4.06.2011

My mother used to be a manicurist. I was around ten years old, and I distinctly remember going with her some days to the salon where she worked. I even gave a little old lady a foot massage once, where she proceeded to give me a five dollar tip! Big bucks when you're ten! I loved watching my mom work on nails. She even did a house call to my second grade teacher, who became one of her regular clients. I was mesmerized by the pretty, shiny nail lacquers that littered the floors of our house while she practiced different techniques. Mannequin hands and nail tools strewn about the kitchen table. Bottles and bottles of nail polish remover, cuticle oils, and nail files. To this day, when I pass a salon and smell the acetone, it brings back fond, happy memories of my mom's days as a manicurist.

Yes, I believe this contributed to my love affair with nail polish. I'm an addict. Thanks, Mom.

This is my little nail station. I recently bought the storage container from Wal-Mart. It was around five dollars. I love that it has three roomy drawers, perfect for separating and sorting by color.


First drawer: Reds, Corals, Peaches, and Wines


Second drawer: Nudes, Pinks, Purples, and Lilacs


Third drawer: Blues, Greens, Greys, Taupes, and other miscellaneous shades that are more unique in my collection.

I love all brands, but I actually own more Essie than any other.  I have to say that Zoya is my new obsession.



I also keep my tools, base coats, top coats, and cuticle softeners right next to my nail polish stash.


How and where do you store your nail polish? Although my collection is large, I don't feel overwhelmed by it as I did when I stored my polish in a small bin a couple months back. However, I do need to downsize and stop buying more. But just as any addiction is difficult to break, so is mine!
♥ Noelle

21 comments:

  1. I love looking at other people's nailpolish collections...so many colours to put on my wishlist. My current polish faves are Chanel, Zoya and Rimmel Pro (and they all have square bottles which I love LOL!)

    I did my own polish collection a while back here:
    http://ellaprettyblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-nailpolish-collection.html

    I've picked up around 10 more polishes since then - including 2 Chanel ones - yikes!

    Do you have any secret manicurist tips from your mom? I adore the look of professionally done nails, and I try so hard to get the same effect at home!

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  2. this motivates me to do a nail polish collection post too. I have a quite a few polishes and have fallen in love with essie recently. i think i will do this today after i'm done w/my school work. thanks noelle. i love those drawer things from wal-mart. i just got a smaller one recently for my lip products. it's full. had to take some out actually. LOL. need to go on a spending ban for skincare and makeup and nail products for a long time!!!

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  3. I just posted about my current nail polish haul yesterday! I've gone a little crazy this last month! =)

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  4. Are you on twitter? Well I tweeted a pic of my nail collection maybe a week or so ago.

    I have two containers under my bed, which got full, so I have a basket that fits right into the lower open shelf area of my night stand, which is also now full, so maybe I will take over my husbands side of his night stand. :D

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  5. I love your nail polish collection! I think it's a good size with lots of selection!

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  6. Awww, a little girl's dream to be in a salon all day :) Your stash is great, I spy some amazing colors!

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  7. I love your blog. your style and vibe are great.
    Check out mine and follow me back if you like it! Id appreciate the support.

    http://clothesovercarbs.blogspot.com/

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  8. Great idea to sort them out by color. I sort mine by brand :) I've actually been meaning to do a new blog post on my nail polish collection, so be sure to check back for that. Beautiful colors! Which are your favs? xx-jackie

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  9. great post : ) I've been a follower for awhile and never commented before. Is CND your favorite base coat? I'm in the market for a new base coat but have heard some people get staining with 'Stickey.' Have you ever had any problems?

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  10. Ella Pretty Blog: Ooooo, I love Chanel polish as well! I have two - Black Pearl that I purchased, and Riva which I won on a lovely blog giveaway =)

    I'll have to check out your collection because I love to see what others' have!

    As for any professional tips...Hmmmmm. I don't really know of any! Except, you should never trim your cuticles. Instead, let your nails soak in warm water and a little oil to soften them. Then proceed to push them back with an orange stick. Also, when you do get your nails done at a salon, bring your own tools! It is much safer and more sanitary that way =)

    DeAnna: Do a post on them! I would love to see your collection!

    Southern Domestic Bliss: I missed it! I'll have to go look for it ;)

    Crystal: No, I'm not on Twitter. I'm like, the only one who isn't these days! I bet your collection is amazing!

    b_ra: Thank you!

    Andi: It was so much fun to get to go to work with mom =) I really enjoyed that whole experience.

    Charlotte: Thank you!

    Jackie: I hope to see one, because I bet you have a great selection! My faves are: Chanel's Black Pearl, Zoya's LC, Essie's Van D'Go and Boat House, China Glaze Lubu Heels, and OPI's You Don't Know Jacques! Of course, the list goes on and on...I love them all really!

    Melissa: Thank you =) Ok, so I just bought the CND Stickey a few weeks back and I really dislike it! It's true that it stains the nails. I've had a green tinge to my nails ever since I started using it and it won't go away! I don't want to waste it, but I won't repurchase and I don't recommend!

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  11. LOVE all your nail polish!!! Do you prefer the professional polish remover? I WISH I had this many...I usually get my nails done...so I don't buy many, but I really should! Save some $$!

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  12. I love this! I love to paint my nails, but I'm so lazy with base coats and top coats they are doneski in about two days. I loveee to look at the nail polish section at ULTA!

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  13. you've got quite the collection there :) love it!

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  14. omg so many pretty polishes!! i love your pink collection :)

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  15. What a cool story! Thanks for sharing :)

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  16. I keep mine in something like this, but jumbo sized: http://ryansgeneralstore.net/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1348

    I can not, for the life of me, find a photo of what I own. It's basically just a flip-top storage bin. The nail polish remover and drying spray even fit snugly along the side of the container. I've got almost 60 polishes in there and I don't think I could fit one more!

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  17. Love the polishes and super cute story! I just bought my first Essie a while ago and I'm in LOVE with it! I love how fast it dries!!!

    I love those drawers! I keep most of my makeup in things like that!

    I keep my poishes in one of those travel costmetic rolls...you know the ones with three pockets and rolls up like brush roll. It's a super cute one I found at Ulta on clearance for $2!!

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  18. Natasha: Thank you =) I wish I could get mani's and pedi's more often! I love a good pedicure, nothing like it! I have been using the CVS nail polish remover for years now, and I really love it. It takes polish off easily and quickly, even glitter. The only thing is that because it is pure acetone, it is drying around my nail beds. But nothing some good lotion can't fix.

    Lydia: Ulta is the best! I could look through the selection there for hours!

    V, Lisa, Becky, and uhooi: Thank you ladies!

    Rachel: That's awesome! I need something like that I think!

    Nicole: I'm happy you discovered Essie! Some people don't like the formula. I will say that some of Essie's polishes are better than others in terms of opacity. But that's with any brand I think! I can't believe you got a travel roll for two dollars! I'm jealous ;)

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  19. oh my gosh girl i think you have me beat in the polish department! i have mine in clear drawers like that too! xo

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  20. I've been trying to find a good solution to storing my polishes...i think I'm going to have to give into buying a rack hahaha

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  21. just found your blog and following now!!
    kisses from prague
    http://sienastyle.blogspot.com/

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