People with nice nails - advice please!

[stickersstickerseverywhere]

Morning,

In an effort to spruce up how I look after several years of pregnancy, babies, nappies etc, I've realised my nails need attention. People with nice nails, how do you look after them? I'm still in the nappy changing years, but hopefully near the end (please toddler twins, potty train soon!) so my hands are constantly being washed. I use tonnes of hand cream, but the only nail care I do is trim, file and dab a bit of glue on any when they break, which is far more frequently than I'd like. I always tell myself I'll paint them when all ten are completely unbroken. That never happens.

Any tips? Thank you in advance!

Thanks a mill@BusterGonad - I really like the look of the Orly Rose. Think I might give that a try👍

Mines not arrived as yet, I've read the reviews on Make Up Ally and apparently the best way to use it is one coat or two thin ones, any mire than that and it can look a bit fleshy! If it's good I'll order the Beverly Hills Plum too!

@Onynx here are my nails with Bare Rose 2 coats and I also have Beverly Hills Plum which they sent by mistake and let me keep!

Definitely gel/shellac my hands and nails have constantly been chewed for as long as I can remember, I started getting gel and that lasts for 3 weeks, it's brilliant, I'm at home on maternity with dd at the moment so I'm always cleaning washing up washing hands with nappies etc and they last for ages x

On my nails, shellac is damaging. No buffing, properly applied, properly removed, my nails are destroyed.

It annoys me no end when I read sweeping comments about all nails, like they all the same and the product is perfect for everyone. No product is perfect for everyone. Anyone who says differently is trying to sell you something.

Strumpers, I do that with my skin. I sit there and watch TV with a bucket of face products and give myself a mini facial most nights. I need to start and do it with my nails too. Last night I sat there with my footner and an Elasticiser hair mask much to the amusement of my teenage son.

Love your nails. They are FAB.

Oh wow! @BusterGonad - they are fab! I haven't ordered mine yet. I love how yours look.

Onyx thanks

i put argan oil on mine

I have long nails ( my own), and I recommend going to a salon and getting a proper file and nail treatment. You can choose whether to have polish.
Once your nails are in shape, you can keep on top of them by just filing them. I have mine squared off.
Personally, I hate shellac and gel polish. Both ruined my nails. I use Revlon polish or Boots no 7

Keep them short but not too short. I file mine so that the edge of the nail just goes to the edge of my fingertips. Multivitamins help with nails, hair and skin generally.

Don’t get Shellac, buy cheap nail varnish in colours you like (I love Rimmel) and finish with a coat of Sèche Vite. You’ll get the Shellac effect without ruining your nails.

I always have acrylics with shellac polish on. I know a lot of people say they are bad for your nails, but I love to have nails that are quite long, but my own are so weak from years of acrylics, and never grew without acrylic tips on top to stop them breaking. However when it was time for a new set they would take cut my natural nails as well, and I never thought of asking them to not do so. I now go to a much better place, and my amazing lady very helpfully kept my own nails and never cut them. 1 acrylic nail snapped and I had to cut my natural nail, so I have tips on to allow the broken nail to grow. But my natural nails are getting so long now, so I think that once the 1 nail grows back, my lady will suggest acrylic overlay on my natural nails, which will be a complete new thing for me.

After moving towards a more “natural” beauty regime I’ve discovered Kure Bazaar nail polish - free of lots of the nasties and doesn’t require a strong remover. Nails have never been so strong and long and don’t split anymore. Might be worth considering if your nails are weak.