Nail Polish Addicts Anonymous

starrystarry

Sigh. I'd sacrifice my nails and all my stash to have a job like yours.

A good top coat (Seche Vite, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, Essie Good To Go etc) will help to protect your nails a bit but if you're digging up gravel etc then realistically your manicures are not going to last as long as they do for those of us who do boring jobs, sitting at a desk all day. Do you wear gloves?

dragonette

I'm meant to wear gloves, isn't always possible as you end up pulling them off to do different things and they don't tend to go back on. I try to remember when the ground is very rough but sometimes my nails seem to get scratched just watching the machines got 2 chips today just from moving things onsite. And the workmen seemed to love my nails

And while I love my job, looking and feeling scruffy gets annoying after a while! Would love to manage to have something about me that doesn't look like the cat dragged me backwards threw a hedge after a mudbath.


I think I read that seche vite is quite chemically in smell? My cat would disown me I think!! He avoids his favourite guests after they smoke so would be really angry with me! I read good things about the other two, and variable reveiws of OPI topcoats (the salon used the drop dry stuff which looks ok to me but has scratched a lil).

I can see me ordering stuff soon, and having a fun weekend once I'm home! Poss just as well that I'm working awayt for a few days def getting a nail file. Does anyone know much about Nailtiques? I think formula 3 would be what I need but it seems pretty expensive if it turns out to not work for me.

elantan

dragonette wrote: »

Hi Starry, I'm an archaeologist so work varies but can include a lot of manual labour. I find digging gravels and boulder clay especially damaging. Will def need a good file, ty for the recommendation my nails don't need to be short, its just difficult to grow them longer than 3mm past the finger tip.

The surface of the nail gets badly scratched so I'm hoping to keep a top coat etc on to protect them

jelous.com of the job ... would deff recommend the leighton denny nail file i love it ... maybe a nail envy by o.pi or nailtiques to protect your nails whilst working ... for when you arnt wearing gloves

i use nailtiques formula 2 ... have to admit when i first started wearing it i was getting pain in a few of my nail beds so i stopped using it for a few days ... but it's settled down now ... it is smelly though i would say more smelly than the sechevite .... but the smell does go away honest

i would use the sechevite for a topcoat but maybe the nailtiques or nail envy for every day wear to protect your nails

starrystarry

I'm a huge Nailtiques fan but it's formula 2 that I use so I don't know whether formula 3 is any good. I think it's trial and error anyway to find something that suits your nails, everyone's are different. OPI Nail Envy has various different formulations as well, so you might find one of those to suit.

I know what you mean about the gloves, its the same when I'm gardening. I know I should keep them on but sometimes...

Gillyx

Is it Wednesday for GOSH? I'm planning on being at my Superdrug for it opening. If anyone would like me to try and get them one, just drop me a pm x

dragonette

Thnks Elantan Hmmm I need to start a list! So far I think a Leighton Denny file, maybe an OPI nail envy topcoat (as the polish and current topcoat seem to suit my nails ok).

I thought the Nailtiques 3 as its for brittle/splitting nails. Unless I read their website wrong which is eminently possible!

I'll add my gloves to kit instead of keeping them in the van, maybe I'll remember to put them on more!

elantan

i tend to keep my gardening gloves in my pocket ( they aint that big ... and my pocket is usually all dirty by the time i'm done) as it is so easy to just forget them

would your nails be brittle and split if it wasnt for your work? i'm just wondering if maybe using o.p.i or something and it protects your nails then maybe you wouldnt need formula 3 ... mine flake but only when i mess them up ( take off my shellac or gel nails by picking it off) so i use my nailtiques till it settles again ( still awaiting them to settle down ... that's been since june 1st) ... but once it has settled i will go back to o.p.i

i find the nailtiques goes on nice and thick so maybe good for protecting ?

not to worry i am sure you will soon be stamping and joining challenges with the rest of us

dragonette

My nails were always a bit flaky but never this bad. They just don't grow as long when I'm working onsite, and of course the damage stays till it grows out. From the looks of them atm it gonna take a month or two to grow out the splits and flakes at least. Ugh.

I think I'd prefer to try OPI before Nailtiques, seems a shame as I cannot guarantee that I can look after them properly.

I'm working away atm so would be the perfect time to put the work in and start experimenting

elantan

deff go for it then i think you will get on well with the o.p.i they do some great stuff and lovely colours ... i am like you in the sense i dont have long nails at all due to work (sadly i am not doing as interesting a job as you )

let us know how you go

have fun

dragonette

Stupid double posting!! Will order tonight and collect on sat once I'm home. Have no idea where any of my stuff is, its def not with me! Small town so only emery boards etc in the shops. Hmmmm, time to get creative! My poor toenails...