Kara's Monthly SUMMARY 💫

A new karanailedit monthly wrap up format!

Welcome to the Monthly Summary!! This is a new monthly wrap up of some favorites, suggestions, random things, products and more! And this month we’ve got alottt going on.

SUMMARY stands for:

Something New (a product that just launched or new to me)

Useful Tip or Product (+ there’s a tutorial video!)

Manicure Of the Month (my favorite nails from the month)

Mood Board (the vibes for the upcoming month!)

Amusement (something I’m doing outside of nails)

Recommendation (self explanatory)

You Need This (^^)

Get it?! Ok let’s go!

🔆 S: Something New

There’s a new Nail Thoughts Collection launching TODAY! It’s called the Zodiac Collection and there are 12 new flash glitter magnet gels in all colors of the rainbow. These are not only filled with flash glitter (and in coordinating colors - like if the base color is blue, the flash glitter is blue too), but they’re also cateye polishes with tiny glowy pearly magnetic particles, AND there’s also chunky holographic glitter flakes. It’s just like an explosion of fun glitter on your nails!

Since there’s alot going on with these polishes, the magnetic particles move a little bit slower compared to other magnet gels in the Kokoist family. I’d recommend just being a little patient and use a really strong magnet to lift up as many particles as possible. My favorite is the Kokoist Max Magnet!

Check out my swatch video to see all of the colors in action!

You can save 10% on this new collection with code KARA10 also!

🛠️ U: Useful Tip Or Product

Sanding bands!!! Ok obviously this is not a new product whatsoever, but if you follow my process and watch my content, these are kind of foreign.

I learned how to use these back in September when I did the Erica’s ATA educator training and I’ve been using them and practicing ever since and now I can confidently say that I’m obsessed!

These are used during the nail prep process and take the place of using a hand file or buffer to etch the surface of the nail before applying gel, you can also use them to remove lifted gel, remove any gel left behind after using a carbide bit, and shorten the nail too if you want!

The reason why I really like this process is because you can use an e-file which means it’s FAST and it causes less strain on our hands and wrists!

I like using these Zebra 150 grit bands from Erica’s ATA which have an anti clogging agent powder on them to prevent the band from collecting product and getting hot and not working. (ps you can use code KARA10 for 10% off all Erica’s products!)

🎥 At the end of this newsletter, I’m sharing a tutorial for how I use these bands & also how to spot & remove lifting base gel with them too!

LAST THING - I am teaching an Erica’s ATA Certification (+ Nail Thoughts + Kokoist too!) next month!! If you’re interested in learning more, put your email in this form here! I’ll send you an email with more info and a discount code once it’s live!

💅 M: Manicure Of The Month

To be completely honest I only did my nails once this month! So this is the MoM by default lol. But to be honest again I really was craving a clean soap nails/russian manicure/milky manicure and I’ve been loving it!! I used Plumeria Syrup Base and it’s such a gorgeous super sheer milky white!

🔮 M: Mood Board

February nails for me are going to be full of hearts, purples and pinks and reds, sparkles, cozy vibes, and using my new nail things!!!

🧘🏻‍♀️ A: Amusement

I couldn’t decide if I should talk about Heated Rivalry here or running… lol. But I think I’ll keep things boring and share that I’ve been doing a running plan and I got these Bose Ultra Open Headphones which hook onto your ear, they don’t actually go in it. Which means you can still hear your surroundings!! But the sound quality is incredible. I’ve been wearing them on all of my walks and runs and it makes me feel safer since I can be more aware of everything around me!

I’m wearing them as I write this! Listening to John Mayer - Room For Squares, pretending it’s 2001 of course.

💖 R: Recommendation

Kinetics is 20% off right now on both their own website and Nail Mart USA! Some things are sold out already, but it’s a great time to pick something up if you’ve been excited to try! This is one of my new favorite brands, the quality and care they put into their products is just amazing! Here are my top 3 recs:

Gel In Bottle - Hard Gel (I like clear and natural pink)

Fiber Base Builder Gel (I love the milky white)

Jelly Gel in Clear (medium thick hard gel, can be used for overlays or armoring the free edge or doing extensions!)

AND they just came out with two new products:

Kinetics Max Base: This is their base gel new formulation that literally just launched! They claim that it will adhere to even the most difficult nails. You can use it in a thin layer under builder gel or use it as a rubber base to build a small overlay too!

Kinetics Shield Max Top: Also newly formulated and this top coat has a slightly thicker consistency to their current one which is very thin. This new one has a similar thickness to Kokoist Ultra Glossy which is my FAVE so it will be perfect to put on top of any manicure but especially to encapsulate.

The sale ends on 2/2!! Shop the sale on Nail Mart USA or Kinetics Website.

💋 Y: You Need This

Five minutes to call your representatives!

I shared this great website called 5 Calls on my stories this week where they make it literally SO easy to call your reps and tell them how you feel about what’s happening in our country right now.

I would love it if everyone reading right now could dedicate a minute or add it to your to-do list to make at least one call this week! Here’s how you do it:

• Click this link: https://5calls.org/

• On the left hand side, enter your zip code

• It will populate a bunch of issues that you can call your reps about, click on one

• It will open a new page with info on the issue, scroll down and you’ll see the representatives based on your location with their name and phone number and a literal script of what you can say to them

• Call & leave a message using the script. It took me exactly 60 seconds for each rep!

FYI - I did this exact process this week and got everyone’s voicemail!

I grew up in Minnesota, so this feels like the literal least I can do to help my fellow citizens and I hope you’ll join me 💖

While I have you, check your voter registration status HERE (takes 30 seconds)

And register to vote HERE if you get an answer you didn’t like from the above link (takes 2 minutes)

Don’t forget, cool girls have cool nails and cool girls VOTE 💋💅

Changing gears completely 😂 Here is my sanding band prep tutorial!