Please educate me about nails...

[TheLeigh]

My hands have been neglected for years.
I plan to start having regular manicures at a local salon in addition to caring for them better at home.

What is the difference between gel nails and acrylics? How long do they last, and do they damage my natural nail?
Can you recommend me some good products for weak nails, also looking for hand cream recs.

OPI Nail Envy is wonderful stuff. For the first time in my life I have nails which I need to file. You can buy it in Boots’

Just started having sns done and I love it.
They aren’t thick at all, contrary to what a previous poster says.
They are really strong and last much better than gel or acrylics.
When they removed the old stuff last time my nails underneath were fine so I’m not too worried.
Love the little bit of me time I get while having them done. It’s amazing!

I had a Biogel overlay every 3 weeks for more than 12 yrs and my nails always looked fab. I’ve not bothered with it since lockdown and have found my nails have really been badly affected by the gel. They routinely snap in the middle of the nail and I can’t grow them to a decent length anymore. Don’t think I will bother having them done again.

Hi hope someone can help. I’ve just had acrylics removed, my 3rd set in a row. I have naturally weak/soft nails, due to nailbiting when I was a child. So after acrylics it is even softer. Applied and removed correctly. But my nail is now so soft even cut short, I can’t really scratch or bear the thought of my fingertips touching anything. What can I do? Do acrylics again and gradually change to builder gel till all new nail or will n nail hardener help?

@Lndnmummy

Acrylics get a bad rep but thats normally from people who havent seen them done well. My natural nails are really week so the lady I go to put a really thin layer of acrylic and then gel polish on top. Everyone thinks its just gel polish. And no, SNS powder does not make "thick fat nails ".

Why didn't you go for the ones that don't give thick fat nails then?

@Missc2001

Hi hope someone can help. I’ve just had acrylics removed, my 3rd set in a row. I have naturally weak/soft nails, due to nailbiting when I was a child. So after acrylics it is even softer. Applied and removed correctly. But my nail is now so soft even cut short, I can’t really scratch or bear the thought of my fingertips touching anything. What can I do? Do acrylics again and gradually change to builder gel till all new nail or will n nail hardener help?

Your nails will feel soft because you've been used to the acrylic! Keep them short and use a good nail and cuticle oil every day. OPI Nail Envy will help protect them while you get used them being 'naked' again

Rimmel and Barry M are pretty good and very cheap.

You’ll find that just wearing nail varnish will protect them.

@Iamanunsafebuilding thank you! I have bought and applied the OPI. Hope it helps. However my nails are actully thinnerand softer so maybe the top layer was damaged.