Please talk to me about nails

[peeweep]

I am a pianist so have to keep very short nails. I also have a terrible habit of attacking the skin around my nails when anxious.

I’ve discovered that wearing nail
varnish serves as a reminder to help me stop doing this and I like the way it looks and feels.

But I can’t find any polish and topcoat that doesn’t chip within a couple of days. I’ve had gel nails done a couple of times and they have stayed brilliantly, but they start growing out so quickly and I don’t like the look of them when they do that.

I’ve seen a mylee led gel set and am wondering about getting that so I could do my own once a week or so. I’m pretty clumsy at the application of varnish.

Can anyone offer any thoughts or advice?

Thank you!

I get shellac which stops my flaky nails from breaking. I hate long nails so I get the tech to file them as short as possible so by the time they’re ready to be redone they’re not long at all.

I think you either do them yourself every few days or shellac every couple of weeks.

I have a mylee kit and have been using it for four years without any problems. I can get three to four weeks out of a set of nails I’ve done myself. However, it’s really important not to cure gel polish onto your skin as it can lead to allergies so you’ll really need to ensure you don’t have any product on your skin before you pop your hand into the lamp. There are lots of helpful tutorials on YouTube and there’s a group on Facebook called Mylee My Look where people share tips.

Or, if you use ordinary nail polish I think a decent top coat makes all the difference and would recommend China Glaze Fast Forward.

A good topcoat helps, I use Sally Hansen Insta-Dry, but even if it doesn't chip mine suffer from tip wear. The easiest way round it for me is to stick to light colours (nudes, gold, silver etc) which don't show damage too much. Also clean your nails with nail varnish remover before using basecoat to remove any oils, dust etc.

I chip varnish within minutes of putting it on, but I've recently found a glittery top coat is even better than a regular one for preventing it. Plus, Christmassy!

Seche Vite do a base coat and separate top coat - my nails last a week with them. Highly recommended

Sns/powder dip is even stronger and longer lasting than shellac.

Thank you so much everyone. A few ideas for me to investigate!

I use Sally Hansen base coat and top coat (the one that does both) and 3 coats of Essie nail varnish. This never chips and lasts me over a week. I only re-do because of regrowth at the base.

I will admit that I do no housework whatsoever, so that probably helps 😬

It depends on the nail varnish. I have two OPI colours. The dark one stays brilliantly for 3-4 days and I could extend it with top ups (but my nails grow quickly so usually start again). The other, lighter one, usually chips within a day or two.

Base coat, two colour coats, topcoat.

Trick is to prepare the nail first. Push back and clip cuticles.

I'm also a nail and skin biter. For me, even clear nail varnish helps me stop. So if I were you, as a pianist, I'd probably just keep with a clear top coat for now.

As above - if you use your own gel kit you really have to be careful not to get it on your skin. And make sure you follow the instructions to cure it fully otherwise that can also lead to allergies.

As for the ‘cuticle’…that’s the bit that is on the nail plate…the skin round the nail is not cuticle and is actually living skin (called the proximal nail fold) and should never be cut. Otherwise you risk infection and hardening of that skin more. The best way to look after that is to take care of the actual skin by moisturising etc. I follow a woman on YouTube who is brilliant and she recommends using this on the skin. It’s says it’s for feet but is amazing for dry, hard skin around the nails. It contains urea, salicylic acid skin softening cream and vaseline type stuff. And as you only need the tiniest amount, it lasts for absolutely ages. If you have sore skin or any picked bits that have bled, then it’s best to use a simple vaseline until they’re no longer sore and then start using the Kerasal.

Regular use of oil on the nails and skin will help too and if you can do warm oil soaks that will help strengthen the nails and look after the skin too. Jojoba oil is the best but any can be used really.

As for polish, I often think it’s a personal thing. I quite like Jessica polishes and you can get mini bottles of them too. I also find their top coat better than Seche Vite because I found that shrunk back quickly on my nails. And I’m not a fan of Essie on mine which is often recommended on here!

Kerasal 29974 Intensive Foot Repair Exfoliating Foot Moisturizer, 1oz https://amzn.eu/d/77WU3uP

I’ve just discovered nail wraps. Have a look at Nail Grail.

Thank you very much all of you!

I've had my Mylee kit a year and wouldn't be without it but it is an absolute pig to get the gels off and I'm ashamed to say that, for the last ones I did, I peeled them off! I highly recommend Naio Nails for the polish.

I love my Mylee kit but I think redoing it once a week would be too much faff - I usually go for once every two weeks. As others have said you need to be really careful about not getting it on your skin etc.

I sympathise though - I have a tendency to nibble/pick and normal nail polish just doesn’t last at all on me. Seche Vite is particularly bad for me but others love it.

Could you have any dietary deficiencies? When my biting was bad it was because my iron was low.

I used to do my own gels with a mylee kit but I’ve stopped since all the publicity about allergies and gone back to normal nail varnish. I use nailkind and I’ve been really impressed, lovely colours and lasts around a week with their base and top coat.

I do my own & find Seche vite topcoat provides longest lasting before chips.

But it really dries cuticle, so apply neatly.

I've tried nail wraps this week for the first time. I have been a bit amazed by them - I didn't fit them properly (small nail beds) except on my thumbs.

But my thumbs have lasted amazingly and the set dd put on have lasted super well as well. Normal activities/showers/typing etc.

May be worth a try? They are quite cheap - I got 6 sets from holy grail nails and paid 20 quid. I have short nails and been able to cut each set in half.