Honeymoon Manicure

 

Well, here it is ladies and gents, my first gel manicure. Let's see if it's worth the $30. I'm headed to Italy for 11 days and decided I didn't want to have to fuss with my nails. But, who wants ugly nails on their honeymoon? And, if I got a regular manicure, I'd have to contend with chips, and we are back to the ugly manicure situation.

 

I'd been resisting the gel manicure craze because I don't usually want a manicure to last me two weeks. I get bored. I like to change it up. At $30 a pop, with my fickle manicure nature, that could add up to a lot of money, pronto. I usually want to get a week out of a manicure, which rarely happens by the way. But after a week with the same color, I'm ready for a change. Good thing manicures aren't like tatoos.

 

Anyway, this was a different situation. The last thing I think I'll want to do in Italy, is worry about my nails. So, a gel manicure seemed like a good idea. I could have pretty nails (and less likelyhood of breakeage - my nails break easily when their bare) and no worries. At least that's what I'm told.

 

I chose this pretty bubble gum pink color. I wanted a color that would easily go with anything I was wearing. And honestly, I like a pretty pink mani. I have to say, my first complaint of the gel manicure is that you don't really get a good feel for the colors you choose. The bottles are opaque so you have to trust the color swatch printed on it. And you know those are not usually the best. This color, cutely  named Hint Hint, looked more like a pink-coral when I picked it up. The color swatch lies. Imagine my surprise to find it's Barbie pink. Good thing I'm a fan of a bubble gum mani. There's gotta be a better way to help you pick the right color.

 

I hope all our favorite nail polish brands are working on getting some gel polishes out there. How much easier would it be if you could just pick out your favorite nail polish color for a gel manicure? Then there's no real guessing. Just walk in and pick out OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark or You Don't Know Jaques, Zoya Stacey, or China Glaze's For Audrey. You already know the colors you love, so no surprises. Is this already available and I just don't know it?

 

I'll have to give you the run down on whether it lived up to it's long-lasting claims when I get back.

 

Oh, and while my tips are all sweet and innocent, my pedicure is the sultry aforementioned Lincoln Park After Dark. I wasn't as worried about chips on my toes. Pedicures last me a good two weeks (sometimes a little longer) before I need to change up the polish.