What is Indie?
Indie refers to the offbeat culture of handmade goods; put simply, independent art. DIY items made by independent artists that you can find in boutiques, craft fairs, farmers markets or in online marketplaces like Etsy. A Girl Obsessed is my Indie nail polish brand. I am a certified nail technician and my business is AGO Nails LLC. Welcome to my obsession!
What does “3 Free” mean?
3 Free is what makes my polish stand out from the rest. My nail polish does NOT contain three very harmful carcinogens; DBP (Dibutyl Phthalate), Formaldehyde or Toluene.
Proper nail prep and maintenance;
Once your nail enhancements or polish is removed first apply cuticle oil/cream/balm or cuticle remover and let it soak for 15 seconds. Then gently push back your cuticles with an orange stick or cuticle pusher. Do not use a cuticle trimmer (the thing that looks like a little scoop, you can damage your nails and cuticle with this tool)! Use a nipper to remove excess dead skin/hang nails. Then lightly buff the nail to remove the pterygium or the residue/skin left by the cuticle and to smooth out any damage. Lastly trim and shape the nail using an emery board or glass file. Do not use metal. Now clean the nail plate with 99% alcohol or acetone and you are ready to start painting!
Once your polish is dry I recommend applying cuticle oil again and using it daily to keep your mani fresh, your cuticles supple and to promote healthy nail growth. My favorites are Avoplex by OPI, Solar Oil by CND, Lemony Flutter by Lush, Sunny's Miracle Balm by 365 Days of Color, and of course my own blend of sweet almond and grape seed oil (just to name a few, lol).
Do I need a base coat?
Most women don’t fuss with a basecoat and then wonder why their manicure doesn’t last as long as the salons. You NEED to use a base (and topcoat). The basecoat is meant as a foundation between your natural nail and the color. It can also strengthen, nourish and protect your natural nail preventing stains breaks and peeling. I highly recommend Nail Envy by OPI or Nail Tek. Both can be supplied by me, online or from your local Ulta. Don’t forget to properly prep your nail before applying your base.
What is Seche Vite?
Seche Vite is a wonderful 2 Free topcoat that I recommend to my customers. You can purchase it through me, online, or from your local Sally Beauty Supply store. It dries so fast you can do your nails before bed. It has a super high gloss finish. And lastly it perfectly seals in and smoothes out all of my glitter toppers. Don’t forget to wrap or cap your edges, meaning to paint the very tip of the nail.
What are undies?
Some nail polishes just don’t look right alone and require a base color to make them pop. Simple black or white may be challenging to even the most seasoned nail tech but with some finesse can be the perfect undie. If using other colors like a nice pastel, fun neon, or a rich fall dark, choose a complimenting color for your glitter topper or crelly.
What’s a crelly?
A crelly is a polish with a cream/jelly base; meaning a semi opaque semi sheer base. It can generally be worn alone in 2-3 thin coats or 1 coat over undies. A jelly polish has a tinted translucent base and a cream has an opaque base. There's also multiple finishes like sheer, metallic, pearl, satin, shimmer, matte, and textured.
What is the fishing and dabbing method?
Fishing and dabbing is a method used with glitter polishes that contain large pieces or what we like to call, chunky glitter. With this type of polish you would first polish one thin coat. Then you would do a second coat where you would fish out and dab the glitter on to the nail where desired. Now finish with a third thincoat and topcoat. Viola! Indie polish perfection like a pro!
Easy cleanup trick;
Do you ever wonder how people manage to paint their nails without getting any on their skin? Wonder no more! An orange stick is your new best friend. After you apply topcoat run the cuticle stick along the edges of the nail where polish ran over and it will come right off. Stubborn polish mistakes can be taken care of by dipping the cuticle stick into nail polish remover. It’s like a magic eraser!
Myth buster;
Nails need to breath. Nails are dead! Your nail plate receives its oxygen from your blood directly underneath it, so you can keep you nails painted everyday. In fact some people need to keep their nails painted to keep them strong and healthy.
*Note: Since my polishes are handmade and hand mixed, no two are exactly the same. After time some settling may occur, just give it a shake.
