False nails, can someone explain them to me?!

[TightPants]

Hi, my nails are splitting and breaking constantly.
I’m considering getting some kind of false nails done (sorry if that’s the wrong term but I’m clueless!)

What are the pros and cons of the different types? Are there any where I can do my own mani as I like to change colour regularly?

Lastly, will they wreck my natural nails?
I’d like them to be just over the top of my fingers, not big claws!

You can go to a nail bar and ask for a full set of acrylics - which you can choose to be any length/shape (square, rounded) you like.

You can either go for a more natural looking french manicure style, or you choose a colour gel to go on top. The gel is very tough and won't chip. I've never changed the colour of the gel myself, or painted over them once they've been done.

You will then need to have them re-done every 3-4 weeks - because they obvs grow out. Then you can ask for "infills" (cheaper) where they don't add a whole new set of acrylics, just sort of sand it down and re-do it - and you can go for a different colour of polish.

You could just start off with gel
Polish. It's like hard wearing nail varnish. It provides a really good level of protection, might be all you need.

I work with my hands so Always wear acrylics (they don't budge) and I adore them. They don't have to be big long claws, can be short and natural looking, it's completely up to you.

Mine are quite short and natural looking too - well not talons anyway. I love them.

I've never looked back since having them - my nails are naturally like yours OP - they break all the time. It's lovely to maintenance-free nails, not to worry about breaking and chipped nail varnish.

I had this problem with weak nails as I used to bite them. I got a set of acrylics (not crazy long or anything) and had them for a while, maybe 6 months with infills every 2/3 weeks. Then I had them taken off and my nails were long and I now just have gel/shellac over and they are in good condition.

They file your nail down to attach the acrylics so I'd advise you don't do this long term.

So acrylics seem to be the consensus then!
Thanks for your replies, I’m quite excited to get them now

I’d have gel overlay on your natural nail followed by gel colour if your nails are all one length.

Be quite strict with the nail woman with the length though. Long to you will not be long to them! I'm always asking mine to take them shorter because she is so use to doing 'talons'

Yes get the hard gel overlay to stop them breaking not a set of gel or acrylics. You can then have them natural, have a gel polish over the top of do your own polish on top.

Oh ok, other options! I do like the idea of sorting out my own nails, and they are all the same length at the moment.
Thanks for your replies!

Going against the grain a bit here but I wouldn't recommend gels or acrylics if your nails are particularly weak arm.
Get yourself some nailtiques and use it for a few weeks (Jelly is good for strengthening nails too) then consider getting your nails done.
I agree that your nails will grow with gels/acrylics but you need to solve the weakness first.

Weak arm = weak atm

I wouldn't recommend acrylics either, they really weaken your nails! I find they are much too hard wearing if that makes sense, there's no 'give' to them. I go for gel polish as I keep my natural nail length and it strengthens them and looks lovely!

I have quite weak nails and always used to have a gel polish which didn’t last long enough
A new nail technician suggested a layer of builder gel instead of base coat then gel polish on top
It’s a game changer!
I now get 3-4 weeks with no chips or peeling and my own nails are growing well
I don’t like them too long as can’t use phone or PC so stick to 4-5mm

Am surprised to see people recommended acrylics as they really trashed my dds nails over the summer. They are just about recovering now.
Is that not the case with everyone? She had them properly removed.

I've been having acrylics for over 18 months now. Love them

Tbh shellac or acrylic... it’s not great for your natural nail. My nails are weak anyway so I have acrylic but over my own nail, no extensions. I love it and accept if I go back to natural I’ll have to grow my nail out but was same with shellac

Acrylics or gel nails will destroy your actual nails. I've been getting them for 2 years and needed to have them off for surgery earlier in the year and my actual nails were like paper with huge grooves all the length of the nails, my own nails were fine before I got them.

You can still buy plastic nails in Boots etc and do your own varnish, since you mention that OP.
I do it sometimes - they last a week and cost about £8 for the box which lasts for 6 weeks ish. My nails will have grown a bit under them when I take them off.

@Ohyesiam my nails have been trashed previously by techs who rush the removal/application process. I've had no problems for years now I use a well recommended tech who takes her time.

Agree with others who suggest gel overlays etc to start with. Might be all you need.

Acrylics absolutely fucked my nails for ages. Shellac too as removing it required really strong acetone.

I've had cracked and splitting nails for ages and was painting them all the time to cover it up. Actually what has really worked is not painting them and using solar oil every day. They're growing and they're stronger,

See if you can find somewhere that does silk nails OP - they aren't as common and are more fragile (I sometimes get a double layer to compensate) but are much kinder to your real nail.

Should clarify that by "common" I mean that in the true sense of the word. Nothing wrong with other types!!

My salon offers something called SNS. Which is just a powder set on your natural nail (which is available in many colours.)

None of the breakage, damage or UV light that comes with acrylics or gel plus it strengths your natural nail underneath. The reviews on it are excellent.

I'm too impatient to wait for my nails to grow so have acrylics with gel over the top, which I get done every week.
You definitely don't need to do that, I just get fed up with the colours quickly

Oh, and as for acrylics and damage.

I've had mine done for nigh on 10 years without a break.
When they've been soaked off properly for me to have a new set put on (which I do once every 6 weeks) there's been no damage to my actual nail. My nails just don't grow, but the bed itself is still perfectly in tact.

As long as you're getting them done at a proper salon, which uses files and does everything by hand, you'll be fine.
It's the shops that use electric drills and non-branded products that tend to wreck the nails.

Acrylics have destroyed my nails. I had mine off in July and my own nails are still bendy, thin, split easy and have damage right down the length.

I had problems with gel too though and my nails would just break.