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 keep my nails as smart as possible myself but have a French manicure once a month

I do my own nails. Feel so much better with my nails and hair done

I used to have mine done with gel every 2 weeks, I was spending £22 a time and it just became unaffordable. My nails were wrecked, I’ve not had them done for 2 months now and my nails are finally starting to look better again. I may invest in some gel look normal nail varnish, and spend some time practicing.

I do have a sensationail kit (Dh got me a few year’s ago) which I’ve used a few times but I’m not great at doing it. Dh does my toe nails tho he’s really good at it

I have to admit I do feel odd without my nails being done I’m not overly girly but having nice nails always made me happy.

I did have my eyelashes done (lash lift) and my eyebrows threaded and am really happy, it was a treat (was given a voucher for a beauty salon from a friend) and not something I’m going to fall into having done regularly.

Glad I saw this thread. I've pushed my cuticles back for the first time in about 10 years.

Baby steps. Are all nail buffers/cuticle oils created the same? Looking online and can see some significant price differences. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I do get manicures every 3 weeks ish, builder in a bottle plus gel. £33 which is quite pricey.
I do my own gel toes as I have all the gear , could do my nails but I treat it as luxury me time and it's the one thing I get done. I'd love to have lashes and occasional facials, massages etc like pre DD14m but nursery and general child costs have obviously decided that for me

@MissOrganisedMe

Glad I saw this thread. I've pushed my cuticles back for the first time in about 10 years.

Baby steps. Are all nail buffers/cuticle oils created the same? Looking online and can see some significant price differences. Does anyone have any recommendations?

This one is fab.

I don't have the time or the money so it's natural for me. I suppose it's nice to though if you can. I don't really like the gel nails though.

@teenytinydoor

I don't have the time or the money so it's natural for me. I suppose it's nice to though if you can. I don't really like the gel nails though.

Do you mean you don't like acrylics? Gel just looks like polish.

I love having nice nails but waste of money getting gels done because I do a lot of sport and have to keep filing down. Got a Mylee UV gel kit off Amazon - saves fortunes, and I can make a manicure last a good 3 weeks when I file them by sealing the nail edge again.

I get acrylic infills & gel spa pedicures every 4 weeks with infills in between.
I'm disabled and cannot bend down to do my toes and at least this way I know they are being looked after properly.

Pre COVID, I had gel refills done every 3 weeks. At the time, I just accepted it as a regular expense.

Then when the salons shut, I started doing my own manicures. I don't do gels but with a weekly manicure, my own nails have gotten stronger and look quite well. Having gotten used to the saving, I couldn't justify the cost of regular salon manicures.

Realistically I can't afford it. Well, there's your answer then.

Could you volunteer to have them done at a local college (will always be under supervision, should be much cheaper and will help local kids get qualifications). Either that or learn how to do it yourself... loads of vids/tutorials on You Tube etc.