Fake Nails

[TnNinjaGirl]

Ladies, any opinions on this topic?

I tried some Broadway Natural Deceptions and liked them very well. I think they were too big though, I have small hands. They stayed on well even through riding and at my job. The only ones that popped off were self-inflicted because I didn't glue them on correctly.

Do the ones at the salon do better? I think they were like $6 and only took about 10 minutes to apply. They look natural and veru pretty though. Also, you can get them with different lengths so that's nice.

Don't want to forget the guys. You can add opinions too.

[tinng321]

Walk into any nail salon and tell them you know me.
They'll hook you up.
It's sad to say but too many dang vietnamese are into the nail business.

[Elfling]

I love my acrylics- I get them done at a salon. I get pink and whites- sometimes they call them solar nails. They hold up *really* well for me in my job (slinging computers around all day, lol) and through riding. It's my one girlie indulgence so I don't feel bad about the money; it's 35 for the initial set, then 25 or 15 for the fill depending on how much you need done.

[CC Cowboy]

What size nail gun do you girls use?

[Elfling]

Eh, I don't go much bigger than an inch, gets really hard to type after that

[TnNinjaGirl]

Last ones put on I think were too wide so I'm going with petite next time. The ones from the salons have all kinds of cool designs and stuff on them. Idk if i'm ready for that kind of craziness though. Do the ones with designs hold up as well as the plain ones? I'm all up for the French design.

CC, I use tools all day long. Sometimes we women like to dress up nice for a change.

[Elfling]

I get designs painted sometimes- they put the gel coating or clear nail polish over them so yes, they hold up very well.

Flip side to the salon acrylics is they are hell to get off yourself- they bond to your actual nails so if you want them off in a hurry it's not going to happen easily. For me that's not a problem, I've had them on pretty much nonstop for four or five years at this point- every once in a while I have them taken off and go a few weeks without, like if I'm doing a big move and don't want to risk breaking them. In general though they hold up really well, I use my hands all day for work and at home and on the bikes.

[Snake]

On a side note, getting your back scratched with long nails is just awesome!

[tjkamper]

[zartan]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

What size nail gun do you girls use?

I am so with you on that CC.. ey'ey'ey!

[Nickds7]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

What size nail gun do you girls use?

I was thinking building nails too.....

[noche_caliente]

CB - I would stay FAR away from salon acrylics because if you get someone who doesn't know what they are doing, your nails can be ruined for the rest of your life. Many of the salons actually use a dremel to rough up your nails prior to applying the acrylics. This is a big no-no!!! If you do go that route, be sure to go somewhere that does not use anything but manual buffing. The dremels will go right through your nail and into your nail bed in no time and it is PAINFUL! This happened to me with the set that I got prior to my wedding. And the process for removing htem is to soak them in pure acetone and let it dissolve, which is also not good or you - I'll find you the link to the MSDS if you'd like. Not to mention that there are many types of fungal infections that are common to folks wearing acrylics.
I love the way they look, and I love how strong they were, but after learning more about them, I decided that it was not a safe practice - I only have two hands and I don't want to mess them up too much. It's very similar to my decision to stay far away from tanning beds after I was married 6 years ago, and damn if I didn't have a pre-cancerous lesion removed from my arm in November...

[Elfling]

The only way you'll have any issues is with a salon that isn't aboveboard. Licenses should be posted clearly, it should be clean, etc. Using a dremel and acetone and fixers is how it's done- it's the same process as putting fiberglass on a bike, basically.

I've had zero issues in five years of constant acrylics; and I've never known anyone in my circle of friends who get acrylics who has had issues. Totally a personal decision and as with anything, there are a million people on either side of the argument

[TnNinjaGirl]

I practically swim in parts and brake cleaner all day long. If I don't have cancer yet, I doubt I will.

How long do the salon acrylics last? How much is it to get them filled in? I guess I could ask my local nail place but that would require work.

[BlueTyke]

Hate 'em. Will NEVER get fake nails again! My nails aer still recovering from the ones that were put on for a Christmas party in the begining of Dec!

Never never never..

[Snake]

Originally Posted by BlueTyke

Hate 'em. Will NEVER get fake nails again! My nails aer still recovering from the ones that were put on for a Christmas party in the begining of Dec!

Never never never..

Give the ladies some details. What exactly did they do to your fingers?
Note: Not for me. Just trying to help the ladies.

[kkim]

Originally Posted by TnNinjaGirl

I practically swim in parts and brake cleaner all day long. If I don't have cancer yet, I doubt I will.

hope you're wearing gloves while you do the work. don't be so sure you won't have long lasting effects years later.

[Elfling]

Here's the process:

Your natural nail is filed down a bit, usually with a dremel. They apply an acrylic "tip", fixed on with superglue. That's then roughed up with a dremel. Over that they apply acrylic- it can be neutral, or it can be pink and white. They shape it with a brush as it dries into place. That's then filed down, buffed and polished with either clear or colored polish.

When/if you get them taken off- you're going to have a filed-down spot on your natural nail that has to grow out, yes. Doesn't hurt your nail beds; I have mine off right now since I haven't been back in due to the broken leg, and the parts of the nail that haven't been touched are growing out just fine.

The biggest concern for me is just finding a reputable salon and sizing it up before you get anything done. Hole in the wall places aren't good for anything in life- and to a large extent, you get what you pay for.

It's a lot like coloring your hair; once you start, you're going to have to keep up with it or you'll have a few months of growing out/catching up until you can go back natural. I can usually stretch it to 3 weeks between fills, a lot of places will tell you 2 weeks but it really just depends on how fast your own nails grow. If you get them, I highly recommend oiling your cuticles every morning and evening, they'll last longer.

[noche_caliente]

Ah, to be young and naive again.... I know that no one likes to listen to someone when their advice is counter to what you want to do. Then again, sometimes folks need to find out the hard way.
You have two women here who have done them who are telling you it's a bad idea from personal experience... and I'm sure both of us can tell you stories of numerous friends and family members who have had problems with them as well... but you're a big girl, make your own choices

[Elfling]

As I said above- personal decision, and you can find plenty of support for both sides I can tell you stories of the people I know who have had motorcycle accidents as well- you've had one, as have I, that have resulted in injuries. Doesn't stop you from riding now, does it?

[capt_bugaloo]

IMHO long painted nails look yuck.

Just my opinion, but I don't see the appeal at all.

[Elfling]

I'm not talking about long painted nails. They are an option, but this is the kind I usually have:

[noche_caliente]

It is not part of the process to use dremels - that is the short cut that many salons take, but not the way it is supposed to be done. I happen to be good friends with a cosmology instructor who has been in the business for years - if only I had known her before I was married. I went to a salon that was licensed by the state and very above board as you put it, it was not one of the cheap mall places that you might expect to have troubles. I hope that you are prepared to wear them for the rest of your life, because it will take several years for them to be healthy and strong again after wearing acrylics. You may think there isn't any damage, but they will not be as strong as they were prior to getting them. I wore them from the time I was 16 until just after my wedding, and it took many years before the incident where she went through my nail bed, but it is not an uncommon occurrence. It was several years beyond that before my nails would stop peeling and breaking when they had any length at all.

[zartan]

ugh! it all sounds horrible. I cut mine as short as possible! I hate it when a food server has long nails. ugh! or anyone who hands me something. I am freaky about it... yuck! germs.

[Elfling]

Noche, you did remind me of something I'd forgotten- been going to the same place for so long I forgot about the research I did at first.

TN, you want to make sure the shop is reputable for a lot of reasons; one of them is the use of a banned substance, MMA. http://hooked-on-nails.com/mmaandyou.html

[Elfling]

Another good link about MMA and what in general you should and shouldn't experience:

http://salon29.tripod.com/id15.html

My salon *does* use a dremel/e-file; it's a very quick pass over the nail however, there's no pain, and there's only a slight roughing up of the nail surface.

[addy126]

Oh my geezuz god.. I can't believe this is an actual thread! It's all downhill from here!

[Elfling]

We're going to get relegated to a ladies-only section, I just know it.

[BlueRaven]

In my line of work i can't see the importance of having purdy nail. I think the look unatural.

[CC Cowboy]

Forget about nails, what does everyone get from Victoria's Secret? I'm not sure what everything is called so pics might help.

[ninjabrewer]

Originally Posted by Snake

On a side note, getting your back scratched with long nails is just awesome!

OMG, mmmmm, especially during............when she.......oh never mind.

nb

[xpander37]

for girls who cant grow out their nails due to um..biting, splitting, etc.....acrylics would be a great choice=).... they are plenty strong and look great if!!!! you find someone who knows what they are doing and who cares about the quality of work they are doing....

*concerns
-once acrylics are put on they require "fill-ins"....this is to fill in the gap near the cuticle where the nail has grown out...basically maintenance work, and to make em look purdy again lol
-fungus(which leaves a green discoloration of nail) can occur if a poor job was done....this happens when acrylics lift off the nail bed leaving a gap which water can be trapped in...this is usually due to poor work... it can also happen if you dont get your nails filled in regularly....
-if you decide to ever take the acrylics off... you nails will be thinner do to the roughing up process(for better adhesion between the acrylic & nail)....making the surface on your nails blah looking and a bit weaker.... most importantly, for your nails to get back to its formal self, set the clock for about 4 months!

*tips on finding a good spot
-people who can speak english lol(almost all nail salons are vietnamese owned)...this would make it much easier to instruct them to do work according to your preferences
-hair salons which also do nails are generally not a good choice
-best way to find a person who does a good job would be to ask a friend who gets their nails done.... also kinda a bonus to be previewed some of their nifty work

ok thats enough of this lol, i just got off work and now im thinking about work! time for a beer lol

[TnNinjaGirl]

I had no idea it was such an intense process.

[xpander37]

yeah it kinda is, but i understand now why they get them done.... the ladies for the most part have a much more intense daily schedule compared to us fellas(mostly do to having kids)... so stopping and getting pampered for a bit gives em a nice break from the chaos....it is very safe to get acrylics put on.... just like anything else, the hard part is finding someone you trust to do them...

[addy126]

The guys are startin to sound just a little gay here.....

[beowuff]

Personally, I hate fake nails. My wife had them a few years ago. She tried a couple of different kind. Her nails are STILL recovering.

I love painted nails, but not FAKE nails. Real nails scratch just as good, if not better then fake.

Personally, it doesn't matter what you have, as long as it's REAL. Real will ALWAYS trump fake. For me anyway :P

[talldrink]

Originally Posted by BlueTyke

Hate 'em. Will NEVER get fake nails again! My nails aer still recovering from the ones that were put on for a Christmas party in the begining of Dec!

Never never never..

+1

[ninjabrewer]

Originally Posted by beowuff

Personally, it doesn't matter what you have, as long as it's REAL. Real will ALWAYS trump fake. For me anyway :P

That applies to more than just nails.

nb

[Snake]

Originally Posted by ninjabrewer

That applies to more than just nails.

nb

+1

[beowuff]

Originally Posted by ninjabrewer

That applies to more than just nails.

Yes. I was hoping people would get that