Desperately Seeking Persistent Polish is a series where I wear a nail polish for seven days and take before and after pics to document the condition of my paws over the course of the week!
Life lesson learned last week: the greatest threat to your manicure isn’t washing dishes, or lifting heavy weights at the gym, or pounding at the keyboard like you’ve just inhaled 12 cups of coffee. The greatest threat to your manicure — the threat that spells almost certain doom — is being distracted while waxing your upper lip at home.
From this, there is almost no going back.
A minor moment of shock
Because, friend, as I smoothed some Bliss blue wax onto the forest that is my upper lip, then stared at myself in the mirror in shock and thought, “Holy sh*t, I look exactly like my brother with a blue mustache,” I momentarily misplaced that little plastic waxing wand thingamabob you use to spread the wax on your skin and accidentally sprinkled big, hot blobs of wax onto the nails on my left hand.
WHOOPS!
Just a few chunks…
But not all was lost. After recovering from the initial shock (I’ve been waxing for years and never had this happen before. Distracted waxing is dangerous, people!), I waited for the wax to dry, massaged some of the oil that comes with the kit on my nails to loosen the wax up, and carefully peeled it off.
Unfortunately, a few chunks of my polish peeled off, too…
Frankly, I’m surprised any of the polish remained because that wax removes *everything*.
Du-ra-ble!
To make a long story even longer, all of this happened on day five of this dark blue OPI manicure. Through then, it was chugging along remarkably well. Better than average, for sure! A lot of people say that OPI lasts a really long time. Well, they aren’t joking.
Like I’ve done in my last couple of “7 Days” nail polish experiments, I used Smith & Cult’s base coat and top coat, along with two layers of polish, in this case .
Flawless for four days
Day five of this manicure, shortly before I waxed my ‘stash, was when I saw the first signs of very minor chipping at the base of my nails.
That’s better than usual for me. Normally by the fourth or fifth day of a manicure I see at least two or three big divots on one or more nails.
There was also hardly any wear at the tips of my nails — like no chipping at all — which almost never happens.
The final word
If I hadn’t been so distracted while waxing that day, I think this mani would’ve made it to day seven, and it would’ve looked pretty darned good. For sure, I’ll wear this again.
As Rose from The Golden Girls once said, “The older you get, the better you get. Unless you’re a banana.” Now I know better than to let my mind wander while I wax. The next time I do this manicure, I’ll be paying much closer attention!
❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4 out of 5 hearts.
OPI Chills Are Multiplying: Day 1
OPI Chills Are Multiplying: Day 7
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Chelsea says
September 10th, 2018 at 7:24 pm? glad nothing too bad happened from your distracted waxing! Pretty color!
Karen says
September 11th, 2018 at 10:06 amMe too! Imagine if Tabs was in the sink! EEEK.
Sheila Z says
September 10th, 2018 at 8:36 pmHave you tried incoco nail polish strips? They are genius. No drying and at least a week of wear!
Karen says
September 11th, 2018 at 10:05 amHi Sheila,
I tried the Sally Hansen version years ago when they first came out. They were OK for me. 🙂
says
September 11th, 2018 at 6:03 amDistracted waxing is dangerous! Imagine you´d have dribbled wax over Tabs.
Karen says
September 11th, 2018 at 10:05 amHe would not have that, LOL!
Suzanne C says
September 11th, 2018 at 10:06 amThat made me lol, as I sat here reading it, doing my sad little clear coat mani. I had an accident with my chef’s knife, so I have to wear several coats of Sally Hansen Hard as Nails on one nail to lock it down so the part I cut doesn’t rip off. The nail drama is real.
Karen says
September 11th, 2018 at 10:13 amThe drama is SO REAL. What happened with your chef’s knife? I hope your fingers are OK!
Suzanne C says
September 11th, 2018 at 10:20 amYes, thanks, it was just my nail that got cut. One of the girls startled me and the knife slipped. It sliced the top of the nail horizontally, so I have to seal that section to keep it from coming off until it grows out.
I keep forgetting to ask, are your in-laws okay in Hawaii after the hurricane?
Karen says
September 11th, 2018 at 10:55 amOH MY GOSH, I’ve done that before! And there have been a few times when I’ve almost chopped off a finger (OMG). I found this technique a few months ago that’s helped me a lot. You probably already know about it but .
Thanks for asking about my in-laws; the storm did bring lots of rain but they ended up being OK! Not a big deal at all. 🙂
Diana says
September 11th, 2018 at 7:33 pmI’ve had that holy sh*t moment too except mine was looking exactly like my father lol
Just bought Deborah Lippman gel polish, no bad chemicals in it. Will let you know how long it lasts.
Karen says
September 11th, 2018 at 7:58 pmHi Diana,
I’ve used Lippman before and liked it! Let me know how it works for you.
And ha ha ha… Isn’t that moment SHOCKING?! I swear sometimes I look like my brother in drag. LOL
Diana says
September 11th, 2018 at 8:05 pmGood to know you like it! I started doing my own nails, giving it a go!
Omg it is! And here I thought it would be my mother I saw lol But hey your brother should be flattered to be so pretty as a woman ?
Karen says
September 12th, 2018 at 10:18 amYears ago I did a post on the Lippmann nail studio in Hawaii… If you’re ever around that way you should stop by! It was one of the nicest manicures I’d ever had. Oh, and have you tried their Happy Birthday glitter yet? It’s so fun!
P.S. My brother also has long, dark hair and when he wears it down he looks like the mustached version of me, ha ha.
Diana says
September 12th, 2018 at 10:59 amI actually spit out my coffee laughing at that last part Karen ahaha I always wanted a twin, lucky you!
Thanks so much for the link! ahh this would be heaven to go! I haven’t tried the glitter yet, that does look fun! There is a glittery polish called Whimsical Fantasy in the set I got. I usually just wear natural polish if it all (except my toes, I go vamp there). Glad your in-laws are doing ok with the heavy rains….
Kim says
September 12th, 2018 at 7:43 amSometimes it feels like life is a long string of beauty mishaps. HAHA! I’ve had decent luck with OPI but never wear base or top coats. My biggest complaint is that I find their darker colors apply streaky. I appreciate the thinner formula but getting even coverage is a challenge sometimes.
Karen says
September 12th, 2018 at 10:07 amInteresting! I usually have that issue with the opposite end — the lighter, pastel colors. Not just with OPI, but most polishes in general. Hmmm… Maybe it’s my technique?!
Anyway, I’m testing a cream right from Dermalect, and I’m three days in and don’t think it’s gonna make it to the full seven.
Kim says
September 13th, 2018 at 6:42 amIt’s probably my technique, too. I generally use the darks only on my toes and I’m sure the bending and reaching affects the application. 🙂 I agree with you on the pastel creams – streak city. I usually use sheer (if anything) on my fingers. Like Essie Mademoiselle or Ballet Slippers. I have the best luck with those formulas, without top and base coats, of course!