ACRYLIC v GEL NAILS - please help a novice!!!!

[BitTiredNow]

Since my dc3 was born, 6 months ago, my nails have been crumbling loads. I would like to try false nails but don't know which are best - have heard nothing but sacre stories about them ruining your nails underneath etc, but all those people had them done about 10 years ago, so I'm guessing it is a bit better now? What is the difference and which do you think is better? or are they completely incompatible with the stay at home mum stuff of cleaning/fingers in water/yuk stuff 24/7?

isn't it a bad idea to get them if your nails are crumbling,won't it make them worse.

Sorry am not a fan of either acrylic or gel tbh,much prefer a natural nail,crumbling or not.

thanks ggril - please can someone argue for the other side?

My best friend has just finished a course on putting on gel nails

She did mine couple of weeks ago thye look great

They are not difficult to do anything with cos they don't chip

I have very short nails though

i cut them really short before she did them ~~~ in fact I cut them a bit too short

I had them done for a while when I lived in the states. My nails were dreadful when I had them removed! I also got a fungal infection under one of them which wasn't very nice. I would opt for regular manicures preferably with OPI or Jessica products. Jessica has specialist products for different nail problems.

My GEL is sort of like nail varnish painted on in several layers rather than somehting stuck onto my nails IYSWIM

thanks for the messages - rtkm, do you know the name of the gel she used?

I always used to get mine acryliced. I had mine on for about a year - just got infilled. Cheaper then gel and gave the look I was after. Gel and Acrylic look quite different - gel is more natural and more flexible (if you catch an acrylic is snaps and hurts!!)
Everyone told me what a nightmere they would be when I got them removed but they were a bit thin but I just kept them short until the 'damaged' bit grew out. Now I have really long hard nails (am pregnant so this is a obviously why)

I use this calgel.

It's a South African product, and has only been here for a couple of years. But I used to get it done over there. I tend not to bother with my fingers, but get my toe nails done, and it can last about 8-10 weeks on my toes. My nails have always been fine afterwards.

oooh, perigrine, I am liking that link - can you do it yourself, or does it have to be done professionally?

Would try something to treat your nails first if they are that bad, try Nailene Miracle Maker or Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle.
If you do want to go for falsies you have 3 options:
Pre-glued - for special occasions just stay on for a day or so. Glue already on the nail and they soak off in warm water.
Glue-on - last 7-10 days. Look for those that are flexible fit for comfort. Unless you are used to the extra length go for the extra short versions (Elegant Touch Super short or Nailene Short Cut)
Semi-permanent - Acrylic & Gels that need infils every few weeks or full removal. Gel much kinder and more flexible than Acrylic, also due to silly EU rules over an essential ingredient you will find most home acrylic kits now are the 'slow cure' ones that take 25 mins to set!
Go with calcium gel product - try Nailene Calium Gel Kit (with nails tips) or Power Fusion Gel (treatment) I think there is also a kit by Broadway
There are other products too but these are ones I know of
(You may have guessed by now knowledge of this area is my job so let me know if you have any more queries!)

PS - can buy from Boots, Asda or Superdrug to do at home

you are my hero!!!! If I go for the calcium gel style, are they a nightmare to get off afterwards?

the silk ones look most natural.

With acrylic, gel, silk or fibreglass these are all semi permanent options and either need to be trimmed down & then filled in every 2-3 weeks to keep the appearance or, when you get fed up, completely removed. You can get them removed professionally or do it at home but it basically involves soaking your nails in acetone for about 30 minutes.
If you want them on for less than 4-6 weeks, go for glue on to try it, however, these also take about 10 minutes soaking to remove.

mine trashed my nails (acrylic) but then i didnt listen to advice and picked them off(it hurt. lots) they looked brilliant when i had them done but my nails grow very fast and after about a week they started getting gaps and looking less then persect which annoyed me. if you have the time and cash to keep up with them then i reckon its worth it (just dont pick)