All I want are gorgeous hands...

So, I have not been the best in the past at caring for my hands or nails. Last October, I was trying to stop biting my nails, so I had acrylics put on. I made them last forever and grew them out right away...I never had them filled in.  I kept trying to keep from biting them, but when I get stressed I pick at my nails, which causes me to bite them. So, I found my self in the exact same place in March, getting acrylics put back on. I grew these out too, but they weren't very good quality and I didn't get as much of my natural nail grown out as I would have liked. I found that the only way I could keep my nails in tact was painting them....that is when I discovered Loaded Lacquer (my favorite indie line) after seeing a mani by @badgirlnails on IG that featured Rubbernecker and Tiki Torched and I knew I had to grow my nails out and I had to get that polish!

Fast forward a few months and I had successfully grown my nails out, but I had no clue about cuticle care, nail care, or hand care at all. My sweet husband booked me a spa day after school was out, including a mani/pedi. I took the opportunity to pick my manicurist's brain. I needed cuticle oil horridly and I was about to buy some expensive stuff and waned her opinion.Well, I am soooooo glad I asked first. Her response...olive oil! That is it!!!! Olive oil! So, I decided to try it and it is straight up FABULOUS!!!! You can use it by itself or mix it with coconut oil to make a lovely cream. TO mix it with the coconut oil I heat i part olive oil in the microwave for 20-30 seconds at a time until it is warm. Then, I add 2 to 3 parts coconut oil in and stir it until the coconut oil is melted. After several hours it will start to thicken back into a creamy consistency.

I use it all the time and NEVER clip or push my cuticles with a pusher at all. I use my thumbs and push the oil into my cuticles in a clockwise motion starting at the nail tip. This way I gently push my cuticles back with the oil and they stay super healthy. On the weekends I will do this 5 or 6 times a day as I am watching movies or playing on my iPad.

I also just recently found the most amazing hand treatment to sluff off desk skin and soften your hands. Olive oil and white sugar...I am such a fan of natural things so this was right up my alley.  I used about a teaspoon of olive oil and rubbed it into both hands. Then, I had my husband put a spoonful of white sugar in my palm and I used it to scrub my hands for about a minute. I rinsed with warm water and washed with moisturizing soap. My hands are so ridiculously smooth now. I am definitely putting this into my normal regimen.

Hope these tips will help some newbies out there....or even not newbies :)
AK

Here we go!

Ok, so this blog has been set up for a while, but I haven't gotten around to creating my first post...something about being a teacher, setting up a classroom, and starting back to school. Well, after much anticipation...



I began this journey of nail art and indie polishes around Easter of this year and I have become insanely HOOKED!!! So, I thought I would start this blog to help other newbies  know what products are out there specifically for nail care. I may branch out to other beauty care products, but for now...it's all about the nails...



Thanks for taking a look and I will be talking about cuticle care and nail hardener for my first "product review"...stay tuned!