Nails - tell me all!

I'm not a fan of false tips do can't offer advice there.

The best long lasting gel manicure I have had was bio sculpture gel. I just had a nude colour but there are lots of lovely others available. It will not chip and lasted my whole two week holiday until I had them removed. I had my toes done too and they lasted a month until they looked tatty. But again they hadnt chipped and were stilll smooth and shiny.

Getting them done the same before will be no problem.

Pricewise it will be £20-£30 for a manicure in my experience. Luckily I have a friend who does mine for £10!

IMO they are all similar. I;ve had both gel and acrylic and I prefer acrylic. Thats not to say gel nails are rubbish, I just found acrylic stayed on better than gels. Shellac, I believe, are a stronger, quicker-drying gel nail.

How well do your own nails grow? I'm having an acrylic overlay on my nails. I'll grow them to just longer than I want them (to allow for filing into shape) and they'll put the acrylic directly onto my nail. As I'm making my own cake, I cant afford to have long nails that will get messy/in the way etc. Also, by having the overlay instead of a tip, my nails will be a managable length and wont get in the way with make-up etc.

Hope this helps, sorry for rambling!

ETA> you should expect to pay anywhere between £25-£35ish depending on what you have

In my recent quest to have the perfect nails for our wedding I discovered Shelac - it basically is a nail varnish that just don't come off, I had a colour put on and it didn't budge for about 3 weeks! Pitty it doesn't come in French but id go back for more. To have them removed I did have to get it professionally done and it didnt stop my nails from breaking I would defiantly have them done again.

I'm a nail biter, and have been all my life, so I recently started getting extensions. I get fibreglass tips as they were recommended by the technician at the salon I went to. I've had mine on for a few months now, I've had them in filled a couple of times, but they've lasted really well. Like you I was worried about being able to do all the normal sorts of things, but I've been ok! Mine cost £30 originally, and about £20 for the infills as and when I've needed them. Hope this helps.

Im having a gel overlay over my nails - it doesnt add length or anything just makes them strong.

I had it done a couple of months ago as a trial and it last for 2 weeks. The thing i liked best was that it was rock hard before I even left the salon

Sounds like you dont want acrylics or something that needs maintenance but something short term for the actual wedding.

Before I had acrylics and gel, I used to use boradway brand natural deceptions glue on nails. They cost about £7.50 from Boots, I could do them myself at home & come with lots of replacement nails if one falls off. They used to last a week or 2, and no lasting damage to my nails. The also come in various shapes (square, round, short etc) & different colours.

Hi there!

I'm a nail tech and would definitely recommend Gelish which is a similar product to Shellac. It's basically a hybrid gel polish - it's applied like nail polish e.g. base coat, 2 x coats of colour & top coat but between each coat you place your hand under the UV or LED light to "set" it.

Gelish is basically a "2/3 week manicure" and if you are going on honeymoon after your wedding it will last throughout - stays super shiny & no dulling or scratching to the nail surface so it stays nice and fresh looking!

I've applied Gelish to many a brides and it will also be my choice for my wedding day - and yes I'll be applying myself! Let me know if you have any questions. I would advise you go for "Red Roses" if you do decide to go with Gelish as it is the perfect pillar box red / pin-up colour you are after! Here's a pic on the FB page: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=227869920578879&set=a.170724656293406.37445.167429123289626&type=3&theater