Well I never! Finally catching up!

For one thing the bathroom was less than 6 months old!

Why were you so scared, Wilma?

Nandalot I love the idea of 'Frozen' nails - especially on a boy!

Blinko what shade did you buy? I am at our caravan on holiday this week and fancy something new!

One time I was putting polish on my toes with one foot on the loo, I dropped the brush in the loo and it left 2 splashes of a bright tomato red on the side before landing in the water (clean thank goodness ), plus another at the bottom. It did come off with remover and I couldn't see any sign of damage to the porcelain, but it scared the wits out of me so I stopped using the loo for this purpose! One good thing was my DH was out, so he never found out

This thread coincided with one of my sporadic urges to paint my nails (usually unsuccessfully) . Tesco had Barry M and I chose a blue in the gelly range because of the recommendation here. Best ever result. Not perfect but acceptable. GD (4) then wanted 'Frozen' nails followed by a request for same for her twin brother. Nails still okay 2 days later. Hoping won't dry outnailsundereath like the Professional Shellac I had done a couple of times

Manage, not mange. Doh!

Toes are something else, aren't they? I can't recall when I last applied polish to the tootsies, but encouraged by posts here, I had a go. Once I'd decided which helped me balance best, bath or loo, I did mange to apply one coat. Next time I'll try for two...if I don't fall over.

Thanks to everyone who's mentioned Barry M nail polish. I rushed out and bought some a week ago, applied it and lo! it does what it says. Dries (or fries!) in daylight, looks like a gel finish and lasts simply ages. Mine's still going from a week ago. Brilliantissimo!

Doesn't Marian Keyes do that Michelle ? She collects Chanel nail varnish but just gets it out and looks at it. Read that in the Tiimes so it must be true.

I've got loads of bottles of varnish, I see them, love them, buy them, I just never get around to using them!

I love the rose damask colour but feel I live on another planet. I do my nails in the car on the way out. You are all so cool and organised.

Sort of, but very thin so more like cling film and nail shaped. Cheap ones are a bit like fablon, but don't stick on properly so look naff. The ones in the photo are fancy, but look good quality to me. They're quick and easy to apply and you can get plain like regular nail polish or fancy in thousands of designs.

Are they sticky on things... like using fablon.

What are nail wraps, please?!

Nina my middle fingers and big toes have nails that curve much more than the rest and I think it's getting more pronounced. It makes the nails more square than the others. Don't think anyone else would notice though.

When I put polish on them, I sort of paint them to look like the others by not going right up to the edges. Hope that makes sense.

Fingernails are fine Nina but my toe nails are a bit bendy. Odd really as I don't wear shoes a lot of the time so there's little pressure on them.

kate - nice, lovely colour! Looks good with the jewellery too (the bit that I can see).

I've never had long nails, I can't bear the feel of touching something with my nails instead of my fingertip. I used to be fascinated by women who could type with long fingernails. So when I paint my fingernails (which isn't often) , they're short painted nails.

My hands are awful though, spotted and beveined!

Anyone else have a problem with nails curling under ?
I was always proud of my nails. Now I have to keep them short as one past a certain length a few of them curl into the palm or grow twisted

the first fries almost immediately.
Made me viney

Jealous.

My hands look like cows udders with nail varnish.

Feet like a hobbit too.

Am I the only one who thinks coloured nails 'fatten' fingers and toes on 'some' people.?

PS Yes, I think nail wraps are out of fashion now, probably because they became available in shops for a fraction of the price it cost to get them done. I still like them though and look in the pound shop for plain looking ones that I can use if I want nice nails really quickly. Nobody else is any the wiser!

phoenix you're in a good place to start then! Pick a pretty pearl pink that looks almost natural until all your nails are starting to look the same length. The coats of polish and top coat will give body to your nails - then the world's your oyster as they say!

Another fan here of BarryM Gellys - great prices too. I get mine from Superdrug or Tesco for the loyalty points. Actually BarryM has a great reputation for quality amongst nail experts.

The brand started off just doing nail polish for years, but now it does cosmetics too that give good brands a run for their money.

Thanks viney I'll try your barry m idea. I like the look of gel nails but have been put off because I feared that my nails could be damaged in the taking-off process. If this can be removed with normal nail varnish remover I'll give it a go!
I too find that, as soon as my nails look good enough for polish, I break one and the 9 out of 10 look is not a good one. I'll try wilma 's tip too and take all nails down go that recommended length.
Successful nails will be posted but unsuccessful ones will be ignored.
(ps are nail wraps completely passé now?)

If I could even see the top of my nails from the palm side I'd be chuffed!

I was so glad when short nails became fashionable. I could never grow my nails without tearing one making the rest look uneven. Gel nails are the best thing since sliced bread but expensive, so now I often do my own now with my Sensationail kit. I use proper gel polishes or just sandwich a normal polish in between gel base and top coats.

Bearing in mind short nails are fashionable, if anyone struggles to grow their nails try this approach which was recommended to me -

1. File your nails down so that the top of your nail is only just visible when you look at the fingers from the palm side.

2. Paint your nails and remember to use a top coat.

3. Seal the top edge of your nails with the top coat (any excess will wash off).

4. At least every 2nd day add a new coat of top coat.

5. After a week or so, take off the polish and start again.

The layers of polish give strength to your nails and you'll be amazed at how your nails will improve. Be careful about using strengtheners as they will dry out your nails if you continue to use them long term.

A good tip I was given when I didn't know which colours would suit me was to hold the bottle against the back of my hand. Works a treat.

I just slap nail polish on my toenails and then get the excess off in the bath with my exfoliating sponge or gloves!

Hope this helps some peeps!

My toenails are currently a rich shade of chocolate while my fingernails are in a fetching shade of browny/pink called Rose Damask. They're gel polishes and I get them done at local beautician every 2-3 weeks.