Sunday, November 22, 2009
Taking a Break
Not from blogging, but I am taking a break from my glue-ons, so I don't know how many polish posts I'll be doing for the next few weeks.
Recently, I've been thinking about trying to give my natural nails a chance to really grow, but I didn't feel comfortable doing it. I just didn't want to go out in public without my glue-ons. Then I received an email from Marlo Marketing regarding new products from Dermelect Cosmeceuticals. I thought it was just a press release, but then they offered to send me samples. I received samples of their stregthener, ridgefiller, and nail thickener. So I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to see if I can actually grow out my real nails.
Yesterday, I took off my glue-ons and took pics of my natural nails. They are embarassing, but I don't think I can give you all a fair review without showing you what I started with. It's been a year almost exactly since I got my acrylics and almost nine months since I took them off. There was tons of damage from the acrylic application. However, I realize had I not been applying glue-ons, they probably wouldn't still be in this condition, but it was a double-edged sword. I didn't want to show my natural nails so I applied glue-ons and I didn't like the condition of my natural nails because of the glue-ons. It was a never-ending cycle.
So, here are my nails after I took off my glue-ons. This is just my left hand, because I could not get pics of my right hand to come out.
Recently, I've been thinking about trying to give my natural nails a chance to really grow, but I didn't feel comfortable doing it. I just didn't want to go out in public without my glue-ons. Then I received an email from Marlo Marketing regarding new products from Dermelect Cosmeceuticals. I thought it was just a press release, but then they offered to send me samples. I received samples of their stregthener, ridgefiller, and nail thickener. So I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to see if I can actually grow out my real nails.
Yesterday, I took off my glue-ons and took pics of my natural nails. They are embarassing, but I don't think I can give you all a fair review without showing you what I started with. It's been a year almost exactly since I got my acrylics and almost nine months since I took them off. There was tons of damage from the acrylic application. However, I realize had I not been applying glue-ons, they probably wouldn't still be in this condition, but it was a double-edged sword. I didn't want to show my natural nails so I applied glue-ons and I didn't like the condition of my natural nails because of the glue-ons. It was a never-ending cycle.
So, here are my nails after I took off my glue-ons. This is just my left hand, because I could not get pics of my right hand to come out.
Hand
Thumb (I have bad ridging on this nail).
I applied the product yesterday for the first time, then I went back today, removed it and reapplied it. Here's how my left hand looks now.
I was able to use the ridge filler to basically build up the area on my nails where all I have is nail bed (basically the tips of my ring and pinky fingers) and I also used it to smooth out the bad ridges on my thumb.
I know they don't look great, but I think it's a huge change from my naked nails. I used one coat of each product. The pink/grey shimmer is the color of the ridge filler. It looks a lot like OPI Give Me the Moon.
I will be sure to give you all links to the products when I do my final review, which should be in a couple weeks. I may start polishing my natural nails in a few days, but for now, I'm just going to stick to the ridge filler color. I will be posting updates along the way.
Here's hoping I'll be able to polish my natural nails in a few weeks. I like the way my glue-ons look, but I don't like the hassle of applying them every 2-3 days.
I will be sure to give you all links to the products when I do my final review, which should be in a couple weeks. I may start polishing my natural nails in a few days, but for now, I'm just going to stick to the ridge filler color. I will be posting updates along the way.
Here's hoping I'll be able to polish my natural nails in a few weeks. I like the way my glue-ons look, but I don't like the hassle of applying them every 2-3 days.
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10 comments:
I'm keeping my fingers crossed and sending healthy nail vibes your way!
Soon enough you'll have lovely natural nails!
I took off my acrylic nails and now they are on again :D It's nice to have own nails to grow and get stronger for a while but I never have my natural nails look as good as with glue-ons. Good treatment is LCN Nail Serum.
What a shame to have such damage. Just try to stay strong and keep applying the products. Look at Judy's nails on beautyjudy. Her nails are really looking good. Her ridges are almost grown out.
Oh I so hope this treatment is going to help you! That's some pretty bad damage.
Just remember: tlc and proper care will eventually help to grow all of this out and your nails will thank you for it.
I'm just wondering what the hell was going through your nail techs minds when they were trashing your nails. Lack of education isn't even an excuse, every sane person would know not to do this to natural nails.
I think you are brave, posting this!
I send you many good thoughts, and a healthy scope of patience (you will need that!)
I didn't start to really take care of my nails until about a year and a half ago, before that I never wore any polish and was an occational nail biter with very short nailbeds and thin and vulnerable nails. With patience and care, I think anyone can have strong heathy nails.
Good Luck!
Thank you, all.
I had a huge reply all typed out and then I lost it. Here's hoping I can remember what I said. LOL.
I'm hoping these treatments work, too. I realize that if I used biotin, my nails would grow stronger and faster, but I have a weird issue swallowing large pills, and usually supplements are ginormous horse pills, so I can rarely take them. I have tried liquid vitamin supplements, but (shudder), the taste is horrid. So, unfortunately, I have to use stuff on the back end.
At this point, I no longer blame my tech. Sure, he did some bad things to my nails, the last of which, knicking my nail bed on my left ring finger, caused me to get an infection. That was what ultimately led me to take them off. But I was the one that kept applying glue ons. I just couldn't stand to show my real nails. Like I mentioned above, it was a vicious cycle.
I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that my natural nails were permanantly damanged. However, they had grown out to the point where it wasn't horribly embarrassing to go out in public, so once I got the email from Dermelect and read their literature, I figured I'd be stupid not to give them a try.
If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. I'm hopeful, but skeptical at the same time. However, it's been 2 days and my nails no longer hurt at the tips. I am having to apply Mango Mend to my cuticles and fingertips as they are drying out, but I think that's more to the weather here and the constant use of heat, than anything else.
Thank you, again, for the well wishes. I really hope that this works. My natural nails have never been anything special, which is why I went to acrylics in the first place, but I'm willing to give them a chance to be better than they are now.
Best wishes to you. Please do grow your nails back. I have seen such nasty nail conditions when people have stuck false nails on. Please love them more. The treatments DO seem to be working so keep going. Forget supplements. There are lots of lovely fruit and vegetable juices that do taste good but don't abuse the nails you have! The product is obviously working so don't give up!
Right, there, jaljen said it all!
Do not worry about huge pills, normal food will be just what you want.
Be very strict about not poking under your nails, letting the nail beds grow. It is really so easy!
Well done you, both for sharing the pics of your natural nails and for taking the plunge to give up on stick-ons. It'll take time to restore the health to your nails & skin but you've taken the first step(s). I'm looking forward to reading about and seeing your progress.
Just to let you know the Biotin is a little round pill. You can get them when your situation is better.
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