Nail Tek Marooned, and naked nails ahead

This week has been too long and exhausting, so nice to sleep in on a Saturday! It's just after 3 p.m. yet it looks like dusk already. This is actually one of the polishes my parents got me for my birthday earlier this month. My dad was especially against my ever growing nail polish obsession to begin with, but I guess after my mum joined the dark side, he just gave up.
I've only tried Nail Tek base coat before, and did not really like it, so this was the first coloured polish I tried, and I actually rather like it. It must be the colour. I know it is not that original and can probably find dozens that look the same, but it's dark, it's red, it only needs 2 coats, it dries quickly on me and I like it. One thing that I don't particularly like it the shape and size of the bottle. It's taller and thinner than for example Orly or China Glaze and it's not that comfortable to use, but I suppose it is just a matter of getting used to it. The shape of the bottle also means that the brush is long (just to compare the cap and the brush is the same length as the entire height of OPI bottle).


I was asked to show my nails without polish a few times now. So now seemed like a good time. They are not that yellow and not too short. After breaking a few nails, I filed them off completely, shorter than they've ever been. Below they are after about two and a half weeks, not too bad.

My nail care routine

This post has been a long time in the making. Almost every week I get messages asking me what I do to my nails to make them look and grow the way they are. Some of my friends wonder the same thing, so I guess it’s time to share. I by no means say that this is the best way to do it, or that it work on everyone, but it works for me.

I’ve always loved long nails, and for years mine would only grow a couple of millimetres before breaking or snapping off (oh, I’m naturally VERY clumsy!). Also for ages I used to prefer square nails only to have the sides crack and break. Then some three or four years ago I was inspired by Dita von Teese to do a half moon manicure in red. I loved it so much that I wore it for a year straight.

As to what I do exactly it can be summed up into these points:

Two or three times a year I take vitamins for the nails, skin and hair. To my mind they do absolutely nothing for the skin or hair (mine are as bad as ever), but a few months down the line I definitely see a difference with my nails – they are stronger and don’t break as easily.

A good base coat that works for you adds additional strengths for my nails. I usually switch between OPI Nail Envy and a ridge filler, I just got a China Glaze one and am keen to see how it works. It also protects my nails from staining.

I use a couple of nail files. The main one has a fine grain and is made of glass, it is the best for me and it lasts for ages unless I sit on (it doesn’t break when I drop it on the floor). But I also use a coarse emery board that I use to file my length partly down and then I finish with the glass one. I never use scissor on my nails, and also very rarely buff my nails.

I believe in not over-filing my nails. I only use a nail file in two cases – if I get a snag or if I’m changing the shape or length of my nails. That’s it. I know people who would file a little bit before painting their nails every time, or as a precautionary measure, but I avoid it at all costs. I go weeks without touching my nails with a file.

I find that shaping my nails round allows me to grow them longer than when they are square. I think it is because then there is only one smooth rounded edge. Also to achieve a nice square shape I grow them out round first and then turn them into a square shape.

For my cuticles I have a big bottle of Cuccio cuticle remover. It’s nothing particularly special, but it does the job. I use it a couple of times a week when I notice my cuticle getting a bit unruly. I used to swear by Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover, but for years now it is nowhere to be found around here. I’ve also tried Sally Hansen Problem Cuticle Remover, it was an utter fail; it didn’t work at all.

To keep my cuticles nourished I have Mavala Mavapen and Avoplex Cuticle Oil To Go. I’m not sure they actually do much, but they certainly provide a short-term relief.

I don’t really use nail cream very often, just when I feel my hands get a bit dry. My pet peeve is having greasy hands from the cream and waiting for a long time for it to dry. I have 2 that I turn to – Avoplex Replenishing Hand Lotion and Pure Coconut Hand Cream. The first one I like for the fact that it absorbs really fast, it doesn’t feel greasy and smells of hyacinths. The second one I mostly like for the scent, I love the scent of coconut! It is more nourishing and I use it more during the winter.

Base and top coats that I use and [mostly] like

A couple of people have asked me what kind of products I use to keep my nails gin a good shape. Over the years I've tried many different ones but am never truly satisfied with them, so I keep searching for more.

Base Coats:
OPI Original Nail Envy - I think that this is my favourite one for now. It works well, keeps my nails from changing colour no matter what kind of polish I try. It also made my nails stronger I think, but mine are hard to begin with. This base coat made the biggest difference for my mum's nails. After years of having short and fragile nails from all the cooking and cleaning she managed to grow them out after using nail envy.
Revlon Nail Care Base Coat - I have had it for a few months now and I can't say anything bad about it, it's okay. One thing that bugs me is the printing on the bottle. I don't know what's up with that, but it rubbed off within days. I'm sure that eventually I won't be able to tell it apart from the top coat that looks exactly the same.
Orly Ridgefiller - I got this after I tried it at a friend of mine. It works well for me, fills the gaps and dries fairly fast. There's just one bad point, it goes thick very quickly, in a matter of weeks for me. Oh well, nothing that a thinner can't fix.
Other base coats I've tried:
Orly Bonder - well this did absolutely nothing for me. It did not prolong the wear of my polish, quite the opposite. Most of my polishes would start chipping within a day. A total fail for me.
Nailtek II - hmm, this is another base that did not work for me or my mum. It did not do anything at all, did not make the nails stronger etc.

I must admit that I am really bad at using top coats, I use them not very often or on a regular basis. Regularly I only use top coat on bright red polish. This is a habit from the time I was at school, so that I didn't leave bright red streaks on all my books, notes etc. Top coats don't really add anything to my experience with polishes, apart from yet more time needed for drying and another chance to bum into something and ruin everything. yes, I'm that clumsy :)
I actually don't even own a fast drying top coat. Shock horror, I know!

The only ones I have at the moment are:
Orly Glosser - it's perfectly adequate for what it is, it adds shine to polish when I use it, really nothing more to add here.
Revlon Nail Care Top Coat - this I really like, and it is unexpected, as my dad chose this for me on his trip to London. It says on the back that it dries completely in 60 seconds. That I thing is a bit of wishful thinking, but still. What I totally adore about this top coat is the texture it gives to the polish. Nails feel kind of slippery and wet. Great!
Nailtek Matte Top Coat - this is a rather sucky one, I have to admit, yet it is the best I can find here for now. It does make the polish rather matte. But the effect doesn't last for more than a day, and it turns the polish brittle, so in 2 or 3 days is breaks off in big pieces. I like to use this only on bare nails, then it's ok.

I've also tried Orly Flash Dry Drops. I highlights my problem with top coats in general. It does add shine, and is dry to the touch in a matter of minutes, but it still takes at least 30 minutes to be completely dry, and for me that is the same as when I just use the polish alone. For me this product also seemed to shrink the polish, so that it looks like the polish has worn off at the tips. It's fine with light polish, but sucks with dark ones.