Manicures

[Rosie_Beau]

Hi. Looking through I have found a few threads on vintage nail polish and styles etc but what I really would like to know is how often is it advisable to get a manicure?

Because I know you shouldn't buff your nails too often as it's technically taking a fine layer of nail off.

Is there anything like this with manicures? I'm thinking escpecially about my cuticles. I don't want them to go funny.

Thanks for any help!
xxx

 

[hailey greenhat]

A google search resulted in this site that tells you not to push the cuticle back
http://nails-beauty.blogspot.com/2007/06/how-often-should-you-look-after-your.html

And the only reasonable comment on this bored besides not doing it at all is to gently push them back with a towel after bathing (which is what they used to do)
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-294294.html
I would tell you (though i'm not a nail tec.) is that pushing back in excess is never good, cuticles are there to prevent infection and cover our soft new nail parts, i often forget this and my nails tell me about it by having ragged cuticles as often as they can.
Manicures should only be done about once a week, if that. Though taking off old nail varnish is always a good thing, it lets the nail "breath" and it keeps it from turning yellow.
Hope this all helped!

 

[Miss Crisplock]

I went to the web site with the forum.

Uh, these some very weird opinions by people with, let us just say "issues". None of them are in any way nail techs. Or even say... "balanced".

Re: Frequency of Manicures - That depends on a number of factors, but once a week with a couple of polish changes are pretty standard if you have no on going nail issues.

"Going Funny" Pushing back the cuticles is not in anyway a new practice, and cuticle pushers of metal, bone and orange wood are tres vintage while plastic and rubber tiped cuticle pushers are newer. Using a towel when first out of the shower is very effective for a lot of people as well. How effective it is will depend on your skin: remember to be gentle.

Gently pushing back the cuticle when soft (say just out of the shower or after soaking your hands) releases the skin adhearing to the the nail plate, which BTW is keratinized protein and dead as a doornail. It does not "Breathe".
Releasing the attachment (gently) means that the cuticle will not have uneven adhesion and be at risk of tearing, which causes an agnail (hang nail).

Cuticle skin that has been "pushed back" or released from attachment to the nail plate may be removed. Known as "cutting your cuticles".

Buffing: using buffing powder, paste or emery boards will take off part of the nail plate. A very small part, but still a part and the thickness or lack of thickness will dictate frequency and depth that can and should be safely removed in the interests of shine.

P-Shine is the very vintage brand of buffing kit still made and available.

 

[Miss Scarlet]

I have a cuticle remover cream and it works wonders. It takes off just the amount your nails need. I first rub the cream into my nails, leave for two minutes, the push down with a rubber ended cuticle pusher (seems to be more gentle) and then cut the loose bits off if there are any. I do this 2/3 times a week, whenever I repolish my nails and they have been so much healthier for it and grow faster.

 

[Rosie_Beau]

Ummm I'm a tad new to the Lounge and this was my first thread. Please don't scare me off.

Hailey - infection etc is what I meant by "going funny" I try to use a layer of clear varnish beneath my colour to protect them but they are a tad discoloured sometimes. And also they sometimes seem dry (?) maybe because they haven't had the air to them. I'm pretty new to the world of grooming. Ha! Not that I was a gorilla before but I was very "low maintenance". Pushing my cuticles back makes me feel squeamish but using a towel after showing might not be too bad; I'll give it a try.

Miss Scarlet - what handy hints! I was worried about using a remover cream in case it took them off completely. I'll use a towel instead of a pusher though.

Thanks very much for the help.

 

[TillyMilly]

Goodness me- I think it's all the sunshine! May I suggest a nice cold glass of Pimms and a quiet seat on the terrace?

To return to the topic onhand: I use almond oil massaged into the cuticle and then gentle movements with an orange stick to free the cuticle. (you get pits in your nails as they grow out if you dig too hard). If I find I get a bit of cuticle stuck and nothing will shift it and leaving it will cause a hangnail I use the sharp edge of cuticle nippers to free it. A neat 'eased-back' cuticle lengthens the nail for polish.

I always file nails into ovals- they look nicer and longer- I do go back and forth gently at the end to smooth it off and have never had any problem with splitting.

I find that a handcream with a high amount of wax in it strengthens nails (by stopping them getting too wet??) and gives nails a lovely sheen. Boots did a lovely beeswax handcream many years ago and my nails were never as long and healthy as back then.

Toodle-pip!

 

[Miss Scarlet]

Rita Hayworth used to have gorgeous nails and she said it was because she put oil on them everyday. Almond oil is great. Maybe you need to oil your nails to keep them from drying out?

 

[Kishtu]

Aromatherapists and masseurs (-ses?) tend to have wonderful nails for that very reason Miss Scarlet.
Sadly it also means they have to keep cutting their wonderful nails though

 

[Puzzicato]

Miss Scarlet - what handy hints! I was worried about using a remover cream in case it took them off completely. I'll use a towel instead of a pusher though.

The towel thing is great - it's very gentle but very effective. I think it works particularly well on my toes!

I find one of the best things for my nails is making pizza - the pizza dough recipe I use has olive oil in it, and by the time I have kneaded it my cuticles have been pushed back and my hands well moisturised!

 

[Rosie_Beau]

The towel thing is great - it's very gentle but very effective. I think it works particularly well on my toes!

I find one of the best things for my nails is making pizza - the pizza dough recipe I use has olive oil in it, and by the time I have kneaded it my cuticles have been pushed back and my hands well moisturised!

Ah ha! I know! It leaves your hands really soft and then you get pizza afterwards. It's such a winning situation!

Will putting oil on them effect any nail varnish you put on after?

Trish - Mmmm Pimms is just what the Doctor ordered. I have been growing a lovely mint patch just for it. Though the naughty rabbits like to play down there and dig it up.

 

[Puzzicato]

I hardly ever wear nailpolish on my fingers, but I suspect that if your nails are oily the varnish won't stick. You'd probably need to wipe the nail down with nail polish remover before putting your new polish on. I am guessing though!

 

[Octavia]

Oh, yes - almond oil is a must for me!

I use almond oil every night and my nails have never been healthier. It's very rare that they chip or break (they're actually growing at an alarming rate and I can't even keep up with filing! They're a little too long at the moment...) and my cuticles look very clean and healthy. I just massage the almond oil over my nail and the surrounding area, wash my hands afterwards with warm water, and a few nights a week I will use a cuticle pusher with a rubber tip afterwards to gently push my cuticles.

I like to leave my nails bare for at least a week after I remove polish, also, to avoid drying or discoloration. Not sure how much it's supposed to help but my nails like it.

 

[Rosie_Beau]

I have this cuticle balm still that I got from Avon but I suspect it's fancy smelling gook because my cuticles are exactly the same as when I started using it. Almond oil. I'll definately give it a try. And maybe go without polish altogether for a week.

 

[i_am_the_scruff]

I have this cuticle balm still that I got from Avon but I suspect it's fancy smelling gook because my cuticles are exactly the same as when I started using it. Almond oil. I'll definately give it a try. And maybe go without polish altogether for a week.

I have that and I think it had almond in it. Not 100% sure though. It has good reviews on the site but I haven't used it enough to say what I think of it.