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!

The thing is with acrylics, is it's a financial commitment. After kids, my nails were awful, would peel and split. I LOVE having acrylics, nothing fancy or long but nice nails in neutral colours of ombré. I'm not intending on never not having them so don't really care about my nails underneath, but appreciate not everyone can afford £25 every 3-4 weeks.

Or ombre*

Totally second builder gel. It’s been a game changer for me. I had horrible nails that would grow but break off really short. I wanted nice nails but was worried about the financial commitment to acrylics and the damage they would do. I saw an ad on FB for a home manicurist (I have three young children and didn’t want to go to a salon) and she started coming to do my bails. She puts a vitamin treatment on first and then the gel overlay.

She recommended builder gel and my nails are the nicest they’ve ever been! I don’t like them too long but aiming to grow them just long enough for ombré. I’ve never had consistently nice nails like this. I can’t believe I waited so long to look after them like this.

I’ve had acrylic nails for over 10 years and they have no damaged my nails in any way. In fact they have improved my nails as I’m not constantly getting breaks/splits in my nails. I would recommend going to a salon who don’t use drills etc (chinese ones are the worst)
Probably don’t have them too long on the first go, I’m clumsy so can’t have really long talons!

Another vote for going for a gel builder type. I would suggest finding a salon that uses Bio Sculpture Gel. I had them for years over my natural nails. They offer additional strength to your natural nail but can also be used to extend your natural nails if that's what you want/need whilst your natural nails grow out underneath. If you go with a lighter colour of gel you can polish on the top if you want to change your colour between visits to the salon. I would have mine done every 3 weeks. One week a full set (so they would soak off the previous set and apply from scratch) and then next week a backfill (where they add more gel to fill in the gap between the gel nail and your cuticle).