Lighthearted - Nail polish nightmare!

For those worried about having problems with the UV light on hands after having gels or shellac applied .. simply apply sun block to your hands before going to the salon...

I have Gel nails, and have had them for several years now applied every 4 or 5 weeks.

…and this is the manicure I did tonight - with Sally Hansen’s Rosy Glow, now sadly discontinued. Nail length not to everyone’s taste, obviously, and will be trimmed next time I do them.

I would never have gel finger nails. I went for a pedicure at
new place one time without realising they only did gel. It looked amazing at the time, but Ididn't even try to remove it myself as I realised I'd have to get them removed in the salon. When I went to a different salon and insisted on normal polish they were not happy, because (for them) gel nails save time and so are cheaper to do.

Gel is what the salons want to do. It's not best for our nails. It's designed to make the salons money because then we will be dependant on them for decent looking nails.

Another thing, many gel polishes need to be dried under UV lights. (A cancer danger)

I use cuticle oil to keep my nails nice and file them, using a base coat, colour and a top coat that's hardening. I even bought the stuff to give myself a home pedicure after the last one I had was really bad.

I had gel nails for my daughter’s wedding some 17 years ago! NEVER again! Ruined my nails - for some time - an experience many OPs have encountered. Now I cut my nails as required, apply cutical/nail oil and file using emery or crystal file. My favourite colour is Bogata Blackberry by Opi - for toes when I go on holiday!

I have been getting gel nails for several years. I have never soaked them off with anything. The salon I go-to files the gel down then refills the new growth and re-does the gel polish. I very seldom chip or break a nail.
I do use a lot of hand lotion and rub into the cuticles. I don't worry about giving my nails a rest or time to breathe as there is usually a fair amount of growth as I only govin about every 6 wks unless I have a special event coming up.

Irismarle

Skullduggery

I’ve found the PERFECT solution as I’m allergic to gel and acrylic nails plus the chemicals used are dreadful.

Google Japanese manicure.

My DIL is a qualified beautician and facial specialist and her salon offers Japanese manicures.

They buff the nails then use some type of powder and wax to polish your nails to a deep shine and it lasts!

I’ve had mine for 2 weeks and they’re still shiny but I now have nail growth so will need to re-do it but she’s left me her kit.

Honestly, it will be the next Big Thing!

I remember my mother using something like this here back in the 50s. She put a pink cream on her nails and then used a leather buffer which brought up a high shine, just like nail varnish. I think these buffers were a common part of manicure sets then. I don’t know when or why this went out of fashion. It was probably much better for your nails than varnish and chemical removers.

Oh yes, I used to use a nail buffing cream called Carnate and a leather buffer back in my youth (a long time ago!) This was a very fine abrasive paste, which would actually remove the top nail layer, so not to be used too frequently, but the buffer created a very high shine.

I would never EVER have any nail salon treatment, as gels, shellacs and acrylics absolutely ruin your nails due to the harsh removal process with acetone soaks, drying out the top layer of your nails.

I was a nail-biter until the age of 20, when I made a concerted effort to stop, and have worn nail polish ever since, with several layers of Sally Hansen Hard as Nails, followed by two coats of colour and finished with Insta-Dri afterwards.

I only started having gel manicures a couple of yrs ago and loved them but they have completely ruined my nails, They used to be strong but are now flaky, slightly discoloured and very weak so have reverted to ordinary manicures less frequently but these only last a couple of days if I'm lucky before chipping etc. The last one I had I ruined almost straight away putting on my seat belt to drive home, what a waste of money that was!

Like many others I have tried salon nails of various types but when the nails or the coatings are removed my nails have been left in a bad weakened state.
I persevered with growing and cultivating my own nails and they usually grew strongly. However, about a year ago they started to flake, split have ridges, were soft and peeled. They were horrible, I tried various treatments and took some supplements specifically for skin, hair and nails, they made no difference.
At the same time, I was being woken in the night with pain down the outer side of my legs, the doctor thought perhaps Peripheral artery disease as nail problems are apparently also associated to that.
After a Doppler and blood tests, it was determined I was very depleted on Vit D, I was prescribed a high dose and then drop down to lower dose to take all year.
Result, no more leg pain and nails are fantastic, I am currently wearing Rimmel 60 seconds Super Shine in Black Cherry, bold but lovely.
I am an outdoor person and an all-weather walker, with a good varied diet so did not guess at that.
I am only mentioning for those that may experience similar nail issues not related to Shellac etc. It could be Vit D.

Builder gel is the best ive found. Last four weeks at least

I use 2 coats of Sally Hanson Extreme wear,a top coat & then
always a no time dry coat,dries instantly.There is a new type you just drop a spot or two on your nail & it flows all over the nail & dries instantly,it’s Essie,quick-e ,that really works & my nails are perfect.I used to have the same problem with scuffs.

My nails were in a terrible state, flaking, breaking, splitting and hardly growing. I was going to a 'do' so I went and got them done professionally. I was advised to keep rubber gloves by the sink and to keep cuticle oil beside the bed and apply it every night. What a difference after a few weeks! My nails are hard and strong. I have to keep them fairly short so I can make a tight fist for karate. I'll get them trimmed and a pinker finish on them when I go back in a couple of weeks. I paid £23 and I think it's well worth the money.

I bit my nails for around 50 years before stopping (kept telling myself that I was supposed to be too grown up to so it any more. They were left soft and weak. I'm now taking Biotin and the difference is amazing! Thoroughly recommend it. But I need advice as to what cuticle oil to use as my cuticles are ragged (too much time digging out weeds). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have beeen having gel nails done about every 3-4 weeks for some months.Gets rid of that problem. I have a dark red colour to go with my Chanel lipstick Roiuge Noir. The closest I've found is number 478, called something like Wild Berry.

Madmeg and Scribbles. Me too.
I don’t want chemicals on my nails or on my hair, and the idea of a “pampering” session leaves me cold.
I think long painted nails look witchy, and painted toenails draw attention to less than beautiful feet.
You can look and feel fine without the “enhancements” but it’s what floats your boat I suppose.

must get one thanks for this tip.

I heard only this morning about women having to have finger tips amputated due to gel nails. Something to do with the ultra violet setting

I cannot believe how many are saying that gel/shellac ruin your nails. after about five years I returned for a manicure and was persuaded to have shellac I have had two repolishes and dread to think how my nails are now.

Madmeg, are you my long-lost twin sister?
I feel exactly as you describe about make-up, nail varnish, spa treatments and massages and am considered truly odd by most of my friends. I loathe going to the hairdresser's and can just about sit still long enough for a dry cut to keep my mop in shape. The thought of being coloured, permed, roller-ed etc fills me with horror although I have tried these things in the past - and hated them.
I occasionally persist with allegedly strengthening nail polishes in an effort to make my flaking, cracked and grotty-loking nails look a bit better but have decided you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear after all!

I bit my nails for 58 years but now have great strong nails that I have gel or shellac on every now and then Polish lasts well and I remove it myself using proper method after 3 weeks when regrowth spoils the look

I get top coat from the Poundshop for £1. It really works and my nail varnish stays on with no chips

couldn't agree more with everyone's comments re shellac orgel nails. I'm never going to go down that route again!!
I would highly recommend Opi or Essie nail varnishes - they both do a lovely range of colours and if you use their base and top coat the nail varnish lasts for almost a week with me - even with hairwashes/washing up etc etc!! Pedis last much longer.

Best thing I ever bought from Aldi online is a gel nail manicure set; curing light, nail prep file, cleaner, primer, base, no wipe top coat and several gel nail Polish colours! I enjoy doing my own manicure and pedicure and the mani lasts 3 weeks or so, pedi ….well forever (until I get bored/nails grow)!

I must be the most boring gransnetter cos I hate nail varnish with avengeance. My hands have never been steady enough to paint them myself and I can "feel" the varnish weighing my fingers down. I have occasionally worn it for a special occasion and remove it immediately afterwards. I'm much the same with make-up - too clumsy and make a mess. Nor can I tan - my fair skin just burns in patches - and I can even feel fake tan on my skin.

I also hate spas and massages. The latter make me cringe at the thought. I've been on two World Cruises and lots of the ladies I met spent fortunes having such treatments. I was plain jane by comparison to others but it didn't stop me having a whale of a time and making lifelong friends (one of whom spent a fortune on treatments).

I've much better things to do with my time and money.

However, I'm not meaning to preach to those who love it cos they look fantastic and it's a luxury they are entitled to choose. A friend of mine stipulated her requirements for make-up etc on her death and her sister made sure her wishes were carried out. It was important to her, so fair enough.

Just not for me.

Yes also to the glass file.

My favourite colours for hands -
everyday: ballet slippers which is a pale pink (Essie)
Summer: I also like a sea blue with sparkles (Sally Hansen)
Christmas: Rouge noir or something festive in silver gold or red (Chanel)

For toes I’m a bit more adventurous and I like reds and corals, whites and light pinks also, depending on my tan. All year long as I swim.

I paint my nails myself and use a top coat - Sally Hansen is excellent. Cuticle oil is a must too.