Your Nail Salon/Manicure Routine

[strawberrysunshine_x]

I’ve got two greenies for the first time ever! I know it’s my own fault - I took my grown out extensions off for an event by myself and used press ons for a week but obviously didn’t do it flush to the nail bed and had space for moisture to get in.

It’s right at the tips of my index fingers, just wondering if anyone else has had it? How long did it take to grow out? I’ve bought an antibacterial nail solution and not wearing any polish on my very short nails which is helping but I can’t wait to get my lovely long nails back!!

I had this once ! It didn’t take long at all to go. Just a few weeks. You can still wear polish with it green and still get your nails done.
Unless your nail tech has said not to? But when I had mine i still got them done

My nails today

 

[strawberrysunshine_x]

Just got gel on my natural nails. My fella says these look better than acrylics 🫣🫣. What do you all think

 

[Colin]

Latest additions.

 

[Lindssdnil]

My current ones

 

[Cloak]

I very occasionally, like 3x a year, have gel manicures, but I'm a huge cuticle and nail biter and I always have to apologise at the salon for the dreadful condition my nails and fingers are in. I just can't seem to stop biting the skin around my nails, have done it forever. My nails always break.

I recently had a set of acrylics, which I LOVE and it's amazing to finally have decent nails that have stayed intact for close to three weeks.

My question, though, is — why do I feel guilty about spending money on nails? Does anyone else have this? For some reason, dropping 30 quid on a meal out doesn't seem bad but regularly spending £30-£40 at the salon feels kinda frivolous and irresponsible.

What's your routine for keeping nails looking good, do you go to the salon all the time or maintain them yourself? Interested to hear!

 

[Colin]

I just love getting my nails done, infact I did today. I go about once a month, maybe more if I'm feeling fancy. I can't do my own but I like getting them done more!

 

[littlemissmercedes]

Hi! So, I NEVER clip my nails anymore (I use a crystal file to shorten and shape them then a nail buffer to like, smooth out the free edge [NOT to buff my nails and make them shiny/smooth; only on the free edge lol])

I also do weekly at home manicures/nail care routines which consist of (in order):

• removing the polish that I currently have

• using a liquid cuticle remover (I use the blue cross brand) to push back/ remove my cuticles (but I try to not cut them with cuticle cutters; I use a orange/wooden cuticle stick) and then I wash my hands

• massaging nail oil all over my nails and cuticles (I'm currently using simplynailogical's diy jojoba/vitamin e oil mix) and letting that sit for about 10-15 minutes (until my skin absorbs it)

• then I use rubbing alcohol to clean the nail plate and remove excess oil that didnt get absorbed and then paint my nails normally: I use OPI's natural nail base coat (I put a little bit of minced garlic in it bc apparently, it makes your nails grow faster?), then whatever brand and color I want to wear that week, then top it off with Seche Vite Top Coat and more nail oil!

It takes me up to an hour to do this routine bc I like to take my time and make things perfect lol I also make sure that I have polish on my nails like 24/7!

 

[strawberrysunshine_x]

Gone for pastels this time

 

[strawberrysunshine_x]

These are my holiday nails. I stuck to acrylic in the end. I think I’ll try BIAB eventually but not just yet

 

[101d]

Black flames!

 

[knivesnflowers]

onto my fifth at home gel colour since new year! application is a bit neater and think i'm getting the hang of what formulas suit my nails. not being too precious with them but do tend to chip the edges when i peel veg. tried BIAB and found it lifts quite easily even when using a base coat. also tried clear BIAB as a top coat but still had residue so used my normal top coat and finishing wipe over it.

brown cat eye - 10 days ish - didn't remove cuticles but still lasted well
silver cat eye - 14 days - ended up loving these after initially thinking they were too glittery
black & gold cat eye - 12 days - victims of my peeler gbnf
had a week or so break where they all snapped off x
pink metallic (cat eye but didn't use magnet) - 7 days - used BIAB and sussed out the lifting
cobalt blue - painted on wednesday using same method as silver so hoping these last two weeks as well

pics are of swatch sticks bc i'm in a bit too deep

 

[Colin]

My latest manicure. I've switched over to BIAB and I'll never go back.

 

[strawberrysunshine_x]

My nails today

 

[Scorpihoe]

Tried something new! wanted to test out the “red nail theory”
Husband isn’t a fan but I love it

 

[strawberrysunshine_x]

My valentines nails

 

[judgejohndeed]

My nails are so boring because I basically just use The Gel Bottle in Teddy all the time. The most exotic I stretch to is a dark red or burgundy I did do a French mani style a while back but my nails are so long it was giving ‘teenager getting £25 acrylics in a Chinese chop shop’

 

[strawberrysunshine_x]

This weeks nails

 

[strawberrysunshine_x]

my nails this time

 

[Bubbledoggyyeah]

I spend roughly $200-$300 on nails every month. My routines have been anything from random walk-ins to paying way too much for Russian manicures. I work on computer sometimes 10-12 hours a day, so my nails need some extra care and I don’t cut corners on it anymore. Cheap quick manicures have costed me nail health, fungus and just being a waste of money because Id have to go and re do them somewhere else.
What I would suggest is… 1. Figure out your nail budget and find the best nail specialist you can go to consistently. 2. Please do not gel cure press on nails to save money, few of my friends have now allergies to gel and nail glue. 3. If you want to do have really healthy natual nails then you need to completely detox them out for a while before having nice nails again. Purge is nasty but after several months you can get really strong and nice nails that you can just file and look chic. I personally can’t do it with my job but ive seen other women achieve that naturel look and their nails are fantastic without literally anything but simple filing.
4. Invest in good oils ( coconut, argan, jojoba) to use on your cuticles. Helps with keeping away from cracked heels during winter too.
I think feeling guilty about nails is pretty common for many women but nails and grooming is a huge part of maintaining your hygiene and mental health. You need to find what works for you and do that.

200 to 300 a month?! Ehhh?! What exactly are you actually spending this money on? I also work on computers 10 hours per day, and I spend £25 every three weeks and my nails look GREAT.

 

[Colin]

Orange sparkles for me.