I can’t keep up with weekly manicures, but my at-home polish changes chip too quickly. Any longer-lasting solutions you know of that I can do at home? –Julia

First of all, I envy anyone who can keep up with weekly manicures. Second of all, I’ve got the perfect solution, and I’ve been dying to share my discovery.

Skip the salon for your next OPI Axxium or CND Shellac gel session. Order the $85 Lomasi at-home nail gel kit from L.A. For a microscopic slice of the price–factor in 20 manicures for that $85–you can get the same 2-week results. Every tool necessary for application and removal comes in the kit; all you need to bring is a sturdy hand for painting.

Jump for more details.

photography courtesy of Lomasi

I’ve had my setup for a couple months and performed a handful of manicures on myself and my mom, and I’m impressed. The color is smooth, long-lasting, and the top coat gel seems to smooth over any flaws. The kit comes with a beige color, Sincerity, which I happen to love, but colors can purchased separately. Here’s the list of online dealers. I’ve looked through them all, and most offer free shipping with this price of the kit, but Peninsula Beauty will ship single colors for free. (I just bought Commune, “an glossy shade of earthen brown.”)

There are few little luxuries I find more blissful than a fresh mani/pedi from a salon, especially with a long lasting gel, but it’s pretty cool dipping your hands under the UV lamp at home. In your bed. Eating ice cream. While watching Emily Thorne take out her Hampton enemies on Netflix.

This post is based on a sample sent for review by Lomasi.

Gemma Ward photographed by Craig McDean for Vogue Paris August 2004 and Butter London's HRH polish

I dream of having lavender locks. I swoon when I see violet strands tied up on bows on Tumblr. I Pin and re-Pin purple hairdos thinking one day, I’ll get the guts to do it myself. Until then, temporary purple hair extensions could be the ticket at Daireds Salon & Spa Pangéa during their Women in Purple campaign.

Throughout the entire month of October, the Arlington salon is raising awareness (and money) to fight domestic violence with purple beauty services. Grab a purple extension or two for $15 a pop and a manicure ($35) or pedicure ($55) in Butter London’s shades of purple polish, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to SafeHaven of Tarrant County, a local domestic violence resource center and women’s shelter.

Where: Daireds Salon & Spa Pangéa
When: October 1-31, 2012
To Book: 817-465-9797

Kelly Belter is a shopping intern.

Watermelon nail art not included. (photography courtesy of beautybloggingjunkie.com)

It’s the 50-minute Watermelon Lime Pedicure at V Spa:

Cool off with a complimentary watermelon slush to sip on. Relax while your feet soak in the refreshing scent of Watermelon. Rejuvenate with a lime zest sugar scrub and moisture application. Choose your polish.

Who doesn’t love watermelon, pedis, and slushies? (If you seriously don’t, ignore this post.) This pedi sounds like heaven. It’s just $50 at V Spa on their new summer menu.

Click to get closer up. (photography by Matthew Shelley)

I can break my beauty product addiction down into a much more specific breed: nail polish addiction. Limited edition collections of polish let you feel festive with each season and allow you to try out trends. (Subtly.) Brightly colored denim makes you feel like Peter Pan, you say? Try the hue on your fingertips instead.  Finding spring Prabal Gurung prints a bit dizzying from head to toe? Try them out on your nails.

Now check out my absolute favorite of the spring polish collections from Essie, Estee Lauder, NARS, Le Metier de Beaute, Tom Ford, and Chanel.

1. MAC “Pinkly Fresh,” a creamy pink with a hint of blue, $16 (NorthPark’s MAC Pro Shop, Dillards, Nordstrom, and Macy’s)
2. Estée Lauder “Molten Lava,” a dark mauve with gold and copper shimmer, $19 (Neiman Marcus, Dillards, Macy’s, and Nordstrom)
3. Essie “Orange, It’s Obvious,” a dark neon orange, $8 (CVS, Target, and Walgreen’s)
4. Tom Ford “Silver Smoke,” a metallic silver with pearl shimmer, $30 (Neiman Marcus)
5. Chanel “Distraction,” a coral with micro pink shimmer, $26 (Chanel Boutique, Stanley Korshak, or Neiman Marcus NorthPark)
6. NARS “Diamond Life,” a metallic lilac with silver shimmer, $18 (Sephora and Neiman Marcus)
7. Le Métier de Beauté “Yield to Yellow,” a slightly sheer, bright mustard yellow, $18 (Neiman Marcus)
8. Essie “Navigate Her,” a sweet spring pastel green, $8 (CVS, Target, and Walgreen’s)

Jump for a close-up of each swatch.

1. MAC “Pinkly Fresh”

2. Estée Lauder “Molten Lava”

3. Essie “Orange, It’s Obvious”

4. Tom Ford “Silver Smoke”

5. Chanel “Distraction”

6. NARS “Diamond Life”

7. Le Métier de Beauté “Yield to Yellow”

8. Essie “Navigate Her”

photography courtesy of Essie

That’s right. You scream, I scream, Courtney Kerr screams for Essie nail polish. And how could you not with their chic color selection and reliable formulas? The Cocktail Bling fall/winter collection, inspired by cocktail jewelry, showcases a bright red “Size Matters,” pastel lavender “Bangle Jangle,” green gray “School of Hard Rocks,” pale gray “Cocktail Bling,” gray blue “Bobbing for Baubles,” and a creamy nude “Brooch the Subject.” (Think they were thinking of Dallas when they decided on gaudy jewels as the theme for this line?) These six bottles may have been created for the cool weather, but these classic colors will work beautifully through spring and summer, too. Enter here to win this set. We’ll draw a random name on Tuesday of next week.

photography from StyleSheet

StyleSheet’s pretty post featuring fingernails full of a dusty rose mauve polish made me want to compare the fall polish collections of some of my favorite brands and where you can buy them in Dallas: OPI, Duri, Rescue Beauty Lounge, Essie, and Button London.

By the way, if you purchase OPI’s Pamplona Purple (see the StyleSheet comments section) in hopes of duplicating this nail look, you might be disappointed to find the formula in real life is more purple. I recommend e.l.f. in “Mod Mauve” (see swatch here), Barielle’s “Get Mauve-ing” (see swatch here), or my favorite option, Butter London’s new “Toff.” (See swatch here.) Can you tell I love nail polish?

Let’s start with Duri’s Wine Tasting Party collection. Wine shades of red are the talk of fall fashion, and this is the perfect collection to match the trend. Buy each polish for $5 a pop at Park Plaza Salon in the Plaza at Preston Center.

Jump for the rest.

Butter London’s fall collection combines a handful of unpredictable colors in metallics and glitter shades. (Except for the mauve, which is a cream.) Find these at the Spa at the Ritz-Carlton or Ulta at Park Lane.

Glamour Purse, Case Study, Carry On, Very Structured, Lady Like, and Power Clutch

Find Essie’s latest collection inspired by bags at Posh Nail Spa. I love the nude Glamour Purse and that beautiful plum Carry On. Very ladylike.

Unfortunately, Rescue Beauty Lounge polishes can’t be purchased locally, only online, but they happen to have such smooth formulas, they’re worth the shipping and handling. Plus, the fall Firebird collection is fun with a light lavender, carnation pink, deep blue, and chocolate cream. Find it at rescuebeauty.com.

OPI went a funky, grungy route for their fall collection, Touring America. Find it at Ulta locations around the city.

The Pedi Prince at work. (photography by Kristy Alpert)

He’s 200 pounds, an ex Army officer, and loves to give pedicures. Did you know this former soldier was practicing some of the best pedis in town at the Ritz-Carlton Spa? Me neither. But reporter Kristy Alpert’s got the scoop:

Bryant Arthur is not your average pedicurist. Aside from his striking, bouncer-like stature (5’10” and 220 lbs.), the only time you’ll see him light up with excitement is when he’s talking about his wife and giving pedicures. His passion for feet earned him the nickname “Pedicure Prince,” and what he can do to your toes in less than one hour is other-worldly.

Bryant Arthur (photography by Kristy Alpert)

Bryant, a former Special Operations soldier with the Army, was working as an officer in the South Carolina Department of Corrections (a maximum-security prison) when he received his callous-removing calling, claiming God inspired him to start working with feet.

Not one to question God’s mission for him, Bryant quickly enrolled in nail school, despite his aversion to feet. “At first I thought feet were disgusting,” he confesses. Now, he says, he has now grown to love feet and makes it his mission to consistently perform the perfect pedicure. He has since studied reflexology and human touch to make sure his pedicures do more than just prepare feet for open-toed shoe season.

Although this gentle giant may look out of place in the Ritz salon, once he sits down at the feet of his clients, it’s obvious he’s right at home. “I love doing pedicures,” he says passionately, and it’s evident with every calculated touch.

I sat down with him to get a taste of what he could do with a Deluxe Almond Blossom Pedicure ($85), and although I’ve had some pretty great pedicures in my past, Bryant’s pedicure left me nothing short of stunned and speechless.

This Prince is as charming and delightful as he is gifted and professional with his pedicures. Do yourself a favor and indulge in a treatment from the Pedicure Prince. Book now. –Kristy Alpert

photography courtesy of Amy Severson (thanks, Amy!)

This fav salon in Frisco and Plano is finally making it’s way to Dallas, opening doors toward the end of the month. I’m so ready for my super hygienic mani/pedi. Plus, word on the street is they’ll be offering blowouts, as well. If you’re in the ‘burbs, there’s exciting news for you, too.  You can now book Polished appointments online. Good news all around.

Touring America collection (photo courtesy of OPI)

Men might look at this headline and say, seriously? “Only” $45? That’s a lot! But we ladies know better. Unfortunately, $45 is a deal. That’s why I’m posting this: to save you a few bucks on your next trip to the polish swapper. Head to Nail Bar on McKinney for this mani/pedi combo every Monday and Wednesday. Check out OPI’s new Touring America collection while you’re there. Yay or nay?

Hopscotch Kids polish is made for wee ones.

I noticed this question on iVillage, and I thought I’d mention it here. Dallas mommas, do you paint your kiddos’ mini digits? I certainly would. What’s the problem?

Ps. Sorry for my absence yesterday. The flu got me.