To want regular manicures?

[StrongCoffeAvalanche]

Mum of young children. Youngest is now in full time nursery for the first time so I have a bit of time to myself (I work part time). I always feel like I have really crap nails and regular manicures would cheer me up and make me feel more like myself. But a manicure is either about £26 a pop or £36 if shellac. This is quite pricey for us. And even a shellac one lasts only 2 weeks, if I'm lucky.

Do normal mums get regular manicures? Do it themselves? Just leave their nails to be natural? I feel a bit lost.

I do my own nails, paint them at least twice a week so they always look good. I just do it while watching tv so it's relaxing.

I would try to learn on your own and buy some kit if you want gel ones.

Our local Primark now has a beauty counter that does gel etc and is cheaper than the salon, or a local area high street type place rather than town or city centre may do it really affordably. I’ve never been into finger nails because of work but get gel toes in the summer and love it!

So with all the replies I think I will book in a few professional sessions with a good beautician. So I can see how it's done before then starting to do it myself.

To reply to the 'feeling like myself' query. Before I had kids I was a complete party girl. I used to have my nails done whenever I was going out. With no children I could literally book nails in at the drop of a hat. The gel does start to piss me off after a while but removal was not a problem as I had all the time in the world to look after myself. One of my DC has special needs. I haven't felt like myself for a long time, but as the help has built up over the years and their EHCP has come through I've slowly started to think about myself again. A large part of that is thinking about my appearance again, a bit like I used to. I just feel like a frump and need to get my confidence back I guess.

I don't have the time. You should treat yourself now and again.
I do file, buff and massage my hands just about every night before bed. I have fancy cuticle cream and hand cream that makes me feel nice.

Please don’t buy a DIY kit. I promise you, it’s not a good idea! There’s a reason these kits are cheap and not used by professionals. They are full of chemicals that are not good for your nails and over time will cause damage that can be hard to repair! The application process may seem easy but there’s lots more required, like knowing anatomy and product ingredients.
A good cuticle oil and orange stick to push cuticles back is a fab idea. Nail polish and regular hand lotion will make a huge difference too while keeping them healthy 🥰

I've never had my nails done. How do you cook and type? Do they get stuck in your hair? I often look with envy and fascination at other people's.
I do look after my nails though. I use hand cream and keep them filed. They often look like they're French-manicured but they're not, just natural. That's probably why I've never bothered with more.

I pay £30 for builder gel and polish every 4 weeks - I can afford it and to me it’s worth £7.50 a week

A good cuticle oil and orange stick to push cuticles back is a fab idea.

Are you supposed to cut the cuticles once they're pushed back?

Thanks again for all the replies

If you feel like a frump, spend the money on clothes and a great haircut.

Honestly, no-one really notices or thinks about other people's nails unless they too happen to be into that sort of thing.

Whereas clothes and hair are obviously really noticeable.

Hands and feet for me. My nail lady only charges £20 though and hands last 4 weeks and feet 6-8 weeks.

I know lots of mums that do their own. I also know people who have invested in doing courses so they can do their own or their friends on the cheap.

Used to have shellac, it looks great but kills your nails
Now switched to Essie's TLC, a brilliant conditioning polish.
I have a manicure fortnightly - lovely retired woman at the community centre - £5 a time, and do them myself in between.

I have long natural nails that I mainly do myself. Get a manicure about 4 times a year because I like it and they can sort out my wild cuticles .
Do you have a training college near you? I used to get mine done at one for a lot less money.

Are there any colleges near you that students need models to practice on? It’s usually supervised so is rare will go really wrong.

I get shellac somewhat regularly. I’d love to go every 2-3 weeks, but it’s more like ever 4-8 weeks. I only have one DC currently who is now in nursery and I also work part time, so I do have a bit more time to myself now. It’s a treat, something that makes me feel more like me, and I love when I don’t need to worry about doing my nails because someone has sorted them out for me.

I do my own, I think it's dead easy once you get the hang of it. It does make me that little bit happier when I have my nails done.

I put a protein nail conditioner on when I can be arsed and trim them down if they start digging in to my palms when lifting in the gym. Low maintenance, long and strong.

I can highly recommend Sinful colours polish. It lasts a week for me and I'm VERY hard on my nails. Gel, shellac etc always chip within a week. It's also pretty cheap. There's lots of videos and pics online for inspiration when you do your own. I find it a fun, relaxing thing to do on a Sunday evening. Sometimes I'm less creative but a glitter fade on a red nail is quick and easy to do and looks fantastic. Inspo for this weeks nails

@StrongCoffeAvalanche

So with all the replies I think I will book in a few professional sessions with a good beautician. So I can see how it's done before then starting to do it myself.

To reply to the 'feeling like myself' query. Before I had kids I was a complete party girl. I used to have my nails done whenever I was going out. With no children I could literally book nails in at the drop of a hat. The gel does start to piss me off after a while but removal was not a problem as I had all the time in the world to look after myself. One of my DC has special needs. I haven't felt like myself for a long time, but as the help has built up over the years and their EHCP has come through I've slowly started to think about myself again. A large part of that is thinking about my appearance again, a bit like I used to. I just feel like a frump and need to get my confidence back I guess.

Good for you @StrongCoffeAvalanche! If it makes you feel like you it’s totally worth it.

I’m another one who does her own gel nails. My friend taught herself over lockdown, then went on to qualify as a nail tech. So I’ve bought stuff on her recommendation (so not cheap stuff!) I can’t do fancy patterns, but I enjoy being able to change my colours sooner than waiting 3 weeks to pay someone to do it.

My nails are my only treat! I have gels every 3 weeks, which costs £25.
I cut my own hair, wear inexpensive clothes & make up etc so I feel ok with this one 'extravagance'
Gels should last more than 2 weeks if done properly, it took me a while to find somewhere that did them well and mine always look great still after 3 weeks (apart from a bit of growth!)

Have you looked at having a mobile coming to your house? I used to pay £28 for shellac at a salon 30 mins drive away. Then the got busy and couldn’t fit me in for 5 weeks. Saw a page on Facebook and a girl does a house per night, and my friends come over and she does then in the spare room. £15 for a manicure, builder gel and polish. Its not shellac , its Mylee brand. And TBH shes better than the other one.

Do them every 4 weeks without chipping, sometimes every 3 weeks depending on our schedules.

I have gel polish every 3 weeks and it costs £25. I go and see a lady who work out of her spare room who was recommended to me. It might be worth asking around to see if anyone can recommend someone like that

I used to have regular gel nails done, only stopped as dc 2 has cone alone and she's still only 11 months so don't feel be got the time to fit it in but all my mates get their nails done it's actually quite a common thing to get done and yeah it does make you feel better doesn't it 😄

I get BIAB done every 3 weeks for £25, it is my treat to myself.

If you can afford it, go got it. If you can't afford it or justify the price look at a few tutorials on YouTube about DIY manicures.