Pretty & Polshed: Hello Dolly and Easy Glitter Removal

Yesterday was my 6th wedding anniversary and I wanted something pretty and sparkly on my nails.  I chose P&P Hello Dolly.  It's a mix of purple, pink and white glitters in a clear base.  I chose not to use any underwear, I wanted to see how this one did on it's own.  I also wanted to try out a new technique for removing glitter polish.  I ended up doing 4 thin layers of Hello Dolly.  I prob could have done a couple more, but honestly, I had to make sure my nails were dry so I could get in the shower and get dressed for dinner :)

Here are my pretty purple sparkly nails

Base:  Elmer's Glue (more info below)

Base Coat:  Rejuvacote

Glitter:  Pretty & Polished Hello Dolly (4 thin layers)

Top Coat:  Seche Vite

Now, onto the new removal technique.  If you follow lots of nail blogs, you have prob heard about using glue as a base so you can just peel off your polish.  I thought it was a great idea and this was a perfect opportunity to test it out.

I made my bottle of "glue base" a few days ago.  It's super simple, just clean out a polish bottle by swirling some acetone in the bottle and dumping out.  Repeat as needed to remove all the polish.  If your bottle has polish in it, dump the polish out before adding the acetone to clean.  Then you need to clean the brush.  Just pour some acetone in the cap, dip the brush and wipe with a paper towel.  Simple!  Once your bottle is clean and dry, add some glue.  I used regular school Elmer's glue.  Make sure to fill the bottle so that the brush is always completely submerged so it doesn't get dried out.  Here is mine.

All you have to do now is paint a thin coat of glue onto your nails.  Do not paint polish until the glue has completely dried.  You will know it's dry when you can no longer see the glue on your nails.  It dries clear :)  Make sure not to get any on your skin.  This may cause your polish to peel sooner than you'd like.  Once the glue lifts a little, it just peels right off the nail.  Quick note, if you are like me and like to apply a cuticle cream or oil before painting your nails, don't do it right after the glue.  It will come off.  Ask me how I know LOL

I decided to go ahead and use my base coat.  I figured if you are supposed to apply it every day, over polish, then surely a thin layer of glue wasn't going to prevent it from getting to my nails.

Next, paint your awesome glitter mani.  I recommend wrapping the tips of your nails.  This way you seal in the polish around the glue and you don't have to worry about bumping your nails and possibly having your glue release when you are not ready.

I only left my mani on for about 24 hours.  I showered, did my hair, got dressed, went to dinner, the mall and then to the movies.  No wear and tear where as before I may have bumped a nail and lost a small chunk of polish.

Taking this polish off was so stinking simple I can't even believe it!  I used a cuticle pusher that I got in a mani/pedi kit.  I love it because it's plastic, washable and safe for my nails,  not like the metal ones.  I will never use one of those again!  Here is mine, just in case you wanted to see :)

Using the angled end, I just pushed it under the polish and it came off in sheets!  It was so easy!!

Now, your nails aren't going to look all perfect and pristine when you take the glitter polish off.  At least mine didn't.  I had a little bit of glue left on a couple spots.  But all in all, pretty damn good for not having used a drop of polish remover.  My nails looked like this:

I washed my hands and applied a little cuticle cream and then they were like this:

( I have a couple repairs :(  please don't mind them)

I will never wear a glitter polish with out using my glue as a base first.  There is another bonus.  If you have any repairs on your nails, you no longer have to fear the glitter polish.  Since you won't have to soak your nails in acetone to remove the polish, your repairs are safe and intact when you use the glue method.  I don't know who came up with this, but I am so glad they did.  

Will you be trying out this technique?