Photo Credit: Google

Over the last few years, the multi-billion dollar nail polish market has grown exponentially and currently has no signs of slowing down. With discretionary spending down due to economic volatility, women want more affordable options and opportunities to indulge themselves without breaking the bank.

Thus, a star industry was (re) born, making nail polish and all of its accoutrements a must-have fashion accessory.

Now, with new polish brands and categories (gels, magnetics, adhesives, etc) launching almost daily, it’s easy for consumers to get overwhelmed with so many new options to choose from. Which is why we wanted to highlight nail polish companies that are owned by African-American women.

Keep clicking to learn about the African American-owned nail polish companies that should be on your radar.

Pinterest.com

You’ve had tons of fun keeping your fingers fabulously tinted with summer’s neon and pastel nail colors. However, it’s time to start thinking about your new signature hue. Major for fall are shades of gold, orange and wine (or Chianti), as well as seasonal neutrals. There’s even a bit of sparkle to be had. Choose any of these 5 summer-to-fall shades and you’ll transition your tips with ease.

Read the rest of this entry »

The first time I got a manicure, somewhere back in high school; every girl was getting acrylic tips. Then we moved on to gel tips and most recently gel polish. Now since I have naturally strong and long nails I never really indulged in the nail tips…but this gel polish trend, yes ma’am. As someone who does their hair often and uses their hands a lot, no matter the brand of nail polish (I’m an OPI girl, btw) my nail polish always chipped off within 3 days. And I absolutely abhor sitting still for longer than 5 minutes and then not being able to use my hands for an hour. The promises of gel polish lasting for upwards of 2+ weeks and drying in 5 minutes seemed like the ultimate answer to my need for having polished nails and working with my hands. So I jumped on the gel polish train.

The first time I got gel polish, I realized that the process is a lot like the gel tip process and I had always stayed away from that because tips weigh down and weaken your nail bed. For gel polish, they add a coat of shellac, which is baked under a UV light, and then the paint, which is again backed under the UV light. 2-3 weeks later you’re back at the nail salon to remove the gel polish and possibly reapply. In order to remove gel polish you have to soak your nails in acetone for 10+ minutes and then you’re back at it all over again. It’s a relatively simple and quick process. But that simple and quick process can do some damage to the nails.

Baking under UV lights is like exposing yourself to direct sunlight, which causes skin cancer. According to Dr. Susan Taylor at HuffPo: “If you are exposed to ultraviolet light for four to eight minutes every two weeks when you have a gel manicure, that can add up to significant exposure.” You can counter that by adding sunscreen after the nail salon has you wash your hands. If you’re brazen and super health focused, you can also wear gloves with the fingertips cut off. Alternatively, LED light is much safer option for any of the gel processes.

Now the acetone soak to remove the gel polish was the most harrowing for me. Acetone dries out your hands and can cause your nails to peel. I like my real nails and would like to keep it that way. Making your nails brittle by soaking them in acetone can make them more susceptible to breaking. To offset this, take Vitamin E and moisturize your hands regularly.

Do you have to stay away from gel polish if you want healthy nails? Not entirely, but don’t be so eager to get them done on the regular. Your nails need time to breath, so try to extend the time period between gel polish application. Applying light colors will also help extend the length of wear. Just remember that every trend isn’t best for you. Do your research and weigh how much the health risks mean to you.

Jouelzy offers tutorials on all aspects of Black hair care via her YouTube channel, focusing on women with tight budgets. You can also find her daily hair tips and inspirations on Facebook.

More on Madame Noire!

• Komon Ou Ye? 9 Of Our Favorite Celebs of Haitian Descent (And A Few Surprises Of Course!)
• Breaking Down the Point of a Protective Hairstyle: What Exactly Should You Be Protecting?
• When Famous Stars Play Famous People: Who Killed It On-Screen And Who Was A Mess?
• If It’s Broke, Fix It: Why Some Friendships Are Worth Sticking Out
• Consider This: Put The Odds In Your Favor And Date The Next Guy You Meet
• Shoe Shine: Must-Have Metallic Sandals and Pumps

nailart.vn

Consumer spending may be down, money may be tight and monthly budgets strict, but one thing the ladies aren’t taking out of their beauty regimen is a manicure. VOA News reports that while other US businesses are slowing down in a weak economy, women are spending more on their nails. And these professionally fly women aren’t just getting a light pink coat or even a bright shade of red; they’re going all out with blues, greens and animal prints.

“It’s tremendous. I mean our sales have been double digit growth for the past five years,” Suzi Weiss-Fishmann, the executive vice-president and artistic director of OPI said to VOA News. Based north of Los Angeles, OPI distributes nail polish to women in over 100 countries around the world.

“You can really be kind of that conservative professional and wear blues and greens and any color and dark shades year round,” she reveals.  In addition to bright nail colors, women are also experimenting with nail art. The trend has been popular in Japan for about a decade, and has steadily been picking up speed in the US.

“Nail art is really for every woman. It’s like the new lipstick. Everyone is using their nails as their accessory,” said The Naja, a creator of 3-D nails. The Naja makes her products stand out by using unusual ordinary objects to create her designs, including hair extensions, paper clips and staples. And her business is booming.

“I actually have made more money than I ever have the entire time of the recession,” she said.

So why are women spending more on nails in the midst of tight economic times? The real question is, why not? When you only have $5 or $10 to spare, it’s much easier to splurge on a nail polish or an affordable pedicure than something a bit more costly.

Take it from college student Kathryn O’Sullivan. As she tells VOA News, “If you’re trying to get a new outfit or a new accessory or something, it’s probably going to be more expensive but you can just spice up your look with the nail polish thing, with these things, for a way cheaper price.”

More on Madame Noire Business!

• Behind the Click: Ashley Baxter, Digital Marketing Manager for J.C. Penney
• How She Made It: Alia Jones-Harvey, Producer of A Streetcar Named Desire
• Why African Philanthropists Are Calling For Africapitalism
• Will Scandal’s Success Pave the Way for More Diverse Images of Black Women?
• How She Made It: Jeri Lynne Johnson, Founder of Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra
• Entrepreneur Spotlight: A Sister-Run Business Brings High-End Tea Stateside

Source: MyStudio85.com

By Makula Dunbar

If there’s anything natives and tourists know in Washington D.C., it’s a distinguished lingo. Phrases like, “Oh my gaw yung, on urrything you a bama!” aren’t uncommon. At some point — on Georgia Avenue or within your circle of friends — you’ve detected a “bama.” A word without one staple definition, Tamika Myers, co-founder of the nail polish line Studio85 says, in the case of an old school female bama — she’d know what color nail polish is best fitting.

“Fifteen years ago, lot’s of people didn’t wear green nail polish boldly. It made you a bama, Myers said.

“We just thought of the weirdest color, something kind of awkward that would match the name of what it meant,” added Myers’ sister Tiffany Burriss —explaining how they came up with the name for their turquoise nail gloss “Bama,” which is part of their District of Columbia collection.

“And,” said Myers, “We added some flakes, how ‘bout that!”

Jump-starting Studio85

Burris along with Tammi Allen make up the trio of sisters/co-founders of Studio85, which apart from a nail gloss line is also an events, art and apparel shop located in Washington D.C.

“We were in our parents’ hometown of Lancaster, South Carolina at a coffee house we go to all the time. One of us had on a cute color that we said our aunt would love, so we thought what she would call it,” said Burriss elaborating on how it all began.

“We were like, ‘She’d call it 2tat2,’ and that opened up a world of names. Since we started, our aunt passed away so that’s how we pay homage and that’s what jump-started Studio85.”

“Big Chair Brown,” named after a landmark in Southeast D.C., “Roc Creek,” “Go Go,” “Mambo Sauce,” “Yung,” and “1600” are all colors in the District of Columbia collection. Studio85’s 48-color catalogue also includes the City Girl, Southern Girl and Stay Beautiful collections, in addition to a 12-color crackle collection sold only in-store.

It was only eight months ago that the sisters found a space for Studio85. Including the input of the community, local designers and artists, the sisters made a conscious effort to create a store that not only sells nail gloss, but one that various creatives would take advantage of.

“We wanted to make it so it would translate into a space for events and apparel. We’ve had jewelry events, open mics, album release parties, birthday parties, social forums, in-store photo shoots and council-member candidate meet and greets, “ Burriss said. “Pretty much anything that can fit in the space we’re open to doing as long as it keeps up with the integrity if the brand.”

Source: StyleBlazer.com

From StyleBlazer.com 

Everyone knows your clothes say a lot about you; as do your handbag and shoe game.  But did you know your nails could be making a statement about your personality too, without you saying a word? Yep!  Katie Saxton, nail expert and President of Custom Nail Solutions broke down the message that popular nail colors, designs, and styles send to others.

Check out 11 characteristics your pretty polish choices say about you at StyleBlazer.com. 

More on Madame Noire!

• WEEKEND WRAP-UP! The IRS Wants Faith Evans! Who’s Headed Back To Jail? + MORE!
• LaTanya Richardson Talks About Life With Samuel L. Jackson
• EYE POPPING! Tips On Rocking Bright & Bold Eyeshadow
  
• Childs’ Play: Reasons Why You Attract “Little Boys”
  
• Did You Know They Were The Daddy? Surprising Celebrity Parents
  
• 20 Years Later, Where Are They Now? The Cast of “The Cosby Show”
  
• More Than Just Music: Dynamic Duets Who Also Dated”
  

From StyleBlazer.com

Our sister site recently let you in on 9 Sizzling Summer Nail Art Trends for you to try your hand at.  Now, we want to take it up a notch with two extremely creative nail art DIY’s.  Whether you consider yourself a beauty queen or not, we think you owe it to yourself to try them out.  Got access to fresh leaves?  Got scotch tape?  Then we’ve got you covered!  Anyone from a green girl to a kooky creative can appreciate these easy tricks.

Here are two nail art DIY must-tries…

Get the breakdown at StyleBlazer.com. 

More on Madame Noire!

• Beauty and the Braids: 7 Celebrities Who Make The Look Fierce
• Vain is Your Middle Name: Celebs Who Love Themselves as Much as Their Fans Do
• Do You Want What You Can’t Have? Why You Keep Chasing the Unavailable
• Tuesday Talk: Melanie Fiona On Her Mother, Man And One MF
• Tableside Racism: Waiters Admit Discriminating Against Black Patrons Because They Don’t Tip
• Ladies, What Do You Do With Your Farts?
• Why Don’t Black Women Want to Breastfeed?
• The 7 Reasons Men Lie, According To A Man Who Doesn’t (Maybe)

I must hand it to nail polish  -  they never seem to fail at making you feel good! Putting polish on your newly shaped nails immediately says ” I am a haute woman”. Plus, I’ve always considered manicures and pedicures as instant mood boosters. I can’t explain why a simple coloring of the nail changes an entire mood but I can show you the hues that make it happen.

Here is what I’m crushing on currently…

Read the rest of this entry »

Courtesy of Fabandfru.com

Calling all budgetistas!

Ready to rev up your beauty basket without running up your credit card bill? Look no further, my beauties. We have assembled a slew of price-friendly products under $20 to help you feel pampered and pretty. The following pages, filled with essentials like a facial moisturizer with SPF, glamorous, glittery nail polish, and even a sensual body scrub that just may inspire a little for play, are big bangs for your buck.

Like most trends, over-the-top designed nails have hit the beauty market hard but the experts predict the fad to be in its last days. Nude nails were all the rage on the Fall 2012 runways (as you already know) but we can’t deny those audacious StyleBlazers who ignore the rules of fashion, the right to have their fancy nails spark conversation whenever they’re in tow.

While there was definitely a decrease of designed nails on the runway during NYFW, we did find some designers who wouldn’t have had a complete collection without  bold tips. Check out StyleBlazer’s favorite nails in the gallery here…