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Original poster

Are French manicures naff???

55 replies

SmileysPeople · 16/02/2007 14:49

I have always thought: Yes.

I thought all women who wasted time getting their nails done were empty headed losers with no life.

I got persuaded to have a french manicure at a school fundraising 'pamper night' and....I LOVE IT!!!

I keep waving may nails around as I talk just to look at them (looking at them now as I type).

Now thinking I'll get it done again.

So opinions ladies:

Naff or not??

I was even thinking maybe it's just naff on everyone except mebecause mine look GORGEOUS.

OP posts:
Radley · 16/02/2007 16:01

Smileyspeople, I do my toe nails in french manicure and i have psoriasis under my large toe nail which leaves it discoloured etc, but, if you use quite a pinkish colour, it should be fine.

Pannacotta · 16/02/2007 19:38

Also think look good/chic on short nails (prefer hands to feet) and bit chav-tastic on long nails...

PersonalClown · 16/02/2007 19:42

I have acrylics too because my own nails just keep spitting and peeling. I have them quite short but my nails look like a french manicure anyway if they are clean with a bit of clear gloss on top.

smittenkitten · 16/02/2007 20:38

i think it depends on how it's done. a HUGE stripe of blinding white polish is a bit tacky, but a pale cream on the tips under a natural pink can look v polished (guess which have?!). I always say to my manicurist "a SUBTLE french please". I've got a mani booked as a treat tomorrow, was thinking of having a srak polish as my nails are a bit short at the mo, but now i'm reconsidering.

Votes please MN style jury!

Pruni · 16/02/2007 20:40

Message withdrawn

WideWebWitch · 16/02/2007 20:41

naff

PersonalClown · 16/02/2007 20:48

Pruni, acrylics and gels are different types of false nails.

smittenkitten · 16/02/2007 20:50

gel is literally that - it;s a gel that's painted on the nail and then you let it set under a UV light for a few minutes. takes about 3 coats. can either be clear so you can paint over it or a colour which doesn't chip or fade. needs filling in every 3 or do weeks as your nail grows out. I used to have them, but they're not robust enough - can't have water to hot, or use gloves for washing up etc as the himidity makes them peel. your nails grown incredibly long with the gel on top, but after having them for months, my nails were def weaker when i stopped. they are not as damaging as acrylics and look like natural nails. i think you can also have gel tips attached like acrylics if you like your nails long.

acrylics are false nails which are glued on and really damage the nail underneath.

Pruni · 16/02/2007 20:53

Message withdrawn

Gobbledigook · 16/02/2007 20:58

I have acrylic ones (they don't damage my nails because if I take them off I do it with acetone, well most of the time anyway, and anyway the nail that then grows is fine so who cares?) - they are fabbo. I have them short though and I don't have bright white tips. Everyone, without exception, thinks they are my own nails - they don't look fake at all because I have them done in natural colours. I don't have 'porn star white' as my nail lady calls it!

Infinitely better than bitten or unkempt nails which just look hideous.

That's my view anyway.

Gobbledigook · 16/02/2007 21:01

Acrylics are not glued on. Well mine aren't. She puts some sort of solution on the brush and then picks up a small blob of powder with it. She 'pats' this on to the nail and it hardens as it dries. She does the 'white' bit first and then the 'pink' bit (my friend has bright white and pink, I have 'nail coloured'). Then she puts permagloss on teh top and then you put them under UV light for a few mins.

I have mine redone every 2 weeks.

Sallyheartshapedstrawberry · 16/02/2007 21:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

smittenkitten · 16/02/2007 21:26

apologies - i've never had acrylics, but manicurist has jsut always told me they're hard on nails so i'm not speaking from experience!

for those of you who love your nails, i have discovered the Leighton Denny colours - they are just fantastic. best base and top coat i've ever used and the colours go on well and really last.

Monkeytrousers · 16/02/2007 21:27

yes

IMHO

Monkeytrousers · 16/02/2007 21:28

But then again I wear my fleabitten half nails with pride

Califrau · 16/02/2007 21:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Monkeytrousers · 16/02/2007 21:35

I don't think I could carry one. I have sausage fingers - it's genetic

Califrau · 17/02/2007 21:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bozza · 17/02/2007 22:03

I think naff on toes but OK on fingers. Was at a party today and one of the mothers had 8 very long, very dark red nails, and two very short, broken, natural coloured nails. Looked bad.

IMO, of course.

And would I be judging?

expatinscotland · 17/02/2007 22:05

yes

DrunkenSailor · 17/02/2007 22:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

nulnulcat · 17/02/2007 22:21

i have had acrylics for the last 10 years and i have them long but that is because i have had them like that forever and i am used to them. when i am doing a new set on a client at work i always find out what sort of lifestyle they have to find out what length would be suitable and i have often advised against long nails coz i know they wont be practical.

it depends on how the false nails are applied as to how much damage is done to the natural nail anywhere that uses drills just avoid them! they ruin nails!

someone described sculptured acrylics earlier these are better for your nails as no tips are glued on so less buffing is done. but the nail will only be damaged if someone is a bit overzeolous on the buffing, especially at the base of the nail as the matrix can be damaged. Generally though once the nail has been removed the natural nail should be fine if cared for

Gobbledigook · 18/02/2007 10:09

Are mine the sculptured acrylics then? THe ones where she wets the brush and puts powder on that then sets?

nulnulcat · 18/02/2007 20:49

gg if she doesnt glue a tip on but uses acrylic to build up and extend your nail then they are sculptured, if the acyrlic just covers your natural nail and there is no extension then its an overlay.

Radley · 18/02/2007 20:51

I love having mine done. I see it as a complete luxury, i have non-sculptured acrylics, but, she doesn't use a uv lamp.