Good morning, Mini-Women! I loved your posts from yesterday. You are definitely a hands-on group! We have pianists and violinists, typists and those who like to write longhand -- there are painters and ticklers among you, as well as bike riders and mandolin players and story writers One of you is even learning sign language. I can just see your angel hands at work on all this great stuff. The world is a better place because of you.
And because you have your fingers into just about everything, I'm thinking some of you might want some tips on how to make those nails a little more lovely. If you're a ballerina, your nails need to be less showy, I'm told, and if you're playing a stringed instrument you have to be careful not to let them get too long. But just about every girl, even if you play every sport known to womanhood or think less about having a manicure than you do absolutely anything else, has occasion to get dressed up now and then. Take my great niece, Madeline, who just turned 15. Usually she hangs out in shorts and flip flops because she's in and out of the pool or playing soccer or raising rabbits for 4-H. But in May she was going to a special dance -- and did she pull off the glamour or what? You can't see her nails in this pic, but they were as polished and exquisite as the rest of her. Being able to make those nails looks fabulous is a good skill to have, just in case you're invited to a great party or your grand parents are celebrating their 50th, or your cousin asks you to keep the Bride's Book at her wedding. And this next section is DEFINITELY for you if you want shiny, manicured nails every day.
(1) First do everything we talked about yesterday. Putting nail polish on nails that are cruddy and ragged is sort of like putting frosting on a cake that hasn't been baked.
(2) REMOVE ALL OLD POLISH. You'll just need cotton balls you can dip in nail polish remover. Wipe from bottom to top until it all comes off. Putting new polish right over old is not a good look, trust me.
(3) USE A CLEAR COAT OF POLISH FIRST. There are special base coats, or you can just use clear. This is important if you plan to paint your nails a lot, because without it, colored polish can make them look yellow after a while. Just use two or three strokes with a polish brush to cover your whole nail. That's all it takes. Any more and it gets gloppy. Let that dry before you move on. Don't rush. If that looks nice to you, you can stop there. Clear polish doesn't show as much when it chips off, and your nails will look shiny and pretty, IF you want color . .
(4) PUT ON TWO LAYTERS OF COLORED PLISH. Again, just two or three strokes and let them dry completely between. Instead of shaking the bottle to mix the polish, roll it between your palms a couple of times,. That way you won't get bubbles on your nails.
(5) APPLY A CLEAR COAT OVER THAT, which keeps the color from chipping.
(6) DON'T DO ANYTHING NAIL INTENSIVE FOR SEVERAL HOURS. You might want to do your manicure before you go to bed. Don't let water touch your nails. Even if you speed dry by putting your hands in the freezer for two minutes, all the coats won't be entirely dry for three hours. So if you don't go right to bed, at least don't finger paint, dig a hole, or enter a pie-eating contest!
(7) REMOVE OLD POLISH AS SOON AS IT STARTS TO CHIP. A flake of polish in the middle of each nail is definitely not an attractive look for anybody. Not a good idea to chip it off with your other nails or with your teeth. Wait until you have tine to sit down with remover and cotton balls. And by the way, it only makes sense that if remover can take off nail polish, it can also take the finish off your mom's table or the color out of your jeans. Be sure you have everything covered. And do we need to mention not to get it even close to your eyes, your mouth, or a flame?
If on Tuesday you chose "A funky expression of your wild self", do ALL of the above, except that when you get ready to polish, use your imagination. This is one form of makeup parents don't usually object to (although you'll want to check with yours first) and it van be a blast. Find fun colors you like -- nail polish can be pretty cheap to buy, and a bottle lasts a while. Enjoy wild, strange nail color now, because as you get older, it won't always be the thing to do.
If you decide that polishing your nails on a regular basis is your kind of fun, go to your beauty chart, and under WEEKLY, add "remove old nail polish" and "put on new polish."
You know what would be fun today? Dream up what you think would be the perfect nail color and give it a name. (I always thought naming fingernail polish shades would be a fun job --right up there with being an ice cream taster). Is it "Perfectly Peachy"? "Sunrise Surprise?" "Purple Pleasure?" Even if you're still a nail-biter and have no intention of picking up a bottle of nail color any time soon, this could be fun for ya. After all, so much of our blog series on The Beautiful You has been about you learning to enjoy being the girl God made you to be. Yes, yes -- who you are on the inside is what really makes you gorgeous -- yet highlighting that on the outside is like piling the whipped cream onto that ice cream sundae. Make yourself declicious!
Blessings,
Nancy Rue
What if you hate being glamorous? What if you'd rather be in shorts and a T-shirt? I was a bridesmaid in my sister's wedding this weekend & it was pure torture!!! She had my hair in a spiraly-up do thing and made me wear make-up. Everyone said I looked really good, but it just wasn't me. Is it okay if I stick to my straight hair and freckled face?
Posted by: Anna Solomon | June 24, 2009 at 03:15 PM
and no nail polish at all?
Posted by: Anna Solomon | June 24, 2009 at 03:20 PM
I really liked this post, but the thing about painting my nails is my dad hates the smell, so I have to do it outside if he's around. I always mess it up outside, because I am anxious to get back into the cool air conditioning. Now I know I should wait until he isn't around and do a good job. Oh ya, the perfect nail polish color for me would be "Pleasently Purple"
Posted by: Olivia | June 24, 2009 at 03:25 PM
I think the name "Loquacious Lavender" would suit a polish for girls who like to write and use words (like me!).
Posted by: Katie | June 24, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Katie... wow what a word! um... lets think... dazzeling purple!!!
Posted by: Isabelle | June 24, 2009 at 06:20 PM
Lots of Latte is a cool nail polish color,I think it could be smelly too!
Posted by: Abi | June 24, 2009 at 06:30 PM
I agree with Anna Solomon!
Posted by: Caitlin | June 25, 2009 at 09:59 AM
I LIKE looking glamorous! Anyway, Katie, I think you could be the next Fiona Bunting! (Gotta love Sophie books) Let's see, how about Polished and Pearly Pink?
Posted by: Veronica | June 25, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Hmmmmm....How about Berry Beautiful Red? Or Super Sky Blue? Or Pink Pizzaz? (This is so fun!)
Posted by: Abbie | June 25, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Love the big word, Katie! i luv 2 write 2! and for nail polish colors...Exquisite Emerald or Tickle-Me-Turquoise. even tho i'd probably never wear either :)
Posted by: Anna Solomon | June 25, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Nice nail polish names, Anna Solomon! I'm a girly girl but uisually don't wear nail polish, at least not on my fingernails. I put it on my toenais occasionally.
Posted by: Abbie | June 25, 2009 at 08:09 PM
Bahama Blue Blast, Outrageous Orange, Perfectly Posh Pink, Bright Yellow Bandanna, Kiwi Lime Green Scream, Royal Purple Cream, Luscious Lavender, and Ripe Red Raspberry!!!! I like this! :-D
Posted by: Erika | June 26, 2009 at 12:15 AM
thanks Abbie! :)
Posted by: Anna | June 26, 2009 at 08:41 PM