CalGel Nails by Guest Blogger: Kasey from Bay Area Style File
Good morning all!
Today I have a guest review from blogger Kasey from Bay Area Style File. She will be chatting about CalGel nails and showing some great photos of her manicures. Enjoy!
I first discovered CalGel by chance. I was looking at the August 2009 issue of Marie Claire where new nail innovations was a topic. Of course I had tried Minx and matte nail polish so the next natural step for me was to try CalGel. Amazingly the only shop with a certified technician as well as a certified trainer (Keina Kataoka) was Bisou Nail Lounge (right in my backyard in Oakland, CA).
Now what is CalGel? Well it’s made of organic compounds formulated to the texture of smooth honey, it doesn’t require any electric filing, doesn’t use any nail clips for removal, and your nails can “breathe” eliminating the fungus and infection associated with acrylics. Since I’ve had CalGel nails (August 2009) and I haven’t experienced any of the lifting/peeling/chipping associated with acrylics.
The application process is pretty simple: first your nails are lightly buffed (by hand); then a thin coat of a clear CalGel is applied (like applying nail polish); nails are then “cured” under a UV light. After that point you can be done or you can get creative by adding colored CalGel, glitter, rhinestones, pearls, and even dried flowers, there are really no limits. CalGel starts around $45 dollars (depending on the shop in your area) for a clear overlay, and goes up depending on what you add on ( rhinestones, glitter etc). CalGel can last up to 4 weeks and they have to be rebalanced (CalGel talk for a fill) after that time.
Here are some of Kasey’s amazing CalGel manicures.
Here are some interesting facts about Kasey:
1. I’m a big time nerd, I love trivia game shows, foreign films, and Sci-Fi movies/books.
2. My biggest influence in fashion is my maternal grandmother, with a honorable mention to Diane Kruger and Kerry Washington.
3. I was born, raised, and still live in the Bay Area, which is why Bay Area Style File has a Bay Area Niche.
Have you guys ever tried CalGel? I am very interested and Oakland is pretty close to me so I might try them someday!
-VV
Welcome! My name is Kelly and Vampy Varnish is a cruelty-free beauty blog.
I’ve never had non-natural nails because they scare me a bit. But these seem to avoid all the problems I was worried about. Maybe one day…
I’m not sure I’d be able to do this, my nails grow super fast and I get bored with my nails within a day or two.
.-= TipsToToes´s last blog ..Rimmel Camouflage =-.
Can calgel be used to make your nails longer w/false tips, like with acrylics?
Sassyjeni,
Yes, a longer look can be attained but she doesn’t use a tip though but sculptures the extention out of CalGel.
.-= kasey´s last blog ..Winter Wishlist Wonderland: Urban Outfitters =-.
I LOVE CALGEL!!!!!
i was rocking calgel thru the summer its so fun!
around the time of mac HK release i was rocking hot pink and clear gradations (hot pink at the tip and clear towards the bottom
i also did a glitter gradation and a classic french tip gradation !
so fun!! i stopped the calgel after a while cause its steep in price and 2 i do too much housework without gloves and the calgel gets a little soft if exposed to too much water and harsh cleaners – i guess i am too careless to extend the life of calgel!
i highly recommend calgel for those with soft weak nails who want their nails to look cute!
I tried gel nails this summer, but I didn’t like them. I don’t like the feel of “something” on my nails, and as TipsToToes said, I get bored with my nails and want to change the polish frequently, and the nail polish remover is bad for the gel. (I didn’t use CalGel, so I don’t know if that’s the case with them!)
.-= Solveig´s last blog ..China Glaze Fly (and some wish list blabber) =-.
My friend has these and she wears the same (boring) colour for 4 weeks. Not a chance of me doing that! I also don’t like the feel of something on or against my nails. I am proud of my nails and I like changing their shape and length and colour. I would also worry about fungal infections because I had another friend who had the most disgusting nails as a result of wearing false nails.
Keep it natural.
Jen,
Was the fungal infection caused by Acrylics or CalGel? Because CalGel is organic and breatheable which eliminates the nail fungus that is caused by wearing “false nails” it’s a NEW NATURAL.