Today Johnie of The Beauty Junkie blog talks about a fun way to let your fingers do the talking.
Have you heard of MINX nail coverings yet? I ask because they’ve taken the beauty world by storm.
I caught my first glimpse of MINX nails about 10 months ago in one of the many beauty magazines that gets delivered monthly to my mailbox (always such a good mail day when one of those arrives!). Rhianna was sporting them in silver chrome, and I was like, “WHERE do I get some of those?” Her nails looked amazing and done to perfection.
Back then MINX were brand spankin’ new, and nobody had heard of them before, including the people at most salons.
Since then things have changed.
Now, they regularly appear in magazines, being worn by more and more celebrities. Beyonce is a huge fan and gets caught wearing MINX a lot, and the product’s getting more press all the time.
My first MINX manicure
Salons all across America are getting into the trend, and I was finally able to get my first MINX manicure about a week ago.
I don’t live in a big city like Atlanta, New York City or anyplace like that, yet there are already two salons in my area offering MINX. If I can get my hands on them where I live — rather, get them on my hands — you probably can too.
So what the heck are MINX nail coverings?
Literally, they’re adhesive nail stickers available in a wide range of colors and patterns.
You can go with a seasonal look, a plain jane solid or just go crazy with something outrageous; they have it all.
The variety is what makes these the coolest nail art I’ve ever seen, and the selection continues to grow.
I was told by my salon tech that they can now even do custom MINX nail coverings. If, for example, there’s a particular pattern or print you love, you can send a sample to MINX to turn into your very own design. Pretty cool, huh?
The MINX manicure experience
It’s not your typical manicure and doesn’t involve a nail soak or lotion. The nail bed has to be completely dry, so don’t expect a nice, relaxing hand massage or hot lotion hand soak (sorry). The salon will, however, shape your nails and trim your cuticles. The tech I worked with used a VERY HOT light bulb to heat my MINXs, which looked like a sheet of little stickers all sized for different nails, while she prepped for the application.
Once the nails were warmed, she peeled them from the sheet, applied a little more heat, secured and precisely trimmed each one to fit the nail, and then filed the ends with a crystal glass file. Finally, she used a light sealer on the tips and slightly under the nail, and that was it. All done and very simple!
After watching I felt like I could have done it myself. The process took about 30 minutes, total, and just as a side note, if you like acrylic nails, my tech told me that they don’t work well with MINX coverings. For some reason acrylic interferes with the adhesive, so MINX seem to work best and last longer on natural nails.
How much do they cost?
Prices vary between $30-55 for a MINX manicure (here’s a partial list of salons that offer MINX nails). Do some research to find locations in your area.
It’s a bit more expensive than a nail polish manicure, but you get much cooler nails that should also last a lot longer.
How long do MINX nails last?
I was told they’d last about two weeks, and after a week, I might notice the ends starting to peel.
There are things you can do to extend the life of MINX nails, but a lot depends on what you do with your hands. I have to wash and sanitize mine 100 times a day, so I’ve been much harder on my MINX nails than most. I’ve only had mine for four days, and I already see some wear on the tips.
Typically, my regular nail polish manicures start to chip within a few days, and my MINX nails definitely look like they’re in better condition after four.
Final verdict?
Overall, I love them! Tons of people have complimented me about them (I think they go with everything), and everyone has noticed. I found out later that the print I chose was also just featured in Glamour Magazine.
MINX nails are a cool, fun way to express your personality, like fashion for your nails!
Will I get them all the time? No, probably not because I like to do my own nails, too, and I don’t get regular manicures that often. Believe it or not, I have never in my life had acrylic nails. Plus, I own like 100 nail polishes, and I’m not about to let them go to waste!
But I’ll definitely be getting MINX nails again. They’re a fun treat every now and then, maybe when I have a special event to go to, or just feel like being sassy! I might try them next time on my piggies. YES, they do MINX pedicures, too!
So go out and get MINXed! Just once and you’ll be hooked! 🙂
This post was written by Johnie, makeup artist and beauty blogger behind The Beauty Junkie blog.
How cool! I have never even heard of this!
.-= Kajal Couture’s last blog post… Smooth Control Hair Shampoo =-.
Hi Kajal,
Me too! Don’t they look so fun and sassy?
OMG i want these…hopefully someone does this where i live cause i so want to do this!! i love the design you picked
.-= jennifer’s last blog post… makeup_queen81: woke up with my headache gone but I can barely open my eyes they hurt so bad =-.
Hi Jennifer,
I love ’em, too. I would love to have this design on my toes.
I want those chrome ones, or the leopard print!
Hi Cloudburst,
Ooooh leopard print! I want that one, too.
hey! i just got MINX nails today and i loooooove the zebra ones! i also got leopard and gold sparkle leopard 🙂
YIKES!
im in love!!!
gimmme gimmmme haha.
Hi Sarah,
LOL! Hopefully you’ll have a salon nearby that offers this service. 🙂
those look awesome! loveee.
Hi Alyssaaa,
I agree! Want!
How festive! I’m loving the tattoo-inspired ones. 😀
Hi Meream,
Those look very sassy. 🙂
Love them. They sort of remind of graffiti.
Hi Rachel,
They do look like graffiti. I love how colorful they are… so fun!
I saw it in Marie Claire and it’s quite intriguing. However, I don’t know if I want to do it though. It sounds too high maintenance to me!
.-= Dao’s last blog post… Building Your Wardrobe: a Quick Guide =-.
Hi Dao,
I hear ya. Still, it might be a fun thing to try once.
Love them, they’re so cool!
.-= gio’s last blog post… Looks: Multicolor =-.
My question is… can they put them on your toes?
My pedis always last longer than manis, so I could get maximum wear if I got them as a pedicure! Must investigate!
.-= Ginger’s last blog post… Upcoming: Carnival of 20-Something Finances =-.
Cool post, Johnie! those flowers are so cute and they look good on your short nails!
I got gold (lightning? I can’t remember the name) on my toes 2 or 3 months ago and they lasted for weeks without peeling! I didn’t have to take special care of them or anything. I got a lot of compliments on them. 🙂
I’ll have to check out the new designs they have on the website you linked. But the prices in LA are much higher than where you live so I can’t really justify getting them done again any time soon 🙁
omg this is sooo cool, ive never heard of this! i live in nyc, it should be hard to ind somewhere to get this done, price is the scary part…
I am glad everyone seems to like them! I really have enjoyed them too! I get tons of compliments! I agree with Karen, everyone should try it once! They are so much fun! But I know the price can be scary. I live in a mid-sized city and my price is much for affordable than $50+. But if you can find a salon and can afford them I totally recommend trying once! Next time I get MINXed I am trying out the pink leporad print!
I love them, and found an even better way to make them last. I brush 5 Second nail glue’s brush on resin on the very ends of then a couple of , and it works very well. You can find it at Sally’s.
Thanks for the tip, R!
I was trained in Minx about 2 years ago now. I totally love them. I much prefer them on your toes as they last around 6-8 weeks which is totally fabulous. I always have them on my nails to show my clients how they look, they sparkle and stand out so much no one can miss them. So glad that everyone loves them as much as I do. xx
there are also jamberry nails, you can order them from the internet, their really simple but you use a blowdyryer for heat so you can do them at home
I LOVE my Jamberry Nails – they are absolutely the best and so much fun! 🙂 They are exactly like the above – but you do them yourself. 🙂
It’s way more affordable to use jamberry nails at home yourself. They are $15 for a sheet of nail shields that you can get 3 ful lsets out of and they have a special right now, buy 3 get 1 free. you can get them here….. anastasiadesigns.jamberrynails.com