Nails! This has to be the most girly thread I've ever started - but I need your help!

[DottyDot]

Right, so I'm inheriting a beautiful diamond ring in a few weeks time (it was my Mum's engagement ring) - it's currently being re-set and sized and should be ready soon.

It's a lovely present and I'm getting quite excited about it. But my fingers and nails are hideous and I'm wondering what I can do to make my hands look at least half presentable so that they match the lovely ring

I pick down the sides of my fingers and thumbs - have tried to stop doing it but it's a lifetime's habit - I'm putting cream on every time I remember and have got the picking down to a minimum so hopefully my fingers won't look so red and horrible.

My nails are very short - I clip them with a nail clipper - no varnish, no filing, no nothing.

I've never ever done anything with them - so where do I start? Is it worth getting a manicure and what would I ask for? I'm imagining that they just look nice and smart with maybe clear varnish on? How do you get them to be a nice shape - mine are bumpy as I clip them fairly randomly . I've never been to a nail bar or beauty salon-type place, so if I'm going to venture in one, I need to know what I should ask for...!

I've got about 4 weeks before the ring is ready - HELP!

Go to a decent salon and get a "power polish" manicure (personally I recommend Shellac, it's AMAZING), depending on where you are it will cost from about £20 and your nails will look lovely and smooth and shiny for 3 or 4 weeks. Also buy some Solar Oil or similar from them and USE IT.

Choosing a salon can be tricky, the hybrid polishes like Shellac, Gelish etc are fabulous but need to be applied by someone who can polish! There is a list of "approved" salons on the Sweet Squared website, they are the UK distributors for Shellac so you could have a look on there.

Or ask someone with lovely nails where they go. Nails Inc are usually pretty reliable but expensive and not sure what they have in terms of hybrids.

I warn you though, Shellac is a bit addictive so you might want to budget for it being a regular thing.

4 weeks is enough time to sort this out.

STOPPICKINGSTOPPICKINGSTOPPICKINGSTOPPICKINGSTOPPICKING

I don't think you necessarily need a manicure. 9 times out of 10 they look a bit tacky in my opinion.

You really need to just not pick at them. Distract distract distract.

I can't find that page on S2 website now... What town/city are you in, there must be MNers who can recommend somewhere.

Yeah, don't get a "French". Just get plain pale pink/beige, much less WAGgy.

Aaarrgggghhh! Thank you - I'm down to just picking my thumbs at the moment and one finger on the other hand

I don't want my nails to look 'false' if you see what I mean - just lovely and smart and maybe shiny - just presentable so I can show off wear my ring

Right - not 'french'. OK. I'm in Manchester so can get to anywhere in Manchester/Stockport.

Should I be filing my nails once they start growing?

It's such a mysterious world....

Personally, I'd just do it myself. Why waste all that money on getting someone else to do them? Give them a file so they're even and stop picking at them.

If you've never cared about them up until now, I really don't think it's worth getting into it.

Obviously if you particularly want to, you should. Just like, you don't need a manicure to look groomed.

Hello,

Do your nails split or crack? Do you let them grow long enough to find out :)

Ok, first of all I would get a good base coat (i'm currently using CND stickey), i'd then buy myself a very pale pink polish and a top coat (i don't think you can beat seche vite).

Don't cut your nails for a week so they have a tiny bit of length. Every evening (don't worry if you forget from time to time) put an oil (i like solar oil, but olive oil would do) on your cuticles.

When you have a bit of length, cut with your clippers straight and as equal length as you can do it, then with a file (not a metal one)round down the corners slightly, you still want a short square, but rounded edges (so you don't scratch yourself!).

Now paint your nails, base coat, 2 coats of the pink polish, 1 coat top coat. You can't really much up with a pale pink, as even if you go over the edges no one will see. Every time you get a chip take of the varnish and do it again, if you use seche vite it dries in seconds so it's not a problem, i reckon you'll have to do it two or three times a week.

Just before you get the ring go to a beauticians and get a good manicure, your nails and finger should be in better condition, and will look lovely when you have the ring, so should be an incentive to keep it going.

I wouldn't use Shellac unless you have the money to keep having it done every couple of weeks, and if you are a picker you'll just pick off the shellac, which will make you nails look rubbish again.

ooh thanks! I think my nails are pretty strong - they don't tend to crack when they grow - they're a bugger to cut so I only do them every few weeks . Right. Will start with the beautifying at home then. NO PICKING.... and like the idea of using oil for my cuticles - they're currently dry and messy at the bottom of my nails.

Will buy some clear and some light pink nail varnish - and some nail files - which at the grand old age of 42 I have never bought before...

that should say muck up, not much up!

You could also consider getting one of these [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nails-Inc-Way-Nail-Buffer/dp/B0033UWRB4/ref=pd_sim_sbs_d_1]
then you wouldn't need to paint at all if you couldn't be bothered.

Oooh yes those nail buffer things are cool!

And when you file, file in one direction. Don't "saw" back and forth. Otherwise, they'll split more easily.

Christ, I need to do this, my nails are an utter disgrace. I don't even notice that I pick and bite them.

They are inherently weak - even my toe nails, which I don't pick or bite are very weak.....

And I have a beautiful diamond ring which I love to wear but I tend to hide it as my hands/fingers/nails are just revolting.

. How do I break the habit??>???? OP - let me know how you get on, I need to be inspired to do this!

I'm glad it's not just me then! I'm hoping this will be a whole new NO PICKING approach to life but I've picked for as long as I can remember and it doesn't seem to matter if I'm stressed/not stressed, I just do it. It drives dp bonkers so she'll be very happy indeed if I manage to break the habit...

get - so if you stop picking as well and beautify your nails, how about we both wear our rings in about 4 weeks' time - ooooh we could post pictures - for the ring admiring and finger judging....

I finally gave up biting my nails around 2 years ago but still pick around the edges (or rather use nail clippers to trim the rough skin so I won't be tempted to bite it).

Having the same dilemma as I get married on Sat and want my nails to look lovely...am sure they'll look 'OK' but they won't be perfect, one thumb nail has ended up much shorter than the other and it just doesn't look right. Am filing down the other one frantically to try and even them out a bit.

I'd say that a manicure, even if you only have clear polish put on, will tidy up the cuticles very well and make you feel nice about yourself when you start wearing the ring. I'd aim to have them well-shaped and tidy even if they aren't long and they should look very nice.

(On top of the scraggy cuticles, I developed a patch of eczema on my hand right where the engagement ring goes, so have to wear it on my right hand to stop it irritating, which makes me feel a bit sad...not to mention the patch of eczema that appeared on my FACE...pre-wedding stress, begone!)

get if you've weak nails i'd recommend Magic Nails, i've only been using it a few weeks, but mine have definitely improved.

I think short nails look so much smarter than long nails, short nails are more modern too.

getabloodygrip, do you drink much milk?

A few years ago I noticed my nails had suddenly gone a bit weak and was surprised as they'd always been very strong.

I was living in Germany at the time and when I moved back to Britain they suddenly improved.

I realised that it's because in Germany I ate bread and meat for breakfast and here I eat cereal with milk.

So maybe you need to get more dairy products in?

marshmallow Congratulations!! Awww - I bet you'll have a wonderful day and won't think for a minute about nails and hands and stuff - hope it goes really well!

I'm going to see what I can do with mine at home for the next few weeks, then maybe book in for a basic-type manicure when I know the ring's ready to collect - as a treat. Should take before and after photos of my knackered hands...

Hmm. Not sure about the milk, I have a reasonable amount plus other dairy... I think, unfortunately, it's "just me" as I have a skin condition which is a classic link to weak nails.

Larbea - will look out the Magic Nails though, not seen that, and must be worth a try.

Dotty - that is a challenge indeed - seeing as it is 1st Feb, no time like the start of a month to try something out. Let's give it a go. DH will be delighted, it drives him crazy. I did it because my mum did it and I'd hate for my DC to do it, so I really really must stop. Now.

Yes to short nails they look much nicer. You might have to experiment a little with the shape, mine don't suit square at all and I keep them in short flattish ovals, a good rule is to mirror the shape of your cuticle. I've never had a manicure in my life, but you can get very good results DIY with a nice clear polish with maybe a hint of pink or beige in it. I rub some oil into my cuticles every week or so and then just gently push them back a bit with my thumb nail.

I find a thick layer of handcream on at night and cotton gloves (99p from boots) to sleep in softens the hard skin around the edges so there's nothing to nibble. Works in one night.

Also, keep handcream by the sink and any washing up you do, slather it on, then the rubber gloves. The heat from the hot water helps you to absorb the cream.

Right - girly challenge accepted! One month from now our nails and fingers will be beautiful, partners happy with us and our children will have no bad habits...

Will keep an eye on this thread and post when the ring's arrival is imminent

I find Elizabeth Arden 8 hr cream fantastic on dry bits area nails that are hard to leave alone! I get mine from Cheapsmells and it's about £8 which is a great saving.