Stylin' with
Ms. Tips

Experimenting with Nail Polish

People have been applying methods of body adornment for thousands of years. Body piercing has been in and out of fashion since Cleopatra realized it turned on Mark Anthony. No, I am not going to give the pro's and con's of body piercing, but I am going to tell you about a Chinese art form that has been around since 3000 B.C.

Nail lacquer, or nail polish as we call it today, is the topic for this month. Sometimes you find nail products in the most unlikely places. Once in a while on a trip home to see the family. I stop off at road-side diner and in the ladies lounge vending machine, there are glue-on "nail jewels" for sale. No nail polish. It just goes to show you that body ornamentation is very popular, even in the land that time forgot.

The hardest part of testing nail polish is finding the time to apply new polish every four days. The test color is red, of course. I used department store brands as well as drug store and home sales brands: Avon - Color Last, Revlon - Creme Nail Enamel, Estee Lauder - Perfect Finish, Cutex - Color Quick, Cover Girl - NailSlicks, Wet 'n Wild, Chanel - Creme Enamel, and Maybelline - Long Wearing Nail Color.

What I look for in a nail polish is the following:

1. Does it go on smoothly and evenly?
2. Does it provide good coverage in one or two coats?
3. How long will it take to dry?
4. How long will it last without chipping?

With regard to drying, I painted each color on a piece of cardboard and timed how long it took each to dry. Cutex Color Quick dried first and completely in four minutes. One of the slowest in drying time was the most expensive, Chanel, which along with Wet 'n Wild and Maybelline took about 8 minutes to dry.

The trick to nail polish is something I have been trying to stress throughout these articles - take your time! Time is the proving factor in all conditions of beautification. So, with nails it is even more important, especially in drying nails. You must allow at least 5 minutes between applications - this includes the base and topcoat applications.

This brings up a good point. Are base and topcoats necessary? If you took a poll and asked most woman what they do, you would find that the majority sandwich a layer of basecoat on the nail as preparation to help the color stick to the nail and after the color a topcoat to provide shine and an extra layer of protection from chipping. Using a basecoat lets the color go on much smoother than without. Cover Girl polish says they have a built-in top coat, thus saving you time, but the shine just did not hold up after the product dried completely.

You are probably wondering, "Well there, Ms. Tips, how do I get salon nails at home?" Here are some methods that may make your finger-fun more enjoyable:

• Shape your nails with an emery board. The trick is not to file the nails down on the their sides, but to shape in a square fashion. This helps strengthen the nail.
• File from the sides of the nail to the center in one motion as opposed to the see-saw method which can cause the nail to peel. This is the number one problem with weak nails - poor filing. If your nails peel, you need to buff out the ridges before applying the polish.
• You need to wash your hands right before the manicure. This will eliminate all surface dirt and excess oils. Use a nail brush if necessary.
• The bottle of polish always needs to be mixed. But you do not shake the bottle, you roll it between both hands, as if you were washing them with soap and water. This eliminates air bubbles, which can ruin all of your efforts.
• The proper way to apply color is to use three strokes: one down the center of the nail and then left and right of each side. The thinner the application, the faster the drying time.
• If your polish is too thick to begin with, you need to thin it with nail polish thinner. Do Not Use Nail Polish Remover. It will kill the shine. Begin with a small amount in an eye dropper and mix the polish to the desired consistency.
• To reduce any mistakes and goofs, you should allow each coat to be dry to the touch before the next coat is applied. It is equally imperative that the nail be completely dry (all the way through) before you do anything and that includes touching your hair, scratching your nose or pulling up a sagging stocking. All your hard work will be ruined in a split second without allowing sufficient drying time.
• You can dry your nails much faster with a hand-held dryer, bought in any local drug store. You can use a standard hair dryer, but the setting must be placed on cool and low. If you use high speed or too hot, it will soften the polish and move it creating a wavy effect There are many nail drying aids, from sprays to UV lights, (which I personally use) to hand held mini-fans.

If your manicure is looking tired and dull after a few days, apply one color coat, wait until dry and apply another topcoat for shine. If your nail is chipped, buff, do not file (an emery board will be too rough) the nail until the surface is flush with the nail. Here is a quick tip....use the friction strip of a match book in desperate times....it is less abrasive than an emery board and will not damage the nail. When the nail is smooth to the touch, apply the color again and a new top coat.

Now, for the testing of the different brands. Each color was worn for four days with one day of breathing time between brands. The prices of the different polishes ranged from $1 to $15. The drying times for most were about 4 minutes per layer, the best being Cutex and the slowest being Chanel, Wet 'n Wild, and Maybelline. Ease of application and evenness of color was universal. In regard to opaqueness of color, Cutex was the winner and Maybelline was just fair. Where chipping is concerned, Avon, Estee Lauder, Wet 'n Wild and Chanel were the best in endurance, and Cutex and Maybelline were the first to chip. Overall, none were excellent, but all were at least very good. except Cutex and Maybelline long wear color.

So, the next time you decided you simply cannot live without your nails being polished, remember that any product will do in a pinch. Now, I realize that most transgendered people do not have the opportunity to wear polish for long periods. But, one still needs to use common sense in its application. Meaning, give yourself enough time to enjoy the moment, as time is the answer to all questions of "how" and "why" when it comes to making one's self beautiful.

This is CDTips asking for your questions, so we can all get the right answers.
Luv,
Lynda.

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