Nail care - talk to me

10 replies

beanieb · 07/02/2009 12:30

I'm getting married this year and someone told me I should get my nails 'done' as 'everyone will be looking at your hands'!

My nail care routine consists of washing my hands, watching the nails grow, watching them break off when they get too long and then watching them grow again.

I don't bite them short but if they get raggedy I do sort've round them off with my teeth. they do get quite long but if I do any rough work with my hands they split or break off.

What general routine things are you supposed to do (or not do) to keep them healthy and long?

OP posts:

LostGirl · 07/02/2009 13:28

I was in the same position a couple of years ago and all I did was to use vaseline hand and nail lotion and a nail strengthener ( by Sally Henson?) and then had a manicure the day before the wedding, though I am pretty sure no one noticed apart from me!

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will come along soon!

mrsmaidamess · 07/02/2009 13:29

Hand cream like a loon.

Oil on cuticles.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to go for a manicure and have them shaped properly, then try and maintain this until you have your wedding mani. (Using a file, not your teeth)

You are having a wedding mani, aren't you?

stroppyknickers · 07/02/2009 13:48

dr hauschka nail oil. it is genius.

stroppyknickers · 07/02/2009 13:49

ps get your brows waxed too if u haven't already.

BeauticianNotMagician · 07/02/2009 14:14

Wear gloves when washin up so hands and nails dont dry out.
Keep hand lotion by the bed and apply morning and evening.
Keep nails filed neatly.
Push back cuticles with the corner of the towel(or a cuticle stick available in boots/superdrug etc) when get out of bath/shower.

Original poster

beanieb · 07/02/2009 19:39

good tip about the gloves for washing up - I never do. Also never use hand lotion but I will now.

Have never really understood what cuticles are are they the white bits by your fingers?

at the eyebrow waxing, I do sometimes use the tweezers because I get really long hairs like spiders

OP posts:

BeauticianNotMagician · 07/02/2009 20:25

Cuticles are the bits of skin at the bottom of your fingernail if they are not pushed back they grow up around the sides of the nail and cause hangnails(those annoying little bits of skin that need picking or biting for some).

salvadory · 08/02/2009 14:37

I got married last year and despite never being a nail biter I never managed nice nails either (they were spade like in shape and always grew at different rates etc) but like you was aware that they were on show on the big day and that i needed to do something to sort them out.
I did not want fake nails (hate them!) so simply went for a manicure or revarnish every week in the 2 months up to my wedding. Having nicely painted nails made me take more care of my hands and by the time I got married I had lovely nails.
I meant to keep up with it but stopped going after the wedding and the nails quickly reverted to type!
My NY resolution this year has been to go every week and am on week 4 now, nails looking good again. I have to admit though I do find the constant maintenance a chore.
Good luck with your wedding btw, you'll have a lovely day even if all of your nails were bitten to the quick!

stroppyknickers · 08/02/2009 18:04

beanie - eyebrow waxing is sooo fantastic, I am quite evangelical about it. A couple of minutes, lovely shape, about £8?, don't diy it!

BonsoirAnna · 08/02/2009 18:05

File them. Use hand cream.

Flip