nails

Book a professional manicure a day or so before. Tell them you prefer natural/french and that your're doing it because a friend or your fiance has hinted that they're going to propose and you want fab fingers, but don't want him to see that you know anything special is happening.

I'd g shellac now, to keep them strong, then do it again before wedding.

i use shellac all the time and my nails rarely break plus they have a glossy finish. It doesn't damage them but I would recommend sticking with CND shellac as opposed to other brand which personally I don't find as good and can be more stubborn to remove causing potential for damage.

the only downside is you need to professionally remove it, and it does take off the natural shine for a couple of weeks when you stop using it. This is easily resolved by sticking on clear polish though.

I agree with Manda79. I have a regular fortnightly shellac. It takes about an hour and a half each appoinment as I get the old soaked off and new put on. I love this time. I get to sit, gossip and share wedding plans! It's also great to choose new colours each time and I still find it a novelty to have my ring finger all sparkly to match my ER.

I don't keep my nails particularly long so my manicurist files them every time. I know with my wedding coming up in just over 4 weeks that I won't break any nails before then and I have made plans for my wedding shellac with my manicurist too.

I know its not advice to me, but that would be an hour and a half of torture for me - I'm not good at chat face to face with people I don't know.

That said, I'd love to try it and see the results. There's probably somewhere in Canary Wharf I can look at.

BubbleBees, it probably does help if you get on with the person doing your nails. I am naturally a chatty person, but hate anyone fussing over me too closely. One thing to remember is that the manicurist is concentrating on your nails, it kind of takes away some of the intensity. I love a shellac as it lasts and looks so much better than doing your own (which I always chip within a day of doing them!)

Mine takes an hour tops including removal.

often I don't chat because quite frankly I'm often quite anti social and not one for small talk- other times I may chat. I feel under no pressure either way. People just annoy me sometimes with inane irrelevant small talk ( god I'm a miserable cow!)

I had mine done with the clever varnish that's like shellac (although I think it was something else) my mum and bridesmaids all did too. I destroy nail varnish practically immediately so it was good for me, it lasted about 8 daysbefore I peeled it off, it drives me nuts eventually. One bridesmaid has it done regularly so she was ok, my mum however has amazing nails naturally so just went for clear, and couldn't get it off (I'd bought at home removal pads but she didnt get on with them) and she said her nails were awful afterwards. So I say if you go for it, make sure you have it professionally removed afterwards.

I had gel polish (no shellac for me as I'm a vegan) and it lasted perfectly, not a chip in sight. It's just a different type of polish, it doesn't add length to your nails.

Another fortnightly shellac girl here! Would recommend.

My sister arranged for a shellac manicure. I am now completely addicted.

You can remove it yourself by soaking cotton wool in acetone and wrapping that covered in aluminum foil on you finger tips for 2-4 minutes then scrapping it off. It dries out the nails so moisturize well!

Been for my fortnightly tonight...loving this one!

Thank you so much for the advice xxx

Oooh, nice.

Now trying to get over myself and book a proper manicure next week for the hell of it!

Elemenden, super pretty nails there!

I'm a Shellac addict but I can't spend £50 a month on nails anymore, boohoo. I bought a Sensationail kit and do it at home now, I LOVE it so much and it was worth every penny but they only last about a week whereas the Shellac makes it a full fortnight. After I qualify I'm going back to getting them fortnightly. Having nice nails feels so good!