fake-it French tips {Works for Me Wednesday}

I love long nails.  Sadly, my real nails break/peel too much for me to have long nails on my own (plus for some odd reason I don’t mind having long, fake nails, but I cut my “real” nails nearly every week because I can’t stand the feel of them when they’re long).  I’ve had acrylic/gel nails twice (once for high school banquet and once for my wedding).  I loved the look but I couldn’t stand 1. the cost, 2. getting them filed down when I went back to get them filled in, and 3. the way my real nails are incredibly weak once I take the fake nails off.

So one day while stalking reading Kevin & Amanda, Amanda mentioned how she was never able to have good nails, but she had heard about a $3 French manicure trick.  She posted a picture of her nails and they looked really nice.  I was intrigued.  I clicked on the link she posted (here) to find out more.  The secret is to buy the Broadway Real Life fake nails at Walmart and use those.

I couldn’t believe it (in my mind all I could picture were the “stick on” nails from my childhood) but I bought a box and gave them a whirl.  I loved them!  I’ve used them several times and I always get compliments on my nails when I’m wearing them.

These are the ones I buy – I have pretty small nails and so I prefer the petite nails.  Even the ones that say “real short” are still too long for me – I’ve used them a few times and I always end up filing the tips down a lot.

nails before

after

Andrea says that she can get two sets of nails out of one box (making each set $3), but I can only get one set and end up just tossing the other set of nails that I don’t use because they are way too big or two small.  So technically my nails cost $6, but that’s still not too bad.

They also don’t last nearly as long as professionally done nails, but I can usually get them to last for about a week…and that week includes dish washing, exercising, cleaning, and general clumsiness (I’m always whacking nails on stuff). Once I put them on, I just carry the little tube of nail glue in my purse so I can re-attach nails if they fall off.

Here’s a look at how well they do over several days – I put them on Friday morning and this picture was taken the following Tuesday morning.  Two got knocked off during this period, but both times I just dabbed some more nail glue on them and stuck them right back on.

Using these fake nails works for me!  I get the pretty nails I want for little money, commitment, or pain.  Then when I’m done with them and ready to go back to short nails I can switch back with no problem.

Linking up to Works for Me Wednesday.