Paging cutehairdresser re. nail question

[CAIJ]

I guess I didn't expect the acrylic to help my nails grow I just wanted to cover them so they quit breaking on the edges and so they all look uniform and even. Especially I am looking to not have to polish them as often. Is gel better for the nails and can they use it without those electric files? How often do you have to have the gel filled or replaced? Is silk wrap better than gel and will it make the nail polish stay on good? I think my main focus is even nails and polish staying on for more than 1 or 2 days without chipping.

[CAIJ]

I guess I didn't expect the acrylic to help my nails grow I just wanted to cover them so they quit breaking on the edges and so they all look uniform and even. Especially I am looking to not have to polish them as often. Is gel better for the nails and can they use it without those electric files? How often do you have to have the gel filled or replaced? Is silk wrap better than gel and will it make the nail polish stay on good? I think my main focus is even nails and polish staying on for more than 1 or 2 days without chipping.

[Peaches715]

I'm not cutehairdresser, but have you tried a nail hardener? Sally hanses makes a great one, I put 3 coats on and my nails are good

[cutehairdresser]

Gels and silkwraps are better for the nails than acrylics by far...and you can absolutely get them done without the electric file...just tell the person that it burns you or something. People just use that because they're lazy...I was taught how to do acrylics without one single electric device, and that was with an OPI advisor, so anyone who says otherwise is LAZY. Plus those things are majorly unsanitary because most of the time those people use them over and over again without sterilization. Gross. Fills run about every 2 weeks.

About chipping...I don't think that it really matters what kind of overlay you get, chipping is inevitable depending on how rigorous your daily hand activities are. The only advice I can offer to prevent chipping or peeling is to make sure a base coat is applied, use 2 coats of the color polish, and apply a thick top coat(like Seche Vite.)Then make sure to reapply the top coat every 2 days and wear gloves when doing dishes or housework. HtH!

P.S. You can find Seche Vite at Sally's and I think that CVS and Walgreens might have it. Good luck!

[Amber]

I've heard that fiberglass nails are supposed to be better for your nails because it's "breathable"? My friend told me that, but sometimes I think she doesn't know what she's talking about lol.