If you do your own nails....

ldg

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...how long before they need to be redone or just clean the polish off?

I've never been much of a nail-polish on my fingers kind of person, but I try every once in a while. I wear polish on my toes pretty much all the time - but when I try to put polish on my fingernails, it always looks like crap within a day or two. It just seems like so much work! If I don't ruin them before they dry, they're chipped or wearing off at the tips so fast. Am I just a fingernail polish spaz or something?


Laurie
 

yosemite

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When I had long, beautiful nails, I used to do them at least every second night if not every night. I did that to coordinate my nail colour to my outfit for the next day. I did that for years and years and made the time each night. My nails were truly beautiful and the envy of all my friends (and enemies as well
). Make that time for yourself every day and soon it will be a beautiful habit.
 
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ldg

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Originally Posted by Yosemite

When I had long, beautiful nails, I used to do them at least every second night if not every night. I did that to coordinate my nail colour to my outfit for the next day. I did that for years and years and made the time each night. My nails were truly beautiful and the envy of all my friends (and enemies as well
). Make that time for yourself every day and soon it will be a beautiful habit.
Oh my goodness - that is quite the commitment! Perhaps my problem is that I type (write) for a living, and maybe that's why the tips wear off so quickly? But I have no plans to dedicate that kind of time to my nails.


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lil maggie

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Originally Posted by LDG

Oh my goodness - that is quite the commitment! Perhaps my problem is that I type (write) for a living, and maybe that's why the tips wear off so quickly? But I have no plans to dedicate that kind of time to my nails.


Laurie

I can understand not wanting to put all that time into fingernail polishing since you type so much. I don't paint mine unless I'm going out somewhere special because my hands are usually in bleach, detergents or dirt (gardening).

At least you have pretty painted toes since you don't over work those by typing .... or I could be wrong. Now there's a mental picture
 

valanhb

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I haven't done my nails in years, literally, but I have the same spastic nails when it comes to nail polish as you do. One tip I learned is to put a thin layer of clear/top coat on first (it's the thicker first layer that causes the chipping), then your polish (1-2 layers, depending on the color), then finish with a top coat. The top coat is so you wear that off before the color so it doesn't fade as fast from the tips. The key to making it last more than a day or two is thin coats.
 
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ldg

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I haven't used a thin base coat before - I usually use that "ridge filler" stuff. And I have used a top coat - but the "thin layers" thing makes sense to me. That said... Maybe I'll try just the thin layer of top coat first (skip the ridge filler)... and I wonder if I should try two coats of "top coat" on the top (more to wear down?). But I love the "thin layers" tip!

And lil maggie - you had me almost laughing my drink out my nose! I try to be careful when it comes to drinking anything and reading threads at TCS - but I did NOT see that one coming! Now that would be a talent!
(For someone who HAS all their fingers and not forced to use their toes.
). Thanks for the laugh!


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weldrwomn

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Originally Posted by valanhb

I haven't done my nails in years, literally, but I have the same spastic nails when it comes to nail polish as you do. One tip I learned is to put a thin layer of clear/top coat on first (it's the thicker first layer that causes the chipping), then your polish (1-2 layers, depending on the color), then finish with a top coat. The top coat is so you wear that off before the color so it doesn't fade as fast from the tips. The key to making it last more than a day or two is thin coats.
This is pretty much what I do. I weld, but my nail polish usually lasts 4-5 days. The other thing is to get rid of really old polish because it won't dry properly.
 

-_aj_-

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i go through stages of letting my nails getting lovely long nails then ill bite them off


but i always use a hardner then a base coat then normally 2 to 3 layers of colour then a top coat, i used to use these ones that dont chip or last 7 days but unless you do a job that you dont need your hands for then they dont work that well
I used to paint mine every other night. after removing the nail polish you can do your nails pretty much straight away just give your hands a quick wash with warm soapy water and then a bit moisturiser for your cuticles

im using false nails at the moment so that my nails grow underneath them so i can start painting them.
 

trouts mom

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I usually do mine once a week. On the weekend when I am watching tv, I will buff and file them at the same time...then polish them. Same with my toenails
 

twstychik

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I'm terrible about changing polish so I usually don't bother. Basically, if I do paint them, they start to wear off in less than a week and instead of removing it I just let it wear off entirely. What I do like using (if I have time) are those new polishing files. It's usually a box shaped nail file that has 4 different sides and as you work your way to the finest grain it actually buffs and polishes your nails. They end up so shiny it looks like you have clear coat on anyway.
 

natalie_ca

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Originally Posted by LDG

...how long before they need to be redone or just clean the polish off?
Depends on how your polish looks. If it's chipping or peeling, or scratched etc.

When you do remove the polish though, make sure you use an acetone free polish. It's less drying on the nails. Polish tends to dry out the nails anyway, but adding acetone polish remover promotes even more dry nails.

Always apply a good base coat to the nail before adding polish. That will prevent the nail from picking up and soaking in the colour of the polish and becoming discoloured. Also make sure each coat is 100% dry before applying another coat over the top. Add a good top coat to finish things off.

Also, if you find that all of your nails look ok and then in a day or two you accidentally scratch the polish on one, or it has smeared, instead of removing the polish from that nail completely lightly moisten a cotton ball with nail polish remover and go over the top of the smudged area lightly to kind blend in the smudge/scratch. Apply a thin layer of polish to the top and another layer of top coat.

If you have your hands in water, or swim, the chlorine from the water will cause your polish to deteriorate and you will have to redo your nails more often. So don't go swimming after a manicure if you expect to be able to keep that manicure longer than a day or two
 

yosemite

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Originally Posted by LDG

Oh my goodness - that is quite the commitment! Perhaps my problem is that I type (write) for a living, and maybe that's why the tips wear off so quickly? But I have no plans to dedicate that kind of time to my nails.


Laurie
I also type for a living and have done so for 40+ years. Even with long nails my typing speed was/is well over 100 wpm so that's no excuse my girl!

A base coat is a must as Linda said so your nails do not discolour, especially if you are wearing deep colours. Top coat is also a must IMO. I usually put 2-3 coats of colour in between. Now for a secret! The best nail polish I ever used was Avon. It stayed on longer and looked better after a few days than any other.

Originally Posted by WELDRWOMN

This is pretty much what I do. I weld, but my nail polish usually lasts 4-5 days. The other thing is to get rid of really old polish because it won't dry properly.
If you use the proper thinning liquid for nail polish (definitely do NOT use nail polish remover), then your nail polish will last, be useable and dry just as quickly as when it was new. I had mega-colours and one bottle of the proper thinner would last me for 2-3 years or more. The one I used was from Revlon and was wonderful stuff.
 

twstychik

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I have a related question. I always read that you should only file your nails in one direction... why is that? Also, is it ok to do it in single strokes but two directions? ie: Start on the outside and stroke toward the center on both sides. I find it ackward to file from the center out which I end up doing if I only go in one direction. I do not go back and forth though like I'm sawing.
 

yosemite

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Originally Posted by twstychik

I have a related question. I always read that you should only file your nails in one direction... why is that? Also, is it ok to do it in single strokes but two directions? ie: Start on the outside and stroke toward the center on both sides. I find it ackward to file from the center out which I end up doing if I only go in one direction. I do not go back and forth though like I'm sawing.
I also was told to only file in one direction and that direction is from the back to the front, i.e., start on the side and stroke toward the centre as you said above. The only answer I can give you as to "why", is that I was told that to file back and forth or from the centre out that it will cause the nail to be more susceptible to breaking. Sawing is a bad thing as you seem to already know.
 
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ldg

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I have another related question.
Whenever my MIL visits, when she does anything - wash her hair, wash the dishes - she puts on gloves. I never asked her why, but I assumed it was to protect her skin from the drying from hot water. Now I'm wondering if part of it is to protect her nails ...and while that's a great practice, I tried putting on gloves to wash the dishes, and it's just so uncomfortable.

For those of you that do wear nail polish, do you wear gloves when you wash the dishes? Does it help extend the life of the polish? Or is that only to protect skin from hot water?


Laurie
 
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ldg

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Originally Posted by Yosemite

I also type for a living and have done so for 40+ years. Even with long nails my typing speed was/is well over 100 wpm so that's no excuse my girl!
It wasn't an excuse - I was just wondering if all the typing is why the color seems to wear of the tops of the nails so fast, because that's my biggest problem with polish
- if it even makes it to getting dry - THAT is my biggest problem. I'd say about 90% of the time that I even try to put on polish, I end up removing it all before it's dry because I keep ruining nails - and once I've redone three of them, I quit.


My excuse is that I SO have no desire to spend an hour or two every night or every other night on my nails!
OK - for a while, maybe some time every three-four days, or once a week.... which is why I was wondering if that's even possible or if I'm just a spaz!


Laurie
 

twstychik

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Your just a spaz!
(joking!) I'm the same way though... mine always get messed up before they are dry OR I screw up the second coat and after redoing a few of them I get fed up and quit.

As for dish gloves I use them to protect my skin both from drying out and burning. I can use full hot water with gloves.
 

yosemite

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Originally Posted by LDG

I have another related question.
Whenever my MIL visits, when she does anything - wash her hair, wash the dishes - she puts on gloves. I never asked her why, but I assumed it was to protect her skin from the drying from hot water. Now I'm wondering if part of it is to protect her nails ...and while that's a great practice, I tried putting on gloves to wash the dishes, and it's just so uncomfortable.

For those of you that do wear nail polish, do you wear gloves when you wash the dishes? Does it help extend the life of the polish? Or is that only to protect skin from hot water?


Laurie
I have never used gloves for cleaning or washing dishes in my life. I've only started really using hand lotion on a partially regular basis in the last year so I can't relate to that.

Originally Posted by LDG

It wasn't an excuse - I was just wondering if all the typing is why the color seems to wear of the tops of the nails so fast, because that's my biggest problem with polish
- if it even makes it to getting dry - THAT is my biggest problem. I'd say about 90% of the time that I even try to put on polish, I end up removing it all before it's dry because I keep ruining nails - and once I've redone three of them, I quit.


My excuse is that I SO have no desire to spend an hour or two every night or every other night on my nails!
OK - for a while, maybe some time every three-four days, or once a week.... which is why I was wondering if that's even possible or if I'm just a spaz!


Laurie
When I was colouring my hair many years ago, I used to treat myself to a manicure every 6 weeks when I had my hair done. The manicurist always put colour over the end of my nail (which naturally sort of went a bit under the nail as well. I also do that and it seems to help keep the polish on the tips.

Also, once you get into your routine, you'll only need 1/2 hour or less a night for you and your nails. There are some wonderful quick dry products out there which I love because I have zero patience to wait for nail polish to dry.
 
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ldg

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Ooooo - quick dry! I LOVE the sound of that!


Laurie


...and yeah, I really think it's partially that I'm a spaz!
 
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