Interview With An Indie Polish Maker

I want to say Thank You so much to Victoria for doing this interview with me. I really appreciate her taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for me. Please take a few minutes to check out her Instagram page here and shop all of her gorgeous unique polishes here.

1-What is your name?

- Victoria Tataw

2-Are you married or have kids?

- Haha no and I’m not expecting either any time soon. I’m only 18 and my greatest commitment is to my business and school work right now.

3-What is your brand name?

-Nails By Tataw

4-When did you start making your own polish?

--March of 2014

5-What made you decide to start making nail polish?

- Late February 2014

6-Is it hard to get started?

- "I felt like too often I'd go to the store to buy nail polish and see the same colors from multiple brands. And I got to this point where I felt rather disappointed by the lack of variety. I was a senior in high school getting closer and closer to making my decision for where I will go to college and thought, I should start my own nail polish making business! From that moment I was determined to do it and so I made it happen using some money I had saved from my job. Starting my own company seemed like a good way to feed my passion while avoiding a "ramen noodle diet" in college haha. I didn't know I'd become so wholeheartedly passionate about it."

7-Is there a story behind the name of your brand?

- Besides that I incorporated my last name (Tataw) into my brand because I love how unique my last name is no.

8-Is this a hobby or a career?

- It is a hobby and a passion turned into a part-time career and learning experience.

9-How many different polishes and/or collections have you made so far?

- Collections 2 with the 3rd releasing throughout the upcoming fall season. Different polishes...on the record (website) 19 with 10 more on the way for fall. But I can not count how many colors I’ve created but not liked enough to sell.

10-Are your polishes 3 or 5 free?

- My polishes are 5-free, cruelty-free, and vegan.

11-When is your next collection coming out?

- The dates are dispersed throughout the fall but the first 2 of the 10 that’ll be released come out on Sep. 30th and the last 2 will come out November 25th. I might surprise people with a few holiday specials though so stay tuned!

12-What is the inspiration behind your polish colors and names?

- I always set out to create a unique color, something vibrant and edgy. I’ve gotten name inspiration from friends, movies, random whims of cleverness, and more recently for this upcoming collection my Instagram followers. My first collection had a hot pink nail polish called “Venom” and I actually named it that based of the movie “Holes” when the warden made her own pink nail polish using snake venom. Life can give you so much inspiration of your willing to appreciate it.

13-How long have you been painting your own nails?

- I actually started my freshman year of high school, so 4 years ago. A was never a girl girl so I didn’t do my nails but one day a friend of mine noticed how long my nails were and insisted upon painting my nails. I fell in love with it!

14-How big is your own polish stash?

- I haven’t done a bottle count in ages but from what I remember I was in the 60s. I had to always buy my nail polishes myself, and I had a job but didn’t want to spend all of my money on polishes. I tried to limit myself to color that I really really really wanted.

15-How do you deal with rude or negative comments?

- In terms of customer feedback I’ve never had any negative situations to deal with... and on my social networking platforms I receive positivity as well, especially Instagram. I didn’t know how big and kind the nail community was until I made the Nails By Tataw Instagram.


Thanks again Victoria for being patient with me. I can't wait to check out your new fall line!

31 Day Challenge_Week 3

Wow! Already on week three, unbelievable! Whats even more unreal is that I've actually been able to keep up! I did start a new job a couple weeks ago so I know my posts have slacked off. But I'm getting settled in now so I will be posting more often again. Thanks for sticking around! On to the manis!!

Day 15: Delicate

Colors Used: Wet n Wild Split Pea Soup, Sally Hansen Gleaming, 

Wet n Wild Buffy The Violet Slayer, Sinful Colors Cotton Candy and Sweet Tooth

Day 16: Geometric

Colors Used: Spoiled Only In Creams and LA Colors Cactus

Day 17: Glitter

Color Used: Polish Pets Stellar Constellations

Day 18: Half Moons

Colors Used: Wet n Wild Creative Control, Orly Its not Me Its You, 

China Glaze Caribbean Temptation

Day 19: Galaxy

Color Used: Sinful Colors Starry Night

Day 20: Watermarble

Colors Used: Wet n Wild Club Havana, Sinful Colors Skylark

China Glaze Mocha Madness

Day 21: Inspired By A Color

Color Used: Wet n Wild Limelight

Stay Tuned for the final week's manis coming up! 

"Pinkie"...My PolishPet's Photo Shoot

Meet the newest member of my polish family. This is my PolishPet Thumper and her name is Pinkie. I always thought these were adorable and final got the chance to order one. I am sooo glad I did!! She is just so adorable!! I actually combed her fur today and decided to take some cute pics of her. Enjoy!

This is her permanent bed on the corner of my polish table now. Love her!!

31 Day Challenge-Week 2

Heres my manis for the second week of the 31 day challenge (31dc2014)

I have been struggling to keep up with this but I am determined. I have recently gone back to work and forgot how tiring it can be. But thats why its called a challenge right?

On to the manis...

Day 8: Metallic

Colors Used: OPI Push and Shove & Broadway Nails Black Out

I was not at all happy with how these turned out but...here they are. I was going for aged metal...

Day 9: Rainbow

Colors Used: SinfulShine Devious, LA Colors Spat!, Wet n Wild Lemon Drop,

Wet n Wild Lean and Green, Borghese Marino and SinfulColors Candy Coated

First time doing the splatter method and it was so much fun, although very messy! If you try it, be sure to tape your fingers!

Day 10: Gradient

Colors Used: Jessica Surfer Boyz n' Berry &

SinfulColors Skylark

Didn't turn out quite how I had it in my head but I still love it. I think gradients are so pretty, no matter the colors.

Day 11: Polka Dots

Colors Used: Maybelline Colorshow Dotty & 

Wet n Wild Club Havana

I mean, how could I NOT use Dotty for polka dots? lol

Day 12: Stripes

Colors Used: Spoiled Green To Be Heard &

Show Me The Money

This one is my favorite. I love plaid on nails. Its just so detailed and pretty.

Day 13: Animal Print...(polar bear) loll

Colors Used: Wet n Wild Whipped Topping

I know, theres technically no print but polar bears have fur too! lol

Day 14: Flowers

Colors used: Wet n Wild Split Pea Soup, Sally Hansen Gleaming,

Wet n Wild Buffy The Violet Slayer & SinfulColors Cotton Candy

I like doing roses on my nails. So very simple but such a big effect. Hope y'all like them too. (FYI: this is also going to be my Day 15 mani, Delicate)

I am still amazed at how many nail ladies are participating in this challenge. I love the nail community. You can see so many other ladies' interpretations of the challenge themes by searching #31dc2014 on Instagram. You won't be disappointed. Thanks for reading and happy polishing!

31 Day Challenge-Week 1

Well, so far I have actually stayed up with the challenge, yay me!! Todays post is just a recap of the first week's manis and colors used.

 Day One: Red

Colors: Sally Hansen Cherry Red & Sinful Shine Rebel

Day Two: Orange

Color: Wet n Wild Wild Sine Sunny Side Up

Day Three: Yellow

Colors: Orly Melodious Eutopia & Sally Hansen Sun Kissed

Sunflower is a temporary tattoo

 Day Four: Green

Colors: Sally Hansen Grass Slipper & Orly Sparkling Garbage

 Day Five: Blue

Orly Snowcone & Wet n Wild Megalast Dark Side of The Blues

Day Six: Violet

Colors: Sinful Colors Candy Coated & LA Splash Sparkling

Lavender & assorted stripers

Day Seven: Black and White

Colors: Nicole by OPI Yoga Then Yogurt & Broadway Nails Black Out

Stay tuned for the next seven days of the challenge. I am determined to do this one! Please follow on Google+ and sign up to follow by email so you don't miss a single post. Thanks for reading!

OPI Push and Shove

I finally got the chance to try OPI Push and Shove. I found it a few days ago at Sally Beauty Supply on clearance for $4.50.
This is a gorgeous polish! It requires that you use one coat of the included base coat, Lay Down That Base, then two thin coats of Push and Shove. At first it looks like a regular silver metallic polish but once dry its a very mirror like finish. The directions say not to use a top coat so of course I had to try it. :)
It really dulled the shine. Oh well, had to try. The box also states that this polish is only intended for one night's use. I haven't done a wear test yet so Im not sure about that but Day 8 of the 31dc2014 is metallics so Ill have to try it. Ill let ya know!

31 Day Challenge

I think I might actually attempt this one. I usually steer clear of challenges like this but I feel like I could use a push in the inspiration department. Ill be posting each days mani on my Instagram page then Ill have one huge post at the end of the month. I invite all you nail ladies to join me on this one! Wish me luck :)

Revlon Parfumerie Moonlit Woods

Last nights mani is Revlon Parfumerie in Moonlit Woods. I was really surprised with this one. I expected it to be really sheer, which it was on the first coat, but built up nice with the second coat. The scent was fantastic also! With the name, I was kinda expecting a woodsy smell...pine needles maybe, eww...but, it was a musky, perfumey smell. I loved it! It wasn't too "in-your-face" like some can be. This is two coats, no topcoat.