WARNING: Before you scroll down – it’s not a pretty sight …
Long term readers will know that I cannot grow my nails to save my life. They split, and chip, and crack, and peel – and that’s even before they grow to my finger tips, let alone beyond!
To make it even harder to have a lovely manicure, I found that my flat nails meant that acrylics just didn’t stick, and fell off within days even when professionally applied.
Then I learned that gel nails could be the answer – and in January, I was thrilled to get them for the very first time!
The novelty lasted a good two or three months, but then I got a bit sick of the endless upkeep.
So last month I decide to just let them grow out. Maybe I should have gone to the salon and had them removed by the professionals but …
Anyways, it took some time – it was only last week that I managed to pry the last nail off.
What was left underneath was a very sad sight. I’m adding to the list of Things I Know: that gel obviously isn’t any good for your own nails :-(.
The Aftermath of Gel Nails
I’ve tried to hide the damage as much as I can with nail polish but you can still clearly see it for yourself in the photo below:
<Cue scary music from Jaws> …
Would I get gel nails again? Never say never. But I don’t think it will happen any time soon …
A beauty therapist friend has been telling me about the virtues of shellac so maybe I’ll give that a try instead!
Have you ever had gel nails? How long before you got sick of them and took them off?
It’s Friday, which means it’s time to head over to With Some Grace for #FYBF!
Oh my! That looks a bit scary! I’ve never had gel nails or any other kind of nails done. I prefer to keep my own…I can grow them {since I stopped chewing them about a decade ago} but there are times when I like them short — like when I do indoor rock climbing! 🙂
It was fun while it lasted, but I’m actually looking forward to having my own pathetic short (but not damaged) nails again!
Times like this, I’m glad I avoid nails and polish etc. My own grow ridiculously long (yes… I have pinky finger that gets to around 3cm long before it usually snaps off) and I’m often asked what I do to keep them so healthy.
*sigh* Nothing… except do polish, gel nails or any other option.
Here’s to your nails’ health increasing from here Janet! 😉 xxx
So jealous!
Oh, dear! That doesn’t look healthy! I haven’t tried gel nails but had a friend who swore by them. They seemed a little bit too much upkeeping for me. Shellac’s okay. But if you do it 2 – 3 times in a row, your nails will be quite weak and brittle for a while.
Yeah the upkeep is a pain.
Oh Janet, these look like they could be painful, I hope they grow back healthy. My nails always grow strong, so I don’t bother with others.
Fortunately they’re growing out really quickly!
Oh you poor thing…! I also learnt the hard way the damage acrylic and gel nails can have on your own nails underneath 🙁 I now get shellac on both my fingers and toes and love it! It isn’t as thick unfortunately so my nails still occasionally split and crack at the sides with the shellac…. Good luck!
Thanks Zita – I’m sure I’ll end up trying it but maybe not just yet!
Yes I had a similar experience many moons ago and was put off for life… thanks for reminding me why I swore off it!
Just think of all the money I’ll save now 😉
I had gel nails when I was in the corporate life. The upkeep was expensive!! I used to stretch it out to 4 weekly refills. I loved the look. I had the french polish look. I’m not a fan of nail polish on me. I had them removed when I left work. My nails were AWFUL. Thin…weak…blah! It took about 3 months until the strength returned to my nails. They are ok now but don’t look anywhere near as fab as they did with the gel nails. I don’t know much about shellac – might investigate 😉
I found that if I left the refill any longer than 2 1/2 weeks, they started coming off … lucky me hey …
Ohhhh never never pull them off yourself!!! Ouch!! Yes, Shellac is wonderful and much better than gel or acrylic (which is the WORST). You will still need to have them taken off though – or you could do it yourself but just make sure you use an acetone remover (the acetone free one won’t work) – and it can make your fingers a bit dry, so have lots of moisturiser on hand. Also I would wait a while before you put anything on and just let your nails recover. Use lots of oil (sweet almond) and rub it into your nails and cuticles xxxxx
See, I wondered whether I should have had them taken off by the salon – such a novice at this stuff! Oh well, I know for next time – which will be shellac …
Good luck to you. Don’t be ashamed of short nails – stick to funky dark colours – black/gre/blue and you will look super-chic! These colours look way overdone on longer nails.
I am lucky to never have had any probs with my nails, and as I am super-lazy, would never entertain the idea of fakes. Way too much upkeep. Even so, I keep the short and polished as above. My biggest discovery is that putting on a clear top coat REALLY does make a huge difference in staying power. Who’d a thunk it?
Yeah I think I’ve got the long nail thing out of my system, for a while anyways!
OUCH Janet, that looks sooo sore! Since having my nails done for my wedding my thumb nail on my left hand ALWAYS splits down the middle, bloody painful, and that is 7 years ago, they do damage the nail in the process I reckon. I’m pretty sure I’ll never get them done again x
They must have damaged the nail bed, hey?
Oh no 🙁
I’ve never had real ‘professional’ nails, only the stick on ones years ago. Seeing what they can do kinda turns me off ever having them done!
Although it’s one of them things that makes you feel better about yourself isn’t it… gorgeous nails just seem to lift me up – when they decide to grow no worries and I have polish on them! lol
MC x
#thingsiknow
I know, that’s the thing – I really love having gorgeous nails but the upkeep and aftermath are not as much fun!