Nail Q&A

Dec 16, 2011

Kelly C.

Hey Everyone!!
I love nail polish, nail art, nail designs, nail & hand care, etc. I think you get the idea..lol
I wanted to start a Nail Question & Answer Forum for anyone who has any questions about any kind of nail topic. I know I will do my best to answer your questions the best I can, Im sure everyone else will too. I'll also ask questions.
This could be a great place for anything you need to know on nails. I'll start and ask a question.
What top coat do you use to prevent nail polish from chipping/or which top coat do you think works the best for nail chipping?  

Dec 16, 2011

Kelly C.

@Ayla Nails that peel can be caused by a few different things, a lack of moisture, which makes them dry and brittle or having an unhealthy diet but one reason that caused my nails to peel a while ago was the nail file I was using, it was to harsh on my nails. Then I switched to a nail file made for weak nails and bought a glass file. It made a big difference. Check to see if your nail file is really rough and gritty feeling, if it is try and get a glass file or if you go to Sally Beauty Supplies they have different nail files that are marked for the type you need. Also when filing your nails, make sure to file them gently and ONLY in one direction.
Try to use hand creme after you wash your hands, keep a small bottle in your purse or something so you can always use it.
I hope this helps!! :)

Kelly
xo

Dec 16, 2011

Kelly C.

@Terra and Ayla: Those both sound like good top coats. Luckily, my nail polish never ever chips and I only paint my nails once a week. But I always say the reason is bc of the top coats I use. I use 2 different ones, for 2 different reason. Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat, this stuff is wonderful and its not expensive either. I use that mainly for chipping. Then I use Seche Vite's fast dry top coat because I love the way it makes my nails look they were professionally done, it dries super fast and helps with chipping. 

Dec 17, 2011

Amanda J.

I have the same problem as Ayla, my nails peel. I think it might be because I'm a vegetarian? I don't know. But not only do my nails peel, but I get hang-nails ALL THE FREAKING TIME!!!! And I try not to pick them, I really do, but sometimes I just can't help it. And it's really frustrating, because my nails grow SUPER fast! It's such a shame that they are so weak! :( I'm wondering what I should use to help them. I've heard good things about Nail Tek and Nail Envy, but there isn't anywhere that I can buy them. Because there was a Trade Secret in our mall, but they went out of business... And that was the only place that sold OPI. Maybe the local beauty school can get it for me? I'm planning on going to cosmetology school soon anyways, sooo... I just want to know what drugstore nail strengthener I should use for the time being! And if you have any ideas besides nail strengthener to help me, even better! Thanks guys! <3

Dec 17, 2011

Kelly C.

@Amanda, You can probably order OPI online, right? Sally Hansen has a lot of good nail strengthens and so does Essie. I would go to CVS or whatever and look, they have all different kinds that are made for weak brittle nails. Also, like I was telling Ayla, make sure your not using a nail file that's really course and make sure you always file in one direction. Filing back and forth or using course nail files can easily make your nails peel. That's why I love glass nail files.

Dec 17, 2011

Rebecca N.

I tried a few different top and base coat combos but the one I have found that seems to work best with my nails is a-england the Knight and the Shield x

Dec 17, 2011

Kelly C.

@Rebecca I've never heard of that brand before. Do you live in the UK?

Dec 20, 2011

Amanda J.

I don't file my nails... >.< Probably not the best? I normally just cut them when they get too long or too peely, splitty. But I'll try some of the Sally Hansen ones, I suppose. I can't buy online, because I don't have a credit/debit whatever. lol Thanks for the info chika!

Dec 21, 2011

Lexi S.

Hi Kelly!.. I actually have a question for you, I have a problem with my nail polishes. It doesn't matter what brand or what color nail polish I use I always seem to have the same problem with the polishes bubbling up as they're drying. Am I doing something wrong? please answer.. thank you :)

Dec 22, 2011

Amanda J.

@Lexi S. All nail polishes do that. It's good to use nail polish thinner or nail polish remover. BUT ONLY USE A TINY BIT!!! Just put a couple drops in the bottle and shake it up. It should work just like new! ^.^

Dec 22, 2011

Lexi S.

thanks for the tip amanda!.. im going to try it out! :) 

Dec 22, 2011

Kelly C.

@ Lexi @Amanda not all nail polishes do that, they only do that if there more than a fe years old or if you shake the bottle before you open it. I know a lot of people think your supposed to shake it but you're not, it causes bubbles in the polish. Do you shake it? Instead of shaking it roll the bottle between your hands. Dont add nail polish remover either!!! lol. It will ruin the polish, only use nail polish thinner if its an older polish. Let me know if this helps :)
 

Dec 23, 2011

Lexi S.

thank you kelly!.. yes i do shake my nail polish up but i thought you were supposed to do that lol, guess not. thanks for the tip! ;)

Dec 23, 2011

Maya J.

Does anyone know if it's possible for me to get Seche Vite top coat somewhere where it isn't like 11 dollars a bottle? I'm only 14 and don't exactly want to spend 11 dollars on top coat, and I go through like a bottle of topcoat every month or so lol.

Dec 23, 2011

Kelly C.

@ Lexi I thought you were supposed to shake it too at first. Then I learned that it creates bubbles in the polish.
Your welcome!!!

Dec 23, 2011

Kelly C.

@Maya
I bought my Seche Vite at Sally's Beauty Supply for $8, which is still a little expensive.
I'm sure you can find it online for cheaper. I will look into it for you and let you know :)

Dec 26, 2011

Malia L.

Seche Vite at Ulta is around $9 but I HIGHLY recommend it! I can go for an entire week without a sign of chipping. I even went two weeks with chips I could see but no one else noticed. I love it! I had to get used to its thickness at first, but I'm getting the hang of it.

I have a question for Kelly or anyone that can help me... I ran across a product that would help me tremendously but I can't remember the name of the company or what exactly it was called but you put it on the skin around your nail before applying polish and it helps keep polish off your skin and/or helps in the removal after polish is dry. I have really curvy nails so no matter how hard I try to keep the polish away from my cuticles and from the skin on the sides, I WILL get polish on my skin! I wanted to try this stuff out but of course I forgot to write it down. Does anyone know of any product or a tip to help me. The corrector pens help, but with really dark polish, especially red, my tips will either refuse to clean up or I will be left with a faint stain until a few showers later and I have to change the tips frequently. I'm about to try carefully applied Vit E oil and see how that works until I can find this elusive product.

Dec 26, 2011

Kelly C.

@ Mailia I've never heard of that product but it sounds great! lol. Did you try google, maybe if you type in "polish skin protector" or idk something like that, you might find it. If you see the name of the company Im sure it you'll remember it.
I've tried the Sally Hansen Corrector Pen too and I felt like it worked the first 2 times I tried it and then it sucked lol. Especially on dark polishes like you said.

What if you tried applying scotch tape on the side of your nails, or Vaseline? I dont know, Im just trying to think of alternatives. I'm gonna do some Google searching and see what I come up with and let you know. :)

Dec 27, 2011

Amanda J.

@ Malia L. Is this it? http://liquidpalisade.com/magento/index.php/liquid-palisade.html I found it on one of the Beautylish articles, and it sounded like what you were talking about. haha

Dec 28, 2011

Sonja T.

@Mailia I agree with Kelly C. Try vaseline or for easier application buy a cheap tube of chapstick. 

Dec 28, 2011

Isabelina B.

Seche Vite is really good :) It leaves your nails super glossy and dries super hard! And it's $7 at CVS.

Dec 29, 2011

Malia L.

Wow, thanks for all the tips! Really appreciate it. Chapstick sounds like a great idea and I've seen scotch tape before, that's probably the most fool proof method for me, lol.

@Amanda J, Yes, that's the stuff! I couldn't remember where I had seen a listing for it - here, youtube or someone's blog and when I googled it I kept getting stain removal tips XD. Thanks everyone!

Dec 29, 2011

Amelia R.

If your nails are peeling, you might want to try prenatal vitamins. I was talking them to make my hair grow and I noticed they really helped make my nails stronger too. I also use Seche Vite topcoat.

Dec 30, 2011

April B.

Hey ladies!

I have been having this issue with my nail polishes lately...I began using Seche Vite a few months ago. At first, it was awesome--however, I noticed after time, my polish started "shrinking" on my nails, leaving the tips and sides of my nails overly exposed after they dried. ARG.

As if that wasn't bad enough, my entire polish would pop right off (like a fake nail!). The entire thing...you could glue it on someone's hand it have it look like theirs--it was so weird! It would happen about 2-3 days after application and made it so ridiculous to work with--then suddenly have missing fingernails (and having your employer bring it to you saying that you dropped a nail, is not ideal).

So, I thought I would try different things. Buffering nails first, using base coat, changing top coats....nothing. I have tried Sally Hansen's Mega Shine and at first it was great--then a few days later, every finger popped right off. So now, I am using Sally Hansen's Anti-Chip and it's been a day and I feel like they are going to pop off again....I'm so paranoid haha

Any advice? Has this happened to any of you? What can I do? My nails are well hydrated and healthy. But I am feeling all sorts of sad about this.