Keeping it local: Gel nails

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you may be aware of the condition my nails are in.  About a year ago I stopped biting them.  On and off I had acrylic nails done to help me stop biting them when they got all weak and short and eventually I felt I had it under control.  Scroll back about two weeks ago and I was posting lovely pictures of my nice long strong nails.  Then, I don't know what happened, but they got really weak and flakey and then short, very short.  I kept filing them and filing them back when they would tear or get a bit long, and to stop me wanting to bite them.

So I put a call in to my usual acrylic girl, she knows the drill by now!  I wanted them done ready for London yesterday but she was fully booked up until the first week of August.  Then I remembered that my friend Charli (from Charli...) had gel nails done in the village I live in and loved them, so I thought I might give that a try instead and hopefully save my nails more than if I had acrylics, especially as I tend to end up ripping them off (I know, that's really bad...).

Let me introduce you to Jodie's Luscious Locks - she specialises in hair extensions and gellish nails, of course, I was there for nails :)  She fitted me in with only a couple of days notice and for a reasonable price (£15, compared to when I get acrylics done for £30).  Here's a bit of a photo diary of it :)

The awful state of my nails before hand, they were seriously weak and bendy :/

Base coat a go-go :) 

Colour being set (I went with a nice teal) 

Silver and holographic glitter being expertly added to the half moons of my nails (and faded upwards) 

Voila! They've grown quite a bit in the last week since these were done!

At the time of writing this I've had them on/done for 6 days - by the time you read this though, it'll be more like 10 days (writing this well in advance as I'm away) :)  So far, there's been no chipping or anything nasty like that, just one nail has a scratch in it (which was my stupid fault) but that's it, they're looking as perfect as when they were done, just slightly longer :)  I'll be interesting to see how long they do eventually last for, or whether I end up just getting bored of them and fancy a different colour, but I am using this in place of acrylics as a way to help me grow my nails again.

Jodie was really lovely when I was there, despite me being late!  She was chatty and professional, I'd definitely go to her again, especially as she's walking distance from my house :)

If you live in the Cardiff area and are looking for gel nails or hair extensions give her shout :)

If you're based in Cardiff I'd really recommend her, here's where you can find her and get in touch:

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This months Bigest-Pixi3 advertiser is the lovely Stacie from Life is worth the fight

 

Written by Georgina Kent