Advise me, O Ladies of S&B, re nails...

[VforVienetta]

Nails are wrecked, due to genetics or more likely diet not misuse.
They're thin, peely, and have a habit of tearing off.
Last year I had my first ever manicure, with gel nails, and they were amazing. My nails however didn't like the removal a few weeks later.
I want to try again tomorrow, so should I try gels again, or acrylic, or shellac, or something else??

Honestly I wouldn't!! Your nails need time to breathe and strengthen. This happened to me, and the nail salon recommended gel nails and said it would help repair my nails

• it didn't.

I cried when I had that gel off. My nails were worse than I could even imagine and I thought I'd ruined them. I bought a Sally Hansen repair clear varnish, used that as a base and a top coat, just so my nails looked a bit better. There's also an oil they do for nails and I rubbed this in between painting my own nails.

I did this for a month or so, and my nails are now stronger than ever! They grow quicker and no longer peel or break!

Nails are meant to protect the fingertip, then break off, so a lot of people have nails that do just that. Thick, hard nails might grow longer but they can be brittle and dry. Your nails look flexible, which is not a bad thing.

What are you after exactly? Length, strength, long-lasting varnish? I like acrylic for length. I see a lot of people with very thick acrylics but they don't need to be very thick to be strong and they can be easily removed with acetone.

Whatever you get I'd stick with something that can be soaked off in acetone. Do they still do that gel that has to be removed with a file? Don't do anything that can't be removed gently by soaking. And anything you use will require a recovery period. Nails don't like being covered for long periods of time, they will soften.

If you're in it for the long haul what works for me is clipping my nails. I just clip any length off every week or two and tidy the edge with a file and they don't get a chance to flake or peel. Now I have to clip them or they grow too long and break. Take care filing the sides, as this can make them prone to bending and breaking.

A weekly or fortnightly manicure might do the trick if all you want is tidy nails/cuticles and colour that always looks good. Some salons do a varnish change so you can alternate manicures and a cheap change of varnish.

Well, my nails have always been awful, and they haven't had any nail polish for months, and the gel was over a year ago!
I just want useable nails, mine have to be kept short all the time as they're constantly breaking.

I wouldn’t if it were me. I would give them a break and then use something like OPI Nail Envy at home. They do some coloured versions of Nail Envy now which are really pretty.

MrsDW I just want strong nails that keep colour for more than a day! Mine are so bendy polish just flakes off.
I don't want long nails, just 2/3mm.

Speedy what's good about Nail Envy? Is it just normal varnish?

I tried some Sally Hansen strengthening stuff and it didn't seem to make a difference.

Looking at the photos unexpanded I assumed you were showing the ‘after’ pictures. Expanded - obviously some dryness and unevenness around the cuticles - but your nails are a pretty shape.

So why can you not improve your diet if you think that would help with strengthening? Acquire some decent hand cream and have the odd gentle manicure (shaping, polish) if you must. Why d'you need anything else?

Speedy what's good about Nail Envy? Is it just normal varnish?

I have naturally weak nails and it’s the only way I have been able to grow mine at all long (although I’m currently not using any nail polish to avoid any chemicals whilst pregnant, but when I do use it it’s great)

They do plain versions or these coloured ones
www.thepolishaholic.com/2015/07/OPI-Nail-Envy-Strength-In-Color-Collection-Swatches-Review.html?m=1

You don’t need top coat/base coat with the coloured ones so they are very minimal effort.

Another vote for Nail Envy, it’s fab 😀

I'd go for gels (shellac is the same thing) and make sure they are removed professionally. I've found folic acid works amazingly for my nails. Lovely and strong.

Haven't tried nail envy but I'm going to give it a go after reading this thread. Thanks.

I'd try Nailtiques strengtheners. They have different formulas for different nail issues.
My nails were like yours until I started using it (the blue one - formula 2 I think). It's incredible.
I wouldn't suggest getting gels to help your nails grow as this will only be a very short term fix.

Get the Sally Hansen stuff in the gold bottle and just apply regularly. It’s fab.

Thank you all!
I'll try the Nail Envy for sure.
Def might be worth taking folic acid again - pregnancy was the only time my nails have been good!
I'd have no idea where to start with diet, could always eat more veg tho!

I would give folic acid a try, cheap enough to pick up in savers, aldi, etc. It's definitely made a huge difference to my nails.

Nail Envy transformed my nails from thin, bendy and peeling to being able to sustain 1cm of growth if I want to. I applied one coat each evening, painting over the previous days coat, then once a week remove the lot with polish remover and start again.

My nails are dreadful - after years of shellac and gel polish I suddenly found I can't tolerate regular use of acetone. And I just can't get them to grow with regular polish or nail strengtheners (and believe me, I have them ALL)!

The only thing that is currently working for me is gel extensions (look up Calgel or Biosculpture) with infills NOT regular removal.

Nail envy is excellent. Has made my nails really strong. I use it as a basecoat too when applying colour. Essie Good to Go topcoat is brilliant, I rarely get chips when I use that. Also remember that 2-3 thin coats of colour, with drying time in between, is better than 1-2 thicker ones.

The Nail Envy can cause some skin dryness around the sides, so get a cuticle balm or moisturiser for there. I like Burts Bees lemon balm and Neutrogena (red top). Sitting each evening and massaging moisturiser into the cuticles, tips of your fingers and on the nail increases blood flow too and promotes growth. Eat more protein and fats like avocados and nuts.

Honestly though, your nails look nice. Might feel soft but to look at there's nothing wrong with them. They look good. I prefer short nails.