Nails

[Anne Bonny]

My friend ... our sitter was telling me about Gel Nail Polish that you dry with an LED light...this is a salon thing...think in the salon they use UV light? Anyway you apply the polish then hold it under the light and in 30 seconds it is hard and will not chip and lasts a couple weeks or longer... http://www.beautezine.com/7-of-the-best ... t-for-you/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sensationail seems to get the best all around I think at Walmart the kit was about 38 dollars and they were out! Online ratings by people who had purchased the system were great 4-5 stars so I believe this is the one I am going with. Reading though it is difficult to remove...peeling is not recommended because it can damage the nail. Some can be soaked off with acetone...some come off with alcohol...so guess you can stir your beer with your nails while you're watching football or a bowl game in your cheer leader outfit! Just kidding...

I also learned there is a difference between the bright white "French" manicure and the softer white of the "American" manicure which I do believe I would prefer...of course Bright white may be a bit...edgy and kinky? hum...up to you...but I go with average girl as my favorite.

I can see gel polishing my toenails as they stay polished all the time while being gender fluid my gender is like a tumbling tumbleweed being blown this way and that so having nail polish that is difficult to remove...oh yes I can see kink value there too for some of us...suppose those who like to be tied up but that is a more shades of grey thing and that is just not "ME" Still masculine or feminine I have no problem frankly and confidently stating "I'm gender fluid." Even told our sitter "I'm queer...well not queer..." my orientation is heterosexual. She stated "I know what you mean." What I mean is I am gender fluid, it's who I am to the core there is never not being gender fluid for me because I am gender fluid and that is what I meant and she knew what I meant.

So think I will order the sensational kit online if the price is right...for my toes at least if I can fit them under the light. "come into the light..."

[Davita]

Gel on toes is an overkill. Haven't you noticed the polish lasts forever on your toes? You have to take it off usually because your toe nails have grown and the polish just looks silly then and not because they have chipped and peeled.

As for the gel lasting weeks? So far it's what? A max two for all of them no matter who does them -- you or a pro? If you need to be taking your polish off within a week, again, it seems like overkill to get one that lasts so long for half it's intended use. If you're like some if us girls, we like out polishes to match our outfits so a two week long polish would unduly limit this girl's choices.

Now about that removal. You know acetone is harmful hence why there are removers without acetone. Granted it works the best but at what cost? With the polish remover of your choice, you take a wad of cotton soaked in your remover then wrap your finger tips and the cotton with foil. The foil holds the cotton in place and hopefully any drips. I think the time to leave the cotton on is 10 minutes? Maybe longer? On a side note, some glitters are just as hard to get off. I have a jar with a plastic bristle inside and filled with my remover. The bristles scrub the nails and clears the glitter pretty quickly. This may or may not work with gel.

[Anne Bonny]

You're right about polish on toenails lasting longer...but it does wear off with shoes and socks when I am feeling masculine...and even if I leave it on for an hour sometimes it is still messed up when I put socks on...with the impression of the fabric of the socks. And I am not satisfied with the results it is very difficult to get those very hard, very smooth, shiny results. I like Red it goes with just about everything. I never thought about matching nail color to my clothing...hum....

Sounds as If I would have to use industrial acetone out of the garage to get it off though which is a bummer, toes are easy to keep to myself. I rarely polish my fingernails just buff them. oh well.

Our sitter is the one who introduced this idea to me.

[Ralitsa]

I love the gel polish! It's expensive though and it is hard to take off. And when you take it off, the surface of your nails are really in rough shape, so you pretty much want to put gel polish on again because it's the only thing strong enough. That's what I like most about it, it's strong and helps keep your nails from breaking and never flakes off.

I've seen at Walgreens now some "gel" polish that claims to not need a light to cure - I haven't tried it and I'm really skeptical. But I am seriously considering the idea of getting one of the home kits. My theory is that I'll put a clear polish on my hands, and then I can put color on top of that when I want. Then I never actually have to remove it, just touch it up on occasion as my nails grow out.

Keep us posted Anne, and let us know what you think of it.