My Decision About Acrylic Nails vs. Gel Nails

Happy Wednesday!

Well, yesterday I posted about Acrylic nails vs. Gel nails. Wow! You all were so much help!

It seems everyone either loves gel nails or hates them. I do think you have to have them done by someone who knows what they’re doing.

After much thought (as if this is really important in the grand scheme of life), I tried Shellac nails.

What are Shellac nails? Well, I didn’t know until one of my readers (thanks Bonnie!) suggested them.

I looked Shellac nails up and decided I would try them. I had them done at Macy’s and they were the same price as acrylic nails.

Shellac nails are gel nails but are supposed to be better. There’s very little filing so it doesn’t damage your natural nail.

I thought they looked pretty good, especially since my nails are very short.

Even if I had done acrylic nails, I would have kept them short.

The only down side was the color selection. There wasn’t a lot of colors to pick from and I was still wanting a winter color, since it’s technically still winter.

This is kind of a gray color but I have no idea what it is called.

Now, a few weeks ago I told you I was going to try some new prescription glasses. The new looks are interesting and I didn’t look good in some of the glasses I liked.

The nerdy look (that’s what I call it) is popular and I think I succeeded!

As with all my fashions choices, ahem like my hair, it might take me a few days to get use to them.

I have to tell you about this picture. I had been shopping all day. I was tired but I wanted to get a picture of my new glasses.

I asked my husband if he would take a picture and he said he would as long as he didn’t have to get up. Obviously he was tired too!

So we snapped this with me sitting in the floor so my sweet husband didn’t have to move. We are so professional around here!

What do you think about my crazy glasses?  Had you heard of Shellac nails?

Beauty For the Heart~~I love poems and this is one of my favorites. It was written by Erma Bombeck after she found out she had a fatal disease.

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television – and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I love you’s”.. More “I’m sorrys” …

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it … live it…and never give it back.

leave a comment...

  1. I love the gel. They normally last me two to three weeks. Yesterday I got acrylic with polish and then a gel overlay. I left the place upset because the gel didn’t dry like it does when it’s over my natural nail. And my pretty design is all smudged up. I GOT THEM DONE YESTERDAY! ARG!

    Is there a technique or something to get the gel overlay to seal like it does on natural nail?

  2. I typically get acrylics, often with a gel overlay to hold the polish since I am a hard working homemaker, mother, and part time worker, so my nails tend to wear down polish quickly, even with gel. Plus I can only afford a fill once every 3 weeks. I’ve never done shellac but I am thinking of doing a less damaging overlay because I took my own nails off today and I just hate how brittle my nails are (before and after acrylics). Thank you for your opinion on the shellac!

  3. Hi Amy ( and Cyndi), Amy, I just posted some questions on another artical Cyndi had and maybe you can help with answers also. For nail biters would you recommend gel? I like short nail, but the salons try not to but sand my nail tips I would rather do my nails on my own and have in the past, but I need to use a drill as I a disabled. (Hand strength issues). Do you recommend a reasonable priced drill and any advise to cause the least damage to the nail bed. Thanks Tara

  4. hi. i know this blog is old but hoping someone will answer. i got my nails done yesterday and they are supposedly gel, which were 10.00 more than acrylic. i like them alot, but i think ive been scammed. she used a bowl of powder that had gel typed on it, but it smelled like acrylic, went on like acrylic, and did not cute under a light. has anyone heard of this? id like to report them to bbb if they are scammers. i used to be a nail tech, went to school back in early 90’s. i have gel nail kit at home and 36watt uv light, but i hate doing nails. please let me know your opinion. love your hair and glasses!!

  5. Hey Cyndi,
    I know I’m a couple of days late but I’d like to chime in here about acrylics and shellac. I’m a nail tech and I’ve been doing nails for 5 years. Frankly I love them both! I wear acrylics on my nails because for me, acrylics hold up better with the abuse I put them through 🙂 But for my toenails I love wearing shellac. The shellac holds up great and I love that the product won’t smudge, chip or wear off when I’m wearing close-toed shoes, which is typically what happens with polish. And…the shellac will look beautiful on my toesies for 6 weeks! Now…here’s my 1 big tip for those contemplating getting acrylics. Please, please, please find a nail tech that will only hand file your nails. NO DRILLS! That way you have no damage (like those ugly dents left behind by the drill) and if you decide to remove the acrylics your nails will be just as healthy as they were when you started. Enjoy your shellac nails! I love the color! Blessings & best wishes! Amy

  6. Hey Rachelle
    Yes, it’s my understanding that I can change the color. I’m hoping so because I will want to do something else for Spring.
    I got my scarf at Target. They had the yellow and gray one that I have on and they also had a coral and gray one. I loved the coral one but that’s definitely not my color.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog!
    Cyndi

  7. Hey Joanne!
    First, thanks for all your sweet words! I’m enjoying my blond streak more now that I’ve gotten use to it. I think it was just a shock at first.
    Also thanks for the tip about the acetone. I have a Sally’s close so I think I’ll get some in case I decide to take them off or I don’t have time to have them re done.
    Have a blessed day!
    Cyndi

  8. Hey Darby!
    Thanks! I’m hoping these gel nails don’t peel my nails off that would not be good. I’ll let you all know if I have problems with that.
    Have a great day!
    Cyndi

  9. The nails look great, as do the glasses! As someone else mentioned, anything you wear would look cute! 🙂

  10. As if it hasn’t already been said enough … love the glasses! By the way, you almost convinced me to go out on my lunch break today and get my nails done. But it was a beautiful day, so I took a walk instead. That means, when I head to Blissdom tomorrow, I’ll probably still have scraggly nails. Try not to judge me;)

  11. Thanks for sharing that poem by Erma Bombeck. It really reminded me of what’s important. Oh, and the glasses are really cute. And I love your hair. As for nails, I know nothing about nails except that mine always seem to need help. I spend a lot time in the barn 🙂

  12. glasses look great!!! i don’t like wearing mine at all, but since i am in my 50’s now, my eyes are so dry that i can’t wear contacts all day anymore. i have the “nerdy” look going on too! enjoy your nails. i love treating myself and getting them done.

  13. I was gonna mention something about Shellac nails to you yesterday, but I’m not too nail savvy, I really didn’t know if they were any different than gel nails. I had shellac nails last summer & I loved them. They lasted about 2 weeks and I thought they were super affordable. I LOVE your glasses!! They look great on you! And I LOVE that scarf!!! I was trying to pack for Blissdom last night & I kept grabbing scarfs. I thought to myself “Really, Tonya…..Do you need all of these scarfs for Blissdom?” And then I thought, “Cyndi will have just as many!” : ) Can’t wait to see you TOMORROW!!

  14. Your new glasses look awesome. Good choice. I so appreciate how real you are. Nails look nice. Can you change color if you want to? Love your scarf – do you remember where you found that?
    Have a wonderful conference.

  15. I have heard of Shellac nails, but never tried them. I heard that they last a nice, long time. I am looking forward to hearing your opinion about them as the days roll on.

    The glasses are cute! (But everything you choose looks cute on you!!!)

    Love the cheery scarf too.

  16. I have been wearing shellac nails on and off for six months or so and I love them!!! They are you own natural nails and they do not harm your nails. The downside – they usually cost as much as gel or acrylic nails, but I’m hoping that will come down soon, as they are not as much work for the technician and gel or acrylic nails. Mine usually last about 3 weeks, but I do a french manicure, so you really can’t see the out growth. You will see more of it with a colored polish. You can also take them off yourself, you don’t have to go to the salon to do it. Sometimes i just don’t have the time and/or money to go get them redone and I have found you can soak them off yourself. You just have to get straight acetone, not the regular polish remover that you find at stores. You will have to go to a Sally Beauty Supply, or some other store like that, and get acetone. It’s inexpensive and you can just pour some in a bowl and soak them off yourself. Takes about 10 minutes. I was disappointed one time when I went to my regular salon and just wanted them soaked off, not reapplied, and they charged me $5.00 to do so. Decided then I would have a bottle of acetone at home, just in case I wanted to take them off, but didn’t have time/money to get the reapplied again right away.

    Love the glasses. So cute on you.

    Love your hair as well. I think that blond streak add a lot of personality!! It’s not super crazy like blue or anything. I think it looks really nice on you. You have beautiful hair.

    Enjoy your blog as well. Thanks so much and have a blessed day.

  17. Thanks for the shout out! I hope the Shellac works well for you. And I think you look great with your new glasses! Have fun at Blissdom!

  18. Love the glasses! I think they look very stylish. I got shellac nails in December and they are still here! I have had problems having the shellac come off without peeling off layers of my nails. Have you had this?

  19. Love the new glasses! I know nothing about nails. I get a manicure and a pedicure once a month and the guy always tries to talk me in to something new and I always just bring my same old Revlon Scene Stealer for my fingers and OPI Red for my toes.

    Have a wonderful time at Blissdom! Miss you.

  20. Love the glasses! Wish I looked good in that style. Like the nails too. Let us know how they hold up!

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