I've been a little crazy this week and I am still on a high from talking to two of the Deadliest Catch captains last night, so this is going to be a quickie (and not in that good "the kids are playing Lego Star Wars honey, let's go for it" way). What's more, I am writing this in the spirit of "physician heal thyself", because I haven't had a manicure in over a month.
How are your nails? I am assuming clean unless you are reading this 3 minutes after you re-mulched the front yard. And if you are, then step away from the computer and go wash your hands!
Perhaps you are one of those moms sporting acrylic nails and can find time for the regular refills. If you are, I hate envy you. I barely have time to go to the bathroom by myself, much less find 2 hours straight (including drying time) every two weeks for the upkeep that they require. They do look wonderful, but until The Queen enters pre-school, I don't see that happening (and besides - I'm cheap and don't want to spend the money).
But 30 minutes and $14 (including tip) every few weeks on no set schedule? THAT I can do.
"But we're moms! Between laundry, dishes and baths, we spend a large portion of the day with our hands in water. How can we keep the polish from chipping and peeling?"
The answer is - you can't...not if you plan on keeping your natural nails. You can slow down the process by always wearing gloves when you put your hands in water, but there just seems something wrong with wearing gloves to shampoo your child's hair! What you can do is make sure that your cuticles are trimmed, your nails are shaped and even and hangnails are kept in check.
And whatever you do, please don't make this mistake:
Ladies, the MINUTE the polish starts to chip, get out the remover and take it off. Don't try to fill in the chipped spot with a drop of polish. Unless you were a nail tech in your past life, that never looks good. Just get the polish off and spend the rest of the day admiring how nice and neat your nails look. The polish on my nails usually only lasts a few days before I have to take it off. But even without the polish, they still look good when I manage to get in semi-regular manicures.
Just a few hints though:
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make sure that you go to the bathroom BEFORE your manicure. Nothing is more annoying than smudging your nails because you had to pee before they were dry
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Try an "American Manicure". It's very much like a French Manicure, except that the tips aren't that stark-white color. If your polish does start to chip, it won't be as noticeable and it will even look good if your nails are short.
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Proper nutrition will go a long way to giving you nice nails. If you can't get your vitamins through a balanced diet, make sure that you are taking a multi-vitamin.
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Wear gloves when you are cleaning. I keep gloves under the sink in every bathroom in the house (right next to the cleaning products)
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Moisturize! Keep hand cream in your purse, in the car, in the kitchen, everywhere. Keeps those hands soft and supple and you will have fewer hangnails!
And tomorrow, I am taking my own advice. While the boys are at Karate I'll scooch next door to the nail salon for a manicure. Then it's off to a bead trade show so that I can stock up on gemstones and sterling!
Why is it whenever I try to type a short post it ends up being much longer than I thought?
Say What?
My hands are sorry looking. Always have been. I keep trying to trade them in for newer models, but no one is buying it.
I will try though.
Daisy
I recommend Gel Nails - Hardier than their acrylic counterparts, no drying time necessary - takes less than an hour every two weeks... Look into it - I promise, you won't regret it! I know I don't!
Daisy
OH!!! PS: No chipping!!!! 😀
Tara R.
Great tips! I buy a box of surgical style gloves and use them for just about everything. They are cheap and you get 50 pairs for the price of 2-3 reusable ones, and you just throw them away after using them.
Valarie in AL
I really like the natural look of nails. I'm in need of a manicure though. Gonna have to work on that this weekend.
Melody
Oooh - I wonder if I can sneak away in the morning before the Hubby gets back into town? LOL!
Darla
I JUST started giving myself mini-manicure with a new product I'll be sharing NEXT week on fight the frump. 😉
The polish doesn't chip or build up and get yucky, it disinegrates (it's a light color), how's that for a lazy manicure? LOL
Sandy (Momisodes)
Oh I am in SUCH DESPERATE need of a manicure. I bite my nails from time to time, and I have little nubs. Getting nice manicure always helps curb this habit 🙂
mah-meeee
I came over from Fussy's site... love your post!
Even though I'd love to get my nails done, I think I'll just have to stick to the 'natural' look and just keep it nice and trim for now. Kudos to those who finds the time to do so... I have much to learn!
Michelle@Life with Three
My nails desperately need a manicure -- I'm putting this on the to-do list for next week. Thanks for the encouragment to do so! 🙂
Mindi
Say What: I didn't make good on my promise. When I got to Karate I realized that the nail salon doesn't open for another hour. Still trying to get there!
Daisy: sure - go ahead and rub your perfect nails in my face. Why don't you post another picture of them on your blog and make me even more jealous? ;-P
Tara: That's what I use - surgical gloves. I think that I pay about $2 for 10 pairs. I tried those yellow ones like our moms used to have, but I like the tight fit of the other ones.
Mindi
Valarie & Melody: Did you get to the salon? 'cause I sure didn't!
Darla: I've been horrible about keeping up with the blogs lately, but I can't wait to read about that product (as long as it isn't Mary Kay 😉 ). Please remember to send me the link or remind me on here!
Sandy - don't worry - you are cool enough that you can get away with nubby nails. Wish the same could be said for me...
Mah-meee: thanks for stopping by! Oh - and I too have a SERIOUS addiction to black boots!
Michelle: happy to help! Now I just need to take my own advice before my cuticles take over!