What can you tell me about your nails? I read that you have gel nails - do yo do them yourself, or do you have them done by someone else? I love the shape, too. Oh! One more question...do you have tips on your nails, or are those your real nails all the way down?

I love how gel nails look, and think I'm gonna run to the store tonight and buy some white tips to put under some gel overlay. I love doing my nails. :)

Steph

... still getting used to the new boards.

Thank you for your compliments :-)

I get the gel coating done by a pro - I don't think I could do it myself that well. She's fantastic! I only have to go about once a month for a refill, and never had any problems or needed to see her for a repair in between so far (have been with her for about two years now).
My natural nails are about as weak and thin as my hair, I could never grow them to any reasonable length. With the gel I'd be able to keep them even longer than I do if they didn't annoy me after a while.
The length is all my own now, just reinforced, no tips.

I didn't know that there was gel that you can do yourself without a special lamp? The stuff my nail tech uses is hardened by UV light, unlike acrylic where you mix a powder with a liquid and the mix cures on its own. The UV gel is supposed to ge gentler on the natural nail.

... still getting used to the new boards.

Thank you for your compliments :-)

I get the gel coating done by a pro - I don't think I could do it myself that well. She's fantastic! I only have to go about once a month for a refill, and never had any problems or needed to see her for a repair in between so far (have been with her for about two years now).
My natural nails are about as weak and thin as my hair, I could never grow them to any reasonable length. With the gel I'd be able to keep them even longer than I do if they didn't annoy me after a while.
The length is all my own now, just reinforced, no tips.

I didn't know that there was gel that you can do yourself without a special lamp? The stuff my nail tech uses is hardened by UV light, unlike acrylic where you mix a powder with a liquid and the mix cures on its own. The UV gel is supposed to ge gentler on the natural nail.

Cool! I'll have to look into the UV gels. For my birthday, I received a gift certificate for a "Pregnancy Massage Dipped in Chocolate" and I still have a gift certificate for a pedicure from Christmas for the same salon/spa so I may have to make a day of it and see if they do nails, too. I'm sure they do. I've been doing my own nails for so long that I've forgotten what it's like to have them done professionally. Anyway, now I'm crossing my fingers that they do UV Gels. I've heard of other places in town to have them done...may have to check into them, too. ;)

I wonder if the UV gels are stronger than the powder gels? Hmmm... anyone???

Anyway, Madeleine, you really should post pics of your nails when you do something new. I just LOVE the pics at N54 of your nails right now. They remind me of a king's crown with the red and white/silver with "jewels." ;)

I wonder if the UV gels are stronger than the powder gels? Hmmm... anyone???

AFAIK the acrylic (liquid/powder mix) is supposed to eat itself into the upper layer of the natural nail. The bound between nail and acrylic is very strong, but it's more damaging to the natural nail and the risk of an injury is higher - if you smash your hand against something by accident, or fall, or get your hand caught in a door etc, the chances of the whole nail getting torn out are higher than with UV gel, where in such a case the gel shatters, releasing the natural nail which just breaks like it would naturally (sorry to be so graphic - I've never had an accident, but a friend of mine does that sort of thing all the time. If she had acrylic nails she'd probably be in hospital about once a month instead of just having to see her nail tech for a repair).

Anyway, Madeleine, you really should post pics of your nails when you do something new. I just LOVE the pics at N54 of your nails right now. They remind me of a king's crown with the red and white/silver with "jewels." ;)

Thanks again :D
I don't do this all the time, often it's just plain polish, but every few months I get this itch to get creative :-) I'll certainly post pics again next time!

I like the idea of Gels better than acrylics, anyway. And they LOOK so much nicer. :) The only thing I'm worried about is the wear and tear. I tend to be pretty rough on my hands and nails. I guess I'll just have to learn, eh? ;) LOL

I will be patiently awaiting new pics. :)

Oh please Madeleine can you post pics - I love nails, you can get so creative with them.

I wish my hands were steadier - that's a problem with the strong colors I love to play with...:DD...g

Oh please Madeleine can you post pics - I love nails, you can get so creative with them.

I wish my hands were steadier - that's a problem with the strong colors I love to play with...:DD...g

The only pic I have right now is the one I posted on the N54 boards already (here (http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/message?forumid=227497&messageid=1045275361)).
I've had those for over a week now and they'll probably last another two or three - until I have to get the gel refilled or get sick of wearing colours that match purple in some way.

I agree that you need a really steady hand - and some toothpicks to correct the outline while the polish is still wet. I also have one of those correction pens (basically a felt tip pen filled with polish remover). That one helps a lot.

Wow!! I just snuck a peek at your nails........I LOVE them!!! Too bad I clean houses -- mine would never hold up. :(

I sure enjoyed looking at yours, though. I'm imressed. :)

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The only pic I have right now is the one I posted on the N54 boards already (here (http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/message?forumid=227497&messageid=1045275361)).
I've had those for over a week now and they'll probably last another two or three - until I have to get the gel refilled or get sick of wearing colours that match purple in some way.

I agree that you need a really steady hand - and some toothpicks to correct the outline while the polish is still wet. I also have one of those correction pens (basically a felt tip pen filled with polish remover). That one helps a lot.

Ooooo thank you - those are so gorgeous. I really like the felt tip in nail polish remover idea. I don't go at it very often but when I do it's so obsessive I get fume head :shock: ...:DD ...g

Gabi, I thought you always had fume head...? :shock:

hehehe... I love you!!!! ::running away::