Talk to me about nails please..

[RavenLG]

So, I've only been to a nail place once. My colleague had a few vouchers so a few of us went. I was shoved in a chair asked what I wanted, I didn't have a clue and somehow ended up with the fail nails that were really square with white tips I had to get removed a week later as I thought they were horrible.

Anyway, I'm at a friends wedding on Saturday and my nails are awful from decorating the house. I would like them longer so some type of extensions(?) that are natural shaped with a colour, maybe a different colour on one nail. I have absolutely no clue what to ask for?! I know shellac polish is a thing (if that is the stuff that lasts for a couple of weeks). Can I get that with the fake nails? I'm so tomboyish I literally don't have a clue and have no close girlfriends who wouldn't judge me for asking these questions

Can any of you lovely lot help me have pretty hands and tell me what to ask for. For what its worth I have insanely bad social anxiety so the thought of asking for the wrong thing give me an actual physical knot in my stomach lol, I'm trying to be brave and do things I wouldn't usually do i.e. get my nails done, but I need to go in prepared!).

I don't think you can do shellac on extensions. You could get good old-fashioned acrylics.

You can put shellac on acrylic or gel.

You can get gel extentions which are nail tips to add length with a gel colour over the top which will last about 3 weeks. The gel grows with your natural nail and if you want them removed, file the top layer, wrap acetone soaked cotton wool on your nail and cover with tin foil.

Fluffy, shellac is gel. It is just a brand name of gel.

Thanks for the replies.

@HitsAndMrs So, the colour lasts a few weeks then I could go and get another colur. Are the gel extensions the type which you have to get filled in every few weeks or something then removed every now and again? I've got snippets of information but not enough to make a whole story lol! Thanks.

Yes, you have your first set done and then you have an infill, which means rather than take the whole colour off, then file it down and smooth the edges and then apply a new colour. You then repeat this process of fresh set, infill if you want to keep them. This is the same whether you have the nail tips/extensions or just the gel colour over the natural nail 😊

Yes, I know Hit. I’m a nail tech.

Technically, it’s a uv cured colour coat.

They’ve changed the packaging to say gel polish which is basically a watered down gel extension. Much horror and controversy for Cnd loyal techs.

Thanks all. Some really helpful information. I think I'm ok with going to ask now.!

You could also look look at SNS, it’s a dipping system and doesn’t need UV light.