Hullaballoo Festival 2012

We are really excited at HQ to announce that we have been asked to decorate the nails of festival goers at this years Hullaballoo festival!!

This event is actually being held on the 25th, 26th and 27th August bank holiday weekend rather than June due to bad weather. 

This promises to be a lovely event so come along and get Pink'd, festival style!!

For more info visit www.hullaballoofestival.co.uk

London Fashion Week A/W 12- Backstage at David Koma!

Courtyard area, Somerset House.


So, this show was a stark contrast from the Westwood show. Models were instead selected to conform with a very specific look and hair was scraped back into a low and very straight ponytail and clothing was a combination of futuristic, sporty and classic lines with deep plums and navy blues in the embellishments.

Unlike the more relaxed Westwood show, nails were also designed to be uniform, so, instead of applying the minx straight onto nails, we had to first apply them to fasle tips to then be stuck onto the models nails.

Again designed by the legendary Marian Newman to match the collection, the Minx was available in 4 shades- black, silver, plum and navy and were made up of 2 different designs: one featured a colour with a see through oval and the other had a very fine greyhound design in the centre of the nail to match with the greyhound theme running throughout Koma's collection.

Again, we were working in amongst a busy hair and make up but the fact that each set took only a few minutes to apply meant that we were all done with time to spare and were able to watch the show and see all our hard work come together for the finished look. Despite being stood near the back we were able to see how much ouor nails stood out, and we clearly weren't the only ones to think so as they have already been featured quite heavily in the press!

London Fashion Week- Fred Butler AW12

Monday 20th Feb 12

This is not my work but these sushi nails were designed by Marian Newman and applied by another member of our team, Hollie Wakeham, for Fred Butler's A/W 12 collection.

However, I thought they were so fab that you all ought to see them!!!

Some photos by Becky Mayne for minx, others by Hollie Wakeham.

Here is n edited version of the accompanying press release for those wh wish to know how these nails came to be:

Fred Butler’s collection of Autumn/Winter 2012 accessories was presented on February 20, 2012 at the British Fashion Council Portico Show Space at Somerset House, along with custom 3D Minx created by legendary UK nail stylist Marian Newman.

“There is nothing I enjoy more than pushing boundaries and creating completely new, unique nail fashion,” explained Marian. “Last season I created nails that resembled tiny sea creatures, so when Kim Howells, the stylist, approached me again this season I was so excited to hear the theme!”

Marian was not disappointed. The concept behind this collection was based on 70's James Bond Babes hitting the sexy ski slopes for snow action, and then relaxing afterward to eat playful sushi. “The sushi theme completely hooked me,” said Marian, “and I began devising nails that would incorporate 3D effects with the realistic graphics Minx can deliver.”

Marian contacted Minx co-founder Janice Jordan and provided her with samples of graphics to be incorporated into Minx templates. Once the Minx was delivered, Marian began preparing the nails on 14 tips. “I wanted to create the look and feel of real sushi, so I placed shapes made from clay under the sushi graphics to add dimension, and also added embellishments such as red caviar and Minx cut-outs on top,” Marian revealed.

“When Fred saw the nails, she said ‘Oh my God, you have got to be kidding! These are out of control!” revealed Marian. “I laughed and told her that I created a variety of sushi and sashimi to be enjoyed après ski. This was yet another perfect example of Minx being used in a new and innovative way.”

Once the tips were complete, Marian entrusted what she jokingly called her “bento box” to Hollie Wakeham, a nail stylist from Colchester, Essex who was the winner of a Minx contest that transported her to the middle of London Fashion Week. Hollie carefully transported the finished tips to the Somerset House the day of the presentation to apply them to the two models who were not wearing mitten accessories.

“Everyone at the presentation was staring at the nails with their mouths open,” laughed Hollie. “The sushi Minx was a perfect accent and showed how nail fashion is key to completing an overall look!”

London Fashion Week A/W 2012-13- Nails backstage report!!

 

As many of you already know, I've had a whirlwind week. WOW! Only a week ago I found out that I'd been chosen by Sweet Squared & Minx Nails to apply Minx at London Fashion Week A/W 2012 for the Vivienne Westwood and David Koma shows. A team of 5 of us were picked to work under fashion nail legend Marian Newman (50 Vogue covers to her name & 10 years working on the ad campaign for Dior) who designed all the nails for these shows as well as many others.

The whole team with Marian outside Goldsmiths Hall

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD RED LABEL COLLECTION- Sunday 19th Feb

Westwood drew inspiration from traditional Saville Row tailoring and mixed it with African style symbols painted onto the skin and boyish hair and make up styling. Hair was tightly curled and backcombed in an up-do whilst skin was covered in painted tattoos and Westwood symbols, with nails to match.

The nails designed by Marian were inspired by tribal/gang symbols and gritty textures: skateboards and gravel inspired her designs produced exclusively for Westwood by Minx. 

 

 

 

 

Photo taken by Hollie Wakeham

 

 

 

 

In typical fashion world fashion, the designs only arrived in the country a couple of days before the show, and the approval from Vivienne was not confirmed until 11.30pm the night before, after the test show, ready for a 10am call time the following day!!

However, we all arrived at the stunning Goldsmiths Hall and had a quick brief from Marian: we were instructed to mix n match the symbols and gravel Minx so that no 2 sets were the same. Soon we were hard at work squeezing between hair sylists, make up artists and huge gangs of photographers from every publication you can think of, locating and Minxing over 30 models between the 5 of us. Space was so tight that we were often working under tables at very tricky angles and with no heat lamp and NO CREASES!!

All models looked super stunning and we received so many positive comments about Marian's nails. A champagne reception allowed us to mingle with the models, backstage staff and Vivienne herself, and toast a very successful show.

David Koma photos and report to follow soon............. 

 

Complete set of nails- photo by Hollie Wakeham

Dancing On Ice

We at Pink Nails get soooooo excited when we see products we use being used on the telly, or by famous people as, well.... it makes us and our clients feel like celebrities too! 

First off it was announced that the beautiful TOWIE star Amy Childs would be using Shellac, Minx and Glitzy Lips in her new salon opening very soon and now Dancing On Ice has started this January. And the only people on earth more glamorous than the Essex lot are the DOI contestants and professionals so we were even more delighted to be watching Minx, Glitzy Lips & Shellac on our screens each week. 

Here's our pick of the first 2 weeks of the competition, starting with the gorgeous Heidi Range wearing Shellac in Purple Purple:

 

Leila Morse in Minx Snow Cheetah:

 

 

And the incredible Alexandra Schauman in GlitzyLips ZunigaBlue- also worn on her nails and eyes!!

All photos and products courtesy of SweetSquared with application by Kimberly Casey.

So, we may not be able to provide you with the sequinned dresses or the skills to do a death spiral on ice, we can provide the nails and lips as seen on screen!! And because we are so excited, we are offering a discount on Minx nails, Tantruth Spray Tans and GlitzyLips so you can get the Dancing On Ice look for less until the end of February in both our Street and our Highbridge salon.

Call L&F Highbridge on 01278 788882 or Pink Nails Street on 01458 448335 for bookings!

Bye bye square, hello to the newest nail shape on the block

Anyone with one eye on the nail world, or even one ear to the fashion ground will already realise that "square with rounded corners" is like so June dahhhling. Those with a live-in manicurist and housework- free lifestyle will only grace the stage with one nail shape..... welcome the super glamorous and dangerously vampish stiletto nail. 

As always, cue the usual trailblazers to show us how it's done. After all, they were the first to make Minx a household name... and whatever's good enough for Pilton's finest Diva (female version of a hustlaaaa) then it's damn well good enough for us. 

And finally, after months of searching (you know how far ahead of the game Pink Nails are), we have managed to find a supplier meaning that we will be the first salon in the area to offer stiletto nails.... and we will be needing willing guinea pigs!!!

Now how much is it for a full time cleaner again???? As we won't be cooking or cleaning until SHORT nails are seen on Rihanna. 

Get in touch if you'd like to be one of the pioneers of stiletto nails in the notoriously trendy Street and Glastonbury area as we will be looking for models.

New Pink Lady!

We are very excited to welcome a new member of the PINK Nails&Beauty team- Holly! She will be offering our clients a range of body work treatments on weekday evenings.

Complementary massge- full body £22, back neck and shoulders £15

Deep tissue massage- full body £25, back neck and shoulders £15

Aromatherapy- full body £30, back neck and shoulders £15

Lymph drainage- full body £10

Reflexology (feet) £25

We'd love you to come and meet Holly so book your relaxation now as this is looking to be VERY popular! 

Royal Wedding Nails..... patriotic or plain OTT??

So, we're a bit ashamed to admit it, but we have had Royal Wedding fever, even getting a little emotional at the sight of Princess Catherine in her floor length lace Alexander McQueen gown. 

Whilst 2 billion people worldwide waved their Union Jack flags, Minx released 2 designs specifically for the event and we ask: would you wear them, or are they a step too far??

I have concluded that I would definately sport them, if only for the comments I received whilst at the street parties, and there's one other lady that agreed with me- the infamous Katy Perry could never let a national event pass her by without having a set of Minx custom designed! Oh if only I were not a mere mortal.........

SHELLAC!

So SHELLAC by Creative Nail Design is our latest love, and our most recent addition to the PINK Nails fashion forward system family. Many of you won't know, but Shellac is a hybrid nail colour, taking the easy application of nail polish and mixing it up with the long wear of gel.

So it goes on like a nail polish, ZERO dry time, lasts up to 2 weeks without nicks, chips, or smudges, and soaks off in 10 minutes.... REALLY! Plus it gives your nails more added strength than a simple polish helping you to grow problem nails without thick gel or acrylic.

This takes you to a promotional video and loads more information on the offiial CND website. It's well worth a watch.

Watch - CND

 

Here's the Shellac comparison chart to show you how it measures up to other systems such as polish, gel and acrylic.

 

It comes in 24 gorgeous shades (we are slowly building our collection as we have so many must-have's!)

 

And it comes with the most gorgeous of display racks that looks incredibly posh and professional on our nail bar.

 We charge just £15 for the full Shellac Manicure, but would like to offer our blog readers the chance to try it out for just £10.

Shellac is the new black. xoxoxoxox