Poor Gigi had a horrific experience with her new acrylic nails, which is unfortunate because I just love mine.

Even before acrylic nails were invented I would sometimes wear those awful looking stick on nails!

I don’t recommend stick on nails but I do recommend acrylic nails, as long as you choose a professional.

I just can’t grow my nails, I’ve tried calcium supplements, adding extra dairy to my diet, applying nail hardeners and other “magic” potions, all to no avail.

Over the years I’ve had some disasters...one nail artist ripped my quick and blood covered the table (sorry, that’s a bit gruesome isn’t it).

I’ve had nails created that have been so thick that my nail beds would constantly ache. I’ve also suffered the pain of having my own nails over-filed, resulting in smarting nail beds.

A number of years ago, when I semi-retired and was no longer working in an office, I decided to go ala natural and got rid of my long acrylic talons. I must say it took me quite a few days to get used to not having nails and I tended to stub the tips of my fingers often. My stubby fingers looked stubbier and I felt that my hands looked aged and somewhat ugly.

I persisted and persevered for a couple of years without the "perfect nails" until I became a marriage celebrant and noticed my less that glamorous hands were showing up in a few wedding shots of me signing the marriage certificates with the bride and groom. After the horror of having viewed the photographs, I realised that my flaky, chipped, slightly bitten finger nails just wouldn’t do. I needed to get myself some long, beautiful, lusty looking fingernails.

Initially, I tried a couple of nail artists that were not so good... the application process was painful and my nails were sore for days. I had to renege on the washing up and all other household duties that required the use of fingers (that part wasn't so bad).

Eventually, I found my lovely Hannah from Fresh Nails, a petite Vietnamese lady with soft, small, gentle hands. She is a nail application professional and although the electric drill that she uses looks daunting, I feel no pain.

Hannah, can do a complete set of nails inside of 60 minutes and an infill within 45 minutes - complete with nail polish.

I usually opt for a French polish with a rounded, natural looking shape.

How Are Acrylic Nails Applied?  
 

Step 1

The hands are sanitized.

Step 2

Your nails are trim and filed.

Step3

An electric drill with a soft file tip is used to remove the natural nail shine (the top layer of the nail) in the direction of nail growth.

Step4

Cuticles are pushed back gently with the application of cuticle oil.

Step5

The nail plate is prepared by applying nail prep to remove moisture and oils from the nail.

Step6

Tips are chosen to fit - if you are having a French manicure, and applied with adhesive. Step7

The tips are clipped to the desired length and filed down into the correct form.

Step8

Primer is applied to the natural nail, and allowed to dry to a chalky white (usually under a small desk fan).

Step9

The acrylic is carefully applied by brush to the nails.

Step10

The nails are again filed to smooth out and are then buffed.

Step11

Nails are finally filed into shaped and excessive acrylic is remover underneath the nail.

  
The Cost $$$

In Australia the average nail salon charges around $45-$60 for a full set of nails. An infill is required around every three or four weeks (depending on your nail growth) and costs around $30-$35 including polish. A single nail replacement is around $5. Of course nail salon prices vary.

The Upside.

Gorgeous long, feminine, hand waving, ring bearing fingernails that I'm proud to exhibit. A happy husband who loves having his back scratched.

The Downside.

Having to re-learn the knack of doing up buttons, pulling up zips, unclipping necklaces, opening various cosmetic jars and plucking brows without poking my eyes out.

And last but not least, the downside for me is the never ending trips to the salon for infills (every 3 weeks for me).

If you are not happy with your finger nails, give acrylic nails a go and start letting your hands do the talking!