What was I thinking

[MissAva]

I decided my nails had gotten a bit too long the other day when someone asked me where I got them done...she thought they were fake. So instead of filling them down a bit I cut them down to the quick...now that are uber short and dont even hit the ends of my fingers...WHAT WAS I THINKING???

 

[sistagrl2004]

Umm not really sure WHAT you were thinking. I spent over $40 a month ago on QVC buying some stuff to lengthen and strengthen my nails. It''s working and people comment they think mine are fake. I take that as a compliment!

 

[fountainfairfax]

Oh, Matatora- they will grow back ASAP- by the end of the week they''ll be reaching the tip of your finger & my next week they''ll be french mani length again

I''m a big fan of very short, rounded nails for me because I can''t keep them clean (ewww gross, I know but I can''t stand to see any dirt under them at all) & I have a silly personal rule that the length of my nails is dictated by the length of the shortest nail- break one nail and they all get cut down! But with e-day approaching next month I''m seriously thinking of going the false route with those outrageously expensive "forever french" nails- I think it''s close to $100 for the set and between $50-60 for a fill...does anyone know anything about them? I know I''m going to become a slave to my nails then but they will look nice for business (I can rationalize just about anything these days

)

 

[MissAva]

Oh no! Dont get fake nails...yucky. I am not sure why I dislike them soo much I just do. Maybe your nails can be part of your healthy lifestyle. What if at night you painted you nails, a french is easy to do after a few trials, and classic shades of Red can look great as well. You could paint your nails every night instead of having dessert. And since you cannot do much while your nails are waiting to dry that would kind of force you to wait a bit and see if you really wanted an ice cream sandwich. Get something like tips to help keep your nails mositurized and healthy and then have at it. 50-60$ a week...hell you could go and get them to do your mani and pedi each week for that.

 

[Buena Girl]

Mata- Oh no! I know it''s disappointing, but they will grow back fast. Drink lots of milk

fountain- I haven''t heard of the term "forever french" before, but it sounds similar to what I currently have. The manucurist puts on white tips, and covers everything over with a pink gel that hardens. Then they buff it to a fine shine. When you get fill-ins, they alternate just filling in pink gel at the root of the nail, then next time they fill pink gel at base and white out towards the tip to cover up where you can see your actual nail underneath, then just pink at base, etc... Does this sound like what the salon call terms "forever french"? Those prices sound high, though. Is it NYC pricing? Or is the process a bit different?

What makes this process different from normal overlay or acrylics/tips is that the pink gel does not yellow. There are other differences, but that is the biggest appeal that I can think of. With the pink and white process, you can continue to have a french manicure for months at a time. Whereas, with overlay or acrylic/tips you would need to paint over the acrylic with a colored polish after a few weeks, maybe a month if you are lucky.

If you have never had this done before, then I would strongly recommend NOT doing this right now unless you would continue the process until your wedding. Before the manucurist attaches any of the gels or tips, they buzz cut the tops of your nails. Whenever I take a break from having acrylics, it takes months and months for the "chewed up" and damaged part of my nails to fully grow out. If I were you, I would not take the chance. Your nails would probably be fine before your wedding, but you never know.

 

[fountainfairfax]

Matatora & Buena-

I''m glad you two talked some sense into me, I guess I just wanted nails for a life I do not have! I''m not one for upkeep, discipline or anything of the sort- I think for the time being I''ll just keep at my home mani & pedi''s, trying to keep up with them. Mata is right that if I''m doing my nails I can''t be eating and with the money I would save I could endulge in monthly massages (or save for that Ebel watch that''s calling me.)

and I do think that the process you describe, Buena, is what they call "forever french" here- it figures that both LI and NYC prices would be crazy. I just wish I could find something to either keep the dirt from under my nails (yes I do wash my hands, ladies

) or to at least cover it. I''ve tried in the past to do my own french mani but I don''t do it well and most polish doesn''t seem to last me more than a day. Guess I''ll stick with my transparent polishes for now, not so noticable when they chip.

 

[diamondlil]

Don''t worry, Matatora, they will grow past the ends of your fingers in no time.

I am one of those people who has very hard nails that never break and look like artificial even though they are not. Mine just naturally grow and grow until they annoy me like crazy, and I cut them down to the *quick*. Even then, if they are painted, from the top they look like I have long nails. My nail beds are very long.

I have friends who are slaves to their nail salons, and I cannot imagine that. Besides, when they decide to take a break from the acrylics, their natural nails are totally muffed up for a good long time -- ewwwww!!! I''d rather see nicely kept, clean, short nails than acrylics. But that''s just my opinon. I''ll save the money for new baubles.

 

[MissAva]

I have short nails beds, so they look a little goofy but are settling on me nicely. I like shorter nails...as I said I just am not a fan of fakes. Saw death monster girl today and she asked me if I had my fakes taken off.

I kindly explained to her that those were my real nails and that I did my own....Oh well. For now they look fine painted red and by next week it will be back to red/french debate all the time. Has anyone every tried Manicure magic?

 

[fountainfairfax]

what''s manicure magic? (I know, I should be doing my weight workout, I will in a minute

)

 

[MissAva]

Ah, ya know I love ya! "Achieve a professional-looking French manicure in the comfort of your home. This handy kit comes with everything you need. The easy-to-use polish pen works like a marker to draw on a perfect French manicure in minutes. Ideal for touch-ups and repairs between manicures, too."

17.77$

 

[fountainfairfax]

Ok, I need that!!! I will wait until tomorrow in case anyone says it isn''t worth it but then I''m gettin'' it!

 

[MissAva]

I was thinking it might just be worth it to touch up a regular french manicure and make it last a bit longer in between....I can be quite lazy.

 

[Blue824]

For touch ups wouldnt it just be easier to buy the shades that they''re using on you at the nail place? then the pinks match up perfectly...

I can''t believe you cut your nails! I guess I''m a little vain about mine

When I''m good about keeping my regular manicure appointments, I constantly am complimented and asked about my nails...and when they ask if they''re fake, I take it as a compliment because most people assume if you have nice looking nails they have to be fake and mine are natural -- so that is a good thing, not bad, Matatora!

FFF, I have the same rule, if a nail breaks, all my others must be cut down to match. Also, while it might be tempting to get the instant long nail satisfaction, to me they don''t look the same as natural, and I think if you just keep them healthy and do regular manicures you''ll be happy

Your ring is going to look gorgeous on your fingers no matter what, i think!

 

[MissAva]

Maybe I will go and get my nails done...I usally just do my own. I am cheap and to be honest I can do my nails and anyone elses just as well as the people at salons. I cannot do any of the fake stuff but for the holidays I can even do the cute little designs on my friends toenails and ring fingers...just use nail polish and toothpicks.
Oh and they have a ton of other colors for that...but I tend to do white with either a soft pink of that sheer red color.

 

[Angel7]

There is something very similar to that Manicure Magic from Sally Hansen for only like $7.
I had acrylic nails, always have and have decided to just be rid of them!!! I let them grow really long underneath the acrylic, had them removed and am slowly trying to let them grow and become healthy. They are quite short now and I love French Manis but they wear off so fast!!!
If anyone has great strengthner or length polish they want to suggest I''m all ears!

Thanks!

Mata-Your nails will grow back in no time!

 

[MissAva]

Have you tried T.I.P.S. it is a nail oil...you have to follow the instructions but it works.

 

[ame]

I keep mine superduper short usually. I let them get long last week and entertained the idea of putting gel on them to keep them from snapping...but then changed my mind and clipped them superduper short. One nail I got a bit too short on...

I think you were thinking "hm Ill chop them off and be really really practical!"

 

[MissAva]

Date: 9/21/2005 9:50:17 AM
Author: ame
I keep mine superduper short usually. I let them get long last week and entertained the idea of putting gel on them to keep them from snapping...but then changed my mind and clipped them superduper short. One nail I got a bit too short on...

I think you were thinking ''hm Ill chop them off and be really really practical!''

Yup! You are 100% correct!

 

[ame]

Im smart that way.

I actually painted mine last night. Not sure how I like that. I NEVER wear polish.

 

[MissAva]

Oh what color?