TWO NEW NAIL SALONS IN WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN

Finally. After what seemed like forever, there are now a few nail shops opening up on or near Bedford Ave. With so many complaints crying “dirty hipsters”, these services are just what the neighborhood needed. It also beats having to go all the way into the city for a decent pedicure.

A few weeks ago Nail It (209 Bedford Ave) quickly opened up on Bedford Ave in the former Pinkberry shop that was abruptly shut down. When I went in today to ask about the place for the blog, the women looked confused and said that they couldn’t answer any questions. When I asked “Do you have a website?”, they told me that I’d have to speak to the owner for them to be able to answer the question. *Sigh* Customer service is already sucky and they’re only a few weeks old.

Then there’s Primp & Polish (189 Grand Street & Bedford Ave) that opened about a month or so ago in front of Iona’s. The manager was cheerfully potting a plant as I arrived and took the time to walk me around while explaining to me some of their special services such as gel nails and Minx.

I’ve had gel nails before and they’re very durable. It’s a coat of gel mixed with pigment as opposed to nail polish. They’re very shiny and last about two weeks while their application dries much faster than regular nail polish. Minx are detailed graphic designs on a film with an adhesive back that are placed on top of the nail and set with heat. Primp and Polish provides a catalog of all the designs they carry. Traditional nail polish is also available and includes Chanel, Essie, and OPI.

And as far as cleanliness is concerned, they use only disposable items that are thrown out after every service and they sterilize metal tools before every service. Client’s personal tools may also be stored on site for those who prefer bringing their own.

I’m going to try Primp & Polish and probably pass on Nail It. I’ll let you know how it goes.

**UPDATE 12.22.2010**

Last month I listed Primp & Polish nail salons with high hopes and promised to try them out and get back to you. Before I begin, I’d like to state that I prefer to keep this blog as positive as possible but I feel I have the responsibility to be honest so here goes. I tried Primp and Polish a few times and was disappointed with the quality of the two pedicures and one manicure. I also spoke to some others who went there and they felt the same. I don’t recommend it. My nails looked worse than when I arrived each time and the woman who took care of me each time told me various times that my nails were “too short” after I told her each time that I need them short as I work with my hands. She insisted on using colors I wasn’t interested in after I said no thank you each time and she made me bleed twice and burned me once with the hot stones. The owner is nice but the quality of the work there isn’t up to snuff for me. In fact, I’m going to blog soon about my favorite place in the whole city that has consistently provided A+++ service for years. Stay tuned!

24 HOUR DUANE READE OPENS RIGHT ACROSS FROM NEIGHBORHOOD PHARMACY ON BEDFORD AVE

In a major asshole move, Duane Reade decided to add a pharmacy just blocks away from one of their new locations and right in front of one of Williamsburg’s major local pharmacies, Kings Pharmacy. Duane Reade? *sigh*. 24 Hour Duane Reade?? Double *sigh*.

Change is a part of life, especially here in New York. But it sucks to see such a big company so aggressively go after a small business like this. I’ve always loved going to Kings Pharmacy. The pharmacist is always so personable and efficient, the store tends to hire kids from the neighborhood and they play the best mix of music fom Sirius Radio. They truly reflect the neighborhood. Their housewares, hair care, nail polish and seasonal departments carry wisely chosen items. They get it. They get us. If Kings Pharmacy doesn’t have it, then I’ll go to Duane Reade. Otherwise my loyalty will remain with Kings whenever possible.

Let’s support the neighborhood and Kings Pharmacy located at 241 Bedford Ave.

EYE STUDIO COLOR PLUSH SILK EYE SHADOW

Lately I’ve been using drug store cosmetics and have been incredibly impressed with the quality I’ve come across.

One of my favorites is Maybelline’s Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eye Shadow. The colors are highly pigmented and the palette’s are both strong and fashionable with a silky feel and reflective/sometimes glittery quality. After doing a little research on Maybelline’s website, I discovered that they can be used both wet and dry. Using them wet almost completely eliminates shadow fall out under the eye and the colors are easily blended. My eyes are very sensitive to eye makeup and I haven’t experience any irritation from wearing the shadows. Another plus is that the shadows last all day and don’t crease.

One of the best things about these consumer grade products is that they’re designed to be easy to use and there’s educational videos and support online to help people learn how to use them. There’s also a photo on the back of the container demonstrating a look using all 4 colors.

The only downside is that the colors aren’t available individually and it’s not clear if this line is available for a limited time.

The palettes run between $6 and $9.99, depending on where they’re purchased. I saw them today at Duane Reade for $9.99. You don’t get a lot of eye shadow for your money but as the colors are highly pigmented, they do go a long way. The big advantage is getting an array of colors in one palette.

Stay tuned as I’ll be reviewing more of my favorite drug store cosmetics.

As an artist and a hair stylist, I believe it’s important to have the ability to work under various conditions and situations with any tool and any product.

This past week I’ve been working intensely on hair, styling up to eleven heads of hair a day with products I’m not familiar with and tools that I have never used before while working in a completely foreign space. This unique job requires speed AND quality despite challenging lengths, textures, new working conditions or the occasional power outage, change in weather, etc.

Suffice to say, I’ve learned a lot about hair, about people, about myself, about product, and about technique.

Check back next week when I begin to review some of my favorite products and adventures from the event and how they apply to both consumers and hair professionals.

Until then, have a great hair day everybody! xoxo

One of my Facebook hair friends posted this funny link. Apparently a high end resort in the Maldives is planning to only staff blondes. Of course I’m wondering what color line they’ll be using…

Check it out :: All Blonde Resort

Had a great Sunday day doing hair with a very talented crew at a fun bowling alley in Brooklyn. Made some hair accessories the night before while Martin Cullen and Luigi Murenu’s work from the March 2010 issue of Teen Vogue were major inspirations. Came to realize that teen hair and makeup are my favorites.

This weekend I tried my hand at plaster casting some latex scars for Halloween. So much fun…

BUMBLE AND BUMBLE SURF SPRAY

This product really blew me away when I tried it on my friend today. He has very limp, fine hair, and not a lot of it. Everything he uses just makes his hair look greasy and weighs it down even if it’s meant to be light. Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Spray, however, gave it so much substance and natural volume with a matte finish. What was great was that he was able to move his hair around so it never left it feeling stiff and always looked natural. It gave it so much substance that it could support a little Arrojo Texture Paste for hold.

This is a great product to layer underneath other products for hair that’s easily weighed down but needs a little substance. It makes the hair look and feel thicker. Great Stuff.

Cost: $23 for 4oz

ARROJO TEXTURE PASTE

I’ve tried a number of Arrojo’s new hair products but out of all of them I’ve been most impressed with their Texture Paste. Despite feeling like a heavy cream, the Arrojo Texture Paste is extremely light and workable providing just the right amount of hold and moisture. I noticed that it doesn’t get greasy on finer textures and on my own coarse and naturally dry hair it provides a conditioning effect and is easily reset by wetting the hair.

The paste provides a medium, workable hold and gives the hair a natural look and feel. I’ve tried this on a few of my friends with fine to medium hair and they love it, especially men. I totally recommend this product.