Nails
My history with nails
When I first started out as Juliette, I just couldn't get the hang of natural nails. As you will see below, not a lot has changed. The key difference today vs when I started is that I now maintain my natural nails longer 100% of the time and I'm more practiced at dealing with longer nails on a day to day basis.
When I started, I was paranoid about people judging the length of my nails or being able to see the telltale signs of polish when I haven't been able to clean them properly. I would be happier in winter if I thought I could get away with wearing gloves...
I found that as I got more comfortable with my identity, this paranoia faded and I was more comfortable wearing nails from day to day. Having said that, my nails are not the strongest and it takes a lot of effort to look after them and maintain them effectively. I don't know if am genetically cursed or if I am doing something wrong but I never think of my nails as strong.
Growing your nails
Today I try to keep my nails longer and painted all the time, it's a daily expression of femininity which I really enjoy. Having said that, it's an absolute bugger to keep them without breaking and I am constantly walking around with at least one miserably shorter nail.
Wearing nails varnish all the time helps to strengthen the nails. If you are worried about the right colour to use, I would recommend using the base pink from a French Manicure set. You can find these in any supermarket and are designed to look very natural, just a little bit shiner than usual.
Today I will tend to use something that is pinkish but usually with a little sparkle thrown in. It does get noticed from time to time but it's not super eye catching.
False Nails
I love false nails, they are instantly beautiful and if you are looking to complete a look, they are perfect. However, I have one huge problem with them:
It is really hard to put in my contact lenses with false nails on. I can't do my makeup without my contact lenses in. Hence, by the time I've done my makeup, putting on and painting false nails to look really nice is a problem. I just run out of time and I don't have 30-60 minutes after I'm made up to let them dry properly.
My tip is to be organised.
Pre-painting false nails
When I buy nails, I buy a set usually with 10 sizes and about 25-50 nails in each size. I work out which 5 sizes fit my fingers best and I label each bag (T for thumb, M for Middle etc...)
I then take a pair of nails from each bag (keep them organised) and I mount them on cocktail sticks or something similar using blu tack on the underside of the nail. The only thing that matters is that you can hold them up without touching the nail and then safely put them down again to dry. Think cocktail sausages stuck into a potato at a birthday party...
This should allow you to pre-paint the nail and achieve a flawless finish in advance. You then have a couple of options for sticking the nail on.
Glue vs Tabs
This is really a question of longevity and convenience. Each has it's benefits and for me they work well provided you don't expect too much from them.
Glue - Best for strength
I use glue when I intend to wear my nails for at least a few days and I'm not in any urgency to take them off. You certainly can remove glued nails after a single night but in my experience you are going to need to spend a lot of time removing the glue from your nail afterwards.
Even with the strength, glued nails can simply 'ping' under pressure (e.g. adjusting shape wear in a bathroom) and once they are off, they are staying off, unless you brought more glue with you.
Tabs - best for temporary and reuse
Nail tabs are little sticky pads which bond the nails together. Think about the rubbery glue that holds your bank card to the letter it arrives with.
These are super convenient because they can be removed in seconds with no damage to your nail. Also, you can peel them off and reuse the nicely painted nail another time.
They will come away with too much pressure and will not stand up to opening a can for example but for a night out I find them pretty good. Also, if they do come away, you can usually stick them back on again and nurse them through the rest of the night. In the picture, I haven't worn that nail in over 6 years and the glue is still sticky enough to hold it in place under light pressure.
