Thread: Press-on Nails vs. Real Nails vs. Fake Nails

I know my nails need help. My day job is not to beautiful nails. I also have a tendency to chip my nailpolish quickly (within an hour or so - to the point where I paint my nails just before the show). Should I try
a) lee Press-On Nails
b) getting those crazy fake nails at the nail salon? (what's the drawback)
c) something I should be doing with my regular nails to help them stand up to the travails of life?

..g.:Well, tomorrow I'm going to have the acrylic nails put on at the salon so I will have beautiful hands for Wiggles of the West. I will let you know how they work out for me.

Edna

i have a coating put overtop of my own nail. with working in a lab, i tend to break them easily being in gloves all day long. so it helps me a LOT. you can have acrylic or gel put on top. it's still your own nail but with armor. you'll have to go every 3 weeks or so as it will grow out.

run away from the press on nails! lol
they pop off so easily, you can't do anything with them on and the sticky stuff is a nightmare to get off your nails.

i used to have acrylics and loved them, but now i need to type fast and they slow me down :)

I go between acrylics and none. when i was performing regularly, i always wore them, and you can have the salon do them to whatever length you like. For the first set, they put on fakes, cut them down to the length you specify and then put an acrylic or gel coating over them.

You do have to get refills every other to third week, depending on how fast your nails grow and how much work you do with your hands.

Benefits:
* durability
* your manicure looks good for weeks -v- days
* low maintenance you do nothing to keep them looking good

Cons:
* when you chip or break them you have to go in for repair
* if you really catch them on something, you can rip the nail out of the nailbed (only happened once)
* taking them off is a *****
* when you have them removed, your own nails are very thin and take forever to grow out.

I preferred to have them on when I was performing a lot as it kept me from having to do my own, which I suck at, and going to the salon was like visiting friends, i've known the owners where I go and I only allow them to work on my hands, so I have an established relationship.

Getting a pedicure along with them is just a sinful treat, but i loved it.

I went to acrylics and LOVE them..I have them trimmed down a bit because of computer typing..but you do get used to the length..

it was about 50 bucks for this special glittery boogie nights style and 22 for a refill...love them!

I am sitting here trying to type with glue ons. They look great and I wear them only for a performance because they make my fingers look longer, but I take them off the next day.

Originally Posted by anala

I am sitting here trying to type with glue ons. They look great and I wear them only for a performance because they make my fingers look longer, but I take them off the next day.

How do you get them off and get your real nails cleaned up (no glue residue)? I'm going to try the fake press-on toenails in a few weeks.

Any tips on them?

Since I dont want them to stay on too long, I dont use much glue. A bead of gel glue in the center (over a clear coat to prevent damage to the natural nail). I pry them off from a corner and they pop right off. Then use remover as usual.

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

run away from the press on nails! lol
they pop off so easily, you can't do anything with them on and the sticky stuff is a nightmare to get off your nails.

Yes. I am traumatized by press-on nails. One day, I wore them for a photo shoot. They felt like creepy plastic talons and every time I touched my hair, they would get stuck in it. It also took me 25 minutes just to hook my bra because the nails kept falling off or otherwise getting in the way.

Clearly, most people out there must have normal experiences with them, otherwise I doubt they'd still make them anymore! Maybe I put them on incorrectly. But they were such a PITA.....c::

I use press on or glue on nails & haven't had problems- I like press on nails for finger picking on my guitar, so they can hold up to quite a bit- I have no idea what brand I use- whatever the standard is at Fred Meyers works for me. I occasionally have a bad nail day, but percentage wise, it's not very often, and that's usually when working with a brand I'm not used to. You can sculpt the false nails with a pair of nail scissors to get the fit right- that helps a lot with getting them to apply properly and stick well.

I can't have long nails when playing oud (yay, I have a brand new oud!!!) or violin so press ons have to do it for me. I also like that they are so quick to put on & I don't have to second guess whether they are dry or not- & I am such a klutz I'm liable to tip over the nail polish jar! rubbing alcohol gets residual glue off pretty well.

I used to get the pink and white acrylic done and kept them short. Then took them off a couple years ago to let my nails do their own thing. They haven't really done much so I'm thinking about going back. I tend to keep them fairly short but they look really nice and I don't chew on them as much as my real nails. (I know I know, bad Nancy)

If you use the press-on nails, you definitely run the risk of having one pop off right before (or during) your performance. If you want a temporary set of long nails without the damage of acrylics, your local beauty school may offer to glue on and file tips, then polish without the acrylic overlay for about the same price as the Lee press-ons. Our school refers to this service as "The One Night Stand."

-Devora

I have never ever used fake nails. Maybe I'm super sensitive, but even a manicure doesn't feel very relaxing and comfortable for me. And the thought of filing my nails down, and whatever they do to nails with the fake stuff just makes me 'scared' :)
I always use nail polish though, and it's not as fancy or beautiful as fake nails can be, but I feel comfortable. My nails are also a good indicator to see if I am getting enough nutrients etc. Usually my nails are strong, they don't break, etc, but once in a while they go through quick periods of breaking or not being super strong.

I like the fact that I can do everything, change the color, trim, like above said, I don't have to run in the salon if a nail breaks. And I already spend so much on my hair, I am trying to save money on other body parts :))

I wear mine natural. I keep them trimmed attractively (can't stand super long nails; I leave them just barely longer than the tips of my fingers). I buff them or sometimes use a clear polish. I find it much easier to maintain them in a natural state, and it looks just as nice for shows. In fact, to be honest, in all the performances I've ever seen, I've never once noticed whether the dancer was wearing polish or fancy nails. If long, painted nails don't work for you, try the natural look!

A girlfriend of mine gets gels done. They're a bit more expensive, but they look really nice, much less fake nail than acrylics and seem to last for about 4 weeks. She's a software engineering and the gel manicure withstands all the typing she does. Apparently the technology is really advancing lately and there are a lot more colors available. Also, no drying time/smell, which is a plus

Try This: OPI Axxium Gel Manicure | The Style & Beauty Doctor: Style and Beauty Tips, Dressing for Your Body, How to Apply Makeup, MAC, NARS

acrylics are nice and low maintenance...but when it's time to remove them, it sux!
my nailpolish chips very easily because of the work i do, so i only paint my nails right before a performance or when i have a few days off from work.

Try Bio Gels instead of the regular gels. I have a friend who applies them and they involve no grinding of the natural nail and actually act as a protective cover so your nails get stronger while they are on. They can be used on any length nail and come in literally hundreds of colors.

Originally Posted by Marianna

I have never ever used fake nails. Maybe I'm super sensitive, but even a manicure doesn't feel very relaxing and comfortable for me. And the thought of filing my nails down, and whatever they do to nails with the fake stuff just makes me 'scared' :)
I always use nail polish though, and it's not as fancy or beautiful as fake nails can be, but I feel comfortable. My nails are also a good indicator to see if I am getting enough nutrients etc. Usually my nails are strong, they don't break, etc, but once in a while they go through quick periods of breaking or not being super strong.

I like the fact that I can do everything, change the color, trim, like above said, I don't have to run in the salon if a nail breaks. And I already spend so much on my hair, I am trying to save money on other body parts :))

I've never had my nails done either - it just doesn't appeal to me. I've seen friends with fake nails, and I just don't like how it looks most of the time. I'm also always making things, and I need to keep my nails short especially when I work with clay. This, however, does make my nail polish chip a lot quicker than when I'm in a lazy period and I'm not using my hands as often. Using a base and top coat with nail polish helps it last longer too, otherwise I usually chip my nails before the day ends.

I got a nail buffing kit at a gift, and I like using that when I know I won't have painted nails for awhile because my nails will be shiny.

i've had gel nails (LCN) for a few years and i just love them! My own nails don't last, i always break them and they look ugly. But gel nails really last and look good :D

Press-on nails last about 5minutes on me, but the glue on that cost about 10 dollars are great and last at least a week. They do damage my actual nails but as I play violin I can't keep my nails long anyway.

I keep my nails natural, but will polish them for performance if I think it will better coordinate or improve the overall look. My nails are very strong and grow fast, so most of the time polishing is a huge waste of time for me. If I polish them one evening, by the next evening there is a noticeable amount of nail growth already, so I usually only polish a few hours before I go on stage when I decide to wear it.

I had the Axxium gel nails put on and found that after a week the gel got all these super fine cracks in it. I think my tech was less than skilled in applying them as well. The application was very uneven. I decided next time I want nails for a special vacation, I will just have acrylics put on. I have had trouble with acrylics lifting off my nails in the past though. Once water got underneath and my nail turned green. Blech.