Nail help - please!

[HoosierDaddy]

I am a reformed nail biter/picker since the new year when I decided to get shellac done every few weeks. It has helped keep my nails neat and tidy, no ugly picking.

The cold weather sent my skin to shit, no amount of cream or oil seems to make a difference, and I ended up with a few raggy bits. All fine though, I was coping until Saturday. Snowed in = cancelled nails.
They were badly grown out and chipped in places, so I had to remove shellac myself on Monday night for a meeting in work . As expected my nails are weak as hell, but I repainted and they looked ok. I filed them fairly short to tidy them up.

Today already 2 have broken. I am filing rough edges each time. One broke far down the side of my thumb and now there is a rotten rag nail, I snipped it off.

I knew my nails would be weak, I am ok with that, but the broken ones are too short to have shellac done to them.

Can I get anything done in the meantime, to let them grow out a bit? I realise that ideally they need to just be left and grow, but I know I will end up picking away. I really want to get them done again this week before I do too much damage around the edges.

Have they been buffing your nails?

Shellac always does that to my nails too, no matter how they are applied/removed or who does them. Nail Tek Extra is pretty good at holding them together in until they grow out.

Oh yes, they buff them. I assume that's correct?

I have no problems with the way they do them, they always make a nice job of them, and I expected my nails to be weak underneath (they are weak anyway), but if there was another treatment/procedure I could have done until they grow the few millimetres I need to get shellac done again, I would do that. I have no idea idea what though! Maybe a set of false nails? Although they won't help with their condition.

Basically I can't be trusted with them as they are, as I will end up biting/picking at them.

Your not meant to buff no, it weakens the nail. Cnd put videos on YouTube showing correct application.

I'd watch the video and find another salon. Sweet squared are the uk distributor and have a salon finder on their website. You have to have trained with them to be on the site

Thank you- that is good to know! To be sure, is buffing done with the white block thing? I have had that done in 3 salons, so maybe I am talking about the wrong thing.

Mine are always lightly buffed to rough up the surface of the nail.
I only get mine done 2 to 3 times per year because it weakens the nail bed.

Yes the White block.

You can use it very very lightly on gels like gellish or gellux but shellac was always a uv cured polish that comes off with no buffing to break the topcoat.

Thanks Fluffy I haven't a clue!

ihate If they’re doing that either they haven’t done the Shellac conversion course, they haven’t read the application instructions on the cnd website or it’s knock off which is cheap gel not shellac. Gel always needs a very light buff.

You only need a manicure qualification to buy it here, some countries won’t let you buy it unless you’ve done the training with the supplier.

Shellac needs a strong healthy nail to work properly. It’s unsuitable for thin or damaged nails. You’ll get 3 days or so on a thin nail. You need gel polish for weak nails.

I assumed it was all the same, with different brand names, but basically the same stuff. Like hoovers 😂

I could be doing the salons a diservice here, as maybe "shellac" is the wrong name for what I have.

Anyway...

I will have to stick this out for another while and try not to break any more of them ((crosses fingers)) ((sits on hands))

Each is different that’s why they need their own branded lamps to dry them so you don’t get an acrylic allergy.

IBX is fantastic at rebuilding nails but adds time and therefore money onto service costs. But it is worth it.

If a salon uses a particular brand you have to use all the prep products and the matching lamp or your indemnity insurance is invalid.

Maybe try sns, phone and ask around because not everywhere does it. It's a dipping powder that's stronger than a gel polish but looks the same and will give your nails a chance to grow