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Original poster

How long before my nails are normal?

27 replies

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 23/01/2021 15:55

I was having a gel polish every 3 weeks until lockdown hit. I have decided to try and get my nails into a good condition and maybe not need the polish going forward. My poor nails are a mess. I've been using an intensive treatment rubbed into the nail and cuticles every night and OPI nail envy. But they are still in awful condition. Peeling splitting and breaking with even just a couple of mm of growth. I never had good nails anyway which is why I loved the gel polish so much. They just always looked so lovely. Should I carry on? Will they improve?? How long will it take? Or maybe some people just do not have good nails.

OP posts:
Cookerhood · 23/01/2021 16:04

I guess the whole nail will have to grow out, you can't really change what is already there. That's what I had to do when I stopped having SNS nails.

Original poster
LifeInAHamsterWheel · 23/01/2021 16:22

Thanks, that makes sense. Any idea how long that will take?!

OP posts:
DinosaurDiana · 23/01/2021 16:23

Consider some nail vitamins too.

Cookerhood · 23/01/2021 17:17

Any vitamins or creams will only affect new growth. I think.mine took maybe 3 or 4 months? I can't remember.

PBJelly · 23/01/2021 17:37

I think you’ll have to wait for the nails to fully grow out. I did the same a couple of years ago after regular gel polish. It probably took 5 months or so. Good luck!

DidgeDoolittle · 23/01/2021 19:40

I did this last year. My nails constantly peeled and broke off due to all the gel polish.
I tried nail envy but that made them worse. I used cnd solar oil at least once a day ( preferably a lot more often) and biotin tablets sorted them out.
It took a good 9 or 10 months for them to completely recover.
I still use the oil and biotin but have to file them several times a week as they get too long.

Original poster
LifeInAHamsterWheel · 23/01/2021 20:04

Oh no I don't think I can live with them so horrible for so long! First world problem I know. Nothing I can do about it for now anyway so I'll crack in with the nail treatments and add a supplement as well.

OP posts:
cushioncovers · 23/01/2021 20:06

Mine took 3 months to recover

mynewusernameisthis · 23/01/2021 20:14

2 months here. Can recommend nail envy and kept my nails short

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 23/01/2021 20:16

The whole nail must grow out then they will be lovely. Shouldn't be too long they grow quite quickly. I've done this on and off over the years. Use nail oil to help the process.

Original poster
LifeInAHamsterWheel · 23/01/2021 20:19

Thanks. I think 2-3 months I can live with!

OP posts:
DeusEx · 23/01/2021 20:26

I’ve been there and feel your pain OP!

Nail Envy made mine worse, as a PP said.

I’m not sure what made mine better necessarily but I used hand lotion religiously at night - slathering loads on and putting socks over the top to stop it all coming off. Used occasionally through the day too, whenever hands felt dry or nails came to mind. I used Palmers as I love the smell :) I also got some ‘nails and hair’ type vitamins but am skeptical as to whether that’s just marketing hype!

Also drinking lots of water and keeping nails v short until they’re recovered is supposed to help. I did both.

I can’t remember exact timelines but it probably took 3months for my nails to stop being papery, and another 3-6 for them to feel strong.

Good luck!

DeusEx · 23/01/2021 20:26

Nail oil worked well for me too. Can’t remember the brand - sorry.

Bumblebee1980a · 23/01/2021 20:31

The sun helps. I had the same problem last summer and after a week in the sun they went back to normal.

Obviously we have very limited sun at the moment so I'm taking vitamin D. Maybe try that.

Also massage nail oil into your nails as much as you can. Keep it beside the bed to use at night and maybe in the morning.

Keep them filed - they always look neater filed and the same length Smile

BlueSussex · 23/01/2021 20:39

Yes I had this issue after first lock down as I had to take off my SNS nails myself.

I used Tropic Nail Nectar and they came back to life within about 4 - 6 weeks and are now stronger than ever.

I am not sure if I will go back to the SNS probably will

sabrinathemiddleagewitch · 23/01/2021 20:43

I stopped in March at the stop of lockdown and haven't had them since.
July time they felt health. But I would say September time before they were properly strong.

Original poster
LifeInAHamsterWheel · 23/01/2021 21:39

No, no sun around these parts at the moment but I do take a high dose VitD spray so maybe that will help.

Papery is a really good word to describe them!

I've no choice at the moment so I'll carry on and hope that by the time I'm able to go back to the nail salon I won't need to and I can spend the money on some other luxury

OP posts:
Flibbitygibbit · 23/01/2021 21:54

Calcium tablets are your friend here OP

BobbinAround · 23/01/2021 22:01

@sabrinathemiddleagewitch

I stopped in March at the stop of lockdown and haven't had them since. July time they felt health. But I would say September time before they were properly strong.

Same here. I had poly gel on my nails until March last year (and ended up filing/picking it all off during lockdown). My nails were awful - flaking and breaking.

Nearly a year later with natural nails for the first time in years they are strong and healthy. A bit messy as I'm not very good at filling them evenly. I'd love a proper manicure but I'm not sure I'll go back to regular gel/poly gel.

Lots of hand cream and drinking lots of water would be my only advice. And time.

happymummy12345 · 23/01/2021 22:34

Warning*: details of nail injury some may not want to read!
*
In terms of the whole nail growing out or regrowing completely. It's a bit different but once I caught my acrylic nail and both my acrylic and my whole natural nail came completely off. I had to wait for the nail to grow back. It happened the end of April and was fully grown back by the middle of august. So about 4 to 4 and a half months to completely regrow. (It was nearly 12 years ago but I still remember it like it was yesterday).

Can't help with any other suggestions because I'm never without my long acrylics which are always around / best part of an inch from the free edge / end of my fingers. So never do anything with my natural nails.

Anon22 · 23/01/2021 22:39

I didn't get on with OPI nail envy either but have had great results using Nailberry Acai Elixir over the last 6 weeks. I like it because it has a sheer tint, is breathable and 12 toxin free.

Girlintheframe · 24/01/2021 08:22

Biotin has made the single biggest difference to my hair.
I originally took it to promote hair growth but wow it's made a massive difference with my nails.
My nails were always very soft, peeling and splitting. Now they grow super fast and are pretty hard.

Girlintheframe · 24/01/2021 08:23

Single biggest difference to my nails not hair 🤦🏻‍♀️

Chewbecca · 24/01/2021 11:02

Took mine about 5 months to recover so I guess for the whole nail to be replaced with fresh growth. I had to keep them really short otherwise they would split and catch.

I’m not doing it ever again!

likeamillpond · 24/01/2021 11:07

This is why I'm reluctant to even start having my nails done at a nail salon.
Once you start you have to keep going and it wrecks your nail beds.
My natural nails aren't too bad so i will stick with good quality over the counter products.