewhere between a regular manicure and acrylics. The result was the shiniest set of sparkly purple nails is ever seen. And four weeks later, although my nails had started to grow out, there was not a single chip to be found. I was hooked! The only downside was the price. One manicure set me back $30 plus tip. I knew it wasn't a realistic long term option for someone like me, who rarely splurges on my nails. The solution? An at-home gel nail polish system. 

Here's what you'll need: (I recommend Gelish for the foundation and top coat, they have a great starter kit called Gelish Basix you can purchase on www.amazon.com ) I got started for right around $100, the cost of just over three salon manicures, so within three months the system was cost-effective.

It's really a simple process. Here's the abridged version. Prepare nails like you normally would before a manicure, trimmed, buffed, etc. Then use the cuticle oil, and using a lint-free wipe, clean the nail with the nail surface cleanse. Once the nail is clean, use the PH bond to dry out the nails so that the polish will adhere to the nail. 

Click below for more instructions:

Who I am. Why I'm here.

I'm Elle. I like fashion. More than that, I love a good deal. Like any serious shopper, I enjoy putting in the legwork, scouring the racks for savings. I'm by no means an expert, nor do I claim to be overly fashionable (I'm the first to admit I sacrifice style for comfort on a regular basis). I'm just here to share what I've learned in the shopping trenches in hopes it might save my virtual friends a buck or two.

Here's my most recent score. This is admittedly a bigger discount than I'm used to snagging, but it's also why I'm obsessed with Nordstrom Rack and encourage going several times a month because their merchandise is updated so frequently.

The proportions were surprisingly good for me, and I'm on the small side, just under 5'4. I imagine this hi-lo style would work on someone much taller as well. 

Yes, that says $15.90! I purchased this dress at my local Nordstrom Rack last week. I'd seen it all season long discounted to $59.97 and thought it was a really pretty casual look for spring and summer but I couldn't justify spending the money on it because this isn't something I would wear to work (although totally appropriate for a casual office if paired with a blazer or sweater). I was pretty stoked to see this dress on the clearance rack with such a significant discount. I will probably end up taking in the straps as they are a little long, and at this price I can afford to spring for a tailor. I left a very happy shopper!