Total Beauty Experience now has Crackle Glaze – a specialty nail color collection from China Glaze! Developed to give nails a “crackled” design over any base nail color, Crackle Glaze allows your inner artist to play. Total Beauty Experience has the entire array of Crackle Glaze colors to give you countless, edgy new looks.

To get the crackled look on your nails, use contrasting colors, one right over the other to achieve a deconstructive crackled look that takes place right before your eyes! Crackle Glaze is easy to use in combination with your favorite China Glaze nail polishes, including glitter, shimmer, or cream. Begin by applying one or two coats of a base color for full coverage. Make sure the base color is completely dry before you add the Crackle Glaze layer over it. The amount you use will affect the crackled look differently. For a larger crackled effect, apply a thick coat of Crackle Glaze nail polish. For a smaller crackled effect, apply a thinner coat. The crackled design will develop during dry time and starts almost immediately! In about three to five minutes the crackled design will have completely formed. Once your crackled nail design is dry apply China Glaze Fast Forward top coat to seal the design and prolong wear.

Crackle Glaze is Available in 6 Nail Colors

Crackled Nails

Total Beauty Experience has partnered with Dr. Ernie Bodai to build awareness for Cure Breast Cancer, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing breast health awareness to all women and their families. Dr. Bodai introduced the first ever “global Stamp”…the breast cancer stamp raising awareness and funding to conquer the disease worldwide.

In support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Cure Breast Cancer, Inc., Total Beauty Experience has set up a table of all pink products, including blow dryers, flatirons, brushes, haircare products, lotions, candles, reed diffusers, etc….all of these products are from manufacturers that contributed a portion of the purchase price to breast cancer organizations. When someone purchases one of these items, they receive as a gift a pink lightbulb (while supplies last) to help “Light the Town Pink”.

So visit Total Beauty Experience today to make a purchase that will support breast cancer organizations and give you a pink lightbulb that you can use to help “Light the Town Pink”!

1. Create a personalized Mother’s Day Gift Basket, choosing from over 10,000 fabulous gift ideas.
2. Give your mother the ultimate shopping experience by bringing her into Total Beauty Experience to shop for her favorite Mother’s Day gift products.

Need Help Deciding What to Give Your Mother this Year?

It was tough, but we’ve narrowed our selection down to 3 favorite product lines that mothers are sure to love…

Opening a gift of Lady Primrose always brings a thrill! Remember your  mother, grandmother, wife, sister, daughters and granddaughters this Mother’s Day with something special from Lady Primrose. 

Which objects does she desire…Body Luxuries? Candles? Cosmetics? Parfum? Tokyo Milk has something special for your mother, grandmother, sister, wife, and daughter. Surprise them this year with the objects they desire most – a Tokyo Milk Gift!

Spa Blends Botanicals is the pioneer of the spa body care industry. This Mother’s Day get her the finest products made with only the best ingredients available. Indulge the senses of your mother, grandmother, wife, and daughter with refreshing scents and body creme that inspires relaxation and peace!

Now that’s how you give her the most fabulous Mother’s Day ever!

Find these products and more at Total Beauty Experience!

Why Manicure?

As touchy of a topic as this may be for some men, please consider the following reasons why a manicure and basic nail and hand grooming can be a good thing on a guy. Think about what your hands go through on a regular basis.

Whether you are an avid athlete or a hands-on laborer, your hands need quality care. Contact sports such as basketball, football, and soccer could be a touch more dangerous when long, unmanaged nails are flailing around. Hard labor as well as hobbies such as guitar playing increase men’s already high chances of bumps, bangs, and calluses.  Dirt and grease are also factors that can be a detractor as your personal hygiene may be judged negatively.

Think of how many times you may have to impress someone, like a potential employer or a first date, with a hand shack. Your hands may be a big factor in making a good first impression. Regular hand and nail care will help you make a positive impression every time.

Aside from keeping your hands looking their best, they will also feel much better. Regular use of lotion, for example, can help prevent painful cracking and bleeding, particularly during the winter months when the air is dry.

Fast & Easy Manicure Tips:

If you’re a man who doesn’t want to waste your time on your hands, simply keep them short and clean.

• To clean under fingernails and around the cuticles, purchase a nailbrush. Simply brush the tips of your fingers to remove dirt from under the nail. Also, brush across the tops of your nails.
• Use a nail file to remove jagged edges and smooth corners.
• Keep nails short with the help of a basic nail clipper.
• Use lotion to keep your hands smooth and the ladies will love your touch!

For addition hand and nail care, the following manicure tips are a great way to keep your hands looking and feeling their best.

Remove Calluses –

• Use a pumice stone or other tool designed for callus removal. Simply rub the calluses away like you’re sanding down a piece of wood. Be careful not to remove too much skin, as this can be painful, but do try to remove as much of the buildup as possible.

• Follow the pumice stone with a good moisturizer. You may wish to use a lotion specifically designed for dryer skin.

Exfoliate Your Skin –

• About once a week, gently rub your hands together with a good exfoliant. This will smooth your skin as it removes the dead cells to reveal the newer ones underneath. Rub for a minute or so then rinse your hands and apply your favorite moisturizer.

Cuticle Care –

• Prevent painful tears around your fingernails by maintaining your cuticles. Apply a cuticle softener or remover to each cuticle.

• Use an orange wood stick and gently push your cuticles back starting from the corner of the cuticle. If your cuticles are thick and difficult to push back with the orange stick, use a metal stick, a stronger tool.

Fingernail Shine –

• Buffing your fingernails will give them a slight shine and a smooth texture. Using a nail buffer is a great substitute for clear nail polish.

• Simply use the nail buffer to rub lightly across the top of each fingernail.

There you have it! Simply, fast and easy manicure and nail care for men. As you may have noticed, hand and nail care is not complicated. Feel free to stop by Total Beauty Experience for more manicure advice and all your nail care necessities.

If you’re in the mood for an indulging treat, consider a professional manicure by one of our manicurists. Manicures come complete with hand massage and full nail care, and more and more men are taking advantage of this simple luxury.

Change your look at the drop of a glove! From riotous reds to warm, spicy hues, Total Beauty Experience has a rich range of nail colors to match your every mood. Choose your favorite nail polish colors from our many collections including OPI, Essie, and Gigi. Give your fingernails a treat with a deluxe nail treatment. Choose your favorite top of the line nail care products by Seche Vite, Mavala, Barielle, and more. Come into Total Beauty Experience and find everything you need to color your life!

How to Choose a Nail Color

When it comes to choosing a nail polish, the vast rainbow of available colors can be overwhelming, but don’t worry–there are several ways to decide the right nail color for you. The following pointers will help you know what to consider as you discover a new nail polish color for your wardrobe. Make your nail polish selections based on:

The Occasion: Your choice of nail polish color for a business meeting will be different than the one for an evening party.  For anything business, stay with muted, neutral nail colors so you don’t distract attention from the important ideas you have to share. For anything fun, brighten and lighten up. Day events call for bold, eye-popping colors while evening events require dark, warm colors.

The Season: Change your nail polish with the seasons! After all we change our fashion to match the time of year; why not give our nails the same attention? Stick to lighter nail polish colors during the warmer months to match the bright blossoms that are blooming. As the days grow darker, so should your nails. Spicy, rich nail polish colors create a great wintery look.

Your Skin Tone: Don’t clash with your natural beauty. If you have a fair complexion, blue-based colors will look best on you.  If you have darker skin, stick to yellow-based nail colors.  It’s easy to tell a color’s base by holding the bottle up to a white piece of paper– what color reflection do you see?  If you’re mid-shopping trip and plumb out of paper, simply hold the color to the inside of your wrist:  Does it clash or does it look classy?  Here is a general guide to help you out:

* Fair Skin:  Choose berry reds, as they nearly always have a bit of pink in them.

* Medium Skin:  Choose deep burgundy or wine colors

* Olive or Bronze Skin:  Choose orange-reds, browns, or golds

* Dark Skin:  Choose strong reds, deep plums, or silvers

Your Wardrobe: Never clash colors. Take inventory of what’s in your closet and keep your dominant clothing shades in mind when you choose a new nail polish. If you wear a lot of rich russet and brown shades of clothing, you’ll want to consider adding these shades of nail polish to your collection.

Despite all these “rules,” don’t forget to be yourself! Take advantage of your fashion freedom and take a chance on a color you love, but aren’t sure you can get away with–you might be surprised.

Easy Care for Beautiful Nails

Always Apply Varnish: Get started by applying a nail varnish remover before doing anything with your nails.  Even if you don’t have an old nail polish to remove, applying nail varnish prepares the nails by removing any grease so that your polish will last longer. Then give your fingernails plenty of time for each layer of nail varnish to dry; this will ensure a lasting finish. If you can’t wait around for the drying process, use a quick drying formula.

Reapply Nail Polish Moderately: Try not to remove and reapply nail polish more than once or twice a week, as doing so will dry out your fingernails. You may also wish to use a nail polish remover with built in moisturizers; this will help limit any damage do to dryness.

Hand Message for Nail Growth/Strength: Enhance your nail growth and strength with a pampering hand massage.  Regular hand massages boost circulation which in turn encourages nail growth. Rub the fingernails of one hand across the nails of the other hand for about 5 minutes each day. Use four fingers of the opposite hand and knead each finger from the tip to the bottom of each finger to will relax your fingers. Also include your favorite moisturizer as you massage for soothing skin care.

Applying Nail Polish: Apply two coats of nail polish. You should be able to cover the nail in three stokes, one on each side and then one in the middle. Always allow your polish to dry thoroughly for several minutes before you apply the final coat. Plan accordingly if you’re applying darker shades of nail polish as they take longer to dry. Once your nail polish has dried, apply a clear Top Coat to seal it. Continue to apply the Top Coat daily to keep nails looking fresher longer.

Longer Looking Nails: If you have short fingernails, apply a dark shade of nail polish and do not paint the edges of your nails. This will make short fingernails appear longer.

Filing Nails: File nails when the white part of the nail tip has grown 1/4″ from the pink part of the nail.  You may weaken fingernails if you file your nails before they are at least 1/4″ long. If you let fingernails grow to a length longer than the base pink nail length, they will break easily. When filing, go from the corner to the center in one direction. Follow the groove on the side of your nail. Nail files from side to side would weaken nails.

Buffing Nails: Buffing nails can give them a shinier finish. Start at the cuticle and work your way down to the tip with medium pressure. Don’t use a back and forth movement as heat builds up and this can damage your nails. Continue lightly until all ridges on the nail surface have disappeared.

Strengthen Fingernails: Help strengthen your fingernails by applying a nail hardener or strengthener. If using alone, simply apply one to two coats once per week. If applying with colored polish, use the nail hardener as a base coat before applying your favorite nail polish. Also avoid frequent use of nail polish remover as they tend to dry out and weaken fingernails.

Have you ever wondered why we have nails on our fingers and toes? Fingernails protect the nerves inside our fingertips, while toenails protect the toes from injury. Nails are made up of a protein called keratin and are part of the skin layer.  In addition to being fantastic protectors, nails are also tiny windows to the state of our health.

What Your Fingernails May Be Telling You…

Some of the most revealing signs that fingernails can show involve color. No, not your nail polish color, but the color of the fingernails themselves.

• Yellow Fingernails: If you notice that your nails have a yellowish tinge, this can be can early sign of an internal disorder such as liver problems, diabetes, or respiratory problems. Yellow nails may also be due to smoking tobacco or from applying nail polish directly onto the nail plate, without a protective base coat. (This is why we recommend speaking to your doctor so you can rule out health disorders or bad habits.)

• Green Fingernails: Often a sign of a simple illness, green fingernails can be a sign of stress, allergies, or infection.

• Blue Fingernail Beds: Bluish nail beds can be a sign of lung trouble, such as emphysema or even asthma.

• Light-Pink Fingernail Beds: A good sign to see because pink fingernail beds tell us we are getting a healthy supply of blood.

Another type of signpost our fingernails give us are lines running through the nail as well as tiny spots. Again, color plays a role in distinguishing certain health problems.

• White Lines: If you see white lines in or across your fingernail, this may be a sign of a lack of iron or zinc in your diet. White lines in fingernails also signify heart disease, kidney disorders, or fever.

• Dark Blue Lines: Much more ominous are dark blue lines in the fingernail because this may be a sign of skin cancer.

• Black Lines: Tiny black lines can indicate a heart problem.

• Reddish-Brown Spots: These little signs may be letting you know of a deficiency of folic acid, vitamin C, or protein.

• White Spots: A very common nail abnormality are white spots in nails. These little guys are likely a result of iron or zinc deficiency.

The texture of fingernails may also be telling us something about our general health status.

• Bumpy Fingernails: If you notice tiny undulations on your fingernails, this may be a sign that you are prone to developing arthritis.

• Vertical Ridges on Fingernails: A more vague sign, vertical ridges on fingernails may suggest a simple problem such as iron deficiency or poor absorption of vitamins and nutrients. But they may also suggest something more severe such as kidney trouble.

• Horizontal Ridges on Fingernails: This texture abnormality can indicate physical or mental stress.

The shape and condition of fingernails are some more windows into the state of one’s health.

• Nails that Curl Under: Usually curling under at the tips of fingernails, this can be a sign of heart problems or respiratory problems.

• Raised Nails at the Base: If your fingernails are raised at the base of the nailbed, this may suggest respiratory trouble.

• Wide, Square Fingernails: This fingernail shape can indicate a hormonal disorder.

• Flat & Thin Fingernails: This may be a sign of not enough vitamin B12.

Nutrition Can Transform Nails

In addition to being signs of possible health disorders, fingernails and toe nails tell us about our nutrition needs.

Protein Deficiency: Since nails are mainly made up of protein, they can immediately alert us to a lack of it in our diet. If you notice white bands across the fingernail bed, you may need to increase your protein. A protein rich diet may include lean meats, nuts, oats, yogurt, cheese, milk, soy products, seeds, and other grains.

Calcium Deficiency: Very important for healthy, strong nails, a lack calcium may be shown in fingernails by lose of strength (weak, flimsy nails) dryness, and brittle nails. You can increase your daily amount of calcium one or two ways – taking a daily supplement or eating daily products such as cheese, yogurt, and milk, or nondairy products such as almonds, spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and tofu.

Vitamin B Deficiency: As mentioned above, a lack of vitamin B can be suggested by nail ridges. Vitamin B is needed for strengthening, while vitamin B12 also strengthens while promoting normal nail growth and healthy coloring. Besides taking vitamin supplements, you may also want to eat vitamin rich foods such as avocados, potatoes, liver, bananas, tuna, and legumes.

Vitamin C Deficiency: A frequent occurrence of hang nails and nail tissue swelling are indicators that you’re not getting enough vitamin C. Vitamin C can be found in many delicious foods such as strawberries, oranges and orange juice, lemons, grapefruit, peaches, mangos, nectarines, raspberries, peppers, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and green cabbage.

As you can see, nutrition literally plays an extremely important role in every function of our bodies, right down to the tips of our fingers and toes. The best way to assure yourself of healthy nails is to eat a well balanced diet.

If you’re noticing any symptoms or signs, please visit your doctor for a thorough examination. In the meantime, watch what you eat. You’ll not only have beautiful, strong fingernails and toe nails, but you’ll feel better and have more energy!