When did you discovered you like nail polish?

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For me it was when my two oldest daughters. They were 3 & 5 at the time ask they could paint my nails. Because my wife at time always told them no and I never cared what people think of me anyways. So I let them and we had fun picking out colors out their toy make-up boxes.

I fell in love with the whole process and every weekend that was our thing. Then my other daughters were born and now granddaughters.

Its our thing, sometimes we all go to nail salon and get nails done.

Thats how I got started with painted nails. But I'm also a guy a to and not what my profile says. If you got problem with that. Get off your high horse and grow up

PS
In case you're wondering if I'm not some kind pervert or something if that's what you're thinking. I do have a wife and family.

Plus I'm Fabulously Famous on here

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Luckylu · 61-69, F Best Comment

I was a nail biter my whole life until recently and my nails are weak and thin. I would often try to grow them out but would get impatient with the splitting and tearing. I never had nail files on me or nail clippers so I would often bite or tear the nail that split or tore off before it caught on something. I tried nail polish off and on throughout my life but it would never stay on my nails for longer than a day or two. Plus I could never stop biting them for long.

It wasn't until recently that I have come to like it and only the gel nail polish.

Recently after a major change in my life, I discovered I was no longer biting my nails. This was not a conscious effort on my part. It just happened and I can only assume it is because of the lowered stress. I let them grow but again have Iproblems with the splitting and tearing because they are still weak. A couple months ago, I ran across gel nails, then discovered they have gel polish. I tried the glue on nails but those never lasted more than three or four days and was damaging my nails.

I researched to see if I could get any products to help naturally strengthen my nails. I knew this would take several months and even then might not work. I came across a nail strengthener product and I asked one of the employees at Sally's about it. She told me she uses it and it does help strengthen the nails while it is on the nails. I decided to give it a try while I take the collagen and biotin to see if it will strengthen my nails over time. I had tried strengtheners before many years ago but they never helped much. I was pleasantly surprised with this product. I use 2 or 3 coats depending on how thick I apply the coat, then layer two or three coats of gel polish over top. There is a bonder that is applied before putting on the strengthener. This application has lasted so far two weeks for me. I am hoping to extend it to three weeks as the product advertises it will last up to three weeks but I am extremely happy with it lasting two weeks.

These images were taken on 24November2024 so my nails are slightly longer now and believe me this is LONG for me. It is the longest I have ever had my natural nails. I love CLEAR nail gel polish because I like seeing my nail beds and the tips and how they are healing after 60+ years of nail biting. Where I once hated my hands now I'm loving how they look and enjoy wearing rings. I did at one time get acrylic nails but I would even bite on those and they destroyed my nails in the process. If you look at the one middle finger on my left hand you can see a definite line down the middle. This is damage from the acrylic nails that may never go away. It is a weaker part of the nail that often causes a split in the nail.The strengthener and gel polish help to protect my natural nails. I make sure I always soak them off so my nails are not damaged from peeling the product off. It will lift at times but not nearly like the regular nail polish would. When I first started doing this my nail tips were so transparent it was difficult to see them. They are getting whiter the longer I do this treatment and looking more and more healthy.

Sorry for the long winded story but this is such a major change for me that makes me so happy so I wanted to share it when I saw your question.

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HumanEarth · 56-60, F

we also use this

Luckylu · 61-69, F

@HumanEarth @HumanEarth Thanks for Best Comment.

HumanEarth · 56-60, F

Well, you gave the most helpful information and a good story at that same time

HootyTheNightOwl

Mine was more forced on me.

I used to be terrible for biting my nails until my best friend died when I was 17 - he was 18.

My mother got me growing my nails in his memory... then, I went the other way and decided I like talons - so I grow my nails until they snap.

Of course, that, smoking and a B12 deficiency over the years means that they look fugly in their natural condition - to the point where I was bullied on here to the point where I was forced to report someone to admin to make that stop... and I was only showing off a bank note I had acquired (so, I wasn't asking for beauty tips or anything like that).

Between pressure from my mother and bullies on SW, I now feel that I have no choice other than to keep my nails painted - whether I want to/feel like it or not.

I would like to go to a salon one day... but I wonder if it would be worth it???

My nails are deformed and barreled - so they'll be difficult to shape to talons (yes, I've always wanted them shaped to talons) and paint... or maybe I should just cut them off and have false nails applied???

HumanEarth · 56-60, F

What a sad story.

I tried false nails and I end up breaking them and that hurts when they break.

What I do with my hands, short nails are the best, but I like long nails

HootyTheNightOwl

@HumanEarth I try not to think about it too much... it still hurts to remember Ste and his death. We only got close after we left school because we both went into retail and ended up orbiting the same charity shops as we studied for our NVQ's. There were only so many places we could work at (the providers wouldn't work with all the shops - which was a shame because Gil, at my first shop wanted to keep me there and she told them as much), so we were funneling between 4 or 5 shops.

I would have gone to Ste's final shop in his place, had I not left a few weeks before because I couldn't handle carrying stock up and down their stairs all day and the manager's inability to keep my private life out of the workplace (they knew that I had a crush on my ex and it was hot topic of the week - despite my denials).

I would never cross the line and get into a relationship with a colleague... and I stood by that, only starting a relationship with my ex after I left that shop. They eventually told him straight, he either dumped me or they dumped him, so he left the shop. This was a national charity, dictating private relationships between a volunteer and a member of the public (I had left months before at that stage and moved from one shop to a second since I worked there).

I don't understand why he had to leave that shop??? The only issues they had were what we were doing on our lunch breaks (he kissed me wearing a laminated piece of paper that said "Volunteer" on it - very scandalous), since we weren't working in the same shop and couldn't have been making out on work time or anything like that.

It was a miserable year of my life.

You do put your hands through a lot in a work week, though, so I can understand how they would break.

HumanEarth · 56-60, F

Wwwwooow that's really sad to hear that.

CrazyMusicLover · 31-35

The more fitting question would be when did I discover that I don't like nail polish. 😅
I liked it as a very little girl, pre-school, 4-5. I still experimented with it as a teenager but at some point the smell started to bother me too much. I hate having it on my fingers for that reason. Toes are fine, even if my applying skills are terrible.