Growing my nails long for the first time in my life. I'm not ready for nail polish, so I put on anti-chip base coat which looks great. I love the sheen.

Here are my questions:

1. It's starting to wear off. Do I need to remove it completely to put on another coat? If so, how do I do that?

2. Nails are getting to the point where I need to file them so they don't get too long. Any tips on how to do that? I've found some places that say use an emery board and others that say use a nail file. Which is better? What are the advantages of one over the other?

1. Yes, just use a polish remover then clean them off before re-applying to remove residue.

2. Nail files are more abrasive and better for shortening/shaping the nail while emery boards are smoother and more flexible and best used for smoothing/touch ups.

I just to a decent nail parlor and get them groomed every 2-3 weeks.  In between I usually pick at them with my other nails to make sure they don't get dirty underneath and stay a sexy pearly natural white throughout.

Don't let them get too long, unless you really want to.  Super long nails are an annoyance, I keep my thumbs a little shorter than my other nails because you just cannot text with long thumb nails.

Getting my cuticles trimmed and groomed got rid of all my hang nails though!  Some I have had for years.

My nails are horrible sometimes, are there any good anti chip products that can be recommended?

A good diet, and nice clear coat seems to make my nails near impossible to chip.  Unless of course I try to stab a table with them over and over and over again... true story the table is evil ^.^

Quote from: Cyndigurl45 on September 06, 2012, 02:13:29 PM
My nails are horrible sometimes, are there any good anti chip products that can be recommended?

All I'm using is Sally Hansen Ultimate Shield fortifying base and top coat. There's no tint but my nails have a really nice sheen. They haven't chipped (even tho I type with them and I know that's a big no-no).

Always, ALWAYS file away from the finger, never towards as this makes the nails split. I never use files, always emery boards (and I've been filing my nails for the past 28 years - fingerstyle guitarist). A small amount of filing every couple of days or so is better than a big job once a fortnight.

I like Hard as Nails. It is a clear coat that makes you nails nice and solid where they won't break and the clear coat does not chip.