Hot Tip!! aka "Dumb Assed Moment"

Just a hot tip.

This evening I was carelessly using some Gorilla Glue and got some on my hand.  Okay so it was all over two fingers and nails front and back.  Don't ask me how I managed that!

Immediately wiped my hands off on a dish towel and when the towel stuck that is when I realized what I did.   Damn!  So begins my trying to get it off, damn that is one tough glue!!

Step 1 - Try hard to wipe it off.  No luck.

Step 2 - Pour acetone on my hand and try to rub it off.  No luck.

Step 3 - Pour dishsoap on my hand and try to wash it off.  No luck.

Step 4 - Repeat steps 2, 3 then 2, 3 and 4.  No luck.

Step 5 - Read label for words of wisdom.  "Avoid contact with skin", um no duh!  "Wipe off with a towel or use paint thinner."

Step 6 - OMG what are the odds of having the polish thinner on my kitchen counter because I was lazy and didn't put it in the basket?  (Silence of the Lamb moment here).

Step 7 - Use some nail polish thinner.  BaDaBing!!!!!  I'm golden!

Just glad I hadn't bothered to paint my nails since my acetone experiment earlier this evening.

OK you may now return to your regularly scheduled programming.....

My Mani Basket of Goodies

OK so we all have different ways of organizing and storing our supplies.  I thought I'd start a series on how I organize and store my supplies.

What better way to start than with my basic manicure supplies?

Behold my basket of awesomeness...

 

I picked this basket up at the local Goodwill store for $1.00.  I think its intended use is for silverware.  Pffffft I have a drawer for that!  What better way to repurpose this than for a mani basket I ask???

In this basket is everything that I might need for a standard manicure.  Polishes I pick as needed.  If I'm in need of a nail repair I've got a different little basket for that.  Actually several depending on the type of repair.  (Did I mention that I'm a nail junkie?????)

If you have any questions on what's in the basket, ask away.  

You see that wooden framed tray?  That is my workspace.  Usually I'm sitting on the couch when working on my nails.  Whether polishing, painting or cleaning my cuticles, my supplies are on this tray.  For one, if I have to get up I just have to set one thing on the coffee table.  No worries about anything damaging my furniture.  

When not being used for my nails it occasionally has one of my laptops on it, can be used for breakfast in bed (it does have folding legs underneath it) or whatever else a nice large tray comes in handy for.  

It's just my thing and my way of keeping things together.

Acetone Experiment

So I've come across a few other blogs discussing the adding of glycerin to 100% pure acetone to make it less damaging/drying to the nails and cuticles.  As I mentioned in THIS POST , I add coconut oil to my acetone and am very satisfied with it.  However, I decided to try out the glycerin and a few other additions that I've not yet tried.

Mix #1 was my own coconut oil and acetone mix.  Worked like a charm as always.

Mix #2 was glycerin and acetone supersaturated.  Works well at removing the polish.

Mix #3 was emu oil and acetone supersaturated.  Works well at removing the polish.

Mix #4 was 100% pure aloe gel and acetone supersaturated.  Works well at removing the polish.

OK so all works well at the basic reason for using acetone, to remove nail polish.  It is the difference afterwords that is worth noting.

Follow the jump for the details.

Taking the bite out of pure acetone

Now that I've got the explanation of the family curse out of the way it is time for me to get busy with some content so here we go.

Blah, blah, blah you know the difference between non-acetone, acetone and pure acetone right?  If not Google it so I can spare others of the redundancy.  OK then what can I post about polish remover that isn't redundant?  I'm glad you asked!

For the most part I use pure acetone unless I have a repair in place.  I keep three separate dispensers.  One with non-acetone, one pure acetone and one pure acetone + (my own little concoction.)

I love, love, love how quickly pure acetone takes off the polish but hate the cold, drying and skin whitening effects it leaves behind when in its pure form.  Anyone else feel the same way?