Hawaii Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
RE: Toes at the Beach
Being a nail technician 
here's a few tips to long lasting toes.....if you prep your toe nail bed with alcohol and acetone before polishing, your color (whatever it may be) will last a long time. The Alcohol and acetone will dehydrate your nail and clean any excess oil off so that the nail will grab the color better. I use this technique on my clients and myself and can go a whole month and a half without changing my polish. also be sure to use a base coat prior to color....rule of thumb base coat, 2 coats of color, and final with top coat...all steps dry at least 5 minutes in between. One more technique that I use is I file the nail bed a little to make it a little rough...the shiny the nail the polish will chip and peel right off. This technique does not damage the nail as the very top layer of the nail is old, just like cutting the ends of your hair off once a month to make it healthier is the same with your nail.
here's a few tips to long lasting toes.....if you prep your toe nail bed with alcohol and acetone before polishing, your color (whatever it may be) will last a long time. The Alcohol and acetone will dehydrate your nail and clean any excess oil off so that the nail will grab the color better. I use this technique on my clients and myself and can go a whole month and a half without changing my polish. also be sure to use a base coat prior to color....rule of thumb base coat, 2 coats of color, and final with top coat...all steps dry at least 5 minutes in between. One more technique that I use is I file the nail bed a little to make it a little rough...the shiny the nail the polish will chip and peel right off. This technique does not damage the nail as the very top layer of the nail is old, just like cutting the ends of your hair off once a month to make it healthier is the same with your nail.
Re: RE: Toes at the Beach
Sweet! Since I'm doing my own mani/pedi tonight, these tips are perfectly timed. I already use a base coat and file, but I didn't know that about alcohol/acetone... I always worried that the residue would somehow make the polish flake off. Thanks!
ETA: Do you have any rec's for a good quick-dry product? I usually paint after work and let my nails dry overnight, but if I decide to paint during the day, I always wind up bumping something and messing up my nails!
Tried to pip but work computer won't allow....
If you use good products than they should dry fast ( and don't put a thick layer on your nails)...OPI, China Glaze and Elysse, and Orly are great polish products....Also as a top coat I use Seche Vite- strongest and fast drying topcoat , and at times if my client is in a rush then I will spray on DeMert Nail Enamel Dryer and finishing Spray. What I also use is an electric fan to dry the nail faster...if you have a Airconditioner in your home you can put your hands maybe not so much you toes up to the vent if it's clean (you don't want dust flying onto your freshly polished nails) to dry them.
You know, I always did the file-the-top-of-the-nail-bed thing (I'd noticed it made the polish stick longer), but I wondered if it was OK or not because I never had anyone do it when I had a professional manicure. Good to know that I'm not crazy lol!
This is exactly what I use - glad to know I'm doing it right! (I wouldn't dream of using a rough file, that would just scratch up the surface - basically I just take the shine off.)
Thanks for the tips! When I can reach my toes again I'm going to buy a base coat polish to use!
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Newlyweds since 2007