|
|
 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
       Location: Oklahoma | acrylic is a powder they mix with a liquid agent to achieve the look. Gel is the finish. I have gel polish now, less chipping etc as I type on a computer all day |
|
| |
|
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
    
| I've had them on and off a few times over the years and always end up either ripping them off or getting frustrated because I usually keep my natural nail very short.
Tried and sold jamberry for a while. They ruined my nails over time, either having them get ripped off or no matter how carefully I removed them according to instructions my nails kept getting thinner and thinner. The ones that did stay on stayed for a while, but it was a crap shoot if they stayed or not.
I've noticed a big difference since I've been focusing on eating healthier and working out (not sure how big a roll that plays) that my nails are stronger and breaking less, even if I don't cut them short. |
|
| |
|
 Some Kind of Trouble
Posts: 4430
      
| I have acylic on my real nails at all times now. My natural nails break and tear and never even stay to fingertip length so any type of polish never even looked nice. Tried the dip gel kind (salon people said it would be as strong as acrylic haha) and all my nails broke off in days. The gel polish does last a long time, like shellac, but I don't feel like they really make your nails any stronger than they are naturally. With the acrylic on, my nails only seem to get broken when it's too cold out and it gets brittle. lol |
|
| |
|
 Living within my means
Posts: 5128
   Location: Randolph, Utah | I've had gel nails for years. I keep them prettt short and don't have many issues. I do get them filled more often in the summer when I'm riding. |
|
| |
|
 Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
  
| I wore acrylics on and off for many years. It's an adjustment when you get them on ... learning how to button buttons, zippers, picking things up off the floor. I did great in them ... until I broke my acrylic and the underlying nail grabbing my saddle horn trying not to fall off at a closed gate once. HURT, bled and throbbed so badly I wanted to claim a visible injury and medical out of that nights rodeo. LOL ... I lost my nail. Later, whenever I went to put them on or have a fill, my cuticles started to itch. Switched to gel. That worked better but they chipped easily and sometimes would come right off just like a press on nail. I like the finished look and would usually get a french tips so incase they broke or chipped, if I was on travel or something I wouldn't have to find the nail salon immediately. I recently had one lady put the gel on and dip it in the acrylic powder and I went a month before needing any repair work (as compared to days) but I can't seem to get an appointment with her since she's so busy and none of the others in the salon will do that. (Maybe they lose money??) Anyway, I just quit all together. I keep my nails short and squared or slightly rounded because I use the computer alot and don't want a repeat of my broken nail situation and I think the pointed nails are ugly.
|
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 668
    Location: Upstate New York | I have had acrylic's over my real nails for years. Won't go without them. Gel is the type of finish or polish you have put on. I use the gel as it last so much longer than regular polish. With regular polish, my ends area all chipped away within a week from typing all day and drilling my nails on the desk(bad habit of mine). The gels don't chip and finsh stays so much nicer. I keep mine fairly short. I ride, do lawn work, mechanical work, etc., never an issue. I wear acrylics over my real nails as my nails are weak, and split. Plus, like another person already said, I am also a nail biter and just keep picking at them. |
|
| |