Bride to be and manicure-loving Taylor finds a pampering and tough as nails treatment in Jessica GELeration
When it comes to wedding day beauty prep, before I’ve even considered which shade of lippy I’m going to don or whether my hair will be up or down, I’ve most definitely decided on one thing: how my nails will look. To some, a manicure is a frivolous extra. To me, those little beauties can make or break a look, especially when you’ve got new wedding day bling to show off.
Known as Zest’s resident Manicure Guru (do you think I can add that title to my CV?) it’s a rare sight to catch me with chipped polish, and if anyone on the team needs a nail file they know my desk is the only place to visit (plus they’ll probably leave with a drop of cuticle oil for good measure, Jessica’s Phenomen Oil being my all-time favourite).
My expertise in all things talons means I’ve been road testing a variety of polishes and manicures over the last few months to find the perfect wedding day option. Some have been great, some have been annoyingly chippable, but I knew within minutes that I had found a winner with Jessica GELeration.
Gel manicures are all the rage at the moment. They’re not as hard on your nails as acrylics and last almost as long – one application gives you up to four weeks of shiny, gorgeous, nick-free nails. Your natural nails don’t need to be buffed down for the polish to hold because GELeration is made with a special formula that permanently sets when put under a LED lamp. It keeps its sheen and only comes off when you want it to, either with an at-home kit (like Jessica’s Erase Kit, £13.50) or a quick visit to the manicurist for removal, which takes a speedy 20 minutes and involves putting an acetone-based remover on the nails and covering them in foil (which sounds strange but gives you an excuse to do nothing for nearly half an hour), after which the gel simply buffs off.
I’ve had other gel manicures and while I always loved the results, I’ve never enjoyed the treatment. The focus always seemed to be on the finished product rather than the touches that make a salon manicure worth shelling out for, like a hand massage or calming reflexology. Such is not the case with Jessica’s manicure and pedicure though, which are as luxurious as they are long-lasting, perfect for brides-to-be looking for a bit of pampering with their beauty prep. Delicious smelling and hydrating scrubs and creams plus a relaxing hand, wrist and foot massage left my skin feeling smooth and my mind serene.
I had my GELeration mani/pedi right before a recent trip to LA when my other half and I travelled to California to finalise our wedding details (if you’re new to this blog, we’re tying the knot in Redondo Beach in October). Not only was it a great excuse for a bit of relaxation pre-long haul flight, I went for a holiday-perfect coral shade that stood up to sandy beaches, California sun and wedding cake tasting (it’s a tough life).
A luxe mani that lasts through both the wedding and the honeymoon... I may have met my (other) soul mate.
Taylor had her Jessica GELeration manicure (£56) and pedicure (£67) at Webster Whiteman in London (to book call 020 7493 4777 or visit www.websterwhiteman.com) For your nearest Jessica GELeration salon you can visit www.gerrardinternational.com or call 0845 217 1360.
Want more bridal blog?
Read week 1: The best pre-wedding facial by Taylor
Read week 2: The perfect wedding tan by Lyndsey
Read week 3: Finding your wedding fragrance by Leyla
Read week 4: Wedding day makeup trial by Lyndsey
Read week 5: Combating wedding stress by Taylor
Read week 6: Wedding nails nailed by Lyndsey
Read week 7: Honeymoon essentials by Taylor
Read week 8: Eat fat, lose weight by Lyndsey
Read week 9: The big underwear debate by Taylor
