9:40am Tuesday 17th July 2012
By Maxine Gordon
York’s celebrity manicurist Pippa Hebden has brought out her own range of polishes. MAXINE GORDON books in for a manicure
STANDING before Pippa Hebden’s colourful display of varnishes, I feel like a kid in a sweet shop. Just as I would agonise over whether to pick some strawberry bonbons, chocolate limes or wine gums – here the deliberations are over which colour of polish to pick.
All the usual suspects are here, from poppy red to fuchsia pink, tangerine orange to mocha brown. There are 17 colours in total, with the promise of three new additions each season.
The Nails by Pippa Hebden polish range is available at her nail station at Browns department store in York as well as online.
It’s been 12 months in the making – and been the second “baby” Pippa has produced this year; her son, Ralphie, was born six months ago. Her partner is former York City player Nick Peverell.
Ever the perfectionist, Pippa – whose celebrity clients have included Scarlett Johannsen, Geri Halliwell and Paris Hilton – searched the world to find the best polish, eventually ordering her supplies from Australia.
“It doesn’t chip,” says Pippa as she expertly applies a coat of the violet-coloured Night Lily shade to my nails. “You can get nine days’ wear out of it, and you can get away with one coat.”
Pippa had fun picking the names for each polish. “My dad loves horses, so I just opened the Racing Post and picked lots of horses’ names,” she said.
The one exception is Pippa’s Perfection, a clearish varnish with glitter through it.
Each bottle of polish retails for £10.50 with a base coat and top coat for £6.50 each, or a combined base and top coat for £7.50. Pippa has also brought out her own crystal nail file which she sells for £12.50. “It doesn’t wear down; it should last forever – providing you don’t drop it!” The material is also better for use on natural nails, says Pippa, because it doesn’t split the free edge and you don’t get snags.
Besides gel nails and standard manicures, Pippa is also offering the new Pretty Hands Manicure (£20), where the skin is exfoliated and moisturised before varnish is applied.
I have this and I am amazed at the dry skin that rubs off my hands, like tiny paper worms. Once the moisturising cream is applied, my hands feel baby soft, and stay that way for hours.
Meanwhile, Pippa is working on a new top-secret product, and looking ahead to her next celebrity booking. She’s just finished working on the TV show Britain’s Next Top Model.
She’s hoping to launch her polish range in Ireland. She’d also like to sell them at the top shop in London. She says: “I’d love to get them into Harrods.”
• Pippa Hebden at Browns, Davygate, York. For appointments, phone: 01904 611166
© Copyright 2001-2013 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/trade_directory/