Minx was founded in 2006 by Janice Jordan and Dawn Lynch-Goodwin. These ladies were looking for a way to not only protect their nails but also set them apart from the norm. They came up with the radical idea of putting a heat-activated polymer on the nails. Once they settled on a name, Minx was born!
minx |mi ng ks|noun: an impudent, cunning, or boldly flirtatious girl or young woman.
After launching the line, the ladies hit the pavement literally stalking the stylists to the stars to get the cream of the crop Minxed. The hard work paid off and these divine digit decorations have been seen on the likes of Beyonce, Katy Perry, Rihanna, and the empress of extravagance… GAGA!
I stopped by 10/10 Space in Causeway Bay one evening with a few of my fellow HK bloggers to get the royal treatment. The process starts with a basic mani where my nails were filed, shaped, and prepped for the polymers. The sheets of Minx are set under the Minx heat lamp to warm up and become pliable. The technician then rubbed nail polish remover thoroughly over each nail to remove any trace oils that might prevent the Minx from sticking. I decided to go for a layered look, as that is one of the things that set Minx apart from other nail art brands. Once I decided on a metallic red base and a very Versace like maze print in gold for the top, the manicurist got to work. She moved from nail to nail pressing the films on and filing the edge down with the special Minx glass nail file. By the second hand she “knew my nails” and the process became even more speedy. I learned that I have very curved nails so the Minx are a little harder to apply. Nails with a flat surface seem to hold the product better and longer. The entire process took about an hour and a half. What is great is that because these are applied with heat and pressure there are no harsh fumes or chemicals and they are dry instantly!
Minx come in an unstoppable range of colors and patterns and can be layered to create even more options. You can also mix and match the nails till your hearts content! Major designers, like Alexander McQueen, have even jumped on board and commissioned nails for their runway shows.
Prices vary based on the look you want. You can have just one nail Minxed for around $80 or a full set for approximately $650. For the layered look that I got it would be a bit more. I put them through their paces and mine looked like a work of art for three days. On the fourth day, the edges were pulling up and I kept flicking them to push them back down as instructed by the technician. I ended up pulling off the gold topping and loved the look of the metallic red on its own. They were like little Christmas ornaments! I even noticed while in yoga that the girl on the next mat kept looking down at my hands! My next go round, though, I would skip the layering as I found it very thick-feeling. Once I removed the top layer, they felt like my natural nails and I didn’t fidget with them one bit.
To remove the nails, the salon recommended that I make an appointment to have them taken off professionally. On day seven, eight of the ten nails still looked pretty good but I decided it was time to try something new and more subdued. My hands were placed under the heat lamp to loosen the hold that the Minx had on me and then the products were peeled one by one off my fingers. My nails were in great shape underneath and the products did protect my nails for the week.
Overall, it is a great product if you want something really unique. It would be perfect for a party or concert or special event where you want to stand out and accessorize down to the very tip. It does cost more than your traditional mani but people will comment on this much more than they would on your routine red. Like a regular manicure, the first few days are the best so be sure to get it done the day of or the day before your party.
Now go get Minxed!
MINX is available at…
10/10 Space, Unit B, 1/F, Fairview Mansion, No.51 Paterson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 3595 1152
E: [email protected]
Photos by www.sabrinasikoraphotography.com