Please can someone explain nail varnish to me?

[stbrandonsboat]

As a lifelong nail biter I've decided to grow my nails again. It's been about 10 years since I last did this.

I can't afford to go to a nail salon so have decided just to do basic nail care and colours myself at home.

Things seem to have changed since I last did varnish and I'm now finding it tricky to get what I need.

My questions are:

Why is the nail varnish now like thick, claggy tipex? And why does it get scratched so easily and quickly? I'm using a clear base and top coat to protect.

What are gel colours and do they all need a UV light to dry them or is gel just a style?

What is this chewing gum type stuff that people are sticking to their nails?

Can anyone recommend a basic varnish that goes on nicely and lasts about a week? Doesn't cost a fortune either.

💅

I use OPI and have never had a problem with it being too thick. Maybe try that?

I do have an Opi pale pink colour 🤔

If it's a proper gel polish then it will need curing! Some nail polishes have a "gel like" line but the proper gel polishes do need a lamp.

Half the battle of nail varnish lasting is the quality of your nails and the prep! Nails need to be clean and not oily (will make varnish peel).

By chewing gum stuff, do you mean BIAB? (Builder in a bottle?) it's normally a pale pink shade and in the videos quite thick to apply. It's a builder for your nails, it can be done alone or under polish, it keeps them strong but isn't as damaging as acrylics (from what I've heard). I have BIAB and then a gel polish over the top, it never chips ever and they're super strong and long.

No, it's like a powder that people add liquid to then they form it onto their nail. It can only be removed by scraping it off. It looks like it might damage the nail tbh, but it seems popular. I've watched it being applied on YouTube. Do they only do this at salons?

I've been using a Sally Hansen 7 in 1 nail strengthener and it's made a huge difference to my nails. It's a clear one that leaves your nails really glossy and lasts ages.

I'm interested too. I use curable nail polishes for longevity. My nails are soft and bendy so normal varnish just doesn't last.

Curing is no bother. The little lamp is about £20, and it means the nails are dry and set without waiting.
You do then have the removal issue, but I find it pops off on its own eventually. In the meantime I touch up repeatedly.

@stbrandonsboat

That's sounding like acrylics! So there's the powder pot then a liquid, do they dip the brush (looks like a little paint brush? into the liquid, then the pot, then form it onto the nail? Then file it down + add a colour?

You can buy all of the kit to do it yourself but it'll be quite expensive and it's actually a real skill to get them looking like nails. Definitely a salon only treatment imo!

I really like the vegan nail varnish from Nails Inc, it glides on really nicely.
Nail varnish does go out of date and can thicken if that’s the case.

Well done from a reformed biter. I used to bite the skin all around my nails as well. I like Essie nail polishes. You'll need a good cuticle cream, Burts Bees is lovely, and good hand & nail cream and find some good quality files and learn how to file properly to prevent damage.

I swear by Nails Inc nail polish. Really nice colours and easy to apply. I also love their 40 second top coat - game changer.

Gel lasts longer and doesn't tend to be as harsh on your nails as acrylics are, but be very very careful doing them at home. And the UV lights can cause cancer so use a fingerless glove if you can!

The chewing gum stuff is acrylic. Very harsh on nails and I'd only go down this route if your natural nails are awful. You can get infections from them, and they can really damage your nails underneath. I used to have them but don't anymore.

Is silk wrap around anymore? I loved that.

I don't recognize what you're talking about OP and I pain my nails all the time. I use Sally Hansen base coat and one or two coats of any colour that takes my fancy on top. You can buy basic nail varnish in the supermarket or pharmacy. If they're gloopy and thick or not drying quickly and scratching easily because you thought it was dry and it isn't, they've gone off. Wear gloves for washing up and gardening. Paint them while you're watching TV or reading and have a clear half hour or so to spare before needing to touch anything. Take it off with remover, not by picking it off which will remove a layer of your natural nail with the varnish, and only use the remover once a week (to prevent nail damage). If it's chipped before then either remove it and go bare nails for a few days before repainting or touch up the chipped area with colour, then paint the whole nail with colour and finish with a clear top coat, to get a few more days out of it before you need to redo it

As a beginner I would stick with regular nail polish. Easy to apply and remove. I completely agree with everything @IndianSummer78 has said above.

If you start down the whole gel nail thing which has to be "cured" using UV lamps to set it then the removal process is more difficult and it does damage the nail. I am not a nail tech but I have done acrylics (which is the liquid and powder) also gel builder and gel polish, plus tip application and full cover press on but I use foundation gel and cure it as the glue. I have never used dip powder where you coat the nail with glue which is basically super glue and then dip the nail in acrylic powder removing the skill involved in forming a ball of acrylic to pat onto the nail.

Nail techs can do the above without much damage to the nail because they are professionals and don't have to use their non-dominant hand to paint or apply product to the dominant hand. As to the cancer from UV lamps, "the level of UVA exposure associated with a gel manicure every two weeks probably isn't high enough to increase the risk of skin cancer significantly, but you are wise to be aware of the issue." I trust Harvard and I don't sunbathe which would add to the risk.