Miss Essie Chats about Polish!

I'm a self-diagnosed nail polish-aholic. It started young and it's only gotten worse over the years. Candy red, baby pink, navy blue, bright coral on my toes -- I love 'em all. So when I had the opportunity to meet THE Essie, of Essie nail polish, I almost jumped out of my Havaianas flip flops. I didn't even know that Essie was a real person! And I was going to meet her!

It turns out that Essie is one of the nicest women I've ever met, and also one of the smartest -- she makes up all the names of the colors herself! Read on to get all the scoop from Miss Essie Weingarten and check out my new fave colors of the season and the hottest new Havaianas ever.

How'd you first get started in nail polish?
A long time ago, I always loved getting my nails done as a little girl and the only polish that was in salons, believe it or not, was Revlon. After going to FIT and working at Bendel's, I decided that there really was a market out there to have great colors to go to beauty salons. I found a chemist that listened to me and gave me a formula and then I came with fabric and he copied the colors and then I went knocking on doors in Las Vegas. I went to all the hotels, because they all had little spas or beauty salons, and I left samples. By the time I got home, I had orders from all the hotels and then I started getting calls from all over the country and I'd say, "How'd you find out about us?" "Oh, I was on holiday with my husband and I got a manicure and the polish lasted for like two weeks. I love it! It's the best." And they told their salons about it and the next thing you know, people were calling from all over. It started with 12 colors and today we have over 500.

What's your favorite color?
I'm fickle. I have a lot of favorite colors. It's between Ballet Slippers and Mademoiselle, but I'm always doing combos. Ballet Slippers has become world renown. When you say Essie, you say Ballet Slippers, so of course it's my baby. But I love them all, they're like all my children!

How do you feel about the neon trend in polish?
I think it's hot hot hot! It puts a smile on everyone's face and I got everyone to adjust their moods. I don't get anymore doom and gloom. As soon as they see them, they're just on it. That's what I was intending to do.

How do you name the colors?
Naming colors is usually my responsibility, so if you like them, I'm very happy about it, and if you don't, I have to go back to my corner and work a little bit harder.

What's your favorite polish name?
There's so many that I really love so it's really tough. Probably Sugar Daddy.

I like Guchi Muchi Puchi.
Oh that was great.

What color are you wearing now?
I'm wearing Perky Purple. It looks different on everyone's skin tone. It's amazing.

What do you suggest for girls that are going to events and don't know what color to wear?
This summer it's not about matching, but in the fall it's all about matching. So let's just have fun. I really think the fall is going to be matchy-matchy again and we've been away from that for a while.

Check out Cute as a Button, Guilty Pleasures and Perky Purple! They're the colors I'm lovin' right now. Oh, and when you paint your nails, wait two minutes between each coat. That's a little secret Essie whispered to me.

What colors are you into right now? Tell us below.

Posted on: Tue Jun 2, 2009