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Original poster

False nails?

28 replies

parker1313 · 01/11/2010 19:03

Which in peoples opinions are the best fake nails to have?
Which look the best, the most natural&do not ruin your own nails?

OP posts:
tummysgottogo · 02/11/2010 21:24

I think they all ruin your own nails....they really weaken them.

bethelbeth · 02/11/2010 21:44

If you're using stick on ones the glue is so weak that it won't damage your nails.

Nail extensions however are a whole other ballgame- if you have nails that you don't mind then do not go near them. If you bite your nails or don't have nice ones then consider it- but there's no going back once you've started.

I just stick to french manicures. Much easier.

Shhhh · 03/11/2010 11:42

Not true ladies.

Gel nails are fab, flexible and allow your own nail to breath. I have had acrylic nails in the past and had nAils applied with an electric drill. Those options ruin your own nails, good for a tempory option but not long term.

I have been having gel nails applied at my local nails Inc nail bar for the last 2+ years and haven't looked back. I have their 3 week manicure which is a colluded or French polish gel applied to your nails. They stay chip free and intact for the full 3 weeks.

I don't always mange to go every 3 weeks and in-between. Sometimes it's 3-4 weeks in-between minus gel nails..
My own nails are fab. Never had breakages or splitting etc.

Gel nails is just a few thin layers of gel applied ontop of your own nail.

ThighsBurntOnABigRocket · 03/11/2010 11:45

I currently have a gel nail varnish on top of my own nail, which is 'set' with a special heat lamp.

No damage to nail as it's my own nail underneath (no glue on it) and it comes of with acetone. Okay, that may not be brill for the nail, but I prefer it to stuck on acrylics.

ThighsBurntOnABigRocket · 03/11/2010 11:46

Plus it doesn't chip easily, and there is no chance of the nail 'breaking' (tip coming off) as its your own nail, just painted.

Shhhh · 03/11/2010 11:48

Same as me thinhsburnton...

ThighsBurntOnABigRocket · 03/11/2010 11:49

I found a link about it

Shhhh · 04/11/2010 14:49

ohhhh heard about shellac a few weeks ago. It sounds very similar to what I have and in fact noone could find out the difference. Just sounds like coloured gel nails which is what I have.

Fab way to do you nails imo.

RipMacWinkle · 04/11/2010 15:45

I asked someone about the difference between Shellac and regular Gel nails Shhhh.

I was told it was to do with the ease with which it comes off. Shellac comes away in 10 mins (or less?) where regular gel nails take a bit longer.

Shhhh · 04/11/2010 16:32

Ah right... not sure about that... as it doesn't take long to remove mine. Uusually soak a small cotton wool in acetone and place on nail and leave to loosen nail.

But im no expert Blush

moragbellingham · 04/11/2010 16:49

I had mine done at Nails Inc in Bond St.
Terribly done and really fat and thick. I put this all down to the person doing it though. When I had touch ups done I went to a Japanese salon and the girl was shocked at how poor and expensive the originals were.

Japanese salons are brilliant around here.

I couldn't remove my nails - at all! Soaked them in bowls of various acetone brands for mimimum one hour etc. Had to wait for them to grow out.
Defeated the object of having falsies really whilst my weak and slightly bitten nails looked a bit yuk.

BelieveInLife · 04/11/2010 19:56

Any false nails, gel, acrylic or fibreglass - no matter what you are told by the nail tech - WILL damage your natural nail.

I work in the beauty industry and having trained in all of this, I don't even offer it because I think they're terrible. I prefer to offer clients regular manicures and home care advice that will make their natural nails fab.

It's complete rubbish that your natural nails need to 'breathe'...they don't...BUT the weight of a false nails makes your body believe it's produced a good natural nail and so your own nails stop growing. Plus there's the hacking, filing and cuticle damage that most (but not all) nail bars do to get your falsies on.

Shhhh · 04/11/2010 21:24

believeinlife,not questioning your training but gel nails have NEVER ruined my own nails.

My own nails NEVER get filed, hacked or do my cuticles get damaged.

In fact, I was a nail biter prior to having "nails done" 10 years ago and yes I agree the 8 ish years I had acrylic nails, my nails were ruined BUT the last 2 years of gels have seen them in the best condition ever.

I have them applied and removed correctly and its done them wonders.

moragb, you should have complained to nails inc. Poor service from them which is unusual 9well for my nails inc nail bar anyway!)

topsi · 05/11/2010 08:36

I have had Jessica gell nails on for about 3 weeks, I had a touch up a week ago and they still look perfect!

MKDoherty · 05/11/2010 12:36

I'm in the middle of a 3 day 1 to 1 course learning acrylics with a fabulous Entity Nail Couture Educator called Heidi Kellerman from Bristol - £595.00 including kit. Have had nail extensions for 20 years myself, so thought it was time to get the other side of the table and do it for myself in order to work it around my children!! Training going well, not as easy as it looks to get the liquid and powder application right! Practise, practise, practise!!!! :)

Shhhh · 06/11/2010 10:30

That's my goal mkd, want to go down the route of my own salon once the Los are big ones !
Good luck with it x

BelieveInLife · 06/11/2010 11:06

No Shhhh that's why I said most and not all

I would question how you know that your own nails are not damaged if you wear gels regularly?...it would take a period of not wearing anything to see how healthy your natural nail is.

Unfortunately, it is a physical impossibility for nails not to be weakened, for the reasons I explained above.

The problem is that the industry is rife with poorly trained nail techs and it's a recipe for disaster. I have 'put right' probably well into the 100's of clients who have had problems and that pretty much speaks for itself.

Shhhh · 06/11/2010 19:06

believeinlife, maybe I missed something:

your previous post:
Any false nails, gel, acrylic or fibreglass - no matter what you are told by the nail tech - WILL damage your natural nail.

I read that as all NOT most...

If you re read my previous posts, I dont religiously get my nails done every 3 or so weeks. (look at my post 11.42 3rd nov)Sometimes I have my gels removed and have a new set applied 1,2,6 weeks later (depending on if I can get in salon) so thats why I know that my own nails are not damaged.

I cant see how gels can damage my own nails when sno filing is ever done to my own nail..?

Im not disagreeing that there are poor nail technicians out there, I have visited a few in the last 10+ years but im very happy with the standard and condition of my nails from nails inc.

BelieveInLife · 09/11/2010 13:00

I meant that not all nail techs will file or damage your natural nail and if you re-read my earlier post, you will see that i have explained why gel (or any) nails damage your nails even without any filing or cuticle work.

Shhhh · 09/11/2010 14:03

so I guess the point you are referring to is : "BUT the weight of a false nails makes your body believe it's produced a good natural nail and so your own nails stop growing."

sorry but rubbish. My own nails are growing as usual. If you read my earlier posting I said that I was once a nail biter and now have a fab set of nails both with gel nails and without.

Really... your own nails stopping growing..Hmm.

Shhhh · 09/11/2010 14:09

the only way your nail would stop growing you be if the nail below your cuticle got damaged, it would either grow deformed or not at all..

BUT,for it not to grow as you said above (weight of a false nail) is nonsense.

BelieveInLife · 09/11/2010 19:26

Ok, my degree in Beauty & Science was obviously incorrect ... you know far more, clearly...

TattyDevine · 09/11/2010 21:13

How does your body "know" that you have acrylics? Is it not a metabolic process that causes the keratin to form the nail?

Sorry but it just sounds very like that old myth that if you cut your hair it will grow faster when your hair is dead and can't know what is happening at the other end.

Perhaps you could provide a link or reference as presumably this is evidence based information? I find it very interesting, I'd love to know more Smile

Shhhh · 10/11/2010 12:38

BIL, even google knows more !

I think maybe either we have got crossed wires Hmm or you missed that session in your degree...

BelieveInLife · 10/11/2010 19:05

Shhhh I'm not sure why you are so vehemently defensive of false nails that you will resort to shouting down someone who is in the profession??

I did not miss that session in my degree, nor do we have crossed wires. As I said before, my comments are based on knowledge of anatomy and physiology and experience of over 10 years in the industry and hundreds of clients.

It's great that you are so pleased with gel nails and don't think you suffer any ill effects from them, but the idea of forums like this is so that people can get different opinions. I came on as a professional to tell someone my viewpoint and I would expect a little more respect from fellow MNetters, even if you do disagree with the science behind it.

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