We love new products, trends and tips but ever wondered about wearing them in real life? Each week we’ll take on a test drive, from the newest nail colour, to playing with perfume or seeing how long that hairstyle actually takes and share what we find (sweet, not-so-sweet and everything in between).
The Tip Off
test lab: manicurescanada
(Jul.16.10)
2 of 6
Manicure at day one, day seven and day 14
CND Shellac Manicure (tested by Ashleigh)
What it promises: This new line of polish from
CND, dubbed
Shellac Hybrid Nail Color, promises to apply like regular polish but also act like a long-lasting gel with 14 days of chip-free, mirror-like shine.
Method of application: I headed to
Ritual on King West for the express application (cuticle care, shape and application). Using the specially formulated polish (formaldehyde, toulene and DBP-free), it went: base coat; colour; colour; top coat (with a minute or so under a UV light to cure it at each step).
The results: I couldn't believe how dry it was when I walked out the door (I even had to
tweet it). There are 12 shades and I liked the range and almost three weeks later, my punchy pink is still shining. I didn't get a single chip and though the re-growth is certainly noticeable up close, it doesn't bug me overall (the length of my nails on the other hand...after two weeks I felt like I was sporting talons so risked clipping them - to no ill effects on the polish).
I wish I was a little closer to the salon to book my removal appointment (10 minutes in special wraps to apply the acetone to your nails, not skin) - though when I do I want to have a pedicure since this staying power would be amazing for toes. And someone did ask about SPF with all that UV exposure so um, next time I'll remember to think of that too.