Article by BR Amelia
If you thought lipstick would be the most popular cosmetic product, up until last year you'd have been right. For the first time ever, a girl's best friend has been replaced. The nail industry has overtaken lipstick sales.
When you think about it, both the lips and tips industries offer quite similar things. It's easy to find lipsticks and nail polishes to fit into any budget. There's a shade and finish out there for everyone. Both are quick and easy pick me ups. And both products are easy to collect. Look at me - I bite my nails and prefer lipgloss, but I still have 40 nail polishes and 51 lipsticks.
But why has the nail industry boomed so dramatically in the last year? It probably has something to do with the number of nail bars popping up - even in small towns you can now get your nails done, whether they be falsies or your own.
And we all know the beauty industry is recession proof right? Even in the dreariest of times, people will pay to look good and feel better. In the UK nail bars are opeing more stores than any other industry - where huge supermarkets are closing stores, chain nail bars are thriving. And it's a pattern you can see the world over, including here in New Zealand.
But it's not just nail services that are boosting the nail business. New technologies in nail polish, from at home gel kits, to new oxygenated polishes are keeping the consumers happy. And of course, the internet is literally bursting with nail art tutorials and how tos. And how about the, some may say shameless, pop culture tie ins? From OPIs 50 Shades of Grey collection to Victoria Beckham's new line for Nails Inc, there's no doubtig the power of celebrity endorsement or fandom. (I'm still hoping the Modern Family range of Nicole by OPI will make it to our shores!) Even 3D printing has had an impact on the nail business - did you know you can design and print your own nail wraps?!
Now we're pretty confident lipstick makers don't need to be shaking in their boots - as if we'd ever turn our backs on a good lippy, but is it a sign that women are now leading with their hands? Is a well presented hand now as important as a well perfected face?
What do you spend more money on? Your lips or your tips? Do you regularly get your nails done, and are they more important to you than the perfect pout? If you had to choose just one product for the rest of your life, what would it be? Lipstick or Nail Polish?
Get chatting below!
I remember a friend from back at school age ( a few years back LOL) who used to always experiment with nail decorating as she had 4 mannequin hands to practice on. This was before the wraps were a big thing here and she use to put sellotape on the nails to add decorations to nails then cut to shape. She always felt that was no good when she had broke a nail and wanted long nails so she then put a couple of pieces of liteweight cardboard(its strong but really thin) on double sided tape then covered it over the top with sellotape. She then cut it out to match the artificial nails and then stuck it onto her nails and painted and decorated it. They looked really good and it was not something you could tell the difference between without touching it and there was a different finish. So I grew up experimenting with nail colours and style of nail reflecting what we were doing or our moods and even when I went through a nail biting stage when my friend was overseas , when she came back I stopped and we went back to our fun. It was a great catchup girls day of facials and manicures and lots of laughs and every so often a few drinks with alot of fun reminiscing and sharing of great stories... Thanks for reminding me and taking this trip down memory lane..