Nail polish - can be frustrating; literally watching paint dry. If you are like me, you lose patience and never leave enough time to let them dry. I've done my nails before bed and woken up with 'sheet' marks on them; I've left the spa immediately to find them smudge from  the inside of my handbag trying to dig out my keys. Oh, the drama... of nails.

Well - recently I wrote a bridal beauty article for theeventfulplanner.ca and came across MINX nails, (via twitter, actually). MINX is essentially a very cool shrink wrap technology that heat seals onto your nails - stylish AND functional. 

 I've been taking on clients since I have perfected my technique. During my MINX 'training', I have discovered a couple of great things about them;

1) If you are a nail biter, it makes it impossible to bite through the nail armour therefore you get long nails! I have a client who is excited to get her second set, this time put on her newly grown out nails.

 2) If you have a nail split mid-way on your nail plate, no need to try to mend with glue or tissue and clear polish - the MINX nail armour seals the split from snagging as it is covered, you can easily grow it out. Plus, ZERO drying time, means you don't have to sit in the spa for 20 minutes reading the old fashion magazines over and over and over.

MINX nail armours come in a vast amount of styles - you get to be a kid in a candy store wanting them all. My favourites are tweed, snake skin, gold studs, lace - ok, my list can go on and on and on.

How long do they last? Well- I have had clients wear them from 1-2 weeks (pedicures a lot longer - up to 2 months). It really depends on you. One of my clients, a hairstylist as well, got 2 weeks out of them and she was shampooing and blow-drying every day. Another client, a real estate agent got 1 week - she was fussing with keys all the time admittedly using her nails as tools; oy, you can lead a horse... (**MINX states manis last 4-8 days, so any extra is gravy!** )

 How much does it cost? The going rates are$50- $75 US per mani, depending on technician and armour choice. Why so much? Well, if you think about it, it's quite reasonable. Most women find their nail polish chips within the first 24 hours of getting a manicure - unless you are a Princess and have handlers who do everything for you. The steps to a MINX manicure start with a clean manicure, cuticle work, filing etc - so you aren't losing but gaining more in longevity and cool factor.  

Want to get MINXED?  The Minx Salon Locator is a click away to find your nail tech in your city.

 Hand photographer, clearly I am not, but the nails are very cool! Pink, black with silver polkadot, tweed, snake skin and lace. Check them out: