Nail novice needs your help - please!

[YAsoNBU]

Big event coming up in a couple of months, really want to have beautiful hands. I've never done much with my nails other than occasionally paint them myself when they have been a reasonable length. They are very weak and bendy anyway and have suffered a lot over the winter.

I think I need professional help, but I don't even know where to start. I know if I just walk into a 'nail bar' I'll get talked into something that ruins them (I've heard horror stories!). So for a nail novice what do you recommend I look out for?

I have been for lots of manicures and only ever had normal polish on them. I don't want any extensions or acrylics or gels on them thank you.

Start with professional manicures now if you can afford them. Go twice a month. Just book a normal manicure, they won't talk you into anything. Pay close attention to their technique when painting your nails, you will pick up great tips.

In between, hand cream and more hand cream. Every single time you put your hands in water, on with the handcream. Spend time rubbing hand cream into the base of each nail, it really helps to strengthen them.

Wear rubber gloves when cleaning etc. Cut nails short and just file off the edges. If they are weak already, then cutting them short will give them a chance to recover.

For home paint jobs, Rimmel brushes are really excellent and very easy to work with

I would start with couple of basic manicures as recommended by Lotta to get some shape and to tidy up the cuticles. Then you can hopefully maintain at home. I use a crystal nail file to file my nails (dont use an emery board), OPI Nail Envy as a base coat to strengthen and nail oil several times daily and lots of handcream.

Shellac and Gelish have destroyed my nails. I only get a Shellac or Gelish twice a year and yet they are destroyed. I am also nourishing them with special nail cream.... to no avail.
So do be careful.

OK, thanks for the tips. I have been trying to moisturise more frequently, but the nails are so thin already that they break/split at the slightest provocation. Not heard of nail oil though, so I'll look into that.

holly see I've heard stories like yours and it has made me worried about even approaching one of the (so very) many nail salons on the high street.

I was hoping someone would recommend a secret formula that would give me perfect talons in one fell swoop. How do the other perfectly put together mums manage it? (my hair is another disaster area!!)

Hi. Just remembered that a good friend uses a product called (I think) Perfect Formula Gel. It strengthens nails. Not tried it myself but you may want to research it. I use Avoplex nail oil by OPI but there are 100's of nail oils on the market so you dont need to spend a lot on it.

I agree re handcream, OPI Nail Envy and nail oil (any oil will do - I just use almond oil. Also I find that calcium and magnesium supplements make s big difference to my nails - you would probably see an improvement in a month with these.

Agree on the vitamins - any basic multivitamin will improve your nails no end.

Whatever you do, don't resort to the stick on ones you see in Boots/Superdrug etc. I had to wear some as a bridesmaid recently (bridesmaids had to have matching presentable nails, wtf) and the glue stuff totally ruins your nails. Took me six months to get them back to normal!

Sally Hansen does some good strengthening polish though.

Is there something wrong with me?
I take a hair and nail supplement and have done so for years and years and years.
My nails are in bits. Not strong at all. I had a Shellac and they are awful now that the Shellac has been removed.
Nothing works on them.
I had high hopes for
OPI Nail Envy
Sally Hansen
Mavala
Rubbing Vaseline in.
Taking those vitamins- and I eat healthily.
NOTHING HAS WORKED

I've been on doctor prescribed Calcium tablets too for years.
Still my nails are awful.

sally Hanson nail strengthner
Emery board
Hand cream
Nail varnish remover
Pound world does brilliant nail varnish on various colours that goes on brilliantly. And in my experience zero chipping.