Finding a forever nail spot has proven nearly impossible...until now. I have been to so many places in search of the perfect manicure in Philly. Even manicures from places with stellar reviews would chip within 3 days - and I'm talking regular AND gel manicures!

When Mi Cumbia reached out to try their services, the answer was an immediate yes. I had seen Mi Cumbia, an organic nail salon, in passing and was always curious to try them because of their commitment to using non-toxic products and their great reviews.

Booking an appointment was so easy, and everything was done quickly through text. From my first interaction, they were so friendly and accommodating so I knew I was in good hands.

Because of my issues with gel nails lasting, I chose to try the Shellac Manicure to see how that would compare. However they had an excellent selection of regular polishes, including shades from some of my favorite brands like Zoya. I usually expect a smaller section for other manicures but they had a pretty good selection of shellac shades as well.

In case you're wondering, like me, Shellac is similar to a gel manicure, but is a semi-permanent polish. It's thinner than gel and lasts 2 weeks, whereas gel is *supposed* to last up to 3 weeks. Shellac is said to be easier to remove (I'll comment on that when the time comes!) and is less harmful to the nail. I wanted to also note that Shellac does not have a non-toxic option at the moment.

My manicurist was Rosa who was so friendly and she did an amazing job. She took her time and was thorough with all parts of the manicure. One of the things I hate is when the experience is rushed, and my Mi Cumbia manicure was nothing like that. I really appreciated the little touches, like the mango butter with lavender that was used during the hand massage.

Something else that was included with the service was coffee or tea. I'm not usually a coffee drinker but this Columbian coffee was some of the best coffee I've ever had. Again, these little touches all add up and make a huge difference. The space itself was also very cute and had a relaxing vibe.

I chose to write my review 10 days after my appointment to see how my manicure held up....and it's perfect. Not one chip, crack, nothing except for the little bits of nail growth that can't be avoided. I'm shocked at how well this manicure has held up. A Salinas manicura (regular manicure) is $41 and the Shellac manicura is $44 (and worth every penny!) I cannot wait to try the pedicure next. The salon also offers waxing services which I'll have to check out as well.

This is one hidden gem that I can't wait to tell everyone about! Learn more about Mi Cumbia and their offerings here.

Special thanks to Mi Cumbia for the complimentary service. All opinions shared above are my own.

April 30, 2019

{Around Philly} Mi Cumbia Manicure Review

Beauty

Finding a forever nail spot has proven nearly impossible...until now. I have been to so many places in search of the perfect manicure in Philly. Even manicures from places with stellar reviews would chip within 3 days - and I'm talking regular AND gel manicures!

When Mi Cumbia reached out to try their services, the answer was an immediate yes. I had seen Mi Cumbia, an organic nail salon, in passing and was always curious to try them because of their commitment to using non-toxic products and their great reviews.

Booking an appointment was so easy, and everything was done quickly through text. From my first interaction, they were so friendly and accommodating so I knew I was in good hands.

Because of my issues with gel nails lasting, I chose to try the Shellac Manicure to see how that would compare. However they had an excellent selection of regular polishes, including shades from some of my favorite brands like Zoya. I usually expect a smaller section for other manicures but they had a pretty good selection of shellac shades as well.

In case you're wondering, like me, Shellac is similar to a gel manicure, but is a semi-permanent polish. It's thinner than gel and lasts 2 weeks, whereas gel is *supposed* to last up to 3 weeks. Shellac is said to be easier to remove (I'll comment on that when the time comes!) and is less harmful to the nail. I wanted to also note that Shellac does not have a non-toxic option at the moment.

My manicurist was Rosa who was so friendly and she did an amazing job. She took her time and was thorough with all parts of the manicure. One of the things I hate is when the experience is rushed, and my Mi Cumbia manicure was nothing like that. I really appreciated the little touches, like the mango butter with lavender that was used during the hand massage.

Something else that was included with the service was coffee or tea. I'm not usually a coffee drinker but this Columbian coffee was some of the best coffee I've ever had. Again, these little touches all add up and make a huge difference. The space itself was also very cute and had a relaxing vibe.

I chose to write my review 10 days after my appointment to see how my manicure held up....and it's perfect. Not one chip, crack, nothing except for the little bits of nail growth that can't be avoided. I'm shocked at how well this manicure has held up. A Salinas manicura (regular manicure) is $41 and the Shellac manicura is $44 (and worth every penny!) I cannot wait to try the pedicure next. The salon also offers waxing services which I'll have to check out as well.

This is one hidden gem that I can't wait to tell everyone about! Learn more about Mi Cumbia and their offerings here.

Special thanks to Mi Cumbia for the complimentary service. All opinions shared above are my own.

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(l-r) Surya Brasil Nail Polishes in Jabiru, Coral Snake, Pampas Cat, and Anteater

If there's one beauty item that I'm especially picky about, it's nail polish.  There are many options on the market, so it can sometimes be hard to select the right ones.  There are a few things I consider before buying a nail polish - unique shades, price, and of course the ingredients.  I go for brands that are free of harmful ingredients (Zoya is a go-to!) but when I heard about Surya Brasil's organic nail polishes, I was definitely intrigued.

Surya Brasil is a sustainable line of beauty products using plants-based ingredients from the Amazon and around the world.  In addition to nail polishes, there also have hair and skin products (which I'll have to check out next!)

Let's take a closer look at the shades I tested...

Jabiru (Metallic White)
Jabiru is a silvery white shade.  This is not a color I would wear on its own again - maybe as a topper on another color or an accent nail!  I needed 2 coats, but the color is still somewhat streaky.  This color also chipped quickly.

Coral Snake (Intense Coral)
Coral Snake is a very pretty coral shade.  I own other coral shades, but this was different - it was a little sheer and I loved it.  This will be great for spring.  I didn't wear this long enough to test for chipping.

Pampas Cat (Tan)
Pampas Cat was a pretty nude shade that's great for an everyday look.  The color is so effortless and makes your nails look polished.  This took 2 coats and lasted pretty long.

Anteater (Dark Brown)
Anteater is a rich brown that's great for fall.  Again, this was 2 coats and coated my nails perfectly.  It's been a few days and I see some minor chips around the edges of my nails.  Overall I'm really loving this and it will be on repeat for the next few months.

Overall I'm impressed with my experience trying Surya Brasil.  I loved the colors I tried, the formulas and the fact that they were vegan and organic.

How beautiful are those wood caps!  I also loved the animal illustrations on each bottle (the name of each color in the Exotic Animals line corresponds to the picture!)  There was no detail overlooked with this line.

Would you give Surya Brasil a try?  Which color is your favorite?

September 04, 2017

{Nailed It} Surya Brasil Nail Polish Review

Beauty

(l-r) Surya Brasil Nail Polishes in Jabiru, Coral Snake, Pampas Cat, and Anteater

If there's one beauty item that I'm especially picky about, it's nail polish.  There are many options on the market, so it can sometimes be hard to select the right ones.  There are a few things I consider before buying a nail polish - unique shades, price, and of course the ingredients.  I go for brands that are free of harmful ingredients (Zoya is a go-to!) but when I heard about Surya Brasil's organic nail polishes, I was definitely intrigued.

Surya Brasil is a sustainable line of beauty products using plants-based ingredients from the Amazon and around the world.  In addition to nail polishes, there also have hair and skin products (which I'll have to check out next!)

Let's take a closer look at the shades I tested...

Jabiru (Metallic White)
Jabiru is a silvery white shade.  This is not a color I would wear on its own again - maybe as a topper on another color or an accent nail!  I needed 2 coats, but the color is still somewhat streaky.  This color also chipped quickly.

Coral Snake (Intense Coral)
Coral Snake is a very pretty coral shade.  I own other coral shades, but this was different - it was a little sheer and I loved it.  This will be great for spring.  I didn't wear this long enough to test for chipping.

Pampas Cat (Tan)
Pampas Cat was a pretty nude shade that's great for an everyday look.  The color is so effortless and makes your nails look polished.  This took 2 coats and lasted pretty long.

Anteater (Dark Brown)
Anteater is a rich brown that's great for fall.  Again, this was 2 coats and coated my nails perfectly.  It's been a few days and I see some minor chips around the edges of my nails.  Overall I'm really loving this and it will be on repeat for the next few months.

Overall I'm impressed with my experience trying Surya Brasil.  I loved the colors I tried, the formulas and the fact that they were vegan and organic.

How beautiful are those wood caps!  I also loved the animal illustrations on each bottle (the name of each color in the Exotic Animals line corresponds to the picture!)  There was no detail overlooked with this line.

Would you give Surya Brasil a try?  Which color is your favorite?

Read more

I love doing my nails, but sometimes it would be nice to have some fun designs that don't cost a lot of money (salon) or stress (polishing my right hand!)  That's where Jamberry comes in!  I recently had the opportunity to sample Jamberry Nails for the first time, and yes, I was nervous.

I figured it would take a few tries to get it right, so I started off with a sample that I used as an accent nail!

1.) Prepping the Nail

As with any nail procedure, you have to do some prep!  For me, this included watching a bunch of application videos!  Then I washed my hands (Jamberry suggests dish detergent is great for removing oils); shaped my nails; buffed my nails; and cleaned them with nail polish remover.

2.) Remove Wrap

I peeled the wrap back halfway and used the cuticle pusher to remove it from the sheet.  (Don't touch the sticky end because you don't want any oils to get on the wrap.)

3.) Heat Wrap

I heated the wrap with the hair dryer for 15 seconds.  That's longer than what Jamberry suggests, but I felt it was more pliable that way.

4.) Put Wrap on Nail

I placed the wrap on my nail and used the cuticle pusher to seal the edges.  After the wrap on on my nail, I heated it with the hair dryer again for 15 seconds to secure the wrap to my nail!  Jamberry suggests using nail scissors to trim the edges and then file the extra wrap off.  It's so much easier to trim the nail and the wrap with a nail cutter so that you get a more even tip!  I'll make sure my nail is a little longer next time so I can do it this way!

These steps sound easy right?  They're not!  No application is ever perfect the first time around.  I do have some bubbles on both nails - I think my nails are extra curvy and I didn't take extra care to smooth out the edges!  Luckily the design I chose hides the imperfections.

I finished off the look with Zoya Lara.  In the end, I was pleased with my first Jamberry nail experience.  I can't wait to try the beautiful Sugar and Spice set, but I'm thinking I like using Jamberry wraps for accent nails!  Want to give Jamberry a try?  Be sure to contact Xochtil for a sample here!

* These Jamberry samples were gifted, but all opinions expressed above are my own!

January 27, 2015

Nailed It: My Adventures with Jamberry Nails

Nails

I love doing my nails, but sometimes it would be nice to have some fun designs that don't cost a lot of money (salon) or stress (polishing my right hand!)  That's where Jamberry comes in!  I recently had the opportunity to sample Jamberry Nails for the first time, and yes, I was nervous.

I figured it would take a few tries to get it right, so I started off with a sample that I used as an accent nail!

1.) Prepping the Nail

As with any nail procedure, you have to do some prep!  For me, this included watching a bunch of application videos!  Then I washed my hands (Jamberry suggests dish detergent is great for removing oils); shaped my nails; buffed my nails; and cleaned them with nail polish remover.

2.) Remove Wrap

I peeled the wrap back halfway and used the cuticle pusher to remove it from the sheet.  (Don't touch the sticky end because you don't want any oils to get on the wrap.)

3.) Heat Wrap

I heated the wrap with the hair dryer for 15 seconds.  That's longer than what Jamberry suggests, but I felt it was more pliable that way.

4.) Put Wrap on Nail

I placed the wrap on my nail and used the cuticle pusher to seal the edges.  After the wrap on on my nail, I heated it with the hair dryer again for 15 seconds to secure the wrap to my nail!  Jamberry suggests using nail scissors to trim the edges and then file the extra wrap off.  It's so much easier to trim the nail and the wrap with a nail cutter so that you get a more even tip!  I'll make sure my nail is a little longer next time so I can do it this way!

These steps sound easy right?  They're not!  No application is ever perfect the first time around.  I do have some bubbles on both nails - I think my nails are extra curvy and I didn't take extra care to smooth out the edges!  Luckily the design I chose hides the imperfections.

I finished off the look with Zoya Lara.  In the end, I was pleased with my first Jamberry nail experience.  I can't wait to try the beautiful Sugar and Spice set, but I'm thinking I like using Jamberry wraps for accent nails!  Want to give Jamberry a try?  Be sure to contact Xochtil for a sample here!

* These Jamberry samples were gifted, but all opinions expressed above are my own!

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I love treating myself to a mani at the salon every now and then, and it always makes me sad when I see that pesky first polish chip.  It's always a downhill battle from there since the other nails usually follow.  This time, I decided to try a quick fix to salvage my mani for the weekend with some glitter!

I loved the color I tried this time, OPI's Push or Pur-pull, and didn't want to take it off just yet.  I tried a glitter french tip to cover up those chips!  It was so easy to do and makes a great holiday mani idea as well.

Before

After

And speaking of the holidays, how cute is this as a stocking stuffer idea?  Easy to put together and looks so cute!  I will definitely be doing it this year!

Hope you liked this quick fix mani idea!!

 

November 22, 2014

Nailed It: Quick Mani Fix

Nails

I love treating myself to a mani at the salon every now and then, and it always makes me sad when I see that pesky first polish chip.  It's always a downhill battle from there since the other nails usually follow.  This time, I decided to try a quick fix to salvage my mani for the weekend with some glitter!

I loved the color I tried this time, OPI's Push or Pur-pull, and didn't want to take it off just yet.  I tried a glitter french tip to cover up those chips!  It was so easy to do and makes a great holiday mani idea as well.

Before

After

And speaking of the holidays, how cute is this as a stocking stuffer idea?  Easy to put together and looks so cute!  I will definitely be doing it this year!

Hope you liked this quick fix mani idea!!

 

Read more