The Nail School Chronicle: Almost There

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Hello Loves.  I know I haven't posted about nail school in a while, so I figured it's about time for an update.  I apologize for dropping the series without notice.  I've actually been dreading writing this post.  Why?  Because there just isn't anything exciting to write about right now.  I'm at that point where all the days blur together.  Well, the days that I was able to go.  I had to take a few days (ok, it added up to a few weeks) off.  But y'all have been so super supportive and deserve an update.  :) 

So much has happened since my last update.  I have now completed and passed both of my mock state board practical exams.  That is a really cool process.  The school sets everything up just like the actual state board exam.  They run through it as if we are taking the actual test and then provide notes on how we can improve.  After taking both mock exams, I feel 100% ready for the real thing.  All of my anxiety over that portion of the test has been relieved.  I don't know if all schools do mock exams like this, but it is freaking awesome and I am super thankful that GCI does them!  I still have some anxiety over the written portion of the state board exam, but I'm sure I'll be fine.  I'll go over all of my notes a hundred times between now and then.  lol

So, where do I stand right now?  I have less than 50 physical hours to go.  During those hours, I have to complete 14 more pedicures and 31 more manicures.  Whew...that number is daunting.  Not as daunting as the original 60 pedicures and 80 manicures we started out with, but still daunting.  Did I mention that those manicures are basic manicures?  Meaning polish, not gel polish?  Yeah...so I've been working on my polishing skills.  A lot.  I'm getting better, I think.  But I still prefer my gel polish.  Anyway, several of my classmates have started helping me find students for manicure and pedicure services.  I can't even begin to express how thankful I am for their help.  Seriously, my heart is overflowing.

Ok, enough with the rambling.  As I mentioned, I've been working on my polishing skills.  Which means I've also been playing with polish nail art techniques.  I finally managed a decent polish gradient!  Woo Hoo!  Wanna see it?  The first picture is a quickie that I snapped with my cell phone while waiting for the polish to dry.  The gradient isn't as smooth as I would like, but it's not bad.  I didn't realize you need to wet the sponge first, so I had issues with the polish getting tacky and pulling up in spots.  Lesson learned!

The colors are three of the bright stripers from a Color Club Nail Art Striper set that I picked up from Cosmo Prof the other day.  I don't know the names...or if they even have names.  They're in my kit downstairs and I'm too lazy to go get it.  I know...I'm awful.  I topped it with Out The Door Northern Lights top coat.

So, once it was dry I decided to stamp over it to hide the flaws.  I used an image from MoYou London Pro Collection XL 14.  Much better!  I actually love how it turned out with the stamping.  Heck, even though the gradient isn't as smooth as I would like, I'm pleased as pie with it anyway.  I mean, hey....it's polish!  Lacquer.  And I did it!  lol

I know I have so much more to tell you.  More updates, more details, more thoughts on school.  But honestly, I'm exhausted.  I've been dealing with some personal issues lately that set me back a bit.  I had to take a few weeks off from school to deal with some medical issues.  Don't worry, I'm ok.  Just working through it.  So I'm humping it at school this week to get in as many credits as I can.  Then we're off for summer break the following week.  Hopefully I can come back and hit it hard the week after break and finish this thing!  Then I'm off to join the lovely Brenda Anderson from Tuff Enuff Nails in her booth at the Nail Tech Event of the Smokies July 11-13.  I'm so freaking excited about that - and honored that Brenda asked me to join her and do nail art demos.  :)  If any of you will be there, please come by and see me.  I would love to meet you!

But for now, I'm going to kiss my 4 year old good night for the last time and head to bed.  He'll be 5 years old tomorrow!  I'll try to get in another post this week, but I might not make it.  Between the birthday party tomorrow and school the rest of the week, time for writing just isn't there.  But don't worry, I'll make up for it over the break.  I promise!!!

~Michelle

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Bio Seaweed Gel Sunshine and Celebration

Press Sample

Hello Loves!  I have two fun Bio Seaweed Gel Swatches to show you today - Sunshine and Celebration from the BSG Unity Line.  With names and shades like these, you know I had to do a little nail art to go along with it!  I'll get to the art in a few minutes.

BSG Unity Gel is a 5-free, one step gel polish that can be worn alone (no base, no top, no need to cleanse) or can be worn as a three step gel with base and top.  Bio Seaweed Gel recommends using a separate base and top when applied to hands for lasting results, but pedicures are quick and easy with just two coats of color.  It is LED compatible and currently comes in 114 colors with more shades being released seasonally.  The Unity Gels retail at $18.00 each and can even cure in natural sunlight, no lamp required (I haven't tested the sunlight cure yet, but will do so over the next few weeks).  Check out my full review of Unity Gel with and without a separate base here.

Ready to see some swatches?  Sunshine is a gorgeous, bright yellow cream.  Application is smooth and I found this one self levels quite well.  I did need three coats for full opacity.  I did not use a separate top coat on the swatch below in order to show the shine when used as a one step gel.

Celebration is a beautiful, medium purple cream.  Like Sunshine, Celebration also self levels well and applies nicely.  I could have gotten away with two coats for this one, but I felt that three were needed for optimal coverage.  Again, this is without a separate top coat.

When I think of "sunshine" and "celebration", I think warm and tropical.  So I couldn't resist breaking out a few of my other Unity Gels for a little nail art.  I may have ventured into Lisa Frank territory again with this design, but I do like how it turned out.  What do you think?  Did I hit my mark?

For this mani, I started with a vertical gradient with Sunshine and Babe (swatched here).  Babe is much more vibrant than it appears in these photos.  Putting it beside Sunshine freaked my camera out.  I guess it was a little too bright and cheerful for my camera sensor.  I tried to get a shot that captured both Sunshine and Babe accurately, but as soon as Babe got within color range, Sunshine started to glow.  lol  I used my BSG Professional Gel Brush to create the gradient by dipping one corner in Sunshine and the other corner in Babe and blending them on the nail.  Click here for a great tutorial on this method by Nails by Shannon.

I then broke out my dotting tools and added some simple flowers with Celebration and Bombshell (swatched here).  After curing the flowers, I added some random lines to add definition to the petals in the alternate color of the flower and dotted the centers with Sunshine and Babe.  Finally, I created gradient dots with Celebration and Bombshell by partially mixing two dots of gel on a pallet and picking up my dots from various sections of the mix.  Here's a closer look.  :)

Be sure to follow Bio Seaweed Gel on Instagram and Facebook for weekly chances to win some Unity or 3-Step colors of your own!

Also, be on the lookout for a full review of BSG's No Sanding Base-1 for weak, damaged or dehydrated nails and the No Wipe Top Coat.  I can tell you that my first impression of the No Wipe Top Coat is simply to say "Wow".  If the shine holds up over time, I'm sold.  ;)  

~Michelle

*The gel polishes featured in this post were provided by Bio Seaweed Gel for my honest review.

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