https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 26 Apr 2026 20:35:15 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1724461 Wed, 07 Sep 2016 17:06:19 +0000 ClaraT 1724461@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been looking for a long-lasting clear coat for my fingernails. I use Seche Vite base and top coat for my pedicures and they last longer than salon pedicures. But the same hasn't been true for my fingernails, which chip within 1 to 2 days...</p> <p>Sounds like either a sheer "hardener" formula or the Perfect Formula might work to give a natural but polished (pun intended?) look. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1724367 Wed, 07 Sep 2016 13:30:42 +0000 rachylou 1724367@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh interesting! I bashed up my hand. Gel would be nice to cover up my messed up nails - but I need it to come off to show the doctor without more damage... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1724191 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 22:12:58 +0000 Anonymous 1724191@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Colette's suggestion is expensive. &nbsp;I'm worth it. &nbsp;Ordered it just now. &nbsp;</p> <p>Odd, I don't begrudge the cost of the product, I begrudge the $3 shipping fee. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1724062 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 17:43:41 +0000 tulle 1724062@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't tried gel polishes, but have become very fond of a semi-sheer, pale polish (Essie's Mademoiselle) and old-fashioned whitening pencil on the underside of the nail tips.&nbsp; Gives a clean, simple-yet-polished look I love. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1724051 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 17:28:22 +0000 Anna 1724051@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I second what Colette says. My nails always break on the sides. I tried many kinds of nail strengtheners. Then I saw the Perfect Formula on QVC and ordered it. My nails now grow so long I have to cut them much more frequently. And they don't break. The slight pink tone makes them look very healthy. It's a nice everyday look and you don't have to worry about them looking chipped. It also comes in clear but I prefer the pink. Every couple of days I put a new coat on top of the previous one. I usually remove it on Sunday and start over but I have gone almost two weeks without removing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1723601 Mon, 05 Sep 2016 14:27:01 +0000 chewyspaghetti 1723601@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachylou- I use the Sally Hansen gel polish that Traci mentioned. It doesn't require the light to harden it and works just like a regular polish. It comes off with regular nail polish remover. It also doesn't seem to weaken your nails like the light hardened versions do. (Not for me, anyway) NJW-If you go to a salon and get the light hardened kind, you have to go back and have it removed. They do make a home light kit. I'm not sure how you take that off. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1723580 Mon, 05 Sep 2016 13:20:59 +0000 Tanya 1723580@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nice experiment, thank you for sharing.&nbsp; I usually keep my finger nails bare but may be tempted to try something sheer this fall.&nbsp; I will personally stick to regular polish, as I had horrible experience removing fake gel nails I used for ballroom competition. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1723575 Mon, 05 Sep 2016 13:01:11 +0000 Traci 1723575@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The gel manicures in nail salons that are hardened with the light are really tough on my nails. &nbsp;I lose about half the thickness of my nail when it is removed by being scraped off. &nbsp;They can be addictive because most people hate how their nails look when the gel comes off, so they get a new coat of gel put on top.</p> <p>My daughter has introduced me to a line of Sally Hansen gels that aren't light hardened, just a color polish and separate top coat. &nbsp;These come off with a little elbow grease and acetone, but no scraping required. &nbsp;They don't last nearly as long as the salon gels which literally grow off my nails instead of chipping because the gel is so hard.</p> <p>I'll be on the lookout for sheer colors in the at home brands. &nbsp;Good tip! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1723566 Mon, 05 Sep 2016 12:48:08 +0000 Colette 1723566@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm hard on my nails too so I usually just leave them natural. But, if I want a 'polished' look, I love the sheer pink gel from Perfect Formula, used it for years. It's a bit pricey but it lasts without chipping and strengthens my nails. It only has the slightest pink tint, and looks natural on my nails. The directions say to remove and reapply every week but sometimes I let it go longer, even up to two weeks and it does not chip. Even my cuticles stay nicer looking when I use it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1723559 Mon, 05 Sep 2016 12:33:48 +0000 njw 1723559@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I echo Bijou, am so hard on my nails and they are weak to begin with. &nbsp;Had my acrylics taken off 3 weeks ago and tried a gel manicure for the first time and liked it very much. &nbsp;However if I could save the money by either doing it myself that would be great. &nbsp;How do I remove the gel (have the white by cuticles from nail growth as Gail mentioned)? &nbsp;Then once its off, do I use gel polish instead of a regular polish because that is a stronger, more lasting polish? &nbsp;Thanks in advance for any advice</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1723556 Mon, 05 Sep 2016 12:29:12 +0000 Gail 1723556@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gel manicures last a long time on me usually only get it taken off because my nails have grown and you can see the bank space by my cuticle. I only ever them done for special event, such as a vacation or something that I will be away for. I find that after it is taken off my nails are in poor shape , very weak and tend to break. They look fabulous and last though !</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1723543 Mon, 05 Sep 2016 10:27:41 +0000 Suz 1723543@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've just done a similar experiment. My local nail place was having a special on gel manicures so I tried one for the first time and since I like a very natural look on my nails asked for a sheer pink close to my skin tone. In the end I went for two coats after all so it is more opaque but it is so close to my natural colour that you can't really tell. It's been a nearly a week now and it is holding up despite the fact that our dishwasher is broken so I am doing dishes by hand.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1723529 Mon, 05 Sep 2016 08:55:21 +0000 Style Fan 1723529@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like the look of natural nails.&nbsp; I might try this.&nbsp; I have not been able to keep nail polish on.&nbsp; It just pops off.&nbsp; I haven't tried in years though so maybe my chemistry has changed.<br />I can keep toe polish on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1723515 Mon, 05 Sep 2016 06:49:39 +0000 rachylou 1723515@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What is gel polish like? Is it at all like nail acrylic? Is it hard to do on yourself? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1723506 Mon, 05 Sep 2016 04:58:25 +0000 Bijou 1723506@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Now this is something that I could do! I love the look of nail varnish but I seem to be particularly hard on my fingernails and it was only when I had acrylics that I could keep a manicure for more than a few days. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1723485 Mon, 05 Sep 2016 03:49:51 +0000 Anonymous 1723485@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for sharing your experience. I like the look of sheer nails </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-sheer-nail-experiment#post-1723478 Mon, 05 Sep 2016 03:25:21 +0000 chewyspaghetti 1723478@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just before Angie's post on finger nail polish style, I read an article that listed 'sheer' nail polish as a fall trend. I usually leave my finger nails natural because they chip so quickly, but the idea of a sheer nail intrigued me. I have been using a gel color and top coat on my toenails, and it does last longer than traditional polish. I decided to give the sheer nails a try in a gel color. I picked a light iridescent pink color, applied one light coat of that and a clear gel topcoat. Just tonight I removed the polish and re-painted them the same way. It was about a week and a half before I got any chips, and even when they did start to chip it was not very noticible because the color is so close to my nail bed color. I went more than two full weeks before taking the polish off, and it lasted through all of the cleaning and moving stuff with the fire. I'm sold on this sheer nail look in a gel formula. Manicure may not last forever, but this one lasts a good long time! </p>