"Nail" me!

[DMW]

Ok...my dirty mind. please forgive...i see...femmezone...Nail me...and all i can think is...Ok. can i?

[Medusa]

Had my nails done today! LOVE the new color I'm trying - It's OPI "Lincoln Park After Dark" and is a delicious shade of vampirella bloody-black. It's almost a cigar color.

I found an example out on the interwebz:



Needless to say, LOVE the Fall/Winter colors! Deep reds, dark mahoganies, plums, even blacks and grays!!

[Bèsame*]

I just painted mine, Black Cherry Chutney, OPI.

I love fall colors!

[Medusa]

Originally Posted by Uniqueswtfemm

I just painted mine, Black Cherry Chutney, OPI.

I love fall colors!

NICE! I love that color and LOVE the shimmer! I'll have to look for that the next time I go get mine done

[fatallyblonde]

there's already been plenty of great advice here so I don't really need to add to it except to say if you want instant glam talons... or even just durable, pretty nails... consider acrylics or gel nails... I have two inch long talons and I love them... I am all about nail art... the next level of accessorising... you can see my work at getnailedau.tumblr.com ... acrylics and gels are strong and tough and you can custom size and shape them easily... so good!

[Medusa]

I might be having a bit of shock.

I cut my nails down last night after wearing them super-duper long for the last couple of years. (like, close to an inch long at times)
I wanted to give my nails some time to rest before I start up with the overlays again so, for now, it's going to be all about shape and nourishing and painting them all sorts of fun colors.

*sigh* My nails grow fast so it won't be long before they are talons again but needless to say... HUGE change.

[girl_dee]

i am SO overdue for a Pedi... and i may actually get a mani for the first time in about 10 years .....one day.. maybe...

[dark_crystal]

My nails grow fast, long, and strong but any nail polish i put on makes them brittle (and also gets extremely chipped before i can ever find time to touch it up.)

My solution is this:



The cream is KEY!!! If you get the buffing cream and use it with a chamois buffer, your nails literally look like you're wearing several coats a clear top coat

And it needs zero drying time

Kind of a lot of elbow grease though

[Chained Daisy]

Originally Posted by Medusa

I might be having a bit of shock.

I cut my nails down last night after wearing them super-duper long for the last couple of years. (like, close to an inch long at times)
I wanted to give my nails some time to rest before I start up with the overlays again so, for now, it's going to be all about shape and nourishing and painting them all sorts of fun colors.

*sigh* My nails grow fast so it won't be long before they are talons again but needless to say... HUGE change.

I cut mine down the other day too because they were actually starting to hurt, a lot of sensitivity under the nail and as soon as they were cut back they were comfortable again. I`m far more adventurous with colours when my nails are shorter.

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Medusa

I might be having a bit of shock.

I cut my nails down last night after wearing them super-duper long for the last couple of years. (like, close to an inch long at times)
I wanted to give my nails some time to rest before I start up with the overlays again so, for now, it's going to be all about shape and nourishing and painting them all sorts of fun colors.

*sigh* My nails grow fast so it won't be long before they are talons again but needless to say... HUGE change.

Originally Posted by girl_dee

i am SO overdue for a Pedi... and i may actually get a mani for the first time in about 10 years .....one day.. maybe...

If the two of you are up for something new....at least to me....maybe consider trying the dip powder nails.

I also cut my nails really short...and they also grow super fast so it won't be long before I'll be doing this again....but I just got a new type of mani with the dipping powder and it was unusual. So far, it's got PERFECT coverage...no missed cracks or crevices and it's smooth as a baby's bottom. Nice and shiny too. The color I chose is like a greenish ocean color and it has a little sparkle to it, which I love. Supposedly, these will last as long as, if not longer, than typical gel fills. Also, it's much better for the environment and they apply vitamin enriched sealants to the nail so it's better for your nails too. Here are the benefits.

The 'air dry' is, literally, 5 minutes and it's bone dry.

It's only a smidge more than my usual mani too.

The ONLY thing I have to say that isn't all 'hip hop hooray' about it is that sometimes, when I push against the side of my nails, it feels a little like a gel that's loosening its bond. Not bad, per se, as all seems well. Just a little weird. I feel like the kid who is pushing on the back of her loose tooth from time to time but the mani is holding up very well so far and it's been several days since I had it done.

NuGenesis Dip Powder Nails

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Chained Daisy

I cut mine down the other day too because they were actually starting to hurt, a lot of sensitivity under the nail and as soon as they were cut back they were comfortable again. I`m far more adventurous with colours when my nails are shorter.

You too, Daisy, if the dipping powder manis are offered where you are.

[Chained Daisy]

Originally Posted by Gemme

You too, Daisy, if the dipping powder manis are offered where you are.

I have never heard of this....I am so old fashioned ! I will check it out Gemme, thanks for sharing.

[Esme nha Maire]

I used to have lovely strong nails, which I'd shaped since my teens, before I went on HRT (I'm MTF), but within a couple of years of being on HRT my nails had become weak and prone to getting little nicks and tears in them, which can be painful

If anyone has any advice for how to best look after such nails, to strengthen them, I'm all ears! (NB: I'm not averse to painting stuff onto my nails, but I'm not interested in wearing false nails. )

[girl_dee]

Originally Posted by Esme nha Maire

I used to have lovely strong nails, which I'd shaped since my teens, before I went on HRT (I'm MTF), but within a couple of years of being on HRT my nails had become weak and prone to getting little nicks and tears in them, which can be painful

If anyone has any advice for how to best look after such nails, to strengthen them, I'm all ears! (NB: I'm not averse to painting stuff onto my nails, but I'm not interested in wearing false nails. )

hi!

i am sure some of the more experienced folks will chime in but..

i have weak nails too.. they *tear* . i bit them my entire life (gross i know) and recently just got (my first) manicure. i don't want false nails so i have french tips on my natural nails, because i like the clean look and i don't know what they put on them, but they feel hard as nails!
i am actually using them.



look at me talking like a girl............

[Esme nha Maire]

Originally Posted by girl_dee

hi!
look at me talking like a girl............

(laughing) aww thank you dear! I'll still happily listen if you want to talk like some other kind of entity... :-} I like that we can all just be ourselves here :-}

[Gayandgray]

My fingernails are a mess! I'm a cna in a nursing home so I can't have long nails, but 20 something years ago I did and I had silk wraps. I used to get pedicures all the time until I was nicked and I got an infection, so I've been doing my own toes ever since.
I'm curious, is it possible for me to get a manicure for men? I saw a movie where a guy had his nails real squared off and shiny and it looked very well kept and clean. That's what I want but what should I ask for at the salon?

[Esme nha Maire]

Originally Posted by Gayandgray

My fingernails are a mess! I'm a cna in a nursing home so I can't have long nails, but 20 something years ago I did and I had silk wraps. I used to get pedicures all the time until I was nicked and I got an infection, so I've been doing my own toes ever since.
I'm curious, is it possible for me to get a manicure for men? I saw a movie where a guy had his nails real squared off and shiny and it looked very well kept and clean. That's what I want but what should I ask for at the salon?

I've only had manicures a couple of times (because pennies!) but so far as I'm aware, you tell the manicurist what you want done, and if it's within their ability, they do it. Just ask, Gayandgray, they'll be fine with it. There are women that just want their nails manicured like that too.

[justkim]

Check into a good hair, skin and nails vitamin. I have seen the good the bad and ugly side of weak nails. If you have your hands in water a lot try using a really good lanolin cream. It will help protect your hands along with your nails. Rub it in really well all over the nail and cuticle area. You will start noticing how soft your hands become. For those of you that have to wash your hands multiple times a day you will notice that your hands become softer and your nails will not soak up a lot of moisture, making them less brittle. The other thing to consider is that you don't want to try to shape your nails when they have been in water for too long. When you file your nails don't use a sawing motion, go from side to center. If you can think of anything else I can help with let me know.

Originally Posted by Esme nha Maire

I used to have lovely strong nails, which I'd shaped since my teens, before I went on HRT (I'm MTF), but within a couple of years of being on HRT my nails had become weak and prone to getting little nicks and tears in them, which can be painful

If anyone has any advice for how to best look after such nails, to strengthen them, I'm all ears! (NB: I'm not averse to painting stuff onto my nails, but I'm not interested in wearing false nails. )

Originally Posted by girl_dee

hi!

i am sure some of the more experienced folks will chime in but..

i have weak nails too.. they *tear* . i bit them my entire life (gross i know) and recently just got (my first) manicure. i don't want false nails so i have french tips on my natural nails, because i like the clean look and i don't know what they put on them, but they feel hard as nails!
i am actually using them.



look at me talking like a girl............

Originally Posted by Esme nha Maire

I've only had manicures a couple of times (because pennies!) but so far as I'm aware, you tell the manicurist what you want done, and if it's within their ability, they do it. Just ask, Gayandgray, they'll be fine with it. There are women that just want their nails manicured like that too.

[GeorgiaMa'am]

Originally Posted by Gayandgray

My fingernails are a mess! I'm a cna in a nursing home so I can't have long nails, but 20 something years ago I did and I had silk wraps. I used to get pedicures all the time until I was nicked and I got an infection, so I've been doing my own toes ever since.
I'm curious, is it possible for me to get a manicure for men? I saw a movie where a guy had his nails real squared off and shiny and it looked very well kept and clean. That's what I want but what should I ask for at the salon?

Just say you want a manicure only, short and square (that's the real word for that shape). Buffed instead of polish. They should be happy to do it for you. Have fun!

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaMa'am

Just say you want a manicure only, short and square (that's the real word for that shape). Buffed instead of polish. They should be happy to do it for you. Have fun!

And it will be less expensive than the other stuff!