Post # 1

Member
1783 posts
Buzzing bee
I usually get a gel manicure but my natural nails have been breaking a lot lately (no clue why!) and so they are pretty short. My bridal shower is Saturday and I wanted to go to the salon and have my nails done after work today. For the wedding I think I would like pretty short acrylics. Should I get acrylics now to try them out or will that be too much damage to my nails over a short time? I only get my nails done for special occassions – not regularly.
Post # 2

Member
65 posts
Worker bee
Gel is the better option if your worried about your nails, it’s more flexible than acrylic and gel doesn’t have the harmful chemicals acrylic has. You can still extend your nails with gel, your tech can use tips or build them out with forms.
Post # 3

Member
487 posts
Helper bee
I’m going to throw it out there and say get gel tips, not a gel manicure. Gel tips are much better for your nails than acrylics. I had the gel tips for many many years and then I wanted to try out the gel manicures that everyone was getting since it was a faster and cheaper process. Somehow, no matter what my nails would start chipping witing 24 hours with the gel manicures. Wish it worked for me 🙁 I’m back to the gel tips again.
With the gel tips, I find they are much more durable. They almost never break and the color stays on with no chipping for 2-3 weeks. It’s just like gel manicures where they tell you to come about every 2 weeks, sometimes you can stretch it to 3 depending on how much your nails end up growing.
Good luck!
Post # 4

Member
6515 posts
Bee Keeper
springbride23: gel. its not as harmful.
my nails break all.the.time.
What I am going to suggest is exactly what I did for my wedding. I didn’t want acrylic nails, they look too fake and are outdated. Get a gel manicure every 2 weeks/1 1/2 weeks. Your nails will grow and will be a nice length for the wedding.
I know your shower is this saturday, so you don’t have much time, but get a gel manicure for this weekend and continue to get them up until your wedding.
I don’t like super long nails, I grow them out just a little above the tip of my finger. I don’t want claws LoL
Post # 5

Member
1603 posts
Bumble bee
I got acrylics once and it was the worst mistake I ever made for my nails. They were so strong that they started to hurt once they grew out a bit because they were forcing my natural nail to bend too much, and they absolutely ruined my nails–like, it took 6 months of absolutely nothing on them to grow out enough to even be able to paint them again. It was rough.
Post # 6

Member
963 posts
Busy bee
I have never had either, but I have had a shellac and I love it. My nails are not ruined after, and it lasts a long time.
Post # 7

Member
856 posts
Busy bee
I have always had the fight with what to do… and have recently been informed that if you nails are weak or damaged after you take off your nails, its because they have been filed too much! I tough this was very interesting and true!