Nails

[jollyhollyday]

Hi I recently had shellac or gel nails (can't remember now) for the first time and I swear they ruined my nails.
I admittedly took them off myself so maybe didn't help
I love the look of done nails but don't want fake nails
What are the other options for nails that look done, last well but don't ruin the nail bed? Thanks

I like my nails best when I buff them and oil them regularly. Then a little clear clear polish. I do love colour on them too but I find it only lasts a day or two. So clean, buffed and oiled looks clean and neat.

Don’t pick it off, you will remove your nail surface.

try SNS and always get it removed in salon.

I admit I probably ruined my nails by taking It off at home but I can't always make it to the salon regularly plus you can't book appointments so you turn up and could be waiting 30+ mins to be seen :-(

@DrJump Can I ask what oil you use please?

Like PP said, you've damaged them by taking them off yourself - they're bonded to the tops of your nails, so you've taken that all off if you didn't do it properly.

Could you find a new salon that does appointments? With gel nails I only need to go every 3/4 weeks, so it's not super regular.

Honestly if you don't have the time for that, just buff and polish + cuticle oil!

Picking them will have damaged them but even just having them on can damage them too. I always recommend her but she’s changed my nails for the better - check out this lady on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/@TheSalonLife?si=ccCet1DUAPQGfci3

Mine were previously flaky and dry and the two in this picture constantly peeled. In fact this picture was when they started getting better overall - they were worse before. The second pic is my first attempt in a long time at a French manicure now they are a tad longer.

Wow @BeretRaspberry your french manicure is fab! What products did you use to do it?

Thank you! I use used a silcone stamper for the tip as in this picture. But back in the day I could do it myself just with the brush! I used Nailberry’s white (because I got a freebie) but to be honest, I used to use an Essie one which was also fine.

I did the white first on bare nail (because it meant if I made a mistake I was only having to remove that) and then painted over with Chanel Le Base - then Dior Glow on top of that. However, I might get the Nails Inc duo when those two run out - it doesn’t have to be expensive. I’m pleased with how it turned out.

@Churchview I must have used the last up as I can’t find the bottle bit it was like cuticle oil or similar. Probably from a supermarket.

Jojoba oil is the best for nails but any will do. I use a combination of almond and grapefruit for soaks and then jojoba for daily.

It’s also not recommended to buff nails as it thins them (though I appreciate some people can get away with it).

Get a proper manicure, perhaps a Russian parlour. I get gel nails, no BIAB as that hasn't worked well for me. You can get nail oil from Boots. It helps with dryness around the nail bed.

Seems you have damaged your nails yourself, as you say.

Get some acetone (not nail polish remover) and buff the shiny surface of the gel, and then soak in the acetone until you can scrape off easily.

I have done my own nails at home for years and use this method and my nails are as strong as ever.

I recommend semi cured gel nail strips! I find them easy to apply (takes me about 45mins while watching Netflix) and they last me for ages (for 3+ weeks) by which time I usually fancy taking them off and having a new design.

They’re also really quick, easy and undamaging to remove. I get mine from a site called MoYou but there are loads of other kinds available. You need a UV lamp, and I always finish with a gel top coat, but the strips aren’t too pricey.

(Make sure you get your nails back to health with treatments etc before starting the strips though!)

Gels and BIAB completely wrecked my nails even when professionally removed.
it’s taken 4 months for mine to get back to normal. This has happened three times now, over several years, and I will never get them again.

Thank you @DrJump and @BeretRaspberry for the advice about oils. I'm a keen gardener and my nails are a disgrace. You've inspired me to try to improve them.

Thank you all for your advice, I admit I didn't realise they had to be professionally taken off, they'd grown too long and I was due out that evening so I was too hasty. I soaked them
In acetone and it wasn't budging :-(

I love the pic of that French polish, really lovely
I'll buy some oils and treat my nails for a few weeks

try CND rescue rxx oil on it. You can get it on Amazon.

there’s also CND solar oil but that’s more for maintenance. You’ll need the rxx if you’ve damaged your nails.

i have found some gels more drying than others and my preference is shellac (which is more of a hybrid polish so doesn’t last as long) but unfortunately fewer places doing it in my area now.

Thank you