Favourite Neutral Nail Colours

Whilst I loved my bright nails on my holiday I'm enjoying the other extreme and testing out various nude or beige options which are particularly suited to wearing stiletto nails over the weekend. I've rounded up a few of my favourite shades to share with you today.

No nail polish round up would be complete without Barry M and the shades I'm enjoying are Lychee and Rose Hip from the Gelly collection and PitStop from the Speedy Quick Dry range. Clearly Rosehip is the ringer in this collection and it's more a milky pink compared to the others but I've been enjoying it in this grouping so I thought I'd share. Lychee is perhaps my preference over PitStop which leans more towards the grey tones of beige.

Lychee is in face very similar to Nails Inc Coleville* so you have a choice whatever your budget. These are what I'd call the traditional nudes, if you want that mannequin nail look then this is where to head.

For something more statement, and one to pop against bright Summer colours then Models Own Hype Gel in Grey Storm* is a great pick. This was my first time trying Models Own nail colours and I wasn't disappointed. All these shades require at least three coats, more due to the condition of my nails than a need for opacity from the products. If your nails are ridged or in bad condition then a darker shade such as this will be more forgiving.

Finally is a shade for those who perhaps can't wear colour at work or want something very neutral. EverGlaze Cash-Merely There* is a shade that will not forgive bad nails although you might feel comfortable wearing a lighter shade that's one up from a clear polish. It's also a great alternative for those who might not like the tippex white french manicure tips.

What are your favourite neutral nail colours or do you prefer a little colour?

*this post contains press samples and affiliate links

Stiletto Nails and me

It's been a long time since I've had long nails and I'm ok with that. Usually opting for a red finish I find that it suits my natural shorter nails and it's far better for me than the acrylics I once wore. That doesn't mean I don't look in envy at others fabulous longer nails and none more so than the stiletto style.

I've dabbled a little in false decorated versions with mixed results, House of Holland nails were just a little too large in size but I was a fan of the Elegant Touch Drama Queen style although acknowledge at the time that they did make day to day business a little difficult.

The biggest issue I was aware of when testing stiletto nails would be typing. I spend much of my weekends blogging so being unable to sit at my laptop would be a problem, hence why I'd not yet tried out the Elegant Touch 003 Bare Stiletto Nails I picked up recently. I was keen to try the nails and be able to choose from my own nail polish collection.

On Friday evening when I was sitting at home a little bored, and disinterested in picking up the laptop I decided to give them a go. If I wasn't going to be writing blog posts then why not. I also knew I had various plans over the weekend which meant that I would not be spending the majority of my time in front of the laptop.

The first issue encountered was before I had event applied the nails. I just could not get the glue to dispense. I tried a second bottle I had in another set in case I had a fault one - no luck. In the end I had to cut the nozzle off which made apply the glue a bit fiddly. It wasn't too much of a problem I just had to be more careful to drop it onto the nail itself.

In terms of size I found the nails a good fit but as expected the length was long but I liked it. I decided to miss base coat and instead went straight in with Nails Inc Coleville Mews* to imitate the nude nails I'd be admiring on Instagram and the like.

The next issue I encountered was managing the fact a longer nail requires more polish and effort to apply an even finish. If I were to look in the light I did see that nearer the tip things had petered off a little and perhaps if I was being more diligent next time I'd go for a third coat to avoid the dragging. I did use a top coat which helped even the appearance of them out and then voila stiletto nails were mine.

So how did I manage with these new talons? It wasn't as bad as I thought and as I was only spending the remainder of the evening on the sofa watching tv the more obvious problem was using my iPhone. I was easily able to get round this by using the side of my fingers, namely my thumb to use. My evening skincare regime came into question when I wanted to use fingers for getting products out of tubs and it was quite difficult to apply my eye cream and much care was needed.

The next day I managed to go through my morning regime with little problems, again eye cream was something of an issue and I tried applying my foundation with fingers and it was a little fiddly but not too bad. Aside from some difficulty pulling a card out of my wallet in Tesco I didn't come across any issues to cause concern.

Returning back to the sofa I did pull out my laptop and attempted to tackle my emails and frustration got the better of me. Anyone with these long nails who manages to type away I am in awe, what is your secret? I'm quite a fast typist but suddenly have to reply on the tips only slowed me down considerably and in the end I gave up.

Knowing that I would be spending Sunday catching up on blogging I decided to try cutting the nails down to avoid having to remove them completely. Of course this has changed the shape of them so defeats the object of wanting the style in question but it does mean that I was able to keep 'nice nails' without having to spend time removing them completely.

As I sit and type this post, with the shorter nails it still a little cumbersome but not enough to warrant their removal and I'll be interested to see how they fair at work today on a regular keyboard.

In conclusion I will definitely apply the stiletto nails again but for nights out and then rely on cutting them down for when my laptop will be in use.

Have you tried stiletto nails before?

Products I've used up | January 2016

My first empties post of 2016 featuring a variety of products starting with the last product to make it's way into the pile, Bumble & Bumble Thickening Shampoo. This is an old favourite of mine but as I rotated products around my bathroom I'd shifted this larger bottle into my travel stash and would use to decant into smaller bottles I had. I took those smaller bottles to Florida with me and fell in love once again with this shampoo I'm definitely tempted to make a repurchase very soon. 

I'm a big fan of La Roche Posay and the Physiological Cleansing Gel* didn't disappoint for it's formula, packaging and ability to see when it was sadly coming to an end. Apparently the formula contains ingredients so gentle that they're used in contact lens solutions but that doesn't mean that it's too soft to remove all make up and grime from your face at the end of the day. 

Regular readers will know I'm loyal to Sure Maximum Protection for my deodorant needs but I'm not against trying new products. In this instance it was Dr Organic Coconut Oil Deodorant* which whilst not a competitor for my regular product was a pleasant one to use at night time. If you're a coconut lover this is one for you. Another deodorant I tried was from Soft & Gentle* and unfortunately it just didn't pack the punch I need either. Just call me sweaty betty!

Hot on the heels of the shampoo is L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology Conditioner, both of which are great products for giving thick, glossy locks. Definitely one for the repurchase list. 

The MonuSpa Body Buffer* was a complete luxury product that I loved using and shows why sometimes it's worth spending the extra few pounds for bath time product. Whilst I have a healthy stash of Soap & Glory Body Scrubs to work through I will be considering a repurchase for when I want an additional pamper. 

I've had the Elegant Touch Drama Queen false nails have sat in a draw at home for some time and they finally made an appearance for a friends birthday dinner after Christmas. Despite my intentions of a full on manicure as usual time escaped me and instead I reached for these. Unlike the House of Holland nails I'd used these were much smaller in size and whilst still giving me talons I was able to 'function' much easier. They did mean I was unable to type as freely as I would like so I did soak them off the next day but it was worth it for a quick fix before a night out. 

Cocoa Brown Tan* is well known for being a well performing affordable tanning product and I can see why. I seem to have a rather large collection of tanning products without the frequent use and I'm trying to change that, hence Cocoa Brown's tanner finding its way into the empty pile. 

I used Bobbi Brown Corrector for years and whilst there is still a small offering left an end of year declutter I decided to put this in the trash. I haven't reached for it in months and other products are used with more frequency. Yes it knocks out the colour of my dark circles and will not sit in my fine lines but I have other products that I prefer these days. 

A product thats more function rather than one I have much to say on, Nails Inc Base Coat was my go to first step in my nail regimes. Again my end of year declutter highlights the abundance of nail products available to me so there is no need for a repurchase yet and I'm comfortable that many base coat products I've used do the same job.

As I enter 2016 I've decided I need to be more strict with my mascara and rather than flog to death, let them go when the time is needed. Two that have had the boot recently are NYX Propel My Lashes* which I loved and will repurchase when the time comes and L'Oreal Lash Architect Mascara* from Just My Look which I didn't. I didn't enjoy the spindly brush nor clumpy look of my lashes. One very much, for the bin. 

I had been using YSL Touche Eclat for years and repurchased constantly. As I became less brand loyal, or shall we say experimental with my product ranges this product fell to the back of the draw and I don't know how long it's sat there. I have used sporadically throughout the year but as part of the already mentioned declutter it was time to let go. Yes I have my eyes on that collectors edition, stay tuned. 

Whilst on holiday and browsing the Sephora aisles I dithered whether to repurchase Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black in full size knowing the small rollerball had reached the end of it's life. In the end I decided to hold fire, sure I'll be in the US later in the year when I have less perfume lining my dressing table. 

And finally is Ameliorate Skin Smoothing Body Lotion which was an amazing find last year. To target Keratosis Pilaris or chicken skin as it's known it's worth the price tag. I'm lucky that I only have a small patch on one of my legs but this cleared it up a treat. As usual with my usage I'm sporadic but nonetheless when used properly this product works a treat. The only reason I won't be repurchasing yet is I managed to pick up an alternative in the US, once again stay tuned!

*this post contains press samples 

Halloween at Home

There's something about Halloween I love, I don't know whether it's just my general appreciation for a 'theme' or the excuse to dress up but love it I do. As such be prepared for some Halloween themed posts over the next few days as I get into the spirit (ha!) wherever possible, no matter how tenuous (fi it's so much as slightly pumpkin coloured you may find it here next week.

Today I'm starting things a little more low key for those who perhaps aren't fans of the spooky holiday and won't be roaming the streets Trick or Treating next weekend. Instead here are some of my picks for a Halloween pamper session at home.

Many a Saturday night I can be found in the bath tub and what better product to use than MOA's Fortifying Green Bath Potion*. Housed in a bottle which would not look out of place in Professor Snapes Potion's Lab this is really quite 'bewitching'. I know I shall stop soon. Rid yourself of stress, aches and pains whether from the constant trick or treaters visits, or maybe you were pounding the streets yourself climb into a bath of peppermint and fennel and return that spring to your step.

Last weekend I gave this a try and quite frankly it is amazing. The peppermint scent fills the bathroom and you have that hit in your throat as you feel the aromatic scent - this would be ideal if you were suffering from Autumn sniffles. Climbing into the bath I really felt myself relax and a weight lift of my shoulders, and that's as someone who isn't really one for kicking back and relaxing in the bath. Even when I returned home later that afternoon the bathroom still had the lingering scent. 

What would a post on bath time Halloween treats be without the inclusion of Lush. I'm not a frequent Lush shopper but you can bet as soon as the seasonal items hit stores I'm first in there. I think it's almost mandatory as a blogger to feature the Lush Sparkly Pumpkin and this is it's second appearance on Florence and Mary. This year I passed on to my mum to try after she commented on my instagram photo of them in store as I must admit cleaning up the glitter after using isn't something I enjoy. Clean up requirements aside this is a fun addition and would make a great gift for younger hostesses if you're attending parties or teachers. I managed two uses from one bar and maybe could've got away with three if I were more diligent. As I commented last year my biggest disappointment is that it isn't pumpkin scented and instead it's more zesty. 

New to me from Lush this year was Lord of Misrule Shower Scream (Lush's pun this time not mine!), usually found in their bath bomb offering. I'd not tried this either and whilst I was initially happy with my Sparkly Pumpkin purchase after one sniff I was hooked on Lord of Misrule and threw it into my basket. Appropriately green coloured this has a more sweet scent than I would expect from the vanilla and really reminds me of some sweets or something which I just can't put my finger on. It's a thick cream which nourishes the skin and worked better than my expectations allowed for shaving purposes. This is definitely one I'll be looking out for next year. You can find more of Lush's Halloween range here. 

The easiest way to get into the Halloween spirit without needing a full make up tutorial and face paints is by painting your nails an appropriate colour. If orange is a little too garish and black too gothic then maybe try purple? My pick is Belvedere Road from Nails Inc which is sadly discontinued from my hunt to link online but I'm sure you can find the colour that's just right for you.

If you'd like some more Halloween reading you can find that here and don't forget to let me know how you will spending Halloween.

*This post contains press samples

Product Empties | August 2015

A mixed selection of products starting with believe it or not, the rarely seen in empties videos product. This shade is Aspen by Nails Inc and is my 'Christmas red'. It has a bright ruby colour and glistens like a gemstone perfect if you want to distinguish from your usual shades of red.

The next product is Avene's XeraCalm Cream* and is a little bit of a cheat. I didn't actually use this cream myself but a friend did. She recently had a clear out of her beauty stash and shared some things that weren't working for her with me and threw this in as she knows about my empties posts and thought I could include it. As a eczema she found this was a fantastic cream for alleviating symptoms and as you can see it was used in its entirety. Often after days/weeks products which once work begin to do the opposite for her but not with this. If you suffer from any of those itchy types of skin problems definitely check this out.

I recently reviewed the Anatomical mask selection* in full so it's not necessary to go into much detail. In short Anatomical is a company that puts some fun back into beauty as each mask has an amusing description rather than you're usual kind. At just £3 for a pack available these are perfect for girls nights in or to throw in Christmas stockings.

OGX Coconut Milk Shampoo was my holiday shampoo of 2015. It joined me in both Ibiza and Dubai and worked perfectly against the heat. I'm currently working through my shampoo stash but I'm excited to try more from the OGX range.

I wouldn't usually bother adding my toothpaste to the empties pile as it's a fairly dull product but as my first experience with The Breath Co was by way of a press sample it's always worth updating you with my thoughts. I'm not a fan of your typical toothpastes as I hate the taste whereas despite The Breath Co toothpaste being minty it is a faint taste that doesn't stop you from eating for the next hour after brushing. I have gone so far to track this down at specific larger Boots stores, replaced numerous times and am paying more than you would for your Colgates and such. This is definitely a holy grail product for me.

Since I first started using Manuka Doctor CC Cream* in May I've powered through this fantastic CC cream. It's fantastic for no make up days and where I'd sometimes not even bother with any sort of base at all I like to use this for it's lovely sheen it gives to the skin. With SPF 20 it's perfect for sitting in the garden when the sun is shining (not anymore!) and I was sad to add it to my empties bag. This is definitely one I'll look at repurchasing for future holidays in the sun as it's perfect for poolside.

And finally we have the blogger favourite, Collection Long Lasting Concealer. I have two shades 2 Light and 3 Warm Medium and whilst I've pretty much used up these tubes I gave before scrapping the last drops. I too loved this concealer in my early days with it, these are both repurchases so it was certainly so but lately, maybe it's my age but I've just found them too drying under the eyes and it settles into my fine lines. When I have Maybelline Fit Me Concealer that works wonders there's no need for me to fight with the this one.

*This post contains press samples

My Nail Kit

Whilst I had a visit from Heaven & Gel last night so my nails would withstand my trip to Ibiza as a general rule I am relying on my own skills as a manicurist. Today I thought I'd talk through 'my nail kit' and the products I reach for at home.

Formula X Delete Nail Polish Remover
The first and most obvious step is of course nail polish remover. I'm fairly fickle about my nail polish remover choices and the Formula X Delete was picked up in Las Vegas last year when I needed to tend to chipped nails - not the most exciting of Sephora purchases. I can't deny that I was drawn to the pump bottle and will certainly be refilling this when the time comes. The lock system works surprisingly well and I managed to transport it to Dubai without any spillages last month.

Next I would step in with my Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File which I have spoke enough about for you to get the picture. I love it, wouldn't use anything else and it is always by my side.

Emjoi MICRO Nail Electric Nail Polisher*
My latest nail gadget is the Emjoi Micro Nail Electric Polisher. Firstly this will not magically polish your nails with colour (when will this be invented though I ask myself?) but specifically the condition of your nails. I'm not a lover of nail care and painting my nails always feels like such a commitment of time. Buffing and polishing nails seems such a faff especially when I'm only going to cover them with a bright polish. That said we all know that nails have ridges and none more so than mine so they do benefit from a buff and polish. The mjoi Micro Nail Electric Polisher does this in a matter of seconds. Literally, it says to do it no more than that or you will damage your nails.

Of course using such a gadget might be reminiscent of those nail salons with the drills but this is a very different beast and you are in control a. Smooth rollers rotate and ridges are smoothed instantly and the Shine Rollers polish up a treat it's almost a shame to add colour.

If you're after saving time during your manicure process you can find the electric nail polisher with £10 off at Boots right now.

Cuticle Nippers and Nails Inc Vitamin E Cuticle Oil Pen
I hate my cuticles, if only my nails grew as fast as they seem to. The plus side is I have something of a love affair with my cuticle nippers. There's nothing more satisfy than nipping away at them and leaving a clean base for my nail polish. To treat them I swipe some of Nails Inc's Cuticle Oil Pen which is handy compared to the typical bottles you see. It's obviously nourishing them too well at the rate they seem to grow.

MICRO CELL Nail Repair*
I have be raving about Micro Cell to anyone who will listen for sometime. One of Germany's top selling nail brands it's new to the UK market and so far seems to be under the radar. I came across it at a press event and listened intently to the press spiel thinking how amazing can it be. Well the answer is pretty amazing.

Micro Cell has been developed for those of us with soft and brittle nails. Designed to recover protein molecules on the outer layer of the nails it helps strengthen and protect your nails. I used to suffer from splitting of my nails which has been non existent since applying Micro Cell.

As with most products of it's type Micro Cell should be applied and removed and reapplied daily to set the process in action. You are able to paint colour on top but should still follow the daily removal process. I admit I'm not always as good at doing this but it's more frequent than it ever has been and still seems to be working well for me.

eyeCANDY Top Coat*
I never truly got the Seche Vite hype, nor found it was any better for adding longevity to my nail colour. I put this down to me but since using the eyeCANDY Top Coat I can say it wasn't and I was just using the wrong product for my nails. Another brand that is little heard but easily found in your local supermarket this is an amazing product. It does everything that Seche Vite will do and more. My full review of the eyeCANDY Top Coat is here.

Leighton Denny Miracle Mist*
Finally with have another one of the products where I ask does it actually work or do I just think it does? Having just mentioned amazing fast drying top coats and often using nail polishes with similar claims does the Leighton Denny Miracle Mist do the trick? Honestly I can't say definitively but I do know that I am using it as part of my routine and as far as my amateur eye can see, or touch it appears to.

What tools do you keep in your nail kits?

*Press samples

Better than Seche Vite?

eyeCANDY Gel Wrap System*

I had been rather indifferent to the eyeCANDY Gel Wrap System* when it landed on my doorstep and wasn't in any particular rush to test out and review. I don't get that excited about nails/nail products. Yes I love a good red nail polish but my nails aren't fantastic as I've discussed regularly and I'm not diligent enough with taking care of them despite the hefty stash of products I have on hand - pun intended. 

I do paint my nails on a somewhat regular basis but despite using various good quality top coats I don't seem to get the extreme, no chipping wear everyone else experiences. Laziness means that when chipping occurs I don't rush to repaint and then a nail breaks and the whole cycle begins.

That could all be due to change due to the fantastic eyeCANDY Top Coat please let me tell you more.

I'd taken the necessary 'blogger photos' and then added the set to my 'test' pile and went about my business as normal till I was having a declutter of my nail polish collection. Last Summer I'd picked up the Maybelline Super Stay Colour in Hot Salsa and remember being thoroughly livid with it because despite it's rave reviews from bloggers everywhere it chipped almost immediately on me reminiscent of Chanel Nail Colours. The colour also wasn't what I expected for one called 'Hot Salsa' but I digress.

I decided to give it one last try before I moved it into my ditch pile and took the opportunity to test out the eyeCANDY products. Unfortunately I cannot get the lid off the base coat so note this review is solely for the top coat and it's performance alone. For info I used the Nails Inc Base Coat instead. 

As we know gel manicures are the thing right now and unlike many other nail systems in the past it's a look we can achieve at home although as I mentioned in this post they can cause weakness to nails after repeated use. We are now seeing a flurry of gel top coats which do not require UV lamps so cutting down the costs/equipment required yet still providing the longevity of a gel manicure - or so they say.

Let's just say I'm amazed because the eyeCANDY gel top coat is one of the best I've used of late. I'm excited if I can make 2 - 3 days out of my nail colour and I can report I am on day 6 and we're still going strong and that's with the nail polish I was ready to bin for chipping. Yes there is some signs of wear and a small chip on the nails I'd refer to as tools i.e. the thumb that's picked at something but otherwise if you were to look at my hands today you could be fooled into thinking they'd just been painted.

I've never been particularly wowed by Seche Vite apart from it's ability to speed up the drying process and whilst the eyeCANDY Top Coat is a similar consistency it's prevention of chipping far outweighs it and for a more affordable price tag.

Obviously due to my such rave review I want to explore this product even further and test with some other nail products and I'll report back on removal etcetera in a later post for completeness but either way I'm sold on this product that you can throw into your trolley during your supermarket shop.

*PR Sample

Products That Didn't Work For Me #5

As I've mentioned in a few posts recently I am trying to work my way through overflowing drawers of products and work out what I do and don't like. Whilst I'm lucky enough to have access to and receive many products through blogging it's good to take stock and pass on the things I don't enjoy to homes where they will be appreciated.

The first product that didn't make the cut was the Anastasia Beverley Hills Perfect Brow Pencil. Perfect for me this was not. I actually purchased this in error believing I'd picked put the Brow Wiz which needing repurchasing. You can imagine the drama when I opened the box and the product was not there that I expected. Nevertheless I decided to give this pencil a try although was disappointed with the results. Whether it was my familiarity with the Brow Wiz and other similar products but this pencil was too harsh and not creamy enough to blend. I appreciate my skills may be lacking but I could not make this work for me and the brow wiz was repurchased and this pencil was ditched.

During one of my US visits there was a white nail polish phased happening so I picked up Essie's Blanc to try. For whatever reason it sat unloved for a long time till, as I've said I was going through my collection and decided to find out if this was a keeper. It's not hence it's appearance in this post. Again as I've said I've a small Essie collection of colours but I've always been impressed and happy with how they apply. Blanc was difficult to work with, it was like cheap watery tippex and need numerous layers to achieve opacity. How did I feel about white nail polish? Not for me, it felt like I was back in school painting on Tippex - just with a worse formula. If I was one to give myself a french manicure I might have kept it for that purpose but as I'm not it's off to a better home.

Finally rather than a product off to pastures new it's a group of, and that group is glitter. I have decided glitter is not for me. I'd blame my age but my mum loves and has always loved some sparkle on her nails and I often seen pictures or manicures either with all or an accent nail covered in glitter of some description and love it but for my stubby nails it's just not meant to be. On one hand I could keep the glitter just in case but quite frankly the effort required to just remove an accent nail of glitter vs the pleasure having it brings is just not balanced.

I'd love to know your thoughts on glitter nails, thumbs up or thumbs down?

Malibutique

Malibutique is a promotional pop up boutique hosted by Malibu Rum bringing together Toni & Guy, Nails Inc and ASOS and following a successful start in Liverpool Malibutique hit London last week and I was invited along to sample the fun and enjoy some Malibu laced cocktails.

The sun was shining on my arrival and I happily accepted the offer of a Malibu laced cocktail, choosing the Mali-Blue and was instantly transported to memories of holidays and pleasantly reminded of how much I enjoy Malibu Rum.

After a unique opportunity to browse through the racks of ASOS something usually only possible online I took my seat for some styling assistance from Toni & Guy. There was a choice of 4 specially created looks and I went for their Go Bold option - unfortunately the wind reached it before I managed to take my snap but it still looked great to me and if only I could create a similar look myself.

Nails Inc were on hand to offer manicures and I was lucky enough to win a bottle of Mali-Woo-Woo a shade created just for the event and before it was time to head home there was an opportunity for a cocktail masterclass.

The good news is that Malbutique still has two further stops on their tour at Birmingham Bullring next week, 25th - 28th July and then Manchester Exchange Square 23rd - 26th August and if you're local to either City do take yourself along with some girlfriends for a fun hour or two.

Nails Inc Dry & Damaged Nails Kit

Having my acrylic tips removed and releasing my natural nails on the world meant I would need to create an arsenal of goods to aid them on their way to full recovery. I was recommended the Nails Inc 'Very Dry and Damaged Nails Treatment Pack' to use at home. The kit contained two Nails Inc Hero products, A&E Base Coat and Albert Bridge Top Coat although I think I need something stronger than their base coat for my weak nails. At the weekend I gave my nails a break from any colour and have been topping up the base coat to see if that gives them an extra helping hand.

My favourite product so far is the Vitamin E cuticle oil pen. It's a nice way to apply the product and something I'm enjoying using.

This kit was £25 for £45 worth of products but I think next time I'd look around for a mix of products that serve the purpose than relying on them all for one brand.

Nails Inc Manicure

Following my appointment with Caroline Herons the next task on my list was to tackle my nails. For as long as I can remember I have been visiting one of 'those' salons, yes the ones with acrylic and drills. I knew the damage they would be causing to my natural nail but I loved how they looked.  That said lately I was finding the monthly infills a chore, I was unable to change my polish as frequently as I'd like because of the need for heavy duty buffing with any growth and I wondered could I achieve a similar look from my natural nails?

I knew that my nails would be severely damaged from the constant use of heavy duty drilling and I knew if I was going to have them removed I would need it done as sensitively as possible. I popped along to my local Nails Inc counter and had a chat with them about what advice they could give me to have the nails removed and a plan in place to try and restore the nails to a healthier state and an appointment was booked.

The nail technician was fantastic at removing the acrylic from nails and I can't deny this process alone was much more pleasant than my usual trip to the salon. There were no drills, no ripping at the nails just gentle buffing between soaks in acetone - there was even a cloth laid across my hands soaking in their bowls to stop the smell!

Once the acrylic was removed it was time for a manicure to restore the nails to the best of their abilities. Unfortunately there is now a ridge in my nails from the constant infills but I'm looking at this positively as a guide to see how the nails grow and will see exactly when they have grown and the new nail appears.

The above picture shows my nails in their natural state... well natural with the addition of a few coats of Shoreditch polish. I was actually pleasantly surprised with the results. It's extremely bizarre going from tips to natural nails, especially as they're so weak. Suddenly I'm wearing rubber gloves, pulling my debit card from my purse is much harder and I'm just generally having to be more careful with my nails. I remember in some long ago days I dabbled with a beauty course and the only thing I remember is the teacher telling us 'nails aren't tools' and I am guilty of having used my nails for all manner of jobs over the years.

As expected the nails didn't last in the photographed state for long. A cupcake extravaganza a couple of days later saw my polish chip and by the weekend many had broke and today as I type they're not in the best state. I did buy a kit from Nails Inc which I'll share with you in a second post but it doesn't appear of helped sustain the length of the nails but I know they were in a sorry state.

All that said I will not give in. It was great to change my polish at whim to my outfits and I actually prefer their shorter appearance than I did the tips especially as I have more control over them.

If you have any tips or product recommendations for weak nails do share - I need all the help I can get!