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

[lilymartin123]

beautiful nails, thanks for sharing your experience.

[gonerogue]

Nail question here: Has anyone tried the press on nails from Betty Cora? Long story short, I have been on a no-acrylics journey for several months now but don't like the upkeep of having to paint my nails every two weeks. I decided that press on nails might be the smart medium but I have never used them before and don't know what to expect in terms of them damaging (or not) my real nails. I purchased about 15 sets of nails this week and will try them on when they arrive next month. Any input on press ons and/or Betty Cora is greatly appreciated 🙂

[Saradestin]

I can’t help you @gonerogue because I have both used that brand or any other press on mail but I can see that you have already received very detailed feedback! 

[sister13]

Hello @gonerogue and @Titian06 ! So, I have never used the Betty Cora, but I have used the Impress press-ons (from Walgreens or Ulta) and I love those! The Impress ones (I'll post a pic from my phone later) have an adhesive already attached to each nail, so you just remove the plastic tab and apply. I have found these do not damage my nails. They usually (some exceptions) stay on about 5-7 days before a couple will usually start to peel off and you can re-apply to those nails. Some will last 2 weeks or more. There is an alcohol swab included, and I'll usually just use the little file to rough my nails up VERY gently before using the alcohol swab and that seems to help them stick nicely. 

What I like about them is: 

• Short length (I think they have longer ones too, but I like the short ones)
• No damage to my nails.
• They don't POP off randomly, just start to raise up at the nail bed, so you generally aren't going to be embarassed by them popping off
• If one does come off (usually with warning that it was getting loose) you can very quickly add a new one - I do often keep the remaining nails in my purse, just in case.
• The shapes fit well for me and I can usually get about two weeks out of one package, having to re-appy some and others staying firmly attached that long.
• When you need to remove them, they aren't impossible to remove. While it would be hard to remove them immediately after application because they do glue on well, once they are starting to loosen, you can run water underneath to help, or just pry them up and the still don't damage your natural nails.
• The only thing I don't like is that sometimes if they are starting to loosen at the nail bed and I don't replace right away - they get stuck in my hair if I'm fixing my hair or whatever. 
• Sometimes I'll wear gloves if I'm doing dishes just to help prolong them. 

I recently tried the Kiss brand, which are actual glue on nails and they were so pretty, but unfortunately, I did realize after they all came off that they caused damage to my nails, with peeling and cracking where the glue was applied.  Not to mention that they were prone to popping off suddenly and without warning, event the first day I applied. With the Impress ones, I know I won't have to worry about them for at least several days, so they're great for weekends, events, etc.  

Anyway, that's a long answer but hope it helps! 

[Titian06]

Thanks so much, @sister13 ! 😘  I knew you could help.  I love the French mani nails.  I know I've said that before.  Seems to me the first time I saw them on you I thought they were real.  I think that's because they aren't outrageously long.

Every time I read "press-on nails," my stupid brain thinks, "Lee Press-on Nails"!  I'm worried that the nails would be too wide for my fingers.  I may eventually give them a try though. 😄

[gonerogue]

@sister13  This was VERY helpful- thank you a bunch! The Impress ones look great on you. The Betty Cora ones come with the glue stickers as well but my fear was that they won't be as effective as the glue and they would pop off. I think I will start with the glue tabs first and then try the nail glue much later on with a different set and compare. After wearing acrylics for a year+, I decided to take a break and let my real nails grow and get stronger. Now that they are in better shape, I want to test press ons.

@Titian06 Thank you for tagging our fellow nail enthusiast so she can give me her thoughts- appreciate you!

[Titian06]

@gonerogue - You are welcome! 😘

[sister13]

Here are the ones I’m wearing now, and the package. These are usually like US $7.99/8.99 US At the drugstore, they go on Buy one get one half off a lot. @Titian06 @gonerogue 

 

 

 

[Titian06]

@gonerogue - @sister13 has used these types of nails (or similar).  Maybe she can provide a thought or two. 😁

[abrar5]

Wow so cute 

[RGbrown]

Shifty purples today ✨💜

From pinky to thumb 

Zoya Andrea: described as a purple to green duochrome, but I don't really see much green most of the time. I see a dark, cool toned purple at most angles that shifts to a brighter pink-leaning plum and to a more steely, perhaps blue-leaning shade. A hint of green shimmer shows up under flash though, so I know it's there lol. Super duper easy two coater, lovely dark purple with a subtle oil slick vibe.

Bees Knees Lacquer It's A F*cking Promise (ETA: oops, mixed 'em up, this is BKL Camp Nightwing): jewel toned purple jelly with gold/green/blue shifting shimmer. Three coats for opacity, but they were easy. 

Black Dahlia Lacquer Mystery 18: very sheer purple jelly with...a little bit of everything? It's got green to blue to purple shifting shimmer, shifting chrome flakies, holo dust, and maybe more that I can't make out individually. This would be an amazing topper too, after one coat I was doubtful that I'd build full opacity. Three coats got me enough distracting shimmer to hide the fact that it's not quite full coverage though. 

Bees Knees Lacquer Camp Nightwing (ETA: oopsie, fixing the name, this is BKL It's A F*cking Promise): bright purple berry jelly loaded with chunky shimmer (or tiny flakies?) that shifts green to blue. Three coater, super easy.

Night Owl My Leg Is Haunted: indigo base with purple to blue to green shimmer. Super easy two coater, though my brush was a little warped (it has the original brush, but it seems this one was a smidge too long for the bottle as it's splayed out all sorts of ways...not sure which component had the manufacturing error). 

I can't begin to pick a fave here, perhaps Camp Nightwing It's A F*cking Promise because I'm fairly entranced with the chunkier shimmer and how different a look it gives, but frankly, all of these are fantastic in one way or another ✨✨

Quote unquote "full sun"...it's gloomy and grey today ☁️

Another angle shows off a little of the color changes

Indirect light coming over my shoulder

More blue, less green with this angle

Hubba hubba, that teal 💙💚 (Night Owl My Leg Is Haunted)

Flash

[Shosh85]

@RGbrown  Wow! Lovin' all the shiftiness - so mesmerizing! 💜 

[RGbrown]

@Shosh85 

Thanks so much! It was such a fun set to watch for shifts ✨

[sister13]

Wow! So pretty! @RGbrown 

[RGbrown]

@sister13 

Thanks so much! 💖💜

[CookieGirl1]

@RGbrown I feel like BKL just excels at creating polishes with interesting shifts!  Love your purples 🙂

[RGbrown]

@CookieGirl1 

BKL does an amazing job with shifty polishes 💖💖

[gonerogue]

There's the @RGbrown  I remember! GORGEOUS nails. You picked a wonderful and fun shade!

[RGbrown]

@gonerogue 

Hey, great to see you in here!  ❣️ Thanks so much! ✨

[Saradestin]

😵😵😵😵😵😵 Wow these are gorgeous @RGbrown! They all seem like different polishes, in each picture, with so many different shifts! I love them all! 

[RGbrown]

@Saradestin 

Thanks so much! They're all amazing! ✨