Anyone had gel overlays ?

I have Bio Sculpture gel and I think that's what you mean? Goes over my natural nail and doesn't lengthen. I've had it for about 4 years and get them done every 4-5 weeks (although they call it the 3 week manicure). I get mine done at Nails Inc which is pricey but I buy a course and get them on a discount day so works out at £30 a go instead of £50 if you pay each time. It does strengthen my nails so they don't brake like when they're painted but they can sometimes look a bit false which drives me mad.

I have mine done every 3 weeks as any longer as you can sse the re-growth which looks tacky IMO Mine cost £35 for a whole new set and the in-fills every 3 weeks which cost £25.

Edited to say that it's not a quick precedue, it takes a good 2-2.5 hours to have my re-fills done.

I get mine done every 3 weeks, usually infills which cost £20 and maybe the odd replacement. Getting washing out of a machine or catching my nails on the car door usually results in a breakage! Full set costs £35 I think.

Mine don't take anywhere near 2-2.5 hours for an infill though, 1 hour max and that depends if I have to have any replaced. A whole set might take a bit longer, but it's been a while since I've had that.

I get mine done in Nails Inc and they are fab. I get french done which means I can fill it in myself for a while, I get about 5 weeks out of it. It makes my nails so strong. You can take off the top coat with acetone free polish and re-apply it. That makes your white tips stay really white. I'd definitely recommend it.

I should add that the Nails Inc one isn't an overlay / fake nails thing. It's a polish that's organic, it lets your nails breathe and grow. It's pretty much a polish that's really really good and stays put really well.

Mariko, the one you are talking about sounds good - like the idea of being able to fill myself and getting 5 weeks out of it.

Do you mind me asking how much it costs ?

Hmm, I get mine done by a girl I know who works in Nails Inc but does it cheaper from her house. I *think* it might be the same one Sez is talking about, so around £50. They also charge about £20 for soaking off your previous coating but you can do that yourself by using acetone remover - apply it to pieces of cotton wool, put it on your fingers and wrap in tin foil for about 10 minutes. Anyway, if it's the same as Sez is talking about then maybe there's options to get it on a discount day. £50 would last me 5 weeks, possibly a bit longer if I looked after them better.

Gulp - I've spent too much time in the States and prices of nail things over here always shock me.

I had some done for my wedding and kept them on for about 8 months afterwards. but I must admit I found the whole process more time-consuming than painting my own every day! And even though I went to somewhere recommended by several people, it still took my nails a long while to 'recover' after having them taken off.

(I did love that they never chipped though ?)