Nail Shapes: More Options Than You'd Think!

When getting your nails done, especially using acrylics, what many people don't know is that there are many shapes to chose from. Depending on your mood or your style, there are different ways you can shape your nails to match how you are feeling.

• Round Shape: A rounded nail is very common, and in my opinion the most natural looking way to shape a nail. It gives off a feminine, caring, and romantic vibe. 
• Square Shape: A square shape is also a pretty common nail shape. It has a flattened top that looks more crisp and gives off straight edges. This shape gives a strong, bold, and "diva" vibe.
• Squarely-Rounded Shape: This shape combines the best of both worlds! The top of the nail is still flat (like a square) but the edges are rounded. This makes a straight and smooth look. This shape is assertive and ambitious. 
• Almond Shape: This shape is similar to a round shape, but the nail is longer and the edges are thinner (which looks like an almond). This look is young, unique and creative.
• Stiletto Shape: This shape is the newest nail shape. The nail looks similar to the almond shape but at the top there is a point. This gives off somewhat of a "claw" or "dagger" look. Some describe this look at daring and sexy.... I myself find this shape somewhat frightening. 

All of these looks can be done with any color or design that you may want. You can file them yourself (which could be difficult with some of the more complicated shapes) or they can be shaped at any nail salon of your choice. Have fun!

Do's and Don'ts: Nail Salons

Getting your nails professionally done is awesome. They look close to perfect, and it saves you work and effort. There are some things every woman SHOULD do when it comes to nail salons, because whether or not we may like it-there are risks. Many infections and problems have occurred in the past. To stay safe, here are some tips to try out at the salon! They will help you stay safe, infection-free, and will improve your experience.

• Don't be afraid to ask how they disinfect their tools. Both liquid disinfection and autoclave sterilization are acceptable.
• If the technician is wearing gloves, that is usually a good sign. Only about 17% of them do.
• Check to see if the floor is dirty. If they are not cleaning and sweeping up pretty regularly, it is easy to find other places that do. This is a sign that they might not be very conscious about their cleanliness. 
• Check out the restrooms. If the bathroom at the salon is not as clean as you would like one at your own home to be, this also may be a turn-off.
• Watch where the salon employees pull their tools. See if the tools are being pulled from a drawer of sterilized tools or if they are reusing the same ones from customer to customer.
• Always know what chemicals they are using on you, if any. It should always have a clear, defined label available for the customer.
• Never shave before going to the nail salon, it acts as a portal of entry for bacteria to get in.
• Pain is an absolute red flag. If you do not feel comfortable about the service you are having, it is time to look for a new salon.

DIY Nail Art: 3 Fun Techniques!

Solid colored nails are pretty, but sometimes it's fun to spice things up a bit! This means designs! Designs look great, but many people think that they are too difficult or take too much time to apply them. Have no fear, here are three nail art ideas that are simple and do-able on your own! You just need a few supplies.

1. Fan Brush Nail Art

To achieve this look, you will need a small fan makeup brush. First, apply a normal solid layer of whichever color you choose. Then, put the next color that you want on the brush and brush it on the solid coat. Repeat this step with as many other colors as you wish- and you will get the look above!

2. Half and half

To achieve this two-color-nail, all you need is scotch tape! Apply the first coat of whatever polish you choose. Allow this to fully dry, then apply the scotch tape onto your nail in whatever shape you wish. This will allow the second layer to have a crisp and straight line that appears professionally done. After painting the second coat, peel off the scotch tape and check out the result!

3. Band-Aid Polka Dots

For this trick, you can cut a simple band-aid and use it for cute dots! Paint the background polish with any color you like, and make sure it dries fully. Next, apply the band aid with the holes onto your nail. Use the polish you would like for the dots and paint it over the top. Before peeling the band-aid off, make sure this is dry so it does not smudge when you peel of the band-aid. After repeating this step you will have an adorable polka-dotted design!

What is Shellac?

There is nothing more frustrating than painting your nails and then having them chip a couple of days later! What many people are using to prevent this is using gel polish or "shellac". What is this? Shellac is the brand name for a new, patent pending nail product created by Creative Nail Design. It is half  nail polish, half gel. It is thin and strong enough to be similarly to nail polish, and also has a beautiful shine. It is good to use for people who want to maintain natural nails. It also lasts longer than regular nail polish, with no chipping or flaking. 

Shellac cannot be done at home. It has to be applied by a professional, which means going to the salon and getting your nails done. In my opinion, it is definitely worth it! I have shellac on my nails right now. I got them done probably 2 weeks ago and the polish still looks perfect- which is does NOT happen when I use regular nail polish. The perks of shellac are worth the price you pay. While typical nail polish dries by evaporation, shellac dries with UV light, which allows it to be dry in minutes. By the time the manicure is over, your nails will be completely dry. It acts like a plasticized coating, which means long lasting. The UV rays will not be damaging to your nails either. 

How will this cost me? Usually around $35. This may be too much for some, but as I said- I believe that it is worth it! Here are some photos of women with shellac nails for a visual!

About me!

Hello, my name is Lucy Grant and I am a senior college student majoring in Advertising and PR. I attend the University of NE-Lincoln and love spending time with my friends and family. I have a passion for creativity and coming up with new and exciting ideas that will excite an audience. This includes anything from video to photos to anything advertising! In addition to my creativity love, I enjoy coming up with fun new ways to keep my nails beautiful and clean cut. My sister and I (pictured above) are always comparing and discussing new nail ideas. I am always noticing other people's nails and I love seeing what people come up with! When asked to start a blog, I thought this would be a fun and interesting way to combine my schoolwork and hobbies into one big idea. That is why I have started Nails Galore! Enjoy!

What's in: Bright Summer Colors

Since it is June you know what that means: summer! This means out with the black clothing and warm scarves and in with the white and bright colors! This does not only mean clothing colors, but also nails of course! This is the time to take advantage of the fun colors that many polish brands have come out with. Pastels such as green, yellow, blue, and purple are all acceptable and fun for the summertime. In addition, white is always pretty. This is perfect to match any summer colors that you may want to rock at any hour of the day. Colors such as gold or gold glitter can also work by adding it to the pastel colors you may want to use. Which brands should you look for? My personal favorite is Essie: they have a LARGE variety of bright and beautiful pastels to fit any summer day or night.

If you really want to go all out- try combining these colors and using patterns for your nails. Triangles, squares, and floral designs are perfect for summer nail fun. Each nail might not even match exactly- the fun is in how creative you can get. Lines, Jewels, rhinestones, and more are also acceptable. Think about it, there are not many months out of the year that bright neon colors will look good with your clothing and attitude. Take advantage of it while you have time!

Nails: Pretty AND Healthy!

Having beautiful and fun nails is something that many girls today consider important. Though this is seen as the main idea, many forget to take care of their nails at the same time! A lot of women blame this on spending money. They believe that in order to keep their nails healthy, a professional must be in charge. Though this is true, not everyone wants to spend money every month just to keep this up! Believe it or not, there are many ways that you can take care of your nails on your own in your home. By simply purchasing olive oil and lotion, you can create a healthy mixture for your nails by just adding warm water. The photo below shows clear instructions.

         Another bothersome issue that many women have is stained nails. Cheap polish can often leave marks on nails that appear dirty and unhealthy. This makes it difficult to paint different colors on nails when dark stains are still able to be seen underneath. Worry no more ladies! Again, you do not need to hit the expensive salon to have "proper" cleaning of the nails done. By using an ingredient as cheap as toothpaste, the stains can be handled. Again, the photo below shows clear steps on how to accomplish this on your own!

There are also products that you can buy and re-use at home to keep strong, healthy, and correctly colored nails. Vaseline Intensive Care has a “healthy hand and nail” lotion that has proved to help many women grow back sturdy and healthy nails. Pretty nails are important, but keeping up with their health is even more crucial. Starting with a couple of these tips will lead you to the healthy and responsible track to glamorous nails!