Gel nails | Mumsnet

Stormyinacoffeemug · 2022-07-22T16:46:49+00:00

I'm a very quiet, anxious and socially awkward person and don't have a clue about style or beauty. I've attached pictures of what I wanted (picture with two hands) and what the nail salon did. Please advise me what to ask for so I get nails like in the wanted picture. It's getting closer but still not right and I don't know what I should be asking for!

yonce · 22/07/2022 17:51

Those nails really suit you! Did you show them the photo?

I think the nail shape isn't quite the same, yours look more square to me - the inspo nails look more squoval (square nails with a rounded edge). I think the base colour on the inspo photo is more of a sheer nude rather than whitey pale pink, was it biab gel? I think biab colour Marshmallow might be a closer colour match.

Original poster

Stormyinacoffeemug · 22/07/2022 18:20

Thank you 🙂

Yes I showed the photo - I always do and they never do what the photo looks like. I asked this before without a picture and ended up with pink nails with white tips so I made sure the photo was with me.

Me - 'gel tips, natural with white tips please' (I confidently nod and smile)
Lady - (picks up loads of coloured nails) 'choose a colour'
Me - 'natural with white tip' (smile shakes)
Lady - shakes the colours at me
Me - (shows the photo) 'no colour, white tips'
Lady - 'I don't know what you're saying, you want infills?
Me - no, I want longer nails, natural, with white tip
Lady - sit down
...
Lady 2 - (approaches me with the coloured nails) you want white tips?
Me - (confused) 'yes please'
Lady 2 - (holds up nails) 'what colour, pink, or...'
Me - 'no, no pink' shakes photo desperately in her direction
Lady 2 - 'ah, no pink, you want natural nail'
Me - 'yes, natural'
Lady 2 - 'no pink, no colour, clear?'
Me - (relieved) 'yes, clear'
Lady 2 - 'with white tip?
Me - 'yes, yes please'
Lady 2 files one nail, then swaps with Lady 3
Lady 3 - 'natural nail, white tip?
Me - 'yes' (scramble to show the photo again)

Half way through she asks what shape, I say square/oval like the picture, she agrees the picture is square oval.
When she puts the gel on she said check the colour please, I look and it's pinkish. I say 'natural?' She says that's natural and continues. By this time I decide to say yes to anything as I clearly don't know what to ask for and resolve to never get my nails done again. When she starts the white tip she shows me the first one and it's not like the picture but I just sadly say yes and let her finish.

I know it's hard to understand but by the time Lady 2 had told me to sit down, I quite easily could have just cried as I felt so stupid and awkward - that's the anxiety.

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Original poster

Stormyinacoffeemug · 22/07/2022 18:23

I don't know what biab gel is. It was a little pot of powder which she put on with a brush dipped in a pot of liquid.

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Rina66 · 22/07/2022 18:23

I also think the white tip is bigger in the picture than in your nails, I always have to ask them to make the tip deeper when I have French in my toe nails, I think they start of with a narrow white strip as they can always add to it.

weshouldeatcake · 22/07/2022 18:26

Isn't that style a French manicure?
A good nail place should also ask if you are happy with the shape before they move onto the next step. This is when you could say a bit more rounded on the corners or whatever. Good luck for next time

Original poster

Stormyinacoffeemug · 22/07/2022 18:31

Sho should I be asking for a French manicure with a deeper white tip?

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FuncaMunca · 22/07/2022 18:35

It's called a French manicure.

I struggled to explain it to a nail technician when I was on holiday in France until she finally realised what I wanted and declared, "Ah, Le French!"

Sweatingmytiitsoff · 22/07/2022 18:35

I think when there's a language barrier you get this issue. Although both nails look nice tbh and similar. Maybe just try again or another nail shop.

GSat · 22/07/2022 18:38

It's French manicure, isn't it? Nude nails with white tips. I don't always have colour on mine, just the colour of my nail bed using clear gel, with white tip on extension of I want longer ones. If shorter, they use my own nails.

To get closer to the picture, you should ask the tips to be a bit longer and the edges more rounded, but not round. Did she use your own nails or did she extend the tip? If she used your own nail, maybe that's the best length she could do? So that's probably something to explore. I would also probably try another salon as I'm not sure I like the way they do manicure, based on your picture.

(It will never look identical though as the lady in the example photo had different shape nails than you.)

JobQuandree · 22/07/2022 18:59

The ones in the example picture look like press on nails. Yours look like acrylics, the nails are a lot thicker if you see what I mean. The shape is different, you look like you maybe have a similar nails bed to me and mine never look slim and elegant, I've got wider nail beds. You need to ask for clear or a very sheer natural pink on the full nail with white tip.

Original poster

Stormyinacoffeemug · 22/07/2022 19:06

GSat · 22/07/2022 18:38

It's French manicure, isn't it? Nude nails with white tips. I don't always have colour on mine, just the colour of my nail bed using clear gel, with white tip on extension of I want longer ones. If shorter, they use my own nails.

To get closer to the picture, you should ask the tips to be a bit longer and the edges more rounded, but not round. Did she use your own nails or did she extend the tip? If she used your own nail, maybe that's the best length she could do? So that's probably something to explore. I would also probably try another salon as I'm not sure I like the way they do manicure, based on your picture.

(It will never look identical though as the lady in the example photo had different shape nails than you.)

She extended the tip as mine were very short. Last time I had gel polish on my own nails and they all cracked and broke so I soaked it off at home.

Interesting that you don't like how she's done it from the picture. She cut me with the nail file too and it's very sore.

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Original poster

Stormyinacoffeemug · 22/07/2022 19:09

JobQuandree · 22/07/2022 18:59

The ones in the example picture look like press on nails. Yours look like acrylics, the nails are a lot thicker if you see what I mean. The shape is different, you look like you maybe have a similar nails bed to me and mine never look slim and elegant, I've got wider nail beds. You need to ask for clear or a very sheer natural pink on the full nail with white tip.

See, this is how unknowing I am. Are they acrylics? It was just glued to the end of my nail and then shortened. At my old job we wernt allowed to wear acrylics so my collegue told me to ask for gel tips as these were allowed.

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vestedinterests · 22/07/2022 19:17

To be honest the nails in the pic look nice but yours look amazing!

Numbat2022 · 22/07/2022 19:24

I would go to a different nail place for a start, yours sounds like hard work. Is it very cheap? Honestly, you get what you pay for.

Amazongirl9 · 22/07/2022 19:30

They both look nice. But you haven't got squareoval tips they are not rounded enough. The corners are too sharp for squareoval. Also you have a broad nail bed so will never quite get the look of the picture, where the model has a more elongated nail bed. They do look nice though, but i can understand your frustration if they aren't what you want.

Pixiedust878 · 22/07/2022 19:36

Honestly, go somewhere else. They should be making you feel comfortable, and it shouldn’t hurt.

Original poster

Stormyinacoffeemug · 22/07/2022 19:37

vestedinterests · 22/07/2022 19:17

To be honest the nails in the pic look nice but yours look amazing!

😁thank you

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Original poster

Stormyinacoffeemug · 22/07/2022 19:38

Numbat2022 · 22/07/2022 19:24

I would go to a different nail place for a start, yours sounds like hard work. Is it very cheap? Honestly, you get what you pay for.

They cost £35, is that cheap?

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easyday · 22/07/2022 19:43

When I go I have one person from start to finish. I don't go to those quick nail bars - they really just churn customers over. I want a more personal service, and that's what I get.
I think you need to find another salon.

Original poster

Stormyinacoffeemug · 22/07/2022 19:47

Amazongirl9 · 22/07/2022 19:30

They both look nice. But you haven't got squareoval tips they are not rounded enough. The corners are too sharp for squareoval. Also you have a broad nail bed so will never quite get the look of the picture, where the model has a more elongated nail bed. They do look nice though, but i can understand your frustration if they aren't what you want.

Yeah, I know it will never be exactly the same, it's just the shape if the tip, colour and white bit that I wanted to look more like the picture.

It's more frustration at myself for not knowing how to articulate what I want due to feeling out of my depth in an environment where I am already uncomfortable.

I think I will go somewhere else as many of you have suggested and now I know a little more of what to ask for thanks to everyone's advice.

Thank you everyone 🤗

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Justdontgetthis · 22/07/2022 19:48

I'm assuming that you went to a cheaper end salon if there was a language difficulty? We have one of those and they churn out shit like this attached. TBH I think your nails look pretty good - just slightly more square at the sides and white line not as thick. I find that those cheap places do the nails so fast due to their used of electric drills etc and they don't last. Try somewhere else where you might feel more comfortable and get a result you like better?