the color purple

Before my current job, I worked at a coffee shop for over 5 years and we were strictly forbidden to wear nail polish of any sort. So when I started at my new job it hit me that I can wear nail polish again! Shortly after this realization, my good friend Melia and I went downtown to get manicures. Now, it wasn't nearly as expensive as I was expecting, but I still don't think I could justify getting more than like 2 a year.

My freshman year in college, I bought a Jil Jordan manicure kit at the mall. I remember it costing $20 dollars and I'm sure those people at the kiosks that love to invade your personal space are still selling similar kits. Now, while I definitely think that if you are looking for a fun get-together with a girlfriend you should go ahead and splurge at the salon, I prefer to do my own nails at home a majority of the time.


You can get kits like this Manicure and Pedicure Deluxe Set at Ulta for $17 or a kit called From Tip to Toe Manicure and Pedicure Kit at Target for $10 or Amazon for $8.45 plus shipping. My kit includes a nail file, buffer, cuticle sticks, cuticle oil and hand cream.

I usually like to cut and file my nails first. Then, if I'm not in a rush I like to exfoliate my hands with something like Apricot Scrub (I use the generic Target brand) and then a lotion (I am obsessed with Gold Bond) and let the lotion absorb completely.

Then I'll rub in the cuticle oil and use the orange sticks to push my cuticles back. A lot of manicure kits also include the cuticle cutting tools, which I actually like, but find more time consuming. Then I buff them starting with the roughest side of the buffer to get rid of any ridges and working my way to the smoothest side.

Nails before any work

 Nails after buffer

Next I paint! I actually skip base coats and top coats because I like to change my color so often that I don't need the lasting effects of these extra steps. I know I'm not the best manicurist (just look at Amber's DIY pedicure!), but I figured I just saved myself $15-$20 including a tip.

This color is called TuTu Cute from Ulta. They almost always have in-store BOGO deals and I bought this during a buy 2 get 2 free, so they were $2.50 each! 


Anyone else have a DIY manicure kit? Where did you get yours and for how much? For those of you staying loyal to your professional manicures, do you have any tips for saving money at the salon?

Pretty Pedi

For the most part, I keep my feet hidden. There isn’t anything too horrifying about them, other than the fact that they are freakishly small and Fred Flinstone-esque. On the rare occasion that I do bare my piggies, though, which has almost been a necessity in this hot, humid Michigan summer, I make sure that they are looking their best. And of course, I do it on a budget!

One of my favorite looks is the French pedicure – its classy, natural feel never goes out of style. While I normally use the Stripe Rite paints from Sally Beauty Supply for nail designs (the tiny brush makes it easy to paint in details), this time, I decided to go for something altogether different: fake toenails. For just over $6.00, I purchased the Kiss Everlasting French Toenail Kit from my local pharmacy.

The kit was more complete than I thought it would be. I purchased glue separately, only to find that pink glue was included in the packaging. My biggest apprehension was that the kit might not have the right sizes for my short, chubby toes. That was not an issue either, however, as there were twelve oddly appropriate sizes to choose from. I found that the application was simple, though I had to be careful not to spill the tiny, plastic pieces everywhere, as there were only two of each size. The entire process took me about 10 minutes, and at the end, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised! A lovely French pedicure without the pain of smudges, do-overs, and waiting for several coats of polish to dry. I think it actually looked better than the painted version that I did for my sister a few days later.

before

after

my sister's painted nails

To spice things up a bit, I used a black Crayola Nail Art Pen (available at Walmart for around $5.00) to add a little design and topped it off with a coat of clear polish. I paired my pedi with some open-toed black wedges that I bought at TJ Maxx, and I have to say, I was thrilled with the outcome! I think next time, I’ll just use the Sally’s Stripe Rite paint for the additional designs, even though the convenient shape of the nail art pen made painting my nails feel a bit like coloring with a marker. The pedi lasted for several days before some of the nails starting popping off; rather than re-glue them, I pulled the rest off on my own. In all, I would say that the $6.00 kit is well worth the money, and if you’re going to use the additional paint supplies more than a few times, I would recommend those as well. I’m in a wedding in September, and I’ll definitely be repeating this process!

Do you have any do-it-yourself pedicure tips or horror stories? Have you ever paid to have your toenails professionally painted in a salon? And what is your favorite open-toed shoe this summer?

awkward introductions!

So we thought a very proper first post would be to introduce ourselves and to let you know what you're getting yourselves into if you follow our blog:

value chic is a blog created to help women (like us), who like to stay on top of trends without depleting their bank accounts. We know you girls have mortages/rent to pay, school loans to pay off and numerous other bills that probably take precedence over your wardrobe, and if not-- this might not be he right blog for you. We plan to go out of our way to give you the best tips, bargains and product reviews we can, so you can spend your hard earned cash on more important things.

Whether you want a product reviewed before you go splurging, have a fantastic steal you found at 70% off but don't know how to wear it, are looking for the latest wedges and want the best deal or have an awesome bargain you are dying to share with someone, tell us! We want to help you save in any way possible and still stay classy, sassy and chic while doing so.

The bloggers:Name| Amber
Location| Muskegon, MI
Day Job| Account Executive / Financial Service Industry
Describe your personal style| Simple, comfortable and resourceful. I love items that you can mix and match and that serve a variety of purposes; for example, I always look for staple items that I can style to look professional for work or look trendy and vibrant for a night out. I also tend to dress in neutral colors because I can easily match them together or throw in bright accent pieces to spice things up.
Favorite retail/online store| Forever 21 or Urban Outfitters (It varies, but these are my 2 current favorites)
Money saving tip you live by| Create a budget and stick to it! My entire life is organized into Excel spreadsheets.
Top 3 items you will splurge on| makeup (Bare Minerals); Qdoba; gifts for my family and friends

Name| Courtney
Location| Chicago, IL
Day Job| Writer for a deals/bargains website
Describe your personal style| Completely comfortable. I live in jeans. I own about 20 tees. I have an obsession with shoes. Mostly, I really like wearing plain items that can be dressed up with accessories.
Favorite retail/online store| H&M and many, MANY online shoe stores.
Money saving tip you live by| If you can't think of 2 items you already own that will go with what you're about to purchase, don't buy it.... just don't
Top 3 items you will splurge on| Biolage hair products; Proactiv skin care; nights out with my boyf or friends because they are few and far between

Tell us about you! We want to know where you love to shop to save, what you're willing to splurge on and the best saving tip you've ever received.

Contact Us

We'd love to hear from you! Contact Courtney and Amber at:

valuechic@gmail.com

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