#acetone is more of a last resort for me personally

[blackbackedjackal]

Jackal my beloved! Do you have any advice for removing an abhorrent amount of super glue from a skull? Do I have to soak the skull in acetone?

It depends on the skull and how much an abhorrent amount is lol!

Acetone works for removing super glue but it's safer to soak skulls in an ammonia/water solution for a few weeks. Acetone requires special chemical resistant gloves and a respirator to use depending on the quantity and it also has to be stored in an acetone-safe container (either approved acetone-safe plastics or glass). I only use it for small animals like cats or rodents that I can fit in small glass jars, but if it's something like a coyote, the super glue tends to loosen up after a few weeks in a 50/50 clear ammonia/water solution from my experience.

[not-the-littlest-pet-shop]

Inspired by finally getting my hands on the new lps and your Excellent blog I’ve dug out my old collection and some of my pets are stained or half painted custom attempts, so do you have any advice on how to best go about restoring lps

Aw thank you for the compliment!! I'm glad you like my blog 😊 I have a lot of random tips for cleaning and restoring.

1. Always start with a vigorous soap and water wash. You can use q-tips to get into crevices like ears or paws. Using harsher chemicals should always be a last resort.

2. If there is very chunky paint or nail polish, you can first try to chip it off using the tip of a needle. This may help to preserve the paint underneath. Just be very gentle and don't gouge into the plastic.

2. If there are markings that won't come out on the base color of the LPS (the color of the plastic) then you can move onto harsher methods of cleaning. This will strip off any secondary paint, so be careful. There are many methods that can be used, like benzoyl peroxide cream in the sun, magic eraser, and 100% acetone (not nail polish remover.) Personally, I use a product called Goof Off. It comes in a yellow tin. I apply it with a q-tip. It takes off mostly all marks except very old sharpie.

3. If there are marks on the secondary paint (like a spot or stripe, not the base color) or any markings that can't be removed chemically, then you will have to paint over it or leave it alone. You can use different colors to mix and color-match. Acrylic paint is best. I use very thin layers and don't put a lot on my brush at once to avoid clumps.

That's all I could think of. I hope it helps! Let me know if you have any more questions :)

[stuckinthe00s]

Nail salons and their pricing, press-ons, and how-to:

As we all know (and if you don’t, well now you do) press-on nails are the hottest beauty trend…as if they ever went out of style 🤭 Press-ons are taking over the nail salons as people are leaving the salons and resorting to doing their nails & toes from the comfort of their home, I know I most certainly am. Press-ons are just so convenient within a day-to-day life. Depending on your schedule, press-ons are a time-saver.

Transitioning from the salons to doing my nails has saved me so much time and money, and it just allows me to spend more time with myself by adding it to my self-care routine. I’m not sure what’s going on with the pricing in the nail salons nowadays but the prices are not how they were back in the 2000s. I got my first acrylic set when I was 16 years old and I remember my mom only paying $30 for a full set + toes which was an extra $40, so only $70 + tip for a full set and pedicure. If you go to the nail salon today and get that, you might as well saw off an arm & a leg. No, but seriously, why is a full set + pedicure almost $200 & it doesn’t make it any better that they don’t display the prices anymore.

I used to be so excited going into the nail salon, being pampered and just being a girl now, it feels like a chore. Depending on how long you get your nails and what services you get, you’ll be in the salon for up to 3-4 hours. Not me though. I usually kept it basic with a medium-length French acrylic set and the most expensive pedicure. I would go in early in the morning and be out an hour and a half later… just enough time to complete my other services that were scheduled for that day (if any).

Now since we know all the girls are switching to press-on nails, here’s a tutorial on how to achieve your desired look and make your nails last up to 2-3 weeks.

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How-To:

Prep: To get your press-on nails to last for up to 2-3 weeks, you want to ensure that your natural nails are prepped to the gods. This step is crucial as it is going to determine how long your nails last. You don’t want to put all this time and effort just for your nails to pop off the next day. That’s not sexy babes.

Push cuticles back with a cuticle pusher

Apply cuticle remover oil/cream

Remove cuticles and/or any hangnails with a cuticle clipper

Remove cuticle oil/cream with a cotton pad

Free natural nails from all oils (natural, lotion, body oil, etc…) by using a cotton pad soaked in 100% acetone

Buff and file nails for extra longevity

Push cuticles back once more for a natural look

Application: Next is the application, this is going to be the fun part. Getting to decide how pretty you want your nails to be for the next 2-3 weeks. Are you going long or short? Square of coffin? How about almond? The choice is yours…

Choose which brand of press-on nails you will be using (I recently just switched to the BARTBOX NAIL BRAND, however, I was a KISS girlie at heart… still am 🫶🏾)

Size your press-ons to the size of your natural nail (ensure there are no gaps as this will cause lifting)

Choose your favorite nail glue for durability

Apply press-ons by applying glue on your natural nails first, then the press-on itself (this will cause longevity), apply at a 45-degree angle starting at the base of your natural nail for that seamless look

Repeat on all 10 fingers

Filing: The filing step is the 2nd to last step to ensure that you have the perfect press-ons, this will determine your shape. How sharp do you want your square or coffin? How round do you want your almond? File to your heart’s desire girl.

Choose the file with the grit of your desire (my personal favorite is 100/180)

FILE, FILE FILE!! No, but fr, file until you have that shape you are trying to achieve

Dust away any excess nail shavings

Finish: At last, the last step… you now have beautiful press-on nails that look seamless and natural. Now, you just want to oil your cuticles and moisturize your skin after doing all that filing and using the acetone

Choose your favorite cuticle oil

Oil your cuticles with the oil’s applicator on all 10 fingers

Choose your favorite moisturizer

Rub hands together to ensure you are getting the moisturizer on your hands as well as the cuticles

And there you have it… a nice, beautiful, and affordable nail set.