Idiots guide to nails

[IcedTeaOneSugar]

I'm going away just before Christmas and currently my nails are a mess, I have the occasional manicure but just a file and polish nothing exotic.

I can probably manage to grow them to a reasonable length in the next six weeks, and would probably go for a file and polish in the meantime, but want to have something done just before Christmas to keep them nice for a few weeks, with a more festive polish, maybe some nail art.

So what do I ask for, at my local nail bar where the staff are amazing but don't speak great English?

I don't really want false nails, just some sort of coating, I think.

Also, any thoughts on how much it's likely to cost? Small town up north, not London/city prices.

Massage in a drop of olive oil every night, file daily and your nails will be strong.

A salon will just paint and decorate if you don't want false nails, you could do that yourself.

Shellac will last a few weeks. It is better than false nails, but it has lovers and haters. I quite like it

I like shellac nails too, lasts for around 3/4 weeks on me. Easy to come off and doesn't damage my nails.

I also like the Barry M polish, Gelish I think it is called, lasted my holiday (10days) and still looked good but not a great range of colours unless there has been some new ones since I last bought it.

There was an article in the Sunday Times magazine about some nail bars and the conditions the staff had to work in. It was an eye opener. Some of the girls were trafficked. The police are involved in investigating salons.
On topic - I got Shellac done. It looks great but my nails were not good after. I didn't oil them though after it was taken off. So my own fault.
Would I get it again- Yes. But I would go to a reputable place. Pay a little more to ensure the workers are treated well.

To be honest the nail bars here are no cheaper than the salons and they're always full, they're run by local Chinese business men.

Thanks, you've given me some things to look into.

opi gellac I think??? They are all the same but lasts for weeks! check out pinterest search for festive or winter nails 2013, that should give u an idea of styles/colours for this season

I have just got in to caring for my nails. You don't need to spend a lot on stuff if,you do them yourself. Super drug has a great range of polishes very reasonably priced. Something I have found that makes a polish last longer is to top it off with a glitter coat. It just adds that bit extra to it and it last and lasts. The gold polish and gold glitter top coat on my toes has now been on for 5 weeks!! Poundland do a range of glitters. It works best if you match base and glitter colour.

I've found someone who works from home locally, recommend by a friend on facebook, I've booked an appointment for bio sculpture gel overlays and in the meantime I've started using a cuticle treatment daily and a nail strengthener, so hopefully I'll have lovely nails for my Christmas parties and holiday, apparently they soak off without damaging your nail which underneath helping your natural nail to grow. Currently i get then all to a nice length and then break one or two and they look a mess again..

I used to get Shellac but now have the Sensationail home kit and also some Shellac and a shellac lamp at home - I do it myself. Watched it being done so many times that I knew how to do it and do the soak off, so spent £70 online for a second hand lamp and some colour etc, and do it myself. Easy to repair the odd chip too, which used to really annoy me if i'd spent £20 having them done and then got a chip.