NCLA Nail Wraps

Watch out Sally Hansen: there is a beauty company in town that is looking for a piece of the nail sticker market. Meet your new frenemy, NCLA.

I was lucky enough to win a few pairs of NCLA nail wraps from a fellow fashion blogger and was thrilled to give them a try. You guys know I love Sally Hansen’s nail stickers so I’ve been interested in seeing if NCLA could top them. The short story: the patterns are edgier but I prefer the feel and application of Sally Hansen. Let’s break it down:

Pros
The look = insanely hip. I love this ikat print. It’s fashion-forward, a bit edgy, and so colorful. NCLA has a ton of other fun patterns here.

Cost = $16 for 2 sheets of 22 wraps. That’ll get you 3-4 applications for $16 — not bad at all.

Cons
Time commitment = high. NCLA instructs you to paint a clear coat, let it dry, apply the nail wrap, and then add another clear coat. For comparison, Sally Hansen nail stickers don’t require any polish at all, thus cutting down on the application time considerably.

The feel = so-so. It’s tricky to get a super smooth edge on the tips. You’ll need to keep a nail file handy for the first day or so to smooth the edges of the wraps.

Overall Verdict
Fun for a special occasion but the feel could definitely be improved!

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Fashionable Stocking Stuffers

Christmas stockings are a big deal in my household. I love opening a bunch of small gifts all carefully wrapped in green and red tissue paper. My family always has a few predictable stocking stuffers (lotto tickets, Cheese Balls), but in case you’re in need of a few fresh ideas, I’ve pulled together eight fashionable and thrifty stocking stuffers!

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Where to shop: (1) Forever 21 Embossed Leopard Print Clutch $16 // (2) Sonia Kashuk “Circle Of Hope” kabuki Brush // (3) Chronicle Books Elephant Journal $9.95 // (4) Target Cable Knit Stocking with Sequins $13 // (5) Wet Seal Bling Bow Waist Belt $11 // (6) Goody Doublewear Elastics $4.99 // (7) Minimergency Kit for Her $13 // (8) Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Kitty Kitty $8.11.

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Chic Nail Polish Storage Idea

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, right? Well, I stumbled upon a photo of the offices of Who What Wear, an LA-based fashion blog, and wanted to flatter them by totally replicating their clever nail polish storage idea.

How chic is this?! Genius!

I’ve always kept my collection of nail polish in a boring plastic Container Store bin. Why was I hiding all of those pretty bottles in the depths of my linen closet for so long?!

After seeing this photo from Who What Wear, I realized it was time to put my love of nail polish front and center. I took a quick trip to Home Goods and picked up a large vase for $9.99, filled it with colorful bottles… and… viola!

If the bf can put his beloved ping pong paddle on display, I’d say a vase of nail polish bottles was long over due!

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Ombre Nails

I’m a sucker for trends. And I think nail trends are especially fun. Where else can you go wild with color or design and still be able to wear it to work?

I stumbled upon the ombre nail trend on Pinterest (my newest obsession) earlier this week and then a fellow beauty blogger mentioned them on Facebook. What exactly are ombre nails? I’m glad you asked!…

Ombre just means shaded or variation in color. You’ve probably seen dresses that go from a bold color and fade down to a lighter shade. Seeing as how I already own about 35 different bottles of nail polish, this seemed like a thrifty trend worth trying!

In all my girly years, I’m not sure I’ve ever painted each nail a different color. Man, I’ve been missing out! I think this trend is fun and surprisingly chic if you choose more neutral colors. Who is going to try this trend with me?

Nail Polishes used (thumb to pinky): Toff by Butter, Glamour Purse by Essie, Lady Like by Essie, Barefoot in Barcelona by OPI, Trust Mauve by Sally Hansen.

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Nail Stickers?!

In a former life, I think may have been a manicurist. I love being girly and doing my nails.

That said, I realize the general female population probably does not share my hidden talent of super steady hands — which is why beauty companies are coming out with a genius, mess-free alternative to nail polish: nail stickers.

Trend-setting celebs like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry have been photographed wearing Minx nail stickers in wild patterns like cheetah print and polka dots. Minx strips are applied at a nail salon without a drop of polish and last up to 2 weeks. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, Minx comes with a hefty price tag of $40 and up.

Luckily Sally Hansen has come out with cheaper alternative for us thrifty gals: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips that only cost $8.50 at Target. I’m a sucker when it comes to nail trends (black nails, anyone?) so I picked up the Misbehaved pattern and gave these  a try. Check out my fishnet nails!:

Here’s the scoop on these crazy things…

Application: The box comes with 16 different sized strips that you firmly stick to your nail and then carefully file off the extra to make the strip fit your nail. The strips smell like nail polish but aren’t wet — just sticky enough to adhere to your nail (almost like a stamp).

Time Commitment: THIS is the best part. It took me about 20 min to apply and then I was immediately the door. You don’t have to sit around and wait for them to set or dry!

How Long Did They Really Last? The box promised that they’ll last up to 10 days and I was shocked to find that, sure enough, I went 10 days without a single chip. Perfection. The only reason I finally took them off (using nail polish remover) was because my nails started to grow out a few millimeters and the stickers grew with them. I found that my hair would get caught on the bottom ridge of the nail strip. Odd. Below is a pic at day 9 with the stickers…

Day 9

Overall: I give these a B+. I definitely recommend trying these out, especially for a special occasion. You’ll feel like Lady Gaga for 10 days!