I wanted to give y’all a brief update on the shellac manicure. Because I know you’ve all been losing sleep wondering about it.
Here’s the deal. The polish still looks shiny. And it hasn’t chipped at all. Which is amazing considering that I have done nothing to protect my nails at all.
BUT I have noticed that the polish has kind of started to separate from where my cuticles meet the nail. Does that make sense? I really notice it whenever I’m doing anything that involves running my fingers through my hair. It kind of creates some kind of icky sensation that is the hand equivalent of how I feel when I accidentally bite into a water chestnut.
So I don’t know if that’s an application error or just a side effect of the shellac manicure. I will tell you that it has taken everything in me not to pick at it and peel it off. But I have shown a resolve of steel and resisted. It’s so uncharacteristic of me.
Anyway, on a fashion note, I wish I could tell you that I had all kinds of cute things to show you. But you know what I’ve done this week? Sat on the couch with a sick child. The only fashion I know about right now involves a pair of yoga pants and my cleanest dirty shirt.
I will tell you that this is a great time to find boots on sale if you’re in the market for boots. I’d go with a brown pair because they go with everything. Even black. Also, this is the last week to take advantage of the 30% discount at Francescas when you use the code MAMA at checkout.
Lastly, I decided to only link to five things today. And then I found five cute outfit ideas on Pinterest. So it’s a mixed bag.
(I wanted to include pics but it just didn’t happen. Sorry.)
I love the neutral tones and the stripes in this jacket. It’s a great transition piece for warmer weather and would look so cute with even just a simple white tank under it, a pair of rolled up jeans and a some sandals.
I bought a similar sweatshirt to this a while back and I essentially live in it. There’s something about the terry that makes it irresistible.
The whole navy-striped thing is so in for spring and I love the sleeves on this top. They transcend an ordinary t-shirt.
What am I talking about? Transcend? It’s a shirt.
I love this top because I’m a little infatuated with orange right now. I love the idea of it paired with turquoise and cowboy boots. Plus, it’s on sale.
There’s a beautiful orange shirt at Sundance right now that Gulley and I both love but, like I told her, it’s RARE that things at Sundance ever go on sale. I think she thought I was being a little harsh, but I was just trying to speak the truth in love.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about this, but then I saw the cute outfit I featured below on Pinterest and loved the animal-print cardigan. And this one is on sale.
But if animal print isn’t for you, then you could go with the jackie cardigan. It comes in an array of colors. AN ARRAY.
You can also find cute cardigans at Old Navy for just tens of dollars.
And now here are some outfit ideas that I found while obsessively spending time on Pinterest this week.
Source: polyvore.com via Melanie on Pinterest
Source: farmerstrophywife.com via Melanie on Pinterest
Source: longislandprep.tumblr.com via Anna on Pinterest
Comments
Um…don’t think it’s a manicure malfunction…just proof that your nails are growing. Hope you’re all up and off the couch soon!
I use Solar Oil around my cuticles and that helps to keep the peeling to a minimum.
I’ve wondered about the shellac myself. I wash my hands and dished way too much for a regular manicure to have a chance.
Hope your girl gets better soon!
*dishes* I should have reviewed, but a certain 6 year old was talking and talking! Just a bit distracted!
I think it’s just your nails growing. Same things happened to mine. I love the shellac, especially for a french manicure which typically chips 1 day in with a regular one, but mine doesn’t seem to last as long as promised – maybe a week and a half. Probably the side effects of two 19 month olds : ) The worst part of the shellac is getting it taken off b/c you have to soak in acetone and have your nails scraped – much like if you had acryllics or whatever. I hate that feeling and I have about zero patience for getting my nails done, as much as I like the “after”. So I think I’m going back to my plain jane regular nails and focus on my pedicures — especially since Houston has had the warmest January on record and I’m sure I’ll be wearing open toes by Feb. The end.
It’s just your nails growing.
Can I hire you to be my personal shopper? I have a horrible time shopping and always LOVE the outfits and ideas that you have here. I think once I have this baby and lose the weight that I’m heading down to San Antonio.
I know you love to shop, maybe making a little money would make it that much more appealing. 
I will help you shop! I come with references–from the husband’s of friends who say don’t go shopping with Lisa! A long history of retail sales…
That is exactly what happened to my shellac manicure (only ever had one because I hated it!). It started to peel at the cuticle, then at the tips, in that slow separating way. Eventually I couldn’t take it anymore (about 10 days?) and wanted it gone but I COULD NOT get it off my nails. I ended up having to soak my fingertips in straight acetone for 30 minutes and then scrub my little heart out just to get most of it off. Underneath my nails were all destroyed. NEVER AGAIN.
Love the stacked bracelets/watches look.
When I first saw the title of your post, I thought it said you’d been another word that rhymes with ‘shut’ all week. I did a double take!
I could tell when they painted my nails that they didn’t bump the paint up against the cuticle. It almost tapered so that it was sealed down to my nail, not the skin. My polish lasted 3 weeks and I’m not easy on my hands! It started to separate from the nail in a couple of spots and I guess after 3 weeks, it’s pretty loose so I had no trouble getting it off! My only complaint (which is no complaint at all) is that after 3 weeks, there is some definite new growth so it kind of looked like fake nails that needed to be filled. That’s a crying shame when I work so hard to have beautiful REAL nails!
Speaking of yoga pants…have you seen this? http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sea/2597736393.html HILARIOUS
Mine did some separation like that after a week and a half. But, with a regular manicure I usually last about 2 days, so that is much better.
LOVE them all
however that middle shot makes my heart skip a beat. oh how i love a well executed ,abundant wrist adornment look!
& thank you thank you for the noonday love! oh my!!
I’m digging the jewelry – especially the belt buckle. Just makes me want to say “giddyup!”
Love the pinterest pics. Gorgeous boots! Which reminds me, how are your Christmas boots working out? Still lovin’ them?
The SAME thing happened to my shellac/gelish whatever manicure. Only, I couldn’t help myself and picked the whole thing off. Not one of my best ideas. So, yeah, not for me. The other thing that bugged me was the little space that formed between my cuticle and the polish. Pretty while it lasted, but not worth the money (for me).
I love that one outfit grouping you posted from Pinterest with the leopard scarf. I have a lot of those items already. I can’t wait to get them out and try them together.
I got a cute jacket like that at Charming Charlies and I have worn it so much. Because our weather yo yos back and forth, it is great for when the weather gets 50 and above. I think you might like that jacket too if you don’t already have a short trench like that.
I was recently at a Target and got some faux Uggs on sale in brown. I already had some in black. I can’t wait to wear them.
I hope Caroline is on the mend.
Love my shellac manicure – does mean your nails are growing, but I CAUTION YOU!! DO.NOT.PICK. It destroyed my nails and took about 3-4 weeks to look normal – and I have amazingly strong nails. I have my second one on now, because I’m very hard on the manicure and HATE having chipped tips. I’m hoping that allowing them to remove the polish will save my nails. We’ll see – I’m calling this a 2nd experimint for data gathering.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the boots in the photos. I’m a boot-holic!
I’m not a huge fashion girl. But, I have to say this is one of my favorite weeks of the clothes you picked out so far. I could never pull any of these off but, I could totally see you looking fab in all of these outfits!
Have a blessed weekend!
Jackie
Target has some terry sweatshirts now, too. So soft and comfy.
Love that first Pinterest outfit. Anything that opens way for wearing my cowboy boots!
Is it possible for you to set up your links for fashion friday so they open in a separate window? Every now and again (not this week), one of the sites will be the grumpy kind that are not inclined to let you leave their webpage. Plus, I can leave them open for a bit and stew over the possibilities, but still finish your entry!
If you hit Crtl at the same time you click on the link, it will automatically open it in a new window. Hope this helps!
I just tried this and it worked – what a great tip! Thanks!
I get a Gelish/Shellac manicure often, and as my nails grow out I experience the exact same thing. I have zero restraint though, and peel mine off all at one time. It’s a crazy fetish I can’t stop. I envy your willpower.
I could roll around in all of your outfit choices…TOO CUTE! I love Pinterest!
“Cleanest dirty shirt.” That was so me last weekend! No judgement!
So, two questions.
Would you wear the jeans tucked in the boots? I love the boots, just not sure if it’s still hip to tuck. And that probably tells you something about me….using the word “hip” and all. Maybe I should just stick with my polyester and elastic waistband pants !
And, how on earth can you get invited to pinterest? I have requested a pinterest invite on their website for months with no response whatsoever. Maybe they don’t invite people who request more than 10 times??
You can ask one of your friends who is on Pinterest to send you an invite. Maybe that would break you through
I know it’s been said repeatedly, but I will reiterate…..don’t peel. My nails grow so fast, and my gel polish only lasted about 4 days before you could see the regrowth at the cuticle. Sooooo, I started peeling. It took 4-6 weeks for my nails to recover. NOT one of my best decisions.
To make the shellac last a little bit longer…when your nail starts growing put a little line of clear nail polish on your cuticle and the top of the polish. That will seal it down so the shellac won’t grab your hair, tights, sweaters, etc.
I am really into the stacks-of-bracelets + watch look right now. Of course, I have a six month old, and am clinging to accessories versus forcing myself to address why some (ok, many) of my pre-pregnancy clothes do not fit.
Thanks so much for including my look in your post! And I hope this weekend means a healthy kid! Thanks again!
I have had the OPI Axxium done several times, and I think the pealing is an application error. Sometimes mine peels and other times it doesn’t. The manicurist has to get it really thin. I also have trick for those who hate having it removed (or having to pay to get it removed). Take a cotton ball, soak in in acetone polish, and put it on your nail. Wrap each individual nail in aluminum foil (not joking) and sit for 10 minutes. It will peel off with no problem. Caroline (or P) can help.
It sounds like your Shellac issue us just regular nail growth. Downside of having your nails done.
My shellac always lifts at the base as well. My manicurist told me that it’s because I use sunscreen and sunscreen has ingredients in it that react negatively with shellac. Bummer!
Love those bangle bracelets!
I love your taste in style and totally agree brown boots are the best bang for your buck. I love how boots dress an outfit up but are way more comfortable than heels.