Product Review: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips

So, just yesterday I bought and tried the Sally Hansen nail polish strips. They were pretty pricey at 8.50USD, but I had a gift card and figured I should try them. Why not? [I apologize I lack pictures for every step]

[Picture from Sally Hansen]

The color I tried was "Love Letter" which is a white background, with black lettering in cursive that has various things written, at most I can make out the words "And", "Love", "Mash" and a few various others. 

In the kit, it comes with two packets/containers that are non-resealable with eight strips each, an orange wood stick that has a pointed end on one side, and a flat end on the other, a nail file/buff and of course, instructions. They're pretty easy to follow.

It first states to start out with clean dry nails. Like so:

[Sorry for the bad quality, it was a cell phone pic, and my nails have color stains on them since I work with color on a daily basis.]

This was after I removed all polish, ran some nail polish remover over them and pushed the cuticles back [like it says to do in the instructions]

The next thing I did, was I laid out all the strips that would fit my nails out beside me, and I started with my pinky nail. I peeled the clear protective sheet off, then pulled the backing off, leaving me with a flimsy piece of sticky polish, at that point you need to break off the silver tab. Getting placement down is tricky, I'll admit. That's likely what took me the longest aside from filing it down to size. After I got the nail pressed on where I wanted it, I rubbed all over with my finger, then the orange wood stick that they provided. The first few nails I used their method of getting the excess edge off, but after a while I found my own groove. Which involves just stretching it over the edge, rather than filing it off.

They are pretty, I also had to make sure the lettering was upright. At this point they are pretty time consuming, so if you're in a pinch I wouldn't recommend them. 

This is what the polish strip looks like once the silver tab is pulled off it. At this point, after doing a few nails their way is when I started to just stretch and peel it over the free edge. I'm not sure how well it'll work if you don't have much of a free edge [a nail that extends past your fingertip] I only had to file off/press down small corners after that, which helped speed up the process some, which was nice.

Then when you're finally done, they do look nice. To do both hands it took me about an hour, but I wasn't working straight through I was chit chatting online. However, if I didn't have those distractions I'd still say it took me about half an hour to forty five minutes to complete. After I was done, I applied a very liberal top coat to them simply because my hands are frequently in water, I got a good day's use out of them so far, I'll see how well they hold up the rest of the week, they say they should last up to ten days, I will personally probably have to take them off before then. 

Hope this helps for anyone looking to buy/try them. :)

Plans for Restructure and Growth

Alrighty!!

So, my plans so far for this blog, are to expand into youtube to create tutorials, product reviews, and other such items. I have the youtube channel up, but so far no videos. I want to get my tripod out again and a camera that records video. Though, just now as I was writing I just figured out a plan that can possibly work. :-D

The main product I have to review is the L'Oreal Paris One-Sweep EyeShadow.

Tutorial right now that I can think of, is how to paint your nails.

Any ideas/what you want to see?

I could use my webcamera but it doesn't work the best plus it can be very grainy and that's not what I want. I'd also have to get some savvyness with video editing again, but I'm excited! We'll see where that takes us. :)

Edit: I have a mobile version now live. :)

Working [again]!

Well, my last post I mentioned that I had a big interview in front of the owner's wife. Well, that went well and I got the job!

I started working there on the 10th of October. This company only hires three times out of the year so I feel like I accomplished something major when I was offered the position.

Each day presents itself with new struggles, new challenges and my boss currently is wonderful I feel like I have made good strides in improvements, but as I've told him I know I have a lot of things to learn, but I do feel like each day I get better. I do mess up every once in a while and we're approaching the end of the second week in our placements, its filled with stresses but I don't mind. I might complain every once in a great while but it's nothing major.

I'm excited to be working where I am, it's a big name company in Columbus, and it's a wonderful experience. :)

On the Road Again...

Well, in August I posted about a new job, and I was let go from there since they felt I wasn't "up to par" with my cutting. So, I was let go the middle of the month. I've been hitting the job search pretty hard, and in the morning I have my final interview with a big company, which I'm very excited for. I finished my piece that I had to bring in earlier today.

I'm excited for how this interview can go, and it's in front of the owner's wife. I'm more than just a bit nervous about it. :3

I hope you're well, and I'll keep on goin'. :)

Shoes

Well, after a lot of beating myself up, I eventually left the salon I was working for, however I had a great time there, just the schedule they were giving me was not enough to survive on, especially for how long I held on for.

I left that job and started elsewhere, a new start, I got through two weeks of training in two days. I'll be on the floor cutting starting tomorrow! How exciting is that!

Also, The reason why this is entitled shoes.

Shoes are probably the best investment a stylist could make for his or her cutting career [out side of equipment to cut with] since my black flats [rocketdogs] were falling apart, and were horribly beat up, I invested in a pair of Sketchers. Actually two pairs, just the one I can't wear to work [Shape-Ups are the ones I can't wear to work] And the shoe I got was amazing. It was the Mary Jane style of shoe, it has one strap that goes over my foot one way, to connect to the shoe, goes through a loop to fasten via velcro to the other side. If I can remember it's name or dig up a picture, I will.

So far, I've had great success with both pairs of Sketchers I own. =) They're comfortable, cute and can help provide me the posture I need to be standing on my feet all day.

Managers!

I took my Manager's Test today...

and I passed! With flying colors. =)

And now I am a Managing Cosmetologist in the state of Ohio. Happy day...

Perhaps more good news in the near future?

A Job

I graduated from the Manager's program at school, and I've started my job with a smallish salon near my home. I don't work often but when I'm there I make the best of it. I have to.

I take my Manager's test soon, in less than a month! I've studied a bit for my test, and I've heard from a few friends that I went through manager's training with that the test is easy. I've never been a good test taker, or at least, I've never felt like I was a good test taker.

I miss doing hair every day but I know I'll get back to that point once again. There's a definite learning curve at work with learning another line of products that I didn't have at my disposal at school, and the shampoo bowls at work are a challenge to get used to. All minor things that my boss is helping me work on. I'm lucky I've got such awesome bosses, and I love the people I work with. I just hope the salon gets off it's feet so I can be a more integral part of it. =)

Sprushes

As a graduation and early Christmas present I was presented with a box and the box was large, but light, I was sort of concerned nothing was in it. But, I opened it and to my surprise they had a small four piece sprush kit.

I had a few chances to use them before finally using them the other day. Just the thought of them excited me but scared me at the same time.

I had spoken with a student at the institute about different brushes, and she being new to the world of cosmetology was curious as to what Sprushes were, so I brought in my kit.

While I was wandering on the floor everyone seemed to be amazed by them, I let two students who were doing color applications borrow them to see how they liked them first. From there I gained the confidience to use them. The one student who I let use the slightly larger sprush thought they were difficult and wasn't terribly crazy about them, but she thought they'd be better suited for highlighting since Aveda's Enlightener is slightly thicker than color. The other student on the otherhand, loved them to death.

Just a few days ago, I got the chance to use them, they did definatly have a learning curve since I was used to a regular bristle brush that I had to just dip and go, with these I had to scoop a little then go to town. I was highlighting on long hair, but I too fell in love with them.

They definatly do save product, and to me that's invaluable. :) Can't wait to use them again!

Clinton

I read Clinton Kelly's book Freakin' Fabulous: How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate, And Generally Be Better Than Everyone Else. And I loved it!

Lately I've taken to reading/watching more shows that are linked to the beauty industry. It's making me feel like a better stylist for taking a more active part in the beauty industry. Of course, I have limits but I will do everything I can to work and be efficient inside those limits.

Also, today I got the chance to 'do' some hair. :) It felt great, and I also helped out Eric [my fiancee] with a full highlight. I'm very happy and very excited for my future in the industry. Hoping I only have room to take my great skill set and improve upon it.

I have a class to attend on the 28th and I can't wait for it. :)

Unintended Hiatus

Hey there!

My laptop decided that it wanted to die on me and I can't update this very well if I don't have a laptop. Or at least, some type of computer with internet access.

I don't know how long it'll be between posts at this point but I will try to log in and check when I can and update where I can. Right now my life as a stylist is sorta not interesting as I don't have a job, and as a Managing Cosmetology student I don't get the chance to do much hair.

I miss doing hair, I really do, this break between graduating school and working on finding a job is nuts.

Tabatha

Since my last time writing, I've found a new love for Tabatha Coffey. Unforunately, I had to miss her gracing Columbus with her presense but I will meet her, some day, some way, some how.

I've read her book cover to cover, and I watched an episode of Tabatha's Salon Takeover online, and I must say I love her.

I do feel a definate connection with her on some level, I can't really explain it. I have her show set to record on my DVR incase I'm not home on the days that it airs, I didn't realize I had bravo until last night. Silly me.

Because of Tabatha planning my own salon will be much easier since in her book I have a definate more concrete idea of some of the things I need to do. I know it's not going to be an easy willy nilly task but it was made a little easier by some of her insight.

The Institute

I graduated from the Aveda Institute Columbus' Cosmetology program in ten months, exactly. Each day was a new challenge be it trying to fumble with Anatomy and Physiology, Aveda Color, relaxers or perms, I looked forward to it. Some days, moreso than others but I woke up every morning loving what I do.

And that's what I needed. That's what everyone needs.

Aveda presented me with challenges, solutions, and a positive learning environment in which I thrived.

After the first ten weeks of a lot of hard work and dedication, I finally made it to the floor. The feeling I had after completing my model days in weeks 6-10 [AIC breaks things down in 5 week rotations for the most part] and passing my finals and our now Director of Education coming in and explaining the logistics of how everything in the salon actually worked gave me a feeling of redemption that was long awaited for.

My mom was my rock through my first ten weeks, I had a lot of personal issues going on but she stood by me and even came in for a model day for me. As I progressed through the Alpha, Beta and eventually Gamma phases of school, she would schedule at least one appointment with me in that time frame when she could to come in and see my growth. Not only hearing me at home, but actually seeing my work in action.

She's not hesitant to tell you watching me grow was the best thing she did.

I had a lot of fun at the Institute as a student, a lot of memorable guests, like one who had cancer and just wanted her hair to look nicer so she felt better about going through chemo, to another who drove two hours just to be with her kids away at college and took them to dinner, and another who just wanted a change to feel beautiful. These types of clients are the type of clients that I loved servicing, and made my day better. Even the ones who gave me a bit of a hard time, I enjoyed as they challenged me to be better so they couldn't leave without a smile on their face. As long as I could get my client to smile, and love what I did...that was the best part of the service for me anyway.

I had made sure that I took charge of my education. I participated in everything I could from Earth Jam [a student done fashion show], Beauty for the Earth, Beauty for the Heart, Beauty for a Cure, Master Jam [a fashion show I went to just to go to], participating in the Edwin Neil competition, and in all...I wish I could do it all again. Even picking up those late night Monday shifts, and my halfdays just to be more immersed in the industry.

Introductions

I've decided that though I've graduated and can't compete in Beacon, I was going to start a blog of just things I encounter as a stylist. Though, as any blog should, an introductory post is neccesary!


I got into the beauty industry because I have always had a passion for it, I used to sit behind my mom when I was little [from the age of like four to say ten or so] and I'd brush her hair up into some sort of style, brush it down then do it again. I used to do this for hours on end, it was mom's stress relief and it was fun for me while she was watching TV. At the age of twelve I made the most drastic change to my hair that I had ever done, other than a donation to locks of love, I got highlights put in. [A lot of begging went into that]

It was a lot of fun for me, my parents although not crazy about the idea of me changing my hair with a chemical, liked it in the end. I really otherwise didn't do much other than the occasional all over color or the highlight/lowlight combination. My mom let me start coloring her hair when I turned thirteen, again it was something I loved doing.

Beyond the kitchen, my hair styling 'career' really didn't do much, I colored mom's hair every few months, and I just let it go in my own hair [as pointed out as I look back on old photographs on facebook].

I got to high school, and I had other dreams, I'll be honest, I wanted to become a news anchor. It was a dream I pursued until I got to college. I started at Columbus State where I started to realize that traditional schooling was not for me. I had a small taste of that in high school, but it didn't click but that lesson hit me hard in college. After a year of hit and miss success at college, I told my parents that Columbus State was not for me.

They were happy for me to realize this, I took time off from school, thinking I could just go straight to work. I had little experience but that didn't stop me from trying though. After an unsuccessful job hunt, I realized, I had to do something. I wasn't going to get a job without having some semblance of certification, degree, something.

I had to do something for not only me, but my daughter. I made the decision to give school another go. I looked into various certificates at Columbus State, something I could get done in a few quarters, a year at most, the Bradford School for Culinary Arts, and then one day my mom suggested Aveda.

I knew they had something for education but I wasn't sure what. A billboard stared me in the face every day for a year while I was at Columbus State, it just said "I know Who I Am. And My Future is With Aveda" I never dreamed that would ring true for me. But, I called and set up college visits with both Bradford and Aveda.

I went to both, and I really enjoyed both. With Bradford I could have gotten into food photography, as photography is another passion of mine. Aveda though, they blew me away with everything. It was where I wanted to be. And the rest...is history. :)