DIY Nails

How to have nice hands without spending an hour of your time and £50 in a nail salon

by Claire

Last week was feet and this week it’s hands! I’ve been on a mission for months to get better looking hands and nails. You see, for a very long time, I had acrylic nails. Every three weeks I would dutifully go and have them infilled, every fifth time a fresh set was put on. I have had my natural nails drilled and soaked in acetone dozens and dozens of times, and in the end felt untroubled by their witchy condition because they were always covered by brightly covered shiny acrylic.

Various things made me want to stop: the price crept up to £50 (in a normal, high street London salon including a tip - I don’t think this is an unreasonable price given inflation and the kind of service btw, I just can’t afford it). Time constraints meant I really struggled to get the infills done regularly, and the longer I left it between appointments the more likely it was that one of the acrylics pinged off or cracked, leading me to peel them all off. Plus they suddenly just didn’t look right. They looked a bit basic, a bit dated, not chic.

I had them removed (read blasted off with a literal drill) and read up about nail care. I bought a little bottle of cuticle oil and kept it on my desk to blob on during the many dull moments in my work day. I bought strengthening polish, and hand cream, and a nail file. Weeks passed, but my nails were still discouragingly bendy and paper thin.

I have however tried something new that has really made a difference, and FAST.