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

[Saradestin]

How pretty @leslie319 ! 😍

[Titian06]

Very pretty, @leslie319 !  Coral is a fave color!

[itsfi]

Oh wow @leslie319; your coral ombre is beautiful! 😍 I'm going to research Japanese gel nails when I get home from work tonight. They look great! 

[leslie319]

Thanks! I was told Japanese gel lasts longer than other gel (4-6 weeks), and because of that, it’s a little more expensive. It’s been 2 weeks so far and they still look good (no chipping), so we’ll see! 

[CookieGirl1]

@leslie319 those look so cute!

[RGbrown]

Cirque's BF sale is live, 20% off plus a 5pc mini set at $80, code bfcm20

The gwp glitches though, once you have your cart over $80 and add it, you can take stuff back out but the gwp will stick 😉

Free ship at $50, otherwise it seems to be $7

Gonna have to debate a bit and maybe work up a real cart instead of just a test, might pick up a small order. I keep thinking I'm done with Cirque and then they release more jellies I want (and that bar glitter topper!!)🤦‍♀️🤔

 

[desibg]

 

My lavender nails 💅 my fav colour 😘

[Saradestin]

Stunning @desibg!! 😍 

[itsfi]

@desibg, I love how your lavender polish has both a soft and vibrant effect to it; very pretty! 💜

[CorgiMommy]

@desibg beautiful 

[ather]

@desibg  This colour is gorgeous!

[Samtian]

@desibg Ooh stunning!

[CynthieLu]

@desibg This purple 😍 it's fantastic on you!

[desibg]

Thank you very much ☺️

[RGbrown]

@desibg 

That color looks fantastic on you! 💜💜

[Titian06]

Gorgeous color, @desibg ! 💜😍💜

[desibg]

Thank you ☺️ 

[desibg]

Bought it in Europe the brand is Golden Rose colour Lavender. Saw same same colour in Target Sally Hansen ☺️🥹

[JoSometimes]

Such a pretty colour @desibg! What polish is that, if you don’t mind my asking?

[CynthieLu]

✨ Asking for opinions ✨

My nails are sooo short and hard to grow but my work just approved getting salon done artificial nails.

I'm wondering about some Pros and Cons of getting Acrylic/Gel nails?

I think being able too paint lovely long nailed manicures is such a thrill and I'd  love too have long nails.

I read I can paint them, as long as I use a acetone free polish remover. 

Any thoughts, cautions etc... I'm seriously considering getting them. 🧐

[RGbrown]

@CynthieLu 

I think the biggest concern is finding the right tech; I wouldn't recommend heading over to the nearest cheap salon and going with whatever newbie they stick you with. IG is great for finding local talent, search terms like "your city nail tech" and "your city nails" and "your city nail salon", then do a good bit of scrolling through their work to get a feel for what their strengths are and if their work lines up with your vision. Be picky! Look for clean cuticles and sidewalls, a nicely balanced apex, and that they aren't too thick overall. Badly done gel or acrylic is a health hazard in many regards, anywhere from infection risk from nicking your cuticles, to lifting nails allowing cooties in, to breaks due to a bad or no apex, or even a lifelong acrylate allergy.

Their art skills may not matter as much if you are keeping them fairly basic to paint yourself, so don't let that be a distraction while browsing lol.

Gel and acrylic have the same prep process, and removal is similar as well, so neither is better than the other in that regard. Prep and removal is where the biggest risk of damage comes into play though, so it's important to find a tech that does it right. A light filing of the surface before application is necessary for the best adhesion, but they absolutely should not be going ham with the e-file and thinning the nail significantly. 

Removal...if you are just doing an overlay, removal might not really be all that necessary, not every time at least, as you can just get a fill in as your nails grow, but for proper removal, your tech should file off the bulk of the topcoat and product, leaving a thin layer to soak off with acetone. They should not file down to the bare nails or try to rip/peel it off (I've heard of it happening 😯).

My own personal opinion is not to go too wild with length...it can be a bit disorienting to suddenly have long nails, perhaps to a point of frustration for some. An overlay or short extension for now will give you nice strength to grow your own length naturally. 

And one caution: if you notice that any are lifting, whether at the cuticle or the tip, get them removed and replaced asap...tiny crevices for moisture to hide can lead to "greenies" (bacterial infection) or all sorts of fungus issues. 

BTW, gel is a broad category. There's gel polish, which is basically just color, and while it's stronger and lasts longer than regular polish, it must be removed instead of filled in and is not really meant for long term growth like you're trying to do...removing and replacing it continually won't do anything good for your underlying nail health. You'd want to find a tech that has experience with something like builder gel (sometimes called BIAB, or builder in a bottle), poly gel, or even hard gel (hard gel can't be soaked off...if you ever get tired of it, it'll have to be filed down to a thin layer and then you can grow it out). Or acrylic would work too. Different techs will have different categories of these that they are most familiar and comfortable with, and talking to them about what they use and what they feel is best for your particular use case can help you narrow down your choices. 

Bottom line: while I do believe gel and acrylic can be dangerous in untrained hands, a good tech with proper training and equipment can be worth their weight in gold. Find one you love and go for it!