Minx Nails Manchester

If your nail painting accuracy resembles that of a five-year-old’s colouring-in book skills, it may be time to join the Minx movement.

Celebrity Minxes so far include Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera – who all favour the plain metallic-look talons. But whilst it would be fair to assume the A-list have simply dipped their fingertips in 24k liquid gold, this new nail technology is actually now widely available to us all – at very affordable prices.

The owner of All Too Beautiful, Sarah, is Manchester’s first official Minxer. As a mobile beauty therapist, she saw the need to provide an on-trend beauty service for people who can’t get to the salon or can’t afford salon prices.

Minx has actually been around since 2006 when US entrepreneurs Dawn Lynch-Goodwin and Janice Jordan decided to invent a longer lasting alternative to nail polish. Yet, it’s only recently become more accessible in the UK and surprisingly, it’s the smaller, independent salons that have been quickest off the mark.

All Too Beautiful is the only Manchester-based Minx certified professional on the official Minx Nails site and what’s more, Sarah offers any of the hundred or so designs for just £20 per set on either hands or feet.

The world’s largest nail bar chain Nails Inc launched Minx in their salons nationwide last month (including Manchester Exchange Square and Trafford Centre). But they only do metallic gold, silver or cheetah print. And for £30. Sometimes it pays to shop around...

Sarah arrived at the Confidential office, tooled up and ready to Minx me. She began by explaining that Minx are actually a waterproof, solid nail coating which is attached to the nail bed with the help of a heat lamp. It doesn’t chip like nail varnish and can last for up to four weeks.

Step 1

The Minx process started with a mini manicure under the heat lamp to warm my nails in preparation for coating. As with nail varnish or acrylics, it’s important to make sure the natural nail underneath is fully prepped. Sarah used a cuticle cream – rather than soaking my fingers in warm soapy water – so as to avoid over saturating the nails. In order to make sure the Minx would shrink wrap to my nails, she then filed, buffed and used a dehydrating solution to strip the nail of any oils which could cause the Minx to slip.

Step 2

With around 100 designs of Minx, you can go for the celebrity-favoured gold or silver metallic plain nails, stripes, fishnets, animal print, bandana print or even the very seasonal Santa faces. In fact, as Sarah told me, you can have pretty much anything you want as customised Minx can be ordered. Beyonce once had little Obama faces on hers. Preferring to separate my political views from my beauty regime, I went for the metallic leopard print.

Step 3

Minx nails, like stickers, come on a strip and in different sizes. Before choosing sizes, Sarah left the Minx under the heat lamp to warm them. She then carefully measured the Minx against each nail before peeling them off one by one and laying them down on the nicely warmed nail beds. The next step involved Sarah using a ‘hoof’ tool to press the Minx firmly in place. She then cut away any excess and shaped the now Minx nail with a file. The nails were then taken away from the heat lamp to allow them to set and then placed back under the heat for one final pressing down.

Step 4

The result is a full set of identikit, perfection nails in around 45 minutes. What’s more, you know that they will stay that way – unlike nail polish which has a life span of a few days, if you’re lucky.

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Despite the advancements, it still isn’t completely foolproof and you will need to avoid washing the pots without gloves or accidentally catching your fingers on the cheese grater. Minx may last longer overall, but the edges of them can begin to lift within a few days in some cases. This doesn’t look obvious, but it can feel uncomfortable as the tips snag on things more easily. It seems that until the day someone invents nail tattoos, nail artistry is never going to last as long on people who, unlike celebs, use their hands for more than just waving.

Finished nails

To help prolong the Minx, Sarah has also added her own twist by brushing a layer of gel over them. This seals the deal – adding shine and holding down the Minx even more. The neatness is second to none and although not an alternative to false nails, they can cover up all manner of sins on natural nails as they form a separate layer. Minx never actually fall or crumble off and you need to heat them before they will peel away .

The design of Minx is such that as one of my colleagues pointed out, “You’re going to have to work your wardrobe around your nails now,” as the metallic leopard print is quite a bold statement. The same applies for the whole collection; Minx is for the girl power more than the wallflower. When you have them on you can understand why they’ve become such a hit among celebs – there is something devilishly diva about them. I, for one, could not stop showing them off. With minimal chemicals, minimal price and minimal effort they’re a bit of Christmas sparkle you should definitely treat yourself to this year.

For more information on All Too Beautiful mobile beauty treatments, please click here.