The Nail Snoops (Part 2)
Go to Part 1
In the second part of this series, see what else these expert nail technicians have scoped out!
Glitter Powder
 If you’re a glitter addict like me, then you probably have every glitter color on the market in your case. Well, I’ve discovered something new to add to your collection. Sparkles Nail Products is known for its unique line of glitter powders, and now they’ve released new glitter additives. These are special because they have all kinds of different shapes mixed together and every shape has it’s own sparkle, which makes it appear holographic and multi-dimensional. This is not your run-of-the-mill glitter! Create a fun glitter French by first sculpting a tip with color glitter. Then place the Sparkles glitters on top. Finish by encasing the design in clear. It’s awesome for toes too! Apply gel or gel polish and before you cure, place the glitter shapes however you like. Encasing it with a builder gel ensures a smooth finish. Add a gel topcoat and they’re good to go! 877.775.5748, sparklesnailproducts.com.
The Edge
 The hottest new shape for nails right now is the edge. This shape has a straight sidewall that graduates up to a crease at the apex—it looks almost like a roof. It can be rounded or sharp at the peak. If you look down the barrel of this nail style, it  actually looks like a V. Some call it the "pyramid edge" because where it peaks it looks like, well, a pyramid. It’s becoming the rage worldwide. You may have seen the photos coming out of Russia in the March issue of Nailpro. The newest yet is the stiletto edge, that has the original tapered sidewalls graduating up to a crease at the apex, and the very tip is a sharp point. Once the shape is mastered, it can be a very creative style with endless possibilities; I love that.
Natural Aqua Gel Cure
Sometimes when looking for new and interesting products, you have really search. The newest items are often hidden in the back of the show or sometimes found in between all of the handbags, blow dryers and hair extensions. That’s where I found Natural Aqua Gel Cure. This fragrance—and preservative-free product gently removes the dried surface on rough skin. In order for those expensive lotions, serums and emulsions to do their job, skin must first be exfoliated, and this product does the trick. It’s gentle on the skin and actually has a protective solution that is used by ophthalmologists for eye surgery.
To use the product, first wash the skin and dry it well. Dab Natural Aqua Gel Cure onto the skin. The gel will turn to liquid and become white. Massage it into the skin in a circular motion for 30 seconds to one minute. Gently rinse off the dead skin in lukewarm water. Finish with a moisturizing lotion, cream or body butter. 310.205.2929, toyojapan.net.
Cosmo 3-D Nail Art Molds
 Do you have the time to practice those 3-D flowers that the pros can do? They’re beautiful but extremely tedious and time consuming, and even after a lot of practice, flowers can look like blobs. Flower blobs no more, because I found a great tool! Nail 3-D Art Molds from Cosmo Nail Products are as easy as 1-2-3. The rubber molds help you create all types of 3-D nail designs, such as flowers, numbers, fruit and hearts. They even come in beginner, intermediate and advanced molds—and the advanced molds allow you to actually build roses, orchids and other types of flowers.
Fill the molds with acrylic, and clean off the edges. Allow it to dry for one minute, then bend the mold to loosen the design and remove it with tweezers. You can then attach the designs to the nail with a ball of clear wet acrylic. 773.957.7005, CosmoNailProducts.com.
Stained Glass Nail
 This find was a fluke. As I was wandering through the hidden depths of the show, I stumbled upon Gracia Nail System from JD Pride. I could not believe my eyes; this company was featuring a 3-D mosaic nail tip! The tip has three-dimensional dips and valleys that you fill in with gel to create a see-through stained glass effect.
First glue the clear mosaic tip on the free edge, cut and shape. Next, apply clear gel on the nail plate and tip, then cure. Double dip your gel brush with two colors—one color on one edge of the brush and another color on the other edge. Sweep the gel brush side to side. After applying, cure. Top the tip with clear gel for an even and smooth nail. Finish with a gel top coat, and you have a fast and beautiful stained-glass nail. 82.32.568.0402, jdpride.com.
Now all you have to do is start planning for your next trade show. And when making that plan, do your best to stick to it. It’s so easy to say "I’ll go next time," and before you know it, you haven’t been to a show in years! Going to a show is a great way to get those creative juices flowing, and find exciting new products and techniques to bring back to the salon. As you can see, things are rockin’ and rollin’ in the nail world--don’t get left behind!
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