Barbie Doll'd Up Nail Digital Nail Printer
I’m not sure why this product captured my interest so much, but as soon as I saw it at toy fair, I really wanted to try it. While I was particularly tom-boyish during my middle school years, I did have one set of nail decals–they were of an apple that progressively gets closer to the core as you go from your thumb to your pinky. Very old school. So maybe that’s where my interest comes from. I’m also oddly fascinated by the elaborate nail designs that many women sport in new york–they really are like moving pieces of art.
Usually when we get a toy, we have lots of time to try it with various kids and families and we don’t have to return it. For this machine, we agreed to try it quickly and return it since there are limited samples. Sadly when the toy arrived, I discovered that the toy is only PC compatible. I’m a MAC person living in a predominately MAC world — so I needed to enlist my son Matthew (and his PC) to help me install the software and test the nail design studio. His friend Daniel–who usually builds all of the advanced LEGO and K’NEX sets for us–was also part of our team. We also decided to tape our trial runs–with the agreement that none of us would be shown on the video tape…it seemed like a fair deal. Who could blame two teenage boys for not wanting to be taped with a Barbie nail salon…and I wasn’t have a great hair day…so we were all happy.
I can’t tell you how much fun we had. We had several failed attempts…you really do need to read the directions to make sure that you have all the steps in order. There was so much laughing — interrupting our video attempts several times. Our failures really inspired them to help me get it right…and then we all got excited about the possibilities…there are over 1,000 plus possibilities with this machine. Like Jorge Posada* of the New York Yankees, I kept adding more and more white nail polish so that we could try it again!
Ultimately-do I think anyone needs an expensive digital nail printer? Not really. But if you’re techy and looking for something different and fun, this machine is fun and it does work.
If you’re planning on using this for a group, I suggest you really know how it works ahead of time so that you’re up and running and in the groove…it’s fun as long as it works!
Here’s how it works (or watch the video). Follow the instructions for setting up the printer ( just like an ordinary printer, you must install the software on your computer, load the ink, etc.). You can either use your own nail polish as a base or use their white polish. Let that dry and then add a layer of Pre-print polish–it’s clear. You then put your finger in the machine and take a picture of your nail. This is where the alignment issues arose. (I was sticking my finger too far into the machine, so it was printing on my finger, not my nail.) Once you get that step down, you remove your finger from the machine and then you can play around with the software to design your own nail design. This part is lots of fun — there are seasonal designs, classic Barbie motifs, fruits, sweets, cupcakes and you can even import your own designs. You then re-insert your finger and then push print…the design is printed on your finger! They provide top coat to seal the design.
Adding the white coat that comes with the printer
Given the current climate, it feels off suggesting that anyone spend this much on this type of product. In the past, this machine would have definitely made our Big Ticket Item List for those over-the-top kind of gifts. The machine is marked 8 & up…and while most girls are aging out of Barbie earlier, I’m sure this will be a hit with tween, teens and their moms. In fact, I suspect that many 20 somethings would LOVE being invited to try this machine out.
You'll need a PC computer to work with the printer
We went with the Classic Barbie Head
To see the finished product…one nail with Barbie’s Head, one with an “S” and one with a pineapple….
*Major league catchers often put white nail polish on so that their pitchers can see their signals better.
Oh by the way, the band-aid on my finger is not from this toy. In fact one of the reasons I insisted on trying this myself is that you do have to stick your finger in a machine…so I wanted to do it before I suggested that any child do the same. It doesn’t hurt at all and, in fact it’s very cool.