Post # 1
Member
70 posts
Worker bee
I need to make an appointment to get my nails done for my wedding next month, but I’m stumped on what to ask for. I know I want some sort of artificial nail to even out lengths, but I don’t know the differences between each method.
The salon offers four options:
1) Acrylic full set/fill in
2) Gel full set/fill in (not the same as a gel manicure on their price list — I’ve had that done before)
3) Liquid Gel full set/fill in
4) Pink and White full set/fill in (Is this acrylic? I know this gives a French look, but sometimes the pink looks too unnatural in photos.)
I would like a natural looking French manicure that is the least damaging to my nails (I won’t be continuing regular manis post-wedding). Can anyone out there shed some light on this for me?
The look I like (photo from google search of “French manicure”):
A look I don’t like, pink is too dark (photo from google search of pink and white full set):
Post # 3
Member
7813 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I personally would just do Shellac. I find that fake nails really damage your actual nails (or maybe that’s just me).
Post # 4
Member
814 posts
Busy bee
@nanilani04: I have a gel french manicure.. I would not say it is damage free! But it certainly is less damaging AND more natural looking than acrylic-
Acrylic is pink and white too (also called a permanent french). Its just called pink and white because they actually use pink and white acrylic powder. Where as with a regular acrylic set, is just clear and they paint the nails with regular nail polish. They call it a permenant french because the color will not fade or chip and has to be filed off- which is why it is more damaging.
You can usually pick the color of the pink with acrylic. With the gel manicures you definitely can pick the pink color. There is also the option to have a french manicure painted on regular acrylic base- and you can easily have the pink changed if you do not like it… however this option can chip.
Post # 5
Member
7384 posts
Busy Beekeeper
@MrsPanda99: This.
Artificial nails are very, very bad for your natural nails, not to mention very unsanitary. A good nail tech can even out and shape your nails and then do a natural-looking French with gel polish (NOT nails).
Post # 6
Hostess
9783 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
- Wedding: March 2014 - Chicago, IL
I think what you want are gel nails. I had them done once and they are very damaging to your nail bed. I just couldn’t get used to having fake nails and once I removed them it took about 3 months for my nails to look healthy again. I got the Sally Hansen Gel nail kit to do my nails myself – but this is also damaging to the nail bed. If you’re only doing it once for your wedding you’ll be fine, but just thought you’d like to know that after you remove them when they grow out your nails will most likely be sore and really thin.
Post # 7
Member
571 posts
Busy bee
I had a gel manicure over my natural nails. 
Mine was very natural looking, and not too pink at all. You can tell the shade right away, so if you dont like it on one nail, just ask them to pick a different one.
I removed the polish at home with tin foil and nail polish remover. I’d recommend having the salon remove the polish to avoid damage. That polish is strong. Mine lasted a few weeks.
Post # 8
Member
387 posts
Helper bee
I would recommend growing your nails our and getting a gel POLISH put over them. it will last longer than regular polish, but not be super damaging. All fake nails will damage your nails badly.
Post # 9
Member
7813 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
@vorpalette: Exactly. Fake nails aren’t necessary for consistency. The girl who does mine does a fantastic job even though they start off at all different lengths, lol.
I did fake nails once before, OP. It took months for my real nails to recover. As for the hygiene element, I don’t even want to think about that. E-yuck.
Post # 10
Member
533 posts
Busy bee
Yeah, most-natural looking and least-damagind is definitely to take care of your nails this month and go with polish instead of artificial nails.
Post # 11
Member
12340 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I don’t know anything about artificial nails, but a month should be plenty of time to grow your nails as long as you’re careful not to break them. Take a multivitamin, and they’ll grow pretty quick and be strong as heck. I’ve never been able to grown them without them breaking or splitting until I started taking a multivitamin.
Post # 12
Member
70 posts
Worker bee
Obviously growing my nails out and not needing artificial nails would be ideal, but I work a lot with my hands which often causes my nails to break. I almost always have at least one nail that I’ve had to trim down below the tip of my finger and nearly to the quick — much too short for a formal look! The likelihood that I’ll have ten reasonable length nails on a particular weekend is slim, which is why I am asking about artificial nails. If by some miracle I do, I was already planning on getting a regular gel manicure since I’d know what I was dealing with from past experience. I appreciate that it works for some of you, but it probably won’t be the right option for me.
I understand that all artificial nails will cause some sort of damage to my natural nails, which is why I asked which is least damaging while giving me the look I want.
Post # 13
Member
70 posts
Worker bee
@SparkleBee11: Did your gel french manicure involve tips of some sort as opposed to just gel polish? Thanks for explaining what to expect with pink and whites!
Post # 14
Member
70 posts
Worker bee
@FutureDrAtkins: Did the manicurist have to file your nail bed for a gel set like is done for acrylics?
Post # 15
Member
938 posts
Busy bee
@nanilani04: I’ve had acrylic nails in the past, and also gel nails. I will be getting gel nails with tips done for my wedding, and having them removed from the salon rather than refilled.
Yes, they are damaging, however I found the most damage came from the filing when they did fills over the initial application. Having them removed at the salon reduces the damage done vs removing yourself. A product like nail Envy will do wonders in helping them recover and become strong and healthy after they are removed.
Post # 16
Member
814 posts
Busy bee
@nanilani04: no tips. They just paint directly on to your natural nail and then use a light to harden the gel. I actually bought a kit and now do it at home- it is that easy. It cost 35 + tip around me for a french gel manicure. I find that a gel manicure lasts about 10 days. But I am very rough on my nails. A regular plain old polish manicure maybe lasts 2 days for me.
The 1st pic is one a french gel mani I did myself & the second is a french gel mani from the salon. Only diference is they can paint the white line a lot thinner than I can. (Originally these pics were taken of my ring lol!)
