Gel/Acrylic Nails - advise needed please.

highly1111

Hi

Hoping you can help me!

I'm an awful nail biter. You'd swear I was a child. Now, they're not bitten down to the nub or anything like it but they're not attractive - I'm always conscious of them at events. anyway, it's my best friends wedding next week and I'm also starting a job the following week and I was thinking of investing in gel/acrylic nails.

Can you please tell me the difference between them? can your nails grow under them? I'm actually very good at not touching my nails when they're done and I've love to use the opportunity for them to grow a bit whilst I had the gel/acrylic nails on.

how do the nails get removed? which is the most durable? I've 3 young kids, 2 are in nappies so there's a LOT of handwashing.

Sorry for all the questions - as you can tell, I'm pretty clueless!

Thanks a million

fussyonion

highly1111 wrote: »

Hi

Hoping you can help me!

I'm an awful nail biter. You'd swear I was a child. Now, they're not bitten down to the nub or anything like it but they're not attractive - I'm always conscious of them at events. anyway, it's my best friends wedding next week and I'm also starting a job the following week and I was thinking of investing in gel/acrylic nails.

Can you please tell me the difference between them? can your nails grow under them? I'm actually very good at not touching my nails when they're done and I've love to use the opportunity for them to grow a bit whilst I had the gel/acrylic nails on.

how do the nails get removed? which is the most durable? I've 3 young kids, 2 are in nappies so there's a LOT of handwashing.

Sorry for all the questions - as you can tell, I'm pretty clueless!

Thanks a million

I can only tell you about gel nails as that's what I have done.

They'll file your own nails, tips and nailbed, apply a gel coating and then they ask what shape you want the tips.

I go for squoval (square-ish/oval) but you can have oval or square.
She'll then ask what length you want them, so because you've got kids and you change nappies, you might want to tell her that and she can suggest an appropriate length.

Then she'll apply the gel nails and clip them to the length you want, then she'll file them and apply more gel, then put your fingers under a UV light to set.

Now, they'll last around 3 weeks before you'll be able to see the join between the false nailbed and your own but you can make them last longer if you apply nail polish to them. (You don't have to but I do).

When you start to see the join but want the nails to last longer, apply a nice colour; perhaps pink or red...something that will hide the join.

DON'T ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THEM YOURSELF.
I did this once and it was painful and you risk damaging your own nails.

Some people soak their fingers in acetone (nail polish remover) but it's an awful messy job so I suggest letting the salon remove them so it won't hurt.

Then she'll apply some cream to your fingers to moisturise them and you'll be surprised at how fast your own nails have grown!

Another popular thing is Shellac, where they apply varnish to your own nails with a Shellac finish, so they're super shiny and they last around 2 weeks, but you won't get extra length because they're your own nails.

Anyway, hope this helps!

highly1111

Thanks so much for all the advice.

I've gotten shellac before and i think once i get a bit of growth/length I'll go down that route - because as i mentioned, when they're all pretty i don't bite them!

I made an appointment for Wednesday and the girl said the nail technician will advise me then but if anyone has any more advice here I'd much appreciate it.

dellas1979

Hi OP.

First of all, there are different types of "gel" nails.
You have a soft gel (like shellac)-the ones you get soaked off. Not very durable.

You have a "hard" gel. These are the ones I get. I am a nail biter by heart. Ive been getting my nails done for the last 3 years at least. Your own nail grows. You then get "refills". The gel is filed off (as opposed to soaked off). This gel is more durable. And if done correctly, will last you 3/4 weeks. Until they have to e refilled due to growth from your own nails (i.e., you will see a space develop between your own cuticle and the gel colour as nail grows). You will want to be committed to getting them done every 3/4 weeks (I love going in for an hour every few weeks-like a treat).