Marchbirdy
member
Reged: 02/04/2008
Posts: 40
Loc: Manchester
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Having bitten my nails forever I finally stopped last year by having weekly manicures. The nails look nice with polish on but terrible without (ridges, dry etc.) They constantly break and flake so I am considering having nail extensions but I am completely baffled! The salon I attend does 'nail extensions and infills' I'm not sure what they use. Other salons offer fibreglass, acrylic, reglazing...I am so confused; I just want nice nails all time instead of different lengths through the week because everyday it seems another one breaks! The fibreglass ones are classed as semi-permanent but are really expensive, however, if they last a few weeks it may be worth if if the tops ups aren't too expensive. Also do you think the price of the extensions includes the polish? Which ones last longest? How long does it all take?
Also do they have to go under the ultra violet thingy? There have been reports that they can cause skin cancer.
This time last year all I did was bit them and hid them! I have asked the girl who does my nails at the salon I go to but she's 19, a bit dippy and vague but does a very nice job of the manicures and waxing that I have done.
All advice greatly appreciated! 
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Fluffington
member
Reged: 26/01/2009
Posts: 1890
Loc: London
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Marchbirdy,
I would suggest NOT to have nail extensions. They ruin your nails completely and take a lot of upkeep as well. When they get taken off the nails are weak, dry and look horrible. If your nails are already not in a good way I think this will make them a lot lot worse!
What I would suggest is trying Sally Hansen products. I once got one that was a nail strengthener and it made them grow fantastically.
Obviously it's up to you and the extensions look lovely when they have been done, but after a couple of weeks the nails have grown so there is a gap at the bottom and they need filling in. And it takes a long time for the real nails to get back to normal again!
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Sometimes I pretend to be normal but it gets boring so I go back to being me
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freesia
member
Reged: 01/01/2009
Posts: 1635
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Morning Fluff and Marchbird,
Have to agree with Fluffington on this one.......Sally Hensens products are really good for your nails mine used to break a lot and now they are ok.
False nails.......never tryed ,but have been told how they ruin your nails.
Freesia x
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Vinca
member
Reged: 19/10/2008
Posts: 2435
Loc: Kent
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Morning Marchbirdy, Fluff and Freesia,
Well done Marchbirdy for stopping biting your nails! I had nails like yours, and after many years of trying all sorts of things (inlcuding acrylic and fibreglass nails) a manicurist told me to use cuticle oil on my nails to stop the flaking.
I tried it, and it worked! You put a drop of oil on each cuticle and rub it in at night, just beore you go to bed, and after you have washed your hands for the last time. You have to persevere, using the oil every night for four to five months to allow the oil treated nail to grow right through to the tip, but my nails are now strong and look lovely. I haven't had one flake or peel for years. Now I oil them two or three times a week to keep them healthy.
Good luck!
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Woodentop
member
Reged: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1919
Loc: Not where I want to be
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Morning Marchbirdy and everyone.
Definately dont have extensions, they will with out a doubt make your nails worse.
I agree with the other ladies Sally Hansen products really work, a year or so ago my nails would not stop flaking and braking for some reason, I started using Sally Hanson Miracle Cure, its in a blue bottle with a gold top, and its transformed my nails back to how they used to be, really strong and healthy.
Woodentop
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Loo
member
Reged: 09/01/2008
Posts: 2375
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Well done for stopping the nail biting.
I found that having a manicure left my nails brittle and flaky. so now I go "au naturalle" and can recomend the cuticle oil. Its lovely and smells of almonds.
Loo
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...as in Looby Loo
This is me, with Andy Pandy and Teddy.
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Marchbirdy
member
Reged: 02/04/2008
Posts: 40
Loc: Manchester
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Thanks for your replies! Going natural isn't an option they are really really horrid! The ridges are very thick and they need several coats to cover them. I just thought if they're wrecked anyway why not just go the whole hog! Anyone out there recommend the extensions? I am considering the Sally Hanson stuff but it would have to go under the polish. What cuticle oil do you all recommend? 
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Bizibee
member
Reged: 25/03/2009
Posts: 613
Loc: North Wales
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Marchbirdy - I am with the others on this I'm sorry. Never consider extensions acrylic or otherwise. I would probably suggest going to a better manicurist who will buff your ridges with a special buffer type file. They really do work. Put cuticle cream or oil on every day without fail and massage into your nails and cuticles. I think short well manicured nails are so much nicer than falsies. Acrylics and the like are a bit Waggish if you know what I mean.
Sorry this is not the answer you wanted.
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Jade
member
Reged: 24/04/2008
Posts: 145
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Hi Marchbirdy, I am going to state the opposite of these ladies, although I do agree with your nails being very breakable after having acrylics on.
I had some acrylics applied in March then took them off after a couple of weeks, and I'm having them put on again on Friday for my holiday and sister's wedding. They cost me £50 but the price varies from salon to salon.
I have the french manicure look and I love them, they are so strong and therefore don't break and look so good. So for me there a winner but everyone's different and what ever you prefer you go ahead with.
I don't know anything about any ultra violet, and the oil they give you does help to protect your nails.
I hope this helps, perhaps you should try a different salon for more advice on the types you can get. 
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Mollymandy
member
Reged: 01/08/2008
Posts: 1512
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You can just have gel overlays on your nails, which will smooth out the ridges and then have a pretty nail polish. It certainly stops nibbled nails - I have had mine on for over a year and do not have any problems at all.
The biggest ask is to find a good nail technician - there are a lot of cowgirls out there. Nails Inc in House of Fraser are excellent. Have mine done every 2 - 3 weeks and after years of bitten, brittle nails, they are terrific...
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scottishmags
member
Reged: 24/04/2009
Posts: 1344
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Hi!
I have the worst nails in the world ( But am going to try the cuticle oil recommended - thanks! )
According to several friends, once you have acrylic nails you have to keep them forever. One of my best friends worked out that her nails, with infills etc work out at £10 a week.. that's £500+ a year - for me, not worth it.
Mags
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Marchbirdy
member
Reged: 02/04/2008
Posts: 40
Loc: Manchester
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I'm really enjoying this! I didn't want to know about nails when I was a biter, now I'm really interested in all things naily! What exactly are gel overlays? Do they dry the nail the same as acrylics? I have bought some Sally Hanson Miracle Cure but having spoken to my sons' girlfriends they are urging me to go for acrylics - they swear by them, sometimes they have them and some times they go natural and their natural nails are lovely - but they are only 22! I really appreciate all the advice so thank you all very much!
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JanieM
member
Reged: 31/08/2006
Posts: 302
Loc: Oxfordshire
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I used Jessica Fusion on mine, which had a tendency to peel - applying two coats with lots of strokes as instructed. It did work and now I use a different basecoat. You can use Fusion alone or under a colour. Jessica stuff is expensive but cheaper on-line at Feel Unique. No P & P charges and no minimum spend. It's a good site for lots of other products too.
http://www.feelunique.com/
Jane x
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Jane X
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Mollymandy
member
Reged: 01/08/2008
Posts: 1512
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Its relative really : £10 a week, if you want to feel proud of having pretty nails, is a lot less than cigarettes or a couple of bottles of wine - both of which are bad for you!
I am not 22 - more like 62! You don't need to have a French manicure - I generally have mine a very pretty pale natural pink, or occasionally dark red.... for special occasions...
http://www.gelisy.com/gel-nails.htm
http://www.nailsinc.com/services
Nails Inc 3 week manicure is not damaging to nails and looks really natural... not sure where you live, but they are in most big towns or department stores.
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ANNIE132
member
Reged: 12/02/2009
Posts: 66
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Have any of you ladies tried Calgel? I started having this done last Dec (supposedly just for Christmas) and got hooked, its a product that comes in many colour but because its porous it lets air in and dosnt harm your natural nails like acrylics. This usually lasts 3 to 4 weeks and I have tried lots of colours now, in fact have my colour chart marked out for rest of year! Its fab having nice nails and they feel really strong and also guaranteed not to chip, you do have to have them done in a salon and after initial treatment which costs £35 its £20 every time you go......hope this helps
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Marchbirdy
member
Reged: 02/04/2008
Posts: 40
Loc: Manchester
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The calgel sounds fab, I'll definitely look that up. Where did you have it done? I live in Manchester so hopefully somewhere will do it. Thank you to everyone for all your advice! 
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RunGirl
member
Reged: 11/01/2008
Posts: 1342
Loc: South East London
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I don't know the correct technical terms but I have acrylic tips and they then paste over the rest of the nails with a sort of paste - I guess that is acrylic nails! I have infills about every 3 weeks and a new set from time to time. Overall cost is about £6/7 per week. For me it's worth it as they always look nice - they make a good job of painting them and I never need to repaint them in between. I usually go for neutral colours so my nails look natural.
Have occasionally had them taken off and agree it takes a bit of time for the nails to recover, although I think that is partly because I get used to how hard the artificial nails are and real nails feel so soft.
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ANNIE132
member
Reged: 12/02/2009
Posts: 66
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I live outside Edinburgh so have my nails done in West Lothian but if you type calgel into Google you will be able to read all about it, I'm quite sure you will be able to have it done in Manchester, let me know how you get on...
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issi
member
Reged: 30/09/2007
Posts: 3746
Loc: London
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After years and years of weak nails I have finally got lovely manicured nails. On this forum one member recommended Dr Lewinn's nail strengthener. It has taken about three months but the difference is amazing. You put the strengthener on, 2 coats and not on the cuticle area, the first day. Then for the next five days you add a coat and on the 7th day you take it all off and start again. It gives a lovely gloss to your nails. Do this for three weeks and stop for a week. Meanwhile, rub a little of the nail oil in your cuticle area ever day. At first I found I had breakages and splits, but eventually that stopped and even when short the nails looked nice and became easy to manicure.
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scottishmags
member
Reged: 24/04/2009
Posts: 1344
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That sounds good issi will try it.. is it easy to get hold of?
Mags
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