Nail advice??

Have you ever tried shellac. It's nail Polish bit much stronger.

My nails break all the time unless I use Gel polish, it's been a lifesaver. Just don't peel it off!

Do they file the top of your nails before applying shellac or gel? Are there any fake nail options with either of those?

You could try SNS powder. They do file the top of your nails, but not as much as with acrylic. It's kinda a hybrid of gel and acrylic. No peeling which is good for the nail!

I love GEL! They are definitely fancy looking and may be a less damaging option for your nails.

They do file for gel, but you can ask them to shape or file however you want ahead of time. I don't think they have an option for fake, but they may let your natural nail grow out.

I would suggest shellac/gel, they just buff the nails the don't file them like they do for acrylic.

I never ever get my nails done. I did ANC twice after being told it was sooo healthy for your nails and HATED it. The first time it was nice, but it killed my nails so bad, that when they did it the second time they all chipped and broke since my nails were like paper. Seriously. I got it taken off and a couple of my nail beds tore just from being so fragile. Do not recommend! It was honestly painful for a couple weeks.

So now I'm super turned off from getting my nails done and have no clue what to do for the wedding.

I love gel nail polish, looks like you have fake nails because it doesn't chip but is on your real nails. As for growing your nails, have you considered taking a hair/skin/nails vitamin? Couldn't hurt to try it!

As I'm understanding, SNS and ANC are the same thing. I'm interested in that because I'm pretty sure you can use tips on them so I wouldn't have to grow out my nails.

I have seen people online request that their nail bed isn't filed at all and also that a peel-off base coat is added which may prevent the damage. This is what I'm leaning towards doing.

Try taking vitamins to help grow your nails the natural way. When my nails break a lot I put a clear coat of polish on them just to keep them safer from peeling.

So I have long nails for the first time in my life ahead of the wedding, but it's a lot of work.

My nails are very weak and brittle, despite having a fantastic diet, adequate intake of minerals and nutrients, endocrine results are fine. I can't take biotin because it makes me break out, and my skin is clear because of accutane and I dont want to mess it up.

I got an at-home gel polish kit, with a mini LED lamp. The only way my nails grow is if I do them in gel, as soon as one chips I fix it before it can peel very much.

I started doing two layers of base coat to give my nails some extra strength. When they grow out and it's time to change polish, I use a 100 grit emery board to file off all layers of top coat and color, leaving just the base coat on my nails. I shape them, clean them, then put just one layer of top coat over that base and paint as normal. It's the only way my nails haven't broken. Soaking them in acetone would make them too weak. Kind of high maintenance, but I only have to do it once every two weeks until the wedding. Not a bad trade off for gorgeous natural nails. I'll attach pics of my nails now versus what they were a few months ago when I was testing nail colors for the wedding.

Vitamins, biotin and drink flavorless jello (Knox). It helps with hair and nail growth/strength.

I used to have extremely thin nails that would grow but then break off right away. then i tried GEL!!! I got gel put on once because my FMIL recommended it when we were going on vacation. Ever since I keep going back every 3 weeks to get it redone! my nails keep growing and it keeps them thicker without peeling off layers (like acrylics do). just make sure you don't peel the polish off and get them redone when it starts driving you crazy. The plan is to keep using gel until my wedding when ill get the gel off and then instead of redoing it I will just have them do a regular French manicure. they should be thick by then!!

I agree with Elizabeth. The SNS has made my natural nails grow to a nice long length in one month. My nails have never been this strong and this length ever.

I also recommend gel. I got my first gel manicure yesterday because I wanted my nails to look nice for my ring pics. Polish would always chip before I got home from the salon but these still look perfect.

Also my manicurist told me that she can do gel extensions which add length but are so much better for your nails than acrylics. You should call around salons and find someone who does that. She also told me that I should never allow anyone to file down my nails before applying gel or acrylics. It was practically mandatory to get acrylics for prom in the early 2000s and when I would get them done they would get out a legit drill and remove so much of my nail that I'd be left with paper nails after getting them removed. She barely buffed my nails before applying and the gel is very secure.

I will say that the place does matter - make sure you look up reviews first. I've tried 4 or 5 different places and the gel has come off in a matter of days with a few of them. A good gel manicure lasts weeks.

I'm a HUGE advocate for the powder / dip manicures (SNS or ANC). They are the only thing that has kept me from biting my nails or picking and peeling at my polish for the first time ever!

I got fake tips the first time they did the powder manicure, then grew them out and have all real nails now. The powder is vitamin packed and will help your nails heal and strengthen!

I have always had peoblems with my nails being brittle, peeling, splitting down the middle, etc. Gel manicures help me to prevent my nails from breaking. I only get them sometimes, but my nails always seem better, not worse, after them. If you want to grow your nails out, you could start getting gel manicures every other week a month and a half to two months before the wedding.

I agree with all the SNS lovers! I used to get Shellac and it completely ruined my nails (they got thin and kept breaking). About a year ago I switched to SNS and it is a game changer! My nails are long and strong again!!