Day 7 of Shellac Manicure

 7 DAYS, NO SIGNS OF ANY CHIPS!  Shellac is amazing!

The Best 14-Day-Chip-Free Manicure Ever: Get your hands on "Shellac" at The Sanctuary Spa Marin

It's been all over the magazines, including the September issue of .  I first heard about the "14-day no-chip hybrid gel nail polish" from my manicurist, Sarah, at the Sanctuary Spa at the Marin Bay Club.  I trust Sarah with my nails because she is a meticulous perfectionist, which is an important quality in a manicurist.  So when I found out that her perfect manicure could last a full 14 days without the slightest chip, I was sold.

This gift to all women who are disillusioned by traditional nail lacquer and its incessant chipping, comes from salon brand CND- Introducing Shellac.

To show you how easy, and frankly similar it is to a regular manicure, I took photos of my latest application.  I'm not usually a red nail person, but for the purpose of showing you guys what this stuff is capable of, I went bold to make sure everything (even any flaws) show up through the process.

Base coat of Shellac being applied (comes out of a regular looking polish bottle and everything).

After curing the gel under the UV lamp, first coat of the color is applied.

UV lamp (2 minutes max depending)

Final top coat being applied.

The end result?  Perfect red nails that won't chip for two weeks!

Removal process is simply to soak the gel in acetone and gently scrape off.  None of the hard removal of acrylic or traditional gel nails.  I've been told that you can do this at home, but most salons will tell you that you need to have a professional remove to protect your natural nail.

Word is spreading and now this stuff is hard to come by.  In fact, it's causing quite a bit of uproar because salons are having a hard time getting their hands on product (forgive the pun).  I consider myself very lucky that the spa manager at Sanctuary was able to get her hands on some for her clients... and for the small additional cost of $10 to a regular manicure.  Two weeks chip-free, even though you have to have it professionally removed... well worth it!!  A-

Make sure to book your appointment, by calling (415) 945-3030.

Image(s) courtesy of CND and Sanctuary Spa

The Brazilian Keratin "Blowout" Explained (no, not the waxing kind)

I blogged previously about the Brazilian Keratin treatment I was getting from my go-to hair guy, Jeremy Boatman, and promised pictures.  Before I give you my personal spiel, let me give you some 411 on the product/treatment from the product website:

image taken from www.braziliankeratin.com

- Quick - On average, the treatment takes one stylist 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours depending on the lenght and texture of the hair.

- Universal - It can be used on dyed or highlighted hair. In fact, it can be used on any type of hair.

- Gentle - It is NOT meant to be permanent and it DOES NOT require neutralizer or immediate rinse. It requires redoing approximately every 3 to 4 months.
That is why you can leave it on the client's hair and walk away if you have to. That is why you can use it on children. That is why it blends with the natural growth of hair.

- Natural - It does NOT use strong chemicals to open and close the hair cuticle in an effort to straighten it, “breaking the bonds” of the hair shaft. Keratin is a natural substance which comprises approximately 88% of your hair.

- Healthy- It penetrates the hair repairing internal damage and coats the hair preventing further damage. The results are SOFT, SHINY, STRAIGHT hair. 

- Easy - Begin with a shampoo designed to open the cuticle. Saturate the hair with the product (an average of 3 ounces). Blow dry. Iron small sections of hair close to the scalp with a low heat flat iron. Iron the entire head with a high heat flat iron to seal  the keratin into the cuticle. - Simple - Do NOT wet, wash or use any clips or pins (or anything) on your hair for FOUR days. After  the fourth day, shampoo and condition your hair with products free of sodium chloride and sulfates, which will strip the keratin from the hair. Our specially formulated line of shampoos and conditioners are the best available for maintaining the most long-term results.

- Simply Amazing - The results speak for themselves. As one client said: “I'm so happy I don't need my therapist anymore!”· Good for anyone who has hair.

What is it?


Keratin is a type of protein high in the amino acid “Cystine.”  This special amino acid is what makes hair super tough and extremely elastic. Scientists refer to Keratin as a “Biopolymer,” due to its unique structures and interesting properties. Biopolymers are found throughout nature and give form and structure to naturally occurring substances all around the world; everything from leaves to trees, and turtle shells to goose down. Keratin is a classic example of a Biopolymer and it is the main structure building protein in our hair and nails.

So here are my two cents:

I had a very busy day yesterday with the Anniversary Sale.  After shopping like crazy, Lola the rat dog (aka Canine shopper extraordinaire) and I headed over to the salon to get our hair done.

Lola getting her hair did as well

I've heard great things about this treatment, and seen it advertised in many fashion magazines.  Being warned that I would not be able to wash my hair- or pin it back away from my face in any way- for four whole days, I still wanted to do this.  Why?  Because I have wavy/straight hair that is prone to frizz.  The thought of being frizz and straightener free for 3-6 months was enough to get my butt into the chair.  Just think, less money spent on styling products and less time under the dryer and round-brush in the mornings.  Just wash and go... I liked the sound of that.

Day 1- It looks a lot scarier here than it did in-person

So $300 and 2-1/2 hours later, I left the salon feeling greasy as if I had washed my hair in canola oil.  Due to the application process, my hair was soft and very straight (aka flat).  Application: It starts out with a cleansing wash, then dried.  Little section of hair are coated in the product, dried completely, then flat ironed 7 times!  That's each little section.  If there was any upside to the fact that my hair is now thinner due to wedding planning stress back in December, it's that it shaved some time off this application process.

As part of Jeremy's Brazilian package, he is going to wash out my hair for me on Tuesday morning (and two more times in the next 3 months).  I'll be sure to post again with a picture and my thoughts on the results. But for now, I'll just say I am very optimistic for the long-term (well, 3-6 months) results and excited to see how it looks and feels on Tuesday.  Stay tuned.....

Are You Rockin' The Side Braid?

It's all over the runways, think Alexander Wang, and magazines like March 2010 issue of Lucky.  I can't be happier about this because it has been my go-to look for those days I wake up a little too late to start my hair from scratch.  Anyone who has ever tried to style an up-do on freshly washed hair knows that a day's worth of dirt on your hair to start this look helps a lot.

BellaSugar has a great video to show you how to create this look.

Image courtesy of Style.com

Nail Adornments- Not the "Lee Press Ons" of the 80's

If you want to walk on the wild side for $10, with only a two day commitment, give these beauties a try!  Available at Sephora now!

Image courtesy of Sephora.com

CHANEL : Make your friends "Green" with envy

Straight off the Paris runways, limited edition Jade and Jade Rose polish! See what celebrities are sporting this cool new look at Who What Where.

BUY HERE:
CHANEL : Fragrance and Beauty

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Image from chanel.com