Beauty

[juperier]

@TX-starlight

Honestly, a lot of it is trial and error due to each of us having a different body chemistry. I so seldome wear mainstream/drugstore polishes that I really don't have enough experience with them to even comment on brands. However, there are many brands that work well for many users. I'm sure others will have lots of suggestions.

Many things affect how long a manicure lasts. A big one is body chemistry. The key is finding the base coat, top coat and brand(s) of polish that work best on your nails. Nail prep and application technique also play a role. Make sure your nails haven't recently been exposed to water and remove any surface oil with pure acetone or high percentage isopropyl alcohol  Some finishes and/or colors tend to not hold up as well. Also, neutral colors that blend with your skintone make wear and/or chipping less noticeable.

[PilatesLover]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this discussion.  I've recently rediscovered the joys of a nice manicure after many years.

I got a professional manicure a few weeks ago because I had to give a presentation. I was practicing, and  realized how awful my nails looked, especially the cuticles. They were so bad that the first mani was no match for them! Since them I've been massaging them every night with vitamin E and am starting to see progress.

I went to Sally's and got OPI Infinite Shine ProStay Primer. I mistakenly thought that was a base coat. Also got a China Glaze in a neutral sandy color. 

Hopefully I can stick with it and find the right products. I had an awful time getting the polish on, forgot how to do it!

[gacat123]

@juperier  

Cleaning out paper shredder with your nails?  OMG!  Not a Good Thing!  EEK!

What tool can you use besides your precioius nails?    Pointy Metal Nail File?  

Pointy Steak Knife?  Knitting Needle?   Teeny Tiny Screw Driver?  Old Toothbrush?  

Keep Calm and Polish On,  CAT

[gacat123]

@PilatesLover 

Welcome !!    I like  the neutral polish colors you describe.

Sally Beauty Supply  has some very good manicure options to consider.    

I have heard good things about VITE-E on cuticles.  

Keep Calm and Polish On, 

CAT

[juperier]

@gacat123

I know, not the best thing to do. But I'm mostly just pulling out stuck little shreds of paper. Tweezers might work...definitely need something that I can grab onto and pull paper loose. I'm careful, but I do still end up removing polish here and  along the tips of my nails.

[lulu1]

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@TX-starlight wrote:

@lulu1 Very pretty! I've been debating on a shade of turq. 

I came here to ask, what's the best nail polish (inexpensive) that resists chipping?? I have nice nails & do them myself. I mainly use Sally Hansen or Opi. Last night I used a base coat, as well as top coat. Today, after hardly doing anything, the edges are already showing wear. TIA!

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@lulu2

I guess I'm pretty lucky as I do not get much chipping. 

If I'm using regular polish, as a base coat I usually use Orly Bonder and Orly Sec N Dry as the top coat.  Often times base and/or top coat will come with polish bundles.  At times I use butter LONDON, Essie, Opi, Zoya, China Glaze, Orly, Julep base and top coats.

I've had luck with CND Vinylux for staying power.  You use no base coat just their polish and their top coat.

Generally I only buy polish when there are specials, (Zoya site, HSN) or discount polish sites, as well as EBAY.

[TX-starlight]

@lulu1 Tks, this wk I tried something different. I usually only use 2 coats of polish. This wk, 1 coat of base, 3 costs color, 1 top coat. It has stayed much better.

[gacat123]

@juperier and All Y'all, 

Paper/Nail  Shredders?  OMG!   Be Careful Out There!  <G>

I have a very sharp Box style Grater I have to be very careful with.  

That thing has been known to cause damage to my finger tips and nails.  

When I am opening a pop top ring I take a moment and grab a spoon to lift/open it instead of using my thumb nail like a tool.

Keep Calm and Polish On,  CAT

[juperier]

@gacat123

Actually, while the paper shredder blades are definitely sharp and pointy, they're so short that they really can't do much damage as long as one pulls out the stuck paper slowly and carefully. I can't remember ever even breaking skin, just scraping little bits of polish (and maybe the thinnest layer of nail surface). Now shredders and potato peelers, that's a different story! Those can do some major damage!

[PilatesLover]

@gacat123 thank you for the welcome!

I hit Sally's and got a spoon cuticle pusher. It says it is for "pterygium removal," never heard that word before. I looked it up and it means "swimmer's eye."  Huh? I also got a package of very thin orange sticks which I remember from my teen nail frenzy years.

Anyway, the spoon part made Saturday's manicure much simpler. They are pretty short already, so I just filed a little and focused on developing a more oval shape. I saw on Youtube that the nails should not be clipped too close at the sides, it causes hangnails. Which I had in abundance.  

I did not polish; instead I've been massaging the nails and cuticles with lots of Vit. E and gently using the orange stick on them. God they're dry! But, they're getting more presentable.