What do you think about professional manicures, sans polish? - YouLookFab Forum

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What do you think about professional manicures, sans polish?

unfrumped

Veteran

This post was timely since I was considering treating myself to a manicure but with no polish, and thought I wiukd ask the YLF'ers about that, more so than polish colors and styles.
I don't wear polish on fingernails but wish I could have better- looking hands and nails!
My hands take a beating, and other than trimming/ filing nails, I've not got a good routine. Hand-washing at work is so frequent that it's pointless to use handcream except at bedtime! I do try to wear sunscreen on the back of my hands but that also is hard to keep up with except say on a weekend.

What are Fabber thoughts on the value of professional " natural" manicures ( cuticle care, buffing, etc. vs. trying to get into a better at- home routine?

I'd be most interested as to whether it ( professional) would over time achieve a better sustained look than I would get at home, or whether it's best just as an occasional fun- pampering event. Although in years past I remember buying cuticle creams and and gizmos and never being able to stick with it, so it could be like a lot of other things--they only work if you do them!
Over to you....

General

20 replies

Latest reply was from Robin

viva

Veteran

Unfrumped, I do this frequently - at my salon, it's called a "sport" manicure. (Although I love polish on my toes, I don't like it on my fingers -- between cleaning, computer work and handling papers, gardening, and handling my dogs, I work too hard with my hands, and I don't love the shape of my finger nails. I am much more comfortable with a simple look on my hands.) With a sport manicure, I get the whole deal but no polish. It's still an amazing treat, and my hands and nails look terrific. I cannot do the same level of cuticle care on my own. In my view, it is totally worth it.

Liz A.

Veteran

I'm extremely particular about the shape of my nails, and I never like the way they do it at the nail place. I do think it would be worth the money if (BIG IF) there were someone I trusted to do a good job, but sadly this person has yet to be found.

unfrumped

Veteran

Thanks, viva! I know I will at least try it.

Interesting, Liz A. I would have hoped they would work to your preferences! I like rounded nails that follow the shape of my fingers and very short- just a sliver of white. For me, I do not like the squared nail tip that is often described.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You can ask them to follow the shape of your fingers. I do this once in a a while because I almost never wear polish on my nails (for same reasons as Vivian) and I find it a nice treat and helpful to maintenance. I would recommend if you like the nail place. At some places I've been to, it did feel like a waste -- those are the ones that just don't give as good service, period.

Jules

Veteran

Not what you asked, but living in a cold/dry climate in the winter, many Canadians swear by Glysomed Hand Cream. It forms a barrier you can feel when you wash your hands. Now to be honest I am not sure how it affects actual cleanliness, I'm not sure what you are washing off in your job and whether that stuff would "stick" to the barrier when you wash or actually be washed away more easily, if you catch my drift. But in terms of skin comfort in the winter with frequent washing, this stuff helps a lot. I've even sent it to my friend who moved to a desert climate in the US. According to their website they are available to Americans on drugstore.com:
http://www.glysomed.com/

Gaylene

Veteran

Another Glysomed user here--for hands and feet year around. I also have tubes of L'Occitane Shea hand cream around the house and in my handbag as well as tubes of Herbacin Kamille, a glycerine/silicone hand cream, which my husband prefers for its non-greasy feel and which is nice if I'm running out the door and don't want slippery hands.

I think regular use of hand cream and at-home maintenance trumps periodic manicures. It's like any other skin care; while a professional facial is lovely, it isn't a substitute for a good, daily skincare routine.

For me, the secret is to keep tubes of hand cream in several locations--by every sink, in the glove compartment of the car, in my desk, and in my handbag. I also keep a tube of lavender hand cream and cuticle cream on my night table so it's the last thing I do before putting out the light. I love the subtle scent as I drift off to sleep.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I tend to do my own manicures because I can do a better ongoing job. Short, neat, filed, buffed, clear polish and very moisturized. And my hands are on show all the time in my line of work too. I think my hands look sufficiently professional and polished, and suit my style.

Like Gaylene, I keep hand cream every where and use it all the time.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I use Glysomed, too! Not regularly -- but often.

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I prefer to do my own manicure, but every once in a while it's a nice treat to get it done by a professional and just relax into the experience. To me, it's really not an either/or proposition. Even if you get your manicure regularly done by a pro, you have the day-to-day maintenance. Lotion, keeping your fingernails clean, cuticles at bay, that kind of stuff. My favorite is the Curel Daily Moisture lotion because it's lightweight, absorbs fast, and does a much better job for both my hands and feet than any specialty creams I've ever tried (and I tried many).

kkards

Veteran

I have no skills when it comes to nail care....none....so i get mani/pedi's year round. and about 1/2 the year, i get no color on my toes.....but i really want them to look nice. also by going so often, the staff at the salon know me, know what i like, and work to fit me in, even if they are busy....

Anonymous

I tend to do my own manicures because it is more time efficient. I do use color because I love it, but I think professionally manicured hands with little-to-no color are also gorgeous. Taking care of your hands/cuticles/nails shows however you choose to do it.

Banoffi

Veteran

I get pedicures regularly, especially in the summer, and often get a manicure without polish at the same time. I'm hard on my fingernails and polish chips right away for me. I tried Shellac a few times and regretted it every time. I think my nails are sensitive/allergic to whatever is in Shellac and it would make my nails peel. (It was awful!!)

Jules

Veteran

Good tip on the Herbacin Kamille, Gaylene - I've seen it but figured it would have the same greasy effect, which sometimes puts me off using the Glysomed too. I'll try it this winter.

At my desk for year round use, I also like to keep Vaseline Hand and Nail (look for the pink bottle) - not the cheapest of the drugstore options but it works. Different function than the gylsomed, it's not a barrier but has alpha hydroxy and other ingredients that condition the cuticles and skin.

Susie

Veteran

For me, salon pedicures are worth every bit of the time and money they take as they do much better job than I can do myself. And with a quick touch up of color if it chips, I can go up to 3 weeks between visits.

But I do my own manicures. I don't get polish and I don't cut my cuticles and don't allow them to do so. So it's basically moisturizing the cuticles and pushing them back and clipping and shaping my nails. I'm able to do that myself when it's convenient. I do enjoy the massage with the pedi but manicures aren't something I really enjoy and like the convenience of doing it at home.

Anonymous

I just keep my nails short and filed, cuticles trimmed, and hands well moisturized. I have never worn polish. The short, sans polish thing started many moons ago when I was taking classical piano lessons. I ignored my teacher's admonition to keep them short, and my thumbnail broke off when I was learning to do a glissando. Very painful! I might add that having longer nails interferes with proper hand position and technique, which can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. I'm also at a computer for 40 hours a week, and nails just get in the way. Again, not good for hand position.

unfrumped

Veteran

Ah well-- no free lunch, no expensive lunch; gotta make your own lunch.

Gigi

Veteran

This is not exactly an answer to the question you asked, but I find that my nails look much better if I put a conditioning nail oil on them at night. I just rub it into my nails and into the cuticle. It usually softens the cuticle a bit, which means I can push it back a little bit with my fingers as I rub the oil in. This might be a helpful way for you to keep your nails in shape over time.

Nails are tough and take a lot of maintenance, IMO.

anchie

Veteran

I do my own manicure for ongoing maintenance, but if I am in the saloon for pedicure, then I do a professional manicure without polish too. But I would not go to saloon just for manicure.

unfrumped

Veteran

Gigi, thanks, I do think that it is more about small daily maintenance routines, and nighttime is good for that.
I also prefer the " dry" feeling lotions for daytime so will look into some of the products.

Robin

I've had professional pedicures without polish before. The aesthetician didn't complain, it felt good, and my feet looked better after. I don't like to wear polish on any nails, but, like you, could use a manicure...Maybe I'll find someone who will do a good manicure without polish.