Another beauty question: This time... NAILS

peaches85

I've had acrylics twice before and HATED them.  Because I have fat sausage fingers, I swear I looked like a transvestite and part of the problem (I think) was that the two nail salons I went to did a horrible job (the acrylics weren't long... they were just thick and ugly).  Since then, I've used the Broadway nails they sell in drugstores and Walmart and those surprisingly don't look half bad on my fingers.

For my wedding day I'd prefer to NOT go the route of fake Walmart nails, especially since they do occasionally come off at inopportune times.  But, I also don't want to a) look like a transvestite or b) be worried that when I do take the fake stuff off my real nails are going to look like crap.

Any suggestions about what to do with my nails so that I DON'T look like I belong in some show in Greenwich Village and so that my real nails don't look raggedy and torn after the fact?  I know that aside from acrylics there are silk wraps, gels, etc....

What do you ladies recommend?

cvl105

Can you trying growing your nails out for the last few weeks before the wedding?  I find that my nails stay nicer if I get manicures. So if you could afford to go get manicures once a week for the last month that would probably help.  I think real nails look nicer than fake, but that's my opinion.

I had my natural nails for the wedding.

Karma01

I orginally just wanted a french manicure with the OPI gel, the ladies talked me into gel tips etc...
I too have small hands with chubby fingers. I had them cut the tips short but not too short. They really looked great and lasted a few weeks.

peaches85

Chelsea - I'd love to use my real nails, but I'm too rough with my hands.  Even if I did everything in my power to be really careful in the weeks leading up to my wedding, I know I'd wind up messing my nails up somehow.

Also... Confession: I know it's a HORRIBLE habit, but I sometimes bite my nails when I'm nervous or stressed and Lord knows I won't be the calmest person in the days before my wedding.

peaches85

Karma - How were your real nails when the gels came off?  Did they look bad?

Lola Minnie

I always have my nails short, round manincure with light colors such as ballet slippers, jackie oh my, east hampton cottage, hi maintence etc.  I think it looks the cleanest.
But, if you don't want to go that route, I suggest gel wraps. It is basically just wrapping your real nails, looks very nice and will be easy to maintain.

Karma01

No they were fine. I went yesterday and told them to take them off. They tried to talk me out of it! My nails are a bit thin but okay.

melissa82

I had LCNs and they looked awesome. I am really glad I went that route. I hadn't had nails since high school so I didn't really know what they were like--much better and more natural than acrylic. I still have them so I don't know how they affect your regular nails.

peaches85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_another-beauty-question-this-time-nails?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:7b6dfa8c-dcef-4905-a44d-18144fe17759Post:498508e9-9128-4074-9407-20240fa1cb12">Re: Another beauty question: This time... NAILS</a>:
[QUOTE]I had LCNs and they looked awesome. I am really glad I went that route. I hadn't had nails since high school so I didn't really know what they were like--much better and more natural than acrylic. I still have them so I don't know how they affect your regular nails.
Posted by melissa82[/QUOTE]

What are LCNs??

uppereastgirl

I hate anything fake and don't like nails to be the center of attention, so I just had them short with Ballet Slippers on them.  Since then, I've only ever gotten them cut really short and then buffed (instead of polish).  I kind of wish I did that for the wedding.

Nobody is really going to be looking at your nails.  You want them to be manicured because people may notice if they're ratty, but I wouldn't agonize or do something you aren't comfortable with.  I've never seen a wedding photograph where nails were prominent that I liked, and I knew I wouldn't do anything with hand close-ups anyway.

It is *your* wedding and ultimately you want to be comfortable with what you go with.  If you aren't into 80s/transvestite nails, I wouldn't try to fit your square peg into that round hole.

DMLJ

Gels can be thick too and over time, they will ruin your nails- anything that you cover your nails with for an extended period of time will.  When I was younger I would just get tips put on---- kinda like the broadway nails but they will last longer and be professionally done.  Acylics, gels, wrap (and I've have them all!) look think no matter what... I'm back to gel right now on very short nails and fhe aren't the worst, but def. thiick.

DarylE

I've just started doing the OPI Axxium Gel nails at my usual salon.  They're great.  It's a great cross between gels/fakes and natural.  My nails usually chip within seconds of getting maicure.  These Axxium Gel manicures last three weeks and look perfect!  It's not really a fake nail, it's just super thick/strong polish.  My nail is still super thin, doesn't look like I have those thick tips or anything.

My salon charges $40, and, like I said, it lasts 3 weeks.

Highly recommend!

kewltif

I had tips put on for my wedding. Girls on here constantly talk about liking "natural" nails but I could spend six months growing out my nails and they would still be ratty looking and various lengths.

I think I had my tips on for about 4 months (I started with them right before my brother's wedding and then kept them till a few weeks after I got married).  I went out of my way to get one or two manicures after I got my tips off, and honestly my nails weren't in bad shape.

kewltif

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_another-beauty-question-this-time-nails?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:7b6dfa8c-dcef-4905-a44d-18144fe17759Post:d3472691-ca55-45f1-a820-c13b872aec57">Re: Another beauty question: This time... NAILS</a>:
[QUOTE]I hate anything fake and don't like nails to be the center of attention, so I just had them short with Ballet Slippers on them.  
Posted by uppereastgirl[/QUOTE]

You had ballet slippers painted on your nails?

DandT1206

I highly recommend LCNs too... they are basically brushed on as a gooy gel, but harden under the UV light.  they last and look great.  try to find a salon in your area who offers then.  although, they are a little pricey.  I think mine were $80 to put on the first time (and that might be a discounted price b/c I was a long time customer)

http://www.lcnusa.com/

uppereastgirl

In Response to <a href="http://forums.weddings.com/Sites/Weddings/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_another-beauty-question-this-time-nails?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:7b6dfa8c-dcef-4905-a44d-18144fe17759Post:ddbed33b-c374-4883-a09a-090cae441315">Re: Another beauty question: This time... NAILS</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Another beauty question: This time... NAILS : You had ballet slippers painted on your nails?
Posted by kewltif[/QUOTE]

<div>It's an Essie color :)</div>

Lola Minnie

LCN = light concept nails which is a basically a permanent french manicure.

If you don't like the look of tips then as I said earlier shorter gels or LCN even would work.  Acrylic is gross, I'm sorry but it reminds me of when I was in high school and we all used to get our nails done then have something sprayed on!

Uppereast, ballet slippers may be my pick too. I'm not sure if I am going to go with a short french or a light pink.  I have under 2 months to decide!

kewltif

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_another-beauty-question-this-time-nails?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:7b6dfa8c-dcef-4905-a44d-18144fe17759Post:9377c479-2871-4c21-b0dc-74e4c0e5b43d">Re: Another beauty question: This time... NAILS</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Another beauty question: This time... NAILS : It's an Essie color :)
Posted by uppereastgirl[/QUOTE]

LMFAO! I was thinking that in one sentence you said you like buff, natural nails that don't draw attention, and in the next sentence you're saying you had nail art done.

rlb81

I agree w/ natural nails. My "go to" color is OPI Bubble Bath which I'll prob do for the wedding. Like CVL suggested, if you can afford to get a manicure every week that will definitely help. I am rough on my nails too but weekly manicures and nailtiques (sp) work wonders.

Karma01

Thats what I had the lcn nails and really liked them

imagrl10

i posted your same question two months ago.  i didtn want "nails" because i had acryliic years ago and when i got them off they were paper thin.   But, i decided to do an LCN nail trial for my wedding.  out of all the artificial nails, they are the best of them all.   after time, they do make your nails thinner because they cover up your real nail. but, if you want to keep them just for the wedding, then it should be fine.  i got my trial for it and hated them.  the reason being was because they burend and were not put on right.  i got them soaked off the next day at a professional place.  i got them put on at a salon that was like all of your others.  when they do them right, they dont buff your nails like crazy and they soak them off and gently buff, rather than drills etc.   so i would go to a reputable place.

since then, ive been giving myself a mainucre weekly and go get then done when i can.  i have been using cuticle oil every day, which helps your nails.. and also using this stuff called Rejuvicoat.  you put it on every day (its like a clear polish) and this helps grow the nails and make them hard.  i have to say my nails are growing:)  for the wedding im doing OPI gel manicure, which is a gel polish. im diong french.  they look natural and are pretty much a manicure that lasts two-three weeks.  you then soak it off.

MandWNJ

I agree that the UV gels are the way to to go. I started using them a few months ago with extensions, and they have really made my naisl strong. Now I have only my natural nails and I go every two-three weeks to have her put the gel over my natural nails to keep them strong. they can make the nails very thin and natural looking. For my wedding I will be doing a permanent french manicure that will last 6 weeks. I pay nowhere near the $80 prices people had said that they pay above. Just make sure that they are the Opi gel polishes the salon uses because the others are not as good..They should also be using the soak off polish, not the kind that involves an electric filer because it is very bad for your nails.

If you didnt want to keep up with it, you could just have them put on before your wedding and then soak them off after if they bother you!

leah2b

I've had the same problem!  I always joke that I have "man hands"  As much as I try to grow out my regular nails, it just won't happen.  I've had gels and acrilics and I really hate how sometimes they look so thick.  I have heard about the LCN nails and might try them

Another tip - tell the nail technition that you want them done as thin as possible.  They always try to talk you out of this because it may break more easily.  Also, an oval tip looks much better with "fake" nails than the square.  Make them look less thick.

MandWNJ

Just to clarify in case I confused you - the UV gel nails that I was referring to are the LCN nails. The earlier gels didn't require a UV lamp

Linqdz

I have LCN's and I looove them. They are always shiny and look freshly done. However, you have to make sure whoever does them is well trained. I've seen some crappy LCN's. Be choosy

NJMom050911

I also have LCNs on my short chubby fingers and they always look good and last much longer than the acrylics etc.

peaches85

Thanks for all of the advice girls!!  I'm thinking the LCNs are the way to go.  I'll probably be posting in a few weeks asking for nail salon recommendations to get them done.