For the few months before the wedding (and since) I have been a regular in my favourtie nail salon, Mink. Mink have two locations, The Oval in Ballsbridge on Shelbourne Road, and Main Street, Donnybrook.

I have only ever been to the Ballsbridge salon.

I have had both the Solar Manicure €35 and the Mini Manicure €25, the only difference is the nice arm scrub & a massage. To make it better value and so I can afford to go more often, I usually opt for the mini mani.You can click onto their full Price List here.

No matter which technician has done my nails they have always lasted 8-10 days. That’s longer than some of my “3 week mani’s”!

I follow Kate from Mink on Twitter and Instagram and keep an eye on their Facebook page for some Mani Inspiration!

During the summer I fell in love with this mixture, OPI ‘Mod About You’ with Essie ‘Set In Stones’. I bought both polishes so I can re-create it at home myself to. It’s the nicest baby pink shade I’ve seen.

I’m a fan of the ol’ accent mani’s so I also gave it a whirl with a rich, deep purple; Essie’s Sexy Divide (666) & lilac accent in Nice is Nice (743).

To avoid having a French Polish for my wedding, I copied Kate’s French Polish with a twist and went for a French polish nude with a glitter tip using OPI ‘Pirouette My Whistle’. Would you believe I never captured my nails close up enough to show you so here is the Mani on Kate’s lovely nails.

*photo credit – Mink’s Facebook page

For Christmas, I went for the new Essie Collection, ‘She’s Pampered’ with ‘Beyond Cozy’ a super fine Champagne-shimmer as my accent nail and to mix it up from my ring finers, I went for my Peter Pointer (index finger) on one hand and my Little Finger on the other! I totally co-ordinated with the Christmas issue of Image Magazine!

I can’t recommend Mink enough. It’s the only place I think of and recommend when someone mentions a Mani to me. It’s also great to go with a group of friends. Even though I was a little wound up the day before the wedding, it was lovely to be pampered with my Mum, Sister & Alice my Bridesmaid

If I were to mark Mink down on points anywhere it would be because of the €5 each charge for French Polish. I just don’t understand it. It can take just the same time as a full colour polish. Maybe it’s a little more finicky for the technician but there’s usually a certain amount of tidying up to do no matter what polish is used.

I am even considering trying their 3 Week Manicure by Artistic Colour Gloss Polish, the range has 70 colours to choose from and from feedback I’ve seen, it really does last well. This treatment costs €55, which is a little steep compared to the Shellac deals that are out at the moment… But maybe there’s a reason.

Have you been to Mink? Do you follow them on Twitter and get Mani Envy like I do? Have you tried the Artistic Colour Gloss Polish there? I’d love to hear your feedback.

Mwah

Ballsbridge, The Oval, Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Tel:016362100 Email ballsbridge@mink.ie

Mink Donnybrook, 45 Main Street, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 – Tel:012603076 Email donnybrook@mink.ie