Oooer!!

[Ally]

It cost me about £35 for a set of gels and £17 for infills the last few times.....

I've just checked with Shirl (colleague) and it's definitely 12 euros for gel. And 2 of hers have little flowers on them too.

[Diflower]

Kaz I didn't imagine you bit yours, just meant that would make a difference
I am lucky with mine, they grow really well, I just leave them till they start splitting or breaking, chop them right down and ignore them again...

But it does make me a bit lazy about looking after them
In theory, I use a nail & cuticle cream plus an oil thing, but nowhere near often enough for either
Also, like now, I suddenly notice they're about as long as they should ever get, haven't been filed nicely and need a bit of attention
Another tomorrow job then

[Gal]

I never seem to have time to pamper mine....no wonder they flake and split

I purposely didn't ever have gel nails or anything false because of the expense.....I go through phases of really looking after them and having a lengthy manicure (DIY!) every few days....but then after a few weeks of this I get bored and stop and my nails are unpolished and bare again for weeks. They are at that stage now.

[Kaz]

Ally so many things seem to be much more expensive here than either in Europe or the States

Di you are right about the nail biting ruining them, so I get your point You are lucky to have good nails, my sister does too, hers are lovely strong ovals, although she rarely paints them

It has been lovely, having nice nails for the past few years, and I definitely want to keep them looking polished but I just wanted 'out' from the tyranny of the fake ones The expense was never tooooo bad Gal, as I only needed a new set a few times a year, and the infills about once every three or four weeks, it was more about having to be mindful of them all the time, and then lately the fact that they weren't lasting without splitting Plus it was never the nicest of experiences, the chemical smells in the nail shop sometimes made me feel a bit light-headed (last time I had to excuse myself halfway through and go to the loo and put my head between my legs ) and it always took ages!

I'm going to buy some nail cream or oil - any recommendations?

[Diflower]

Actually Kaz I've had all kinds and stuff from Avon has been at least as good as Sally Hansen or Opi etc.
In fact you've reminded me to go online and see if they still do the exfoliating bottle, mine's almost empty and no Avon rep any more.
When I'm on the pc I'll find some links

[Ally]

Actually Kaz I've had all kinds and stuff from Avon has been at least as good as Sally Hansen or Opi etc.
In fact you've reminded me to go online and see if they still do the exfoliating bottle, mine's almost empty and no Avon rep any more.
When I'm on the pc I'll find some links

In the next village to us it has been discovered a Spanish lady sells Avon!!!! Joy and jubilation!

I also have strong nails but tend to 'pick' round my cuticles.

Must get some nail oil from Avon now - I used to use something akin to that in the UK and it was really good (from my Avon lady)

[Kaz]

Oooh righto, thanks - will look forward to those links xxxx

I've been a 'picker' too Ally Having the fake nails stopped all that as they whizz away any bits, but I'll have to be careful of that

[Diflower]

Can't find damn all Kaz
What I have is a little bottle of exfoliating stuff, sort of gel with bits in, plus a lovely cuticle cream, but can't find anything like that online
Oil's quite good but I'm bad at remembering to use it

Anyway, you shamed me into doing mine so here's trying with photos from my phone
Before

WP_20150428_10_25_30_Pro.jpg (88.55 KiB) Viewed 3441 times

And after

WP_20150428_10_49_31_Pro.jpg (96.02 KiB) Viewed 3441 times

Kaz if you're saving money by not having the gel nails you could treat yourself to an occasional 'ordinary' manicure instead

[Workingman]

I had a split in my index fingernail. I mentioned it in a thread on here, and the only thing that worked was to keep rubbing in tea tree oil a couple of times a day till it grew out.

You have done a pretty good job there Di.

[Ally]

Ooooh very smart looking Di - that length is just a smidge longer than how I like mine.

Kaz has certainly started something on this thread - I'm going to give myself a manicure and nail painting session on Friday morning now!

Reading for my weekend in Torremolinos.