Talk to me about getting your nails done…..

[OrlandointheWilderness]

I’ve never had my nails done. Mine are short and boring - I don’t bite them or anything but they certainly aren’t pretty. I trail run and I’m a bit concerned that fake ones get dirty - but is that just me making stuff up!? I’ve always said I’d never be a ‘high maintenance woman’ but actually I’ve realised that was very defensive me talking and after losing ten stone I WANT to look pretty and nice and like I make an effort!
hands are square and workmanlike unfortunately 😂 no piano player fingers here!
I’ve no idea what happens at a nail place. Help me 😂
how expensive are they?

I have BIAB which costs me £28 but lasts a month

My nails are so much stronger and the polish lasts longer than when I just had gels

I get BIAB every 4 weeks, £39 a time. I couldn’t go back to the bare nail life! I’ve only ever had one nail break (opening my car boot a bit too enthusiastically), the BIAB is hard-wearing and allows your natural nails to grow.

WOW OP! 10 stone loss is fantastic! I am a long term acrylic nail person but I would advise a little longer before you have nails done, get a good nail strength polish, a cuticle oil etc, your nails will be adjusting to your new diet, give them a few more months and then go for it! Enjoy your new look.

I get biab every 3/4 weeks since last June when I got them done for a holiday and have kept it up since.
They look lovely but I do worry about uv exposure so the last few times I’ve put sun cream on my hands and fingers although my dd thinks I’m mad to do that

Do not not get fake nails of any kind, acrylic, gel or even Biab without tips if you have nice natural nails and a decent sized nail bed. Get a nice basic manicure clean healthy nails well looked after with maybe a clear or milky toned polish, so so classy. I have tips and a gel overlay but I bite my nails, chronically, I even crunch though acrylics, it’s compulsive and awful. My manicurist makes my nails look natural, it takes hours, layers of clear gel, buffed, no one can tell. Red for special occasions, I’ve spent thousands on the bloody things just to make them look like natural nails. So just be good to yours, the dior pink tinted polish, or the millions of dupes, think it was originally a nails inc thing, perfection 👌

I use these stick-on gels, they’re amazing and it’s very simple to do….

www.glaize.co

Go to your salon and ask for gel polish - choose a neutral shade while they are very short. Cost = £22. The Gel will last 2.5-3 weeks (wear gloves when washing up etc) - your nails will grow and not break with gel on - couple of visits and you’ll be able to ask for a shape you like and you’ll never have a need for Acrylics (which destroy your natural nails and cost more to infill) - unless you really like the Cynthia Erivo look :)

Just to add you do not need BIAB - it typically looks too thick on short nails. Takes forever (if you’re impatient like me!) and costs more. Gel polish first :)

My BIAB costs £26. I don't know what my own will be like when it is removed, but I have seen the manicurist's nails after and they are amazing and not weak, damaged or short! They had BIAB on when I first saw them and 6 weeks later natural with no polish at all.

Honestly, if you've lost ten stone and want to treat yourself, go for it. I was the same and assumed nail salons weren't really for me, but a simple gel manicure made my hands look much more polished without feeling over the top.
They're not as high maintenance as people think, and if you keep them fairly short they work perfectly well for an active lifestyle too.

They are the perfect length for coloured gel / shellac. A nice bright red, dark brown or a burgundy. That’s how I alway have my nails and they look polished and classy

I wouldn’t go neutral they are the perfect length for a well applied bright colour.

Gel and BIAB were painful, didn't last long and removal is a nightmare.

Doing them at home means your risk infection and/or developing gel allergy if you cure the gel on your skin.

Apparently, that is an issue because the same chemical used in gel polish is what they use in artificial knees etc so it means you may not be eligible for them, due to an allergy, if the situation arises.

Also, the rash from a gel allergy is extremely itchy, unsightly and mine developed into a fungus which I'd never had before in my life.

They took longer to apply than acrylics and for all of the hassle, IMO, was not worth it.

Acrylics are resilient, last forever and I had mine infilled every 3-4 weeks for 10 years on the trot, at one time. Never had fungus, never had an issue.

I stopped doing them when the prices went up after covid and now just shape them and give them clear coat.

But, if I were to suggest any, it would be acrylics. You can get old fashioned varnish and use their fans and spray for a quicker dry or have them use gel and use the UV/LED lamps for drying.

The worlds your oyster.