Can someone explain nails to me, please?

[RedCrab]

I’m really not this dim, honest! But I can’t seem to hold the information about types of nails in my head at all.

My nails are crap and break off constantly. I would like longish (not overly long) but I don’t want to wreck my already bad nails underneath.

So I think - no acrylic? No Shellac? How about gel? I’ve heard gel can help grow your nails underneath but can you have a pretty manicure on over the top? Help!

And whenever I attempt to go into a nail bar round here, I have no idea what to ask for the technicians are so busy and slightly scary that I don’t want to go in 🙈

My nails used to be short but now are medium and get long

I had a full set of acrylics which let them grow (3 weeks) with gellish (shellac) on top. Then I had the acrylics removed and I just had gellish (shellac) on them. Don't have nothing in between or they will break.

I still tend to have them done every 3 weeks although they are now tough enough just to have no polish.

Go to a proper beauty salon and have your nails done by a qualified beauty therapist. Shellac or Gelish, when properly applied and removed, should not damage your natural nail. I have Gelish nails done every three weeks, have done almost continually for the last two years. I had to have a break from it in April this year as I was going into hospital to have my son, and my natural nails were fine underneath. The gel makes my nails much stronger and I can grow them really well when I have it on.

Don't go in one of those awful high street nail bars that smell really strongly of chemicals and the staff wear face masks because of the fumes - these places are often cheaper but will wreck your nails. Don't let anyone use an electric buffer on your own nails.

I would suggest you take Biotin for a few months, rather than putting something on that is going to make your nails in an even worse condition.

There is nothing out there that won't damage your natural nails. Gel / Shellac / Acrylic will all damage your natural nails so even if you do grow them what is left when you take off the top coat will be damaged and weak. The best way is to grow them naturally - or else face facts (like I have) that you will have to have your nails done every 2/3 weeks. I have gel nails by the way, biosculpture is the brand my technician uses. I find gel nicer than acrylic and harder wearing than gel polish / shellac. There are also some great acrylic technicians about - as per everything in life, you get what you pay for!!

Vaseline dotted on each nail at bedtime and gently rubbed in every night for a week will see dramatic results as your nails will be strong but supple.

During the day gently file to keep edged smooth to avoid snagging. Only file gently do as not to file off new growth.

Cuticle oil and a good Vitamin E rich moisturiser rubbed into the nails multiple times a day. Use a glass or crystal nail file as well.

I have/had splitting and easily breaking nails and now have some decent length and strength despite working in a warehouse all day.

I had gel nails since September with shellac on top. Had them removed today to let my nails "rest" for a months or two.
These are my nails now.

I had crap nails from iron deficiency then vitamin D deficiency.

In my case I only realised one or other was an issue when they became severe and caused problems with hair, skin and other things. Now I know if my nail or hair aren't ok that depending on the signs I'm deficient in one of the other.

In other words you need to work out what is missing in your diet them eat the appropriate food or take the appropriate supplement.

Easily snapping nails, can be due to too much strength and they are rock solid. People don’t always realise. Can you post a picture.

I have really good hair - REALLY good hair and I always thought you had one of the other. Nails or hair.

I don’t bite them - they sometimes grow for a while and seem like they might stay strong but sooner or later, they just go brittle. I’ve tried all sorts of Sally Hanson Miracle Growth style things.

They don’t look brittle. They look strong.

If you have strong nails and you paint on nail hardener, then they will get even harder and snap off.

Best thing you need for strong nails is to have elasticity so they are more flexible. Rub some oil in every night and that will really help. Any oil will do. Olive, almond. You will see a difference. Those are lovely nails, they need a bit of tlc and they will be fine. (Beauty Therapist here)

Ibx treatments, google it. Amazing stuff.

Mmm, bumping as I’m the same with my nails.
I have ordered a glass nail file on the strength of this post.
Might look at Biotin.

My nails were always breaking of really low down or splitting vertically. I tried everything to solve this but nothing worked. I now get gel nails. A thin layer of gel is spies over the nail and cured then gel polish added on top. I've been getting them for years now and I have no idea what my own nails are like underneath. I just know my nails now always look really nice.

This is after a few months of serious conditioning with oil and moisturiser.
They used to start to split near the line and is very little break at the sides that would catch ony clothes.
Forgive the state. I've just taken this week's colour off.

Im lucky in that I have, long, strong nails, I love them.
Long term steroids for asthma ravaged the rest of me but didn't affect my nails at all.
I moisturise, use cuticle remover, buff and file often, and I paint them so they look great, well I think so anyway

Gel is just acrylic which is pre mixed, so just as damaging as regular acrylic nails. Just more expensive. 🤷‍♀️

@RedCrab
Yours need filing, buffing and your cuticles sorted out but they are fine otherwise, half an hour would have them looking great.
I'd leave them natural, they really don't need shellac or gel, just painted with normal polish.
I got a set of 24 different colours for £14 from Amazon yesterday.

All nail coatings are acrylic. Even polish.

That’s why if you become allergic to one type of coating your contraindicated for all of them.

Dd's on the left, mine on the right, they are scarily similar.