Soooo, I scheduled a hair appointment for this Saturday...and decided to get a manicure too.

I have been on the fence for a while now...I do my own nails all the time, like every Sunday night. And I grow them out semi-long before I eventually break like 3 and start the process all over again! Toes, summer only. I just don't have the courage yet to get a pedicure. It's unfamiliar territory for me to have someone else do my nails. I have gotten about 3 manicures in the past.

Anyways - something about pedicures creeps me out a little. (The whole someone is touching my feet, don't laugh at my big toes, and for sanitary reasons.) And I would also like to add: as someone who does my own nails (and who is cheap, I admit it!) I find it to be costly. Like I know there are people out there that go regularly, and I find that crazy.

I'm getting the manicure to scope the place out. Maybe I'll get the courage for a pedi for the summer. I find doing my own toes a pain in the butt, that's why I have been hemming-and-hawing.

OK: 1) What is your current nail color?? My nails are currently Bermuda Baby (bright blue neon), by Salon Pro. And it's chipping and had better luck with other brands. My toes are currently bare but they were Twinkle (like an orange pink with a gold shimmer), by Pure Ice, I've had long lasting wears from this brand.

2) What shape do you usually do your nails? Mine are almond/oval shape

3) To cut the cuticle or not? I trim mine :x (I read bad things about cutting I know, I know)

4) Nail salon or no?

5) Any stories?

Pedicures are quite nice! I haven't gotten one in a while because I am cheap af, but I used to not like them because my feet were so friggin' ticklish. I almost kicked a poor woman in the face once when I was younger haha! I figure it can't hurt to have someone else do your nails. Thankfully you're not obligated to go again if you don't like it (unless you get acrylics or something).

What is your current nail color? OPI's Fearlessly Alice. I've had it on for way longer than I normally wear polish for, but I'm impressed with the wear time on me (day 5, tip wear and only small chips on my thumb). Especially considering my job and working with my hands on a daily basis.

What shape do you usually do your nails? Mixture of 'squoval' and square-ish. Certain nails of mine are shaped differently. I like to have rounded edges though at least.

To cut the cuticle or not? I don't really bother with my cuticles haha! I should, but I don't.

Nail salon or no? I like the pampering idea of a nail salon, but I have all the tools and a very sizable nail polish collection that I would rather delve into on my own.

I don't get anything fancy, but I do competitive taekwondo and it's like an unspoken rule to have nice feet and get pedis.

1) What is your current nail color?? They're naked at the moment. I've been doing a lot of work with the chickens and coop, so I haven't bothered getting fancied up.

2) What shape do you usually do your nails? Kind of a rounded square. I like oval/almond, but they break so easily.

3) To cut the cuticle or not? I use a cuticle pusher. NO CUTTING.

4) Nail salon or no? No time, no money! I actually love Jamberry wraps. They're a lot more affordable, and come in a gajillion adorable and addictive designs and colors, plus I get to support my friends when I make my purchases.

5) Any stories? Not really. Um. My husband is a fan of my wraps, too, and we had like 6-7 friends who were consultants one year, so we bought from ALL OF THEM (and hubby got them for me for Christmas and my birthday), so I now have enough wraps to last me 3-4 years. xD

- I think one of my co-workers sells or was selling those Jamberry wraps. How long do they last???

I have tried like the full nail sticker things (from the dollar store, yups), and those are awful! I have never bought the more expensive ones.

My hair and nail appointment was yesterday. I got a simple french manicure done with shellac/gel. I loved that they were instantly hard and dried after being under the UV light. OMG. She said it would last for 2 weeks. riiiight. I'm putting this to the test. Overall - she gave me a few pointers like that my nail shape is bad because I file the sides too much and that makes the nails weaker. And I need to use cuticle oil more often. But I think I'm going to continue to do my own nails. :p I think I got this. And I wouldn't get a pedi at that particular place. It wasn't very clean. Gotta do my own pedi ASAP before it hits like 85 degrees this week. Gotta have my feet ready!

They'll usually last me 2 weeks on my fingernails, and up to 3 months (!) as a pedi. Application does take a little practice, but they are so worth it. LOVE THEM. (And no, I don't sell them, so no ulterior motives here. I JUST FREAKING ADORE THEM.)

I very rarely do my nails. Mainly because I'm a little too violent to keep polish on for long, lol. I type a lot, many times angrily when it's something about activism. I do a lot of gardening and art that fucks up my nails. As for my toenails, I keep them trimmed short because I haaaaaaate when they touch my socks or shoes. I wish I was better at keeping up with "girly" things, but I'm just not. Including hair, nails, etc.

- I might want to check them out! 2 weeks though...that's tough to believe.

(day 4 of my gel mani and I have a chipped and splitting tip.)

- when I took ceramic in college 2 times it was pretty rough. I didn't do my nails either of those semesters except clear. And then the clear would eventually chip/peal off. My hands were constantly wet and in water. And washed my hands off in hot water.

I'm totally with you about hating toenails when they touch and scratch against shoes and socks. I have a bad habit of over trimming them. :(

It's pretty awesome. Sometimes I'll lose one or two, but it takes just a few seconds to pop on a replacement, and you can do a contrasting or coordinating color/pattern so it's an accent. I usually have to remove my set because my nails have just outgrown them, LOL.

sooo....REPORT: my gel manicure has not lasted 2 weeks. I got it done on 5/13, and will attempt to take it off tonight because it's a mess. It lasted a week and 3 days. My nails have grown so much that all near the cuticle is chipping and peeling away. The white of my nails are longer than the french tips. Awkward. (oh and I did research afterwards and realized that gel polish is actually unhealthy. Yes I knew about the UV light but there's the removal process that is rough)

So pray that I get this gel off. I'm going to paint my nails L.A. Colors, Color Last "Infinite". A soft pink. And then do a matte top coat.

1. What is your current nail color?? black onyx by OPI (infinite shine, bc it dries FAST and i'm hella impatient honestly) pretty much my go-to "i don't feel like picking a color" color

2. What shape do you usually do your nails? almond if i'm lazy and just slapping regular ol' polish on them, stiletto if i feel like doing them properly with tips and gels

3. To cut the cuticle or not? i push it back and trim the excess

4. Nail salon or no? no bc honestly i don't trust anyone to shape my nails the way i like them and i'm paranoid that they're gonna file into my nail bed or something. i'm very particular about certain things so i do them myself.

5. Any stories? acrylics are terrible don't do it man tried to do my own once, 0/10 do not recommend also the fumes are awful and made me wanna pass out

also, from someone who works in the beauty industry, if your gels are coming up after four days go back to the salon because they didn't do it right. gels should last 2-4 weeks and not come off until they're removed (unless your nail chemistry is all weird from meds like mine is, but even then you should get a solid 2 weeks). the removal shouldn't damage your nails at all, either, if it's done properly. the important thing is not to force the gel off; if it doesn't come off easily, soak it a little longer. uh, and if it still won't come off, that particular brand of polish is terrible (i've had that happen with a brand called ASP; BAD STUFF IT TOOK HALF MY NAIL WITH IT and i was so mad omg)

- I would say after four days ONE of the tips on my nails chipped. They started chipping away around my cuticles after a week. My nails grow really fast so it was that area that was disturbed.

Let's just say...I had a bad night last night. I was really sick (head cold) and was losing patience on top of it. I have all my nails, they just feel thinner :( Finishing the paint job tonight to protect them. The place I went to (which does more hair than nails) used Gelish brand.

1. What is your current nail color?? I currently have Essie Using My Maiden Name on my toes. Pedicures are a must for me when it's warmer because I like wearing open-toed shoes in the spring and summer.

2. What shape do you usually do your nails? Square when they're longer, rounded when they're shorter.

3. To cut the cuticle or not? I always ask that they only be pushed back because the nail techs will cut them otherwise.

4. Nail salon or no? The nail salon is definitely one of my favorite affordable treats. Sometimes I bring reference images that I've found online and/or my own polish.

5. Any stories? No stories in particular. I'm into negative space nails and reverse french nails right now. My favorite go-to manicure is a matte black french with glossy black tips. I typically have red toes, love Essie Tiny Winey.

i also do my own nails. and those of my friends. for free. i should charge them -.- LOL but i can only do simple manicures, in a single color. better than nothing, though? XD

1. What is your current nail color?? my nails are a shade of sparkly green? chicago symphony by wjcon -a european brand, and a limited edition nail polish from 2 years ago? toes are naked, lol

2. What shape do you usually do your nails? Mine are rounded square/coffin like.

3. To cut the cuticle or not? I trim mine as well. i never read bad things about it. and as long as you dont make yourself bleed, there should be no issues.

4. Nail salon or no? no. nail artists here are chatty. i dont like chatting randomply, and for pedi.. im way too ticklish to be able to stay still. lol

5. Any stories? 2 friends of mine went to a nail salon once and both got some infection or nail fungus.. their nails became brittle, exfoliating, and simply fragile. this lasted for a few months.

1) What is your current nail color?? My nails are currently a color called "splashy" By Revlon. It's sort of a more green toned pewter color. I liked it against my light brown/caramel skintone. My toes are currently "Bailamos" by ORLY. It's a beautiful vibrant blue.

2) What shape do you usually do your nails? When I grow them out I usually do an oval shape. Unfortunately, I started working heavily in retail and ontop of the stress, all the boxes and plastic and tape deeply affected my health and thus affected the health of my nails. They're rather weak and brittle now so I keep them clipped short :/.

3) To cut the cuticle or not? I've never had issues with my cuticles. They're always neat for some reason.

4) Nail salon or no? I've only ever been to a nail salon once. It was an okay experience. I'm a guy so I still felt rather out of place. I prefer to just do them at home myself.

5) Any stories? Well, my one experience at a nail salon wasn't bad really. I got acrylic nails. They were black with glitter and sort of almond-shaped. I wanted stiletto nails but I guess there was an issue with communication and I'm not confrontational enough to say anything. I didn't mind too much though, I still enjoyed them.

1) What is your current nail color? My nails are currently a temperature changing gel that I love. It reminds me of cherry coke~ I don't paint my toes since it's hard for me to get down there. I might try for the summer though, who knows.

2) What shape do you usually do your nails? Mine are oval or rounded. My favorite shape is coffin or stiletto for artificial nails.

3) To cut the cuticle or not? The cuticle is actually dead skin on the nails and it's perfectly okay to scrape it off! The skin around your nail, unless it's turned into a hangnail, must be moisturized and treated with care.

4) Nail salon or no? I worked in one but I do freelance work now. I went to beauty school for nails. :)

5) Any stories? OH BOY DO I HAVE SOME FOR YOU GUYS!

So as I said, I went to beauty school. While there, you have a few weeks in the back, learning services, then you're put on the salon floor to work for a certain amount of time, racking up services. During that time, I only had like two bad customers, out of hundreds. And they DEFINITELY have lessons to learn from!! Since these are long I'm gonna hide them under a cut.

If anyone wants to see the work I've done, feel free to ping me! :D