Show Me Your Nails 2.0

[Tamara76]

Due to some technical glitches with the original Show Me Your Nails Thread, I am starting a new thread with @vegchililover78's blessing (She says "hello," by the way!).

Please share your nail looks, nail art and manicures!

...And don't forget to check out @Beadshopgirl's Nail Stamping Thread for stamping inspiration! ❤️  

https://community.sephora.com/t5/Nailed-It/The-Nail-Stamping-Thread/m-p/3328865

[RGbrown]

@Saradestin 

This one falls under "looks more complicated than it really is"...it's literally just three straight lines with the brush, each a little shorter than the previous one to create the wave pattern. Super easy, I swear! ❣️

[Cissy63]

They are beautiful @RGbrown!  These colors are terrific w/w/o the silver.  Very creative mani!

[RGbrown]

Thank you @Cissy63! It was a fun set to make 🌈

[CookieGirl1]

Oh my gosh, @RGbrown, I LOVE that!!!!  

[RGbrown]

Thank you @CookieGirl1! ❣️

[Samtian]

@RGbrown Those are so dope!

[RGbrown]

@Samtian 

Thanks so much! ❣️

[ather]

@RGbrown  These nails are definitely giving me summer vibes! Or 80s vibes either way I’m here for it!!

[RGbrown]

@ather 

Ahhh, yup, I see that! I'm totally getting 80s movie theatre vibes here...I think one of ours had some sort of decorative arch with a similar design on either side of the doors 🎥

[ather]

@RGbrown  I think I remember that too!! 

[Mellmars1185]

@RGbrown This artwork is beautiful. The colours with the silver in the middle are really cool! You are so creative!

[RGbrown]

@Mellmars1185 

Thanks so much! And nah, not creative, just mimicking a design I've seen a few times over the years but had never gotten around to trying myself (it's super easy, give it a go if so inclined!!) 🌈

[CynthieLu]

Your nail art is always so impressive @RGbrown this pattern and colour choice is so visually beautiful. Even with the hiccups with the polished I can barley notice at all.  Question thou,  I can't tell by looking.  Are you designing your own nails or is it the kind you decorate and then and put on after? How do you do this magic? 🤩🤩🤩

[RGbrown]

@CynthieLu 

Aw shucks, thanks so much!

These are my natural nails! I don't mess with extensions or press-ons of any kind. That's why mine are frequently all different lengths or even one or two with different shapes...I don't like losing what I've worked hard to maintain, so I never cut them all when I break one 😅

[CynthieLu]

Sorry i couldn't tell the differnce @RGbrown  (😅 I'm a nail noob obv.)

Your nails are so amazing,  they are in great shape! And wow so naturally long 😄 What are your secrets 😋 to these beautiful nail lengths?

[RGbrown]

@CynthieLu 

Nah, there's nothing to be sorry about! There are lots of talented folks out there that do amazing work with extensions and such, and it's nearly impossible to tell from a pic, so "are those real?" is always a valid question 😊

I've got four things I try and keep up with:

1. Jojoba oil! It's the one closest in composition and size to our natural sebum, and from what I've read, it's the only oil capable of penetrating the nail plate itself. Other oils are great for the surrounding skin, but for a cuticle oil to have any effect on the nail, it's got to have a good bit of jojoba in it. Dry, brittle nails that are prone to peeling or splitting need replenishment to keep them healthy and flexible, and jojoba is the best way to do that. Multiple times a day is best!

2. Water is the number one enemy of your nails, so avoid it whenever possible. It swells up the nails, causing the multiple layers of keratin to weaken and eventually split, and dries them out as it evaporates, all of which leads to peeling and brittle nails. I use dish gloves for any tasks where I'll have my hands submerged for more than a minute or two. 

3. Watch what you do with your hands, and don't use your nails for prying/scraping/cutting etc...nails should be "jewels, not tools" if you want to keep them in good shape! This is the hardest one for me...my nails are on the thin side to begin with and I'm naturally a bit of a klutz and break nails doing stupid things all the time lol; I'm also single doing all of my own chores and dishes and yardwork, plus I help my sis and parents with some diy projects from time to time, so...I still break some here and there. But paying more attention to what I do with them has helped cut down on that fairly significantly. 

4. Always keep them polished! Layers of polish can help block out water and seal moisture in. Even if you don't have time for a full color mani, a layer or two of base plus a top coat can help keep them in good shape. 

I'm always happy to chat about nail care, so don't hesitate to ask! ❣️

[CynthieLu]

I really appreciate all that info @RGbrown 

I have very thin nails as well,  I have a bit of a natural calcium and iron deficiency, when I miss my vitamins ooh do my nails ever tell the story.  This is very helpful info, I'm going to pick up some jojoba oil next time I see some at the store. It has so many great skin benefits but I had no idea the part it could play in nail care.  

The rest will be harder to work on,  healthy nail habits , that takes time and dedication.  

But alot of this I had never heard before, thank you so much for sharing 💖

Like wearing a base coat to protect your nails daily,  this blew my mind.  I always thought polish with out a break would keep your nail from breathing or something 😅

[RGbrown]

@CynthieLu 

Ahhhhh, that's a huge misconception out there! Nails are dead dead dead...they can't breathe, not even a little. They do get a little bit of moisture from the nail bed below, but for many, it's not nearly enough to replenish what we lose to evaporation and hand washing and daily life in general, so we have to supplement that as best we can and then lock it in! Lots of folks make it through life just fine without polish, but I have found it will never be possible for me to get any growth with nekkid nails...the second I go without polish, I lose at least one nail, if not several. I may get to a point one day where I'm tired of my collection and tired of maintaining pretty manicures, but even then I'm not sure I'll ever allow my nails to be fully naked again, as they are a hot mess when I don't take care of them and keep them covered. 

[Titian06]

Amazing mani, @RGbrown ! 🤩  The colors are gorgeous!  Too bad the turquoise and purple were problems, but it's hard to tell. 🙂  Your color combos are great!  You have such an eye for colors! 🥰

[RGbrown]

@Titian06 

Thanks so much! Honestly, I just tried to make sure each color got used with all the others in order to make as many different combos as possible, and it worked out well! 🌈

[WinglessOne]

@RGbrown  Aw, bummer about the turquoise jelly being problematic. But I'm glad the orange and yellow (and pink) were smooth sailing for you! This looks like a fun set to play with. Your mani looks fantastic!