No More Nails.

I don't have any problem with my nails, however they grow very quickly, maybe I'm eating too much cheese, also take vitamins d daily.
Although I've stopped having my hair coloured since first lockdown, am thinking of trying a home shampoo-in colour for DS2's marriage ceremony in June.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I've never had gel nails so I don't think I've missed out. I don't think they would last long anyway. I still wash up at the sink and muck out my animals, so a good nail brush and the odd nail strengthening cream does the trick. I believe your nails 'breathe' and gels and polishes block them, causing damage.

I have had my hair trimmed (I decided to try to keep it a bit longer than it used to be), had my usual chiropody treatment, and had my eyebrows waxed and tinted. No more pampering for me until my next appointment with all three experts. Nails never get a look in - my hands work too hard to be precious about my nails.

I have not had my hair highted and now fighting the battle to go completely grey and like it. It is not me in the mirror I have always been blonde and DGD screamed when she saw me on facetime. DH says stick it out I would have had to do it sometime and he seems to quite like it!!!!! I should add he still has a head full of curly black hair.

Everything I do to adorn myself is to please myself. I do get bored with all the sanctimonious posts making sweeping judgements about those who do it. No, that is wrong. I am sure the people who do that would immediately assure me that everything they say and do is totally non-judgemental.

Well, nothing I do to myself is because I have given in the the oppression of society on how women dress. I adorn myseld to please myself and will continue to do so until I die, or do I mean dye?

Great post M0nica.

I agree Monica.

I love the look of well manicured and gelled nails but somehow they don’t feel comfortable on me. I’ve had them a couple of times and love the look, but revert to my short gardening nails and some nail varnish for special events. Having my hair cut is essential for me - my short and shaped hair needs a firm hand from a professional regularly. My other luxuries which I have really missed are waxing (hair removal creams just aren’t the same!) and a massage - both booked for Thursday assuming I can get rid of my runny nose and cold!
I think we all do what feels good for us - I have friends who spend loads on beauty treatments and those who spend a minimal - it’s what makes you feel happy and comfortable that matters and it’s not appropriate to be unkind about those with different opinions.

Yes, I too have given up gel nails! Having had them done for over 20 years. It’s not just the time of having them done but the 30-40 journey each way. I feel liberated!

The only times I've bothered varnishing my nails, I've immediately dinged them on something and ruined it all. I spend far too much time with my fingers delved in compost to bother with colour, gel or otherwise. But I'm lucky to have good shaped nails and just keeping them clean is enough attention for them!

I considered not having my gel nails redone. I have been having them done for around 20 years. Yes, as others have commented my own nails have suffered badly. However, had them done on Saturday and I’m delighted!

Yes don’t highlight my hair anymore, my natural white hair looks better so people tell me. Saving a fortune!

Try folic acid to strengthen your nails. It certainly helped mine not overnight obviously but in about 4 months.

I prefer my nails short, and often had gel nail polish. But, like BigBertha I won't be having it done in future. I like my nails as nature intended now, and they are in better condition. I can't wait to have my eyebrows shaped and tinted though - they make a frame for the face, and mine are non existent without a tint. I also won't be having so many expensive hairdressing sessions now - 'hair has grown to shoulder length and I really like it. Day one it is smooth and straight, day two it goes up in a clip, day three washed again. So much simpler than struggling with heated tongs, and my hair is as healthy as my nails. At least that's a good outcome from Covid.

To oops a daisy, I have a problem too with flaking nails ( ruined through gardening) but if I take Perfectil, I can see the improvement after a week. I recommend it.

Another one not having a manicure or pedicure anymore, purely due to the money I saved and my nails being in better condition. I keep them short and shaped and they look nice now.
I will add I still had my hair done and it felt so good.

No nails for me.purely as I don’t like the
feeling of them . But I do like my eyebrows threaded and dyed at that glamorous place at back aisle of Superdrug. Husband has been root touching up my hair and I’m giving him the job in future as he’s cheap and doesn’t want to chat. I just have a packet of hairdresser biscuits on hand and he is good to go. Those Lotus little thin biscuits for authenticity !

As a one time classical guitar performer, nails were always my highest priority!

Right hand: long and beautifully shaped. I found what is known as a squoval was best. The tips had to be perfectly smooth - no nail files, but an abrasive wet-and-dry paper of around 400-600 grade seemed to be best,

Left hand: as short as comfortably possible to enable good contact with guitar strings, and no extra buzzes caused by a fingernail hitting the fingerboard before the string did!!

Both hands: absolutely NO nail varnish or gel as it affects the condition and strength of nails, and ultimately the tone. The fact that, like Marilyn Munro, I have always found wearing nail varnish is painful, is beside the point! And, yes, I do know some guitarists use false nails, particularly in an emergency!!

Sadly, those days are gone. In 2015 I had a bad fall and broke my left wrist. Arthritis set in, and now I have difficulty strumming basic chords, never mind the intricacies of attempting to emulate Julian Bream! So I have acquired an allotment, and am having a wonderful time growing fruit and veg, and wrecking my nails in the process!!

PS. No More Nails is great. I put up a blind at my kitchen window nearly 5 years ago using it as it was a difficult reach. It is still holding strong!

No More Nails is probably holding my flat up, lol, I've used it for curtain rails, net rods, just about everything that needs sticking.

I visit my state registered chiropodist once a month as I have ingrowing toenails that need to be dug out. The last visit required a local anaesthetic as it had become infected after a growth spurt.

That's about as far as I go in terms of letting anyone do anything to my nails.

silvercollie

Totally beyond me why women prance about with artificial nails. What is their Agenda? Perhaps 'I don't do housework or any other sort of work.'?

And of course one's natural nails will wither etc. - they cannot 'breathe'. Ditto toe nails.

A natural pair of hands, beautifully presented cannot be beaten.

Some of us have really bad nails. I’ve been told by a medic that this is just bad luck nothing to do with vitamins oils moisture etc so having a manicure with shellac polish (not false nails) which lasts a couple of weeks is a treat. I shall have one as soon as I can get an appointment!

I used to love gel nails but sadly made my natural nails go very thin like paper, stopped using this several years ago my nails much better and paint them myself

Would always have brows done professionally though, and dye my hair myself would never give either of those up

If it was constant over 4 years, then you may have damaged your own nails - do not take my word for it as I'm only guessing as I'd assume you'd need breaks either in between new and old or at least every few applications!
I'm not having a go at you, but I'm assuming the nail techs would have warned you of this. Just as someone who constantly has a face covered in makeup might complain of spots, because they're not allowing their face time to breathe!
But, on the plus side, think of the extra money you now have to spend on something else you like each month!! ??

It was £20 before lockdown and now £35! So I’ve bought all the bits and I do them myself. They last just as well and I now do it for a couple of friends as well!

I have gel nails but I have never ‘ pranced’ also do lots of housework, mine and my mum’s , and garden and do the allotment. And they still look good for 3/4 weeks