Nails For Cancer

I apologize for not being on that much the past week. It's time that I admit that I have a brain tumor. I haven't wanted to mention this, yet the past week has been rough. I'm due a procedure to alleviate some of the pain this coming week. To make matters more difficult, one of my best friends, Liz, announced that she has Stage Four Mesothelioma. Not only are we both sick together, fighting the demons inside of us harvesting on our very cells; we don't have the money to cover all our treatments. However, we will fight tooth and NAIL!

My good friend Molly gave me her nail polish collection. She knows I'm blogging and she goes to the salon to get her nails done (gels on acrylics). She doesn't have the time to do her nails the old fashioned way with her career and the speed and durability of gels are probably most efficient for her. Molly has made it her purpose to be there in every way possible during my illness. I was delighted to see her gift of OPI, Essie, Sinful Collection, Sally Hansen, Kiss, NYC.. And most haven't even been opened!

I remembered a picture of Liz in her hospital bed and she was wearing nail polish. I know that every dignity is stripped when one is labeled as sick, and since I have the plastic nails, my own art supplies and now even more polish, I spent days making my good friend a bling-bling, dirty French manicure! The colors are Wet n Wild 455B Tickled Pink, Sephora by OPI SE 235 Queen Of Everything, Revlon Transforming Effects 765 Holographic Pearls and Sally Hansen Double Duty Base & Top Coat. 

I used nail guides after the pink dried to create the French tip look. I added a rhinestone on each nail where the pink and silver meet and on one nail I placed a rhinestone Crucifix so that Liz will have Jesus at her fingertips. I must say that the Holographic Pearls really gave the nails a fantastic, mesmerizing look that I haven't seen with other shimmer or glitter polishes. Like a matte top coat, only with this, you can put everything into a shimmer. My next post will feature the Holographic Pearls and a matte top coat for a superbly abstract, yet inviting look. Liz's nails got mailed out and I hope to post a pic of her wearing them. I've included pics of her and me. We'd greatly appreciate any donations for our medical expenses. Thanks again so much. Love and blessings to all of you!

www.gofundme.com/drewstumor 

http://www.gofundme.com/rtab363k?fb_action_ids=10206085400675320&fb_action_types=og.shares&fb_ref=undefined&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B906111949439633%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.shares%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%22undefined%22%5D

 

How To Stop Streaking

These are a project for the friend with cancer.

I apologize for not being on that much this last week. A close friend was diagnosed with cancer too and I needed some time for myself. I hope all of you are doing well!

Spring brings out the white, nude and pastel polishes. Often these colors, regardless of how good the brand, tend to streak. Several of my favorite colors do this as well. Luckily, there is a cure!

Start with CLEAN nails that are free of polish, cotton, dirt or any other substance. Wash your hands thoroughly to get rid of any oil build up. 

The first step is a ridge filling base coat. Even if your nails are very smooth or even fake, this step guarantees an even texture, even porosity and and even adhesive-ness. There is now an even playing field for the colored polish. Wait at least one or two minutes until the ridge filler base coat dries.

Apply your first layer of polish. This should be a thin layer, from cuticle to tip, that just covers the nail in color. Do NOT get frustrated when you see streaks! Just keep going and ignore it. Let them dry again completely for three minutes. Patience is key with this.

Now apply a slightly thicker second coat. Do not glob on the nail polish. Less is more. Once the second coat is on, if there are any streaks, apply a very, thin final layer of polish. This might not be necessary; yet if it is, keep it very thin.

This is where things get interesting..

Instead of waiting for the second coat to dry completely, start applying the top coat! What will happen is the chemicals in the top coat will react with the color polish that's still a little wet and the bonding will give it that opaque, even color and the streaks will disappear.