Talk me through nice nails

[dizzydoilly]

I am very envious of all the lovely nails my work colleagues have. It’s something I have never bothered with. My nails are very short and a bit undefined- never really knew how to apply polish or file to be honest.
can anything be done with them….do I need nails before they can be sorted. Do you have to pay to have the polish taken off- do you have to do anything every day. I’d love to not be hiding my hands away. Don’t want to turn up at a place and they look at me in horror. I am going on holiday soon and it would be nice to have nice nails even if they only last a fortnight!

Can you post a picture of your nails? Much easier to give advice if we can see what the starting point is

Just go and get yourself a gel polish, most places do them. Then the grow and you can have them infilled etc and the colour changed. I still keep mine quite short and neat but always a nice block colour ( if never French manicure or anything like that)

I have BIAB on my nails, it’s been amazing.

Mine were short, stubby and crap, they’re now long and lovely. I have them redone every three-ish weeks as they grow super quick, should really be every fortnight but I’m VERY lazy. Tend to have a nude-y colour so I can ride out the regrowth.

I’d give it a go, see what change you get by your holiday. I bet you’ll be amazed!

Your colleagues that have lovely nails probably have gels done every 2-3 weeks. It’s done in a salon, removed and replaced each time with no maintenance in between.

It’s worth going and getting them done for a holiday, but they damage nails long term.

I have short natural nails and however much I try to file and shape cuticles at home, they always look way better if I get the same thing done every few weeks at a salon. I ask for a man's manicure so a good tidy up but no polish.

I don't like gel polish as it ruined my nails a few years ago (layers of nail would come off with the polish) and I think gel nails would maybe do the same. Would probably be worth doing it once for a holiday though.

I’ve given up on BIAB and getting my nails done every few weeks I now use wraps.

Depends how much money you want to throw at it. You can buy a perfectly nice gel effect polish for under a tenner that sets itself without a uv lamp and providing youre prepared to top it up every few days it’ll look nice. Remove completely and reapply at the weekend.

I’ve only had a manicure once and it was good to see how they did my nails, the shape etc. Then I just try and replicate that look at home for cheap.

Im sure others will be along to advise on what happens at their nail salon, the choices and prices, how they chose what they got, if it damages their nails etc.

I have really short stubby nails that break easily. I had BIAB for a few years but found they still broke off but really low down and it was very painful.

Have accepted I’ll never have long manicured nails naturally so have gone all in. I have acrylic tips and gel over the top. Sometimes I have a block colour, sometimes a French manicure.

Thank you everyone - lots to think on - had to Google some of it …BIAB - I did try wraps but looked awful on me - too cacky handed so no UV lamps and faffing- might ask for a recommendation from a friend whose nails look simple but nice - you have given me hope that something might work - thank you x

I get biab on my nails every 4-5 weeks. I love it.

I don't have to do anything in between appointments.