Taking proper care of your nails is important for anyone, especially someone like me. I like to change my nail color on a regular basis, meaning my nails get into contact with (acetone free) remover more often than they should. More importantly, however, are the years of abuse that have left my nails week and fragile.
Confession time: I was a nail biter for most of my life. I can’t remember exactly when it started, but I must have been very young. I tried – though not very hard – to stop but it became a way to relieve stress and anxiety so this was very difficult.
Finally, one of my best friends resorted to hitting me whenever I bit while we lived together in London for a couple of months during a university exchange. Tough love! This proved how pretty longer nails actually looked on me and ever since I have managed to stop, although the first year was not easy and I had a lot of fall backs during stressful periods.
For the last couple of years, I have let my nails grow. Unfortunately, years of biting left them weak and they still split easier then most. Besides a nourishing base coat whenever I wear polish – almost always, as it actually makes them stronger – I have found one product in particular helps keep me nails in optimum condition: Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil.
Whenever I change my nail polish, I make sure to remove it a little before I plan to paint them. After the nail polish remover, I wash them and then apply a thick layer of the Apricot oil all over my nails and cuticles. The oil smells lovely, nice and sweet but not overpowering. I allow the oil to absorb completely before I paint my nails. Doing this two to three times a week seems to reduce breakage and splitting of my nails. A great product and as you only need very little this will last you a good long time.
Goede nagelverzorging is altijd belangrijk, maar zeker voor iemand zoals ik. Ik verander regelmatig van nagellak kleur, dus mijn nagels komen veel in aanraking met (aceton-vrije) nagellakremover. Belangrijker zijn echter de jaren van mishandeling die mijn nagels zwak en fragiel achtergelaten hebben.
Tijd voor een bekentenis: ik was een nagelbijter. Ik kan me niet precies herinneren wanneer ik daarmee begonnen ben, maar ik denk vrij jong. Ik probeerde weleens -niet al te overtuigend – te stoppen maar het was voor mij een manier om stress af te reageren, dus dat was niet makkelijk.
Uiteindelijk kwam de omslag toen een van mijn beste vriendinnen me begon te slaan elke keer als ik beet toen we samen in Londen woonden voor een universiteits-uitwisseling. Toen ik eenmaal zag hoe mooi lange nagels stonden ben ik gestopt, hoewel het eerste jaar niet makkelijk was en ik wel een aantal keer weer ben begonnen in stresvolle periodes.
De laatste paar jaar heb ik mijn nagels laten groeien. Helaas hebben de jaren van bijten ze zwak gemaakt en scheuren ze vaak in. Naast een verzorgende base coat elke keer als ik lak – en ik draah bijna altijd nagellak want dat maakt mijn nagels sterker – heb ik een product gevonden dat echt helpt om mijn nagels in topconditie te houden: Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil.
Als ik ga wisselen van lak, zorg ik er altijd voor dat ik de lak een uurtje voor ik ga lakken verwijder. Na de nagellak remover was ik mijn handen en daarna breng ik een dikke laag Apricot olie aan op mijn hele nagel en nagelbed. De olie ruikt lekker, zoet maar niet te. Ik laat de olie helemaal intrekken voordat ik mijn nagels lak. Als ik dit twee tot drie keer per week doe, breken en scheuren mijn nagels veel minder. Een super product en omdat je maar heel weinig nodig hebt doe je er ook lekker lang mee.
I have a lot of breakage and splitting from washing my hands so much at the hospital, but I can’t find a product that helps! I’m definitely going to check out this one.
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Oh this might help…or you could consider applying a clear basecoat to help protect them, but I am not sure it is allowed.
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I might try this one Anne! I’ve tried clear coats, but they only serve to weaken my nails since it’s basically applying nailpolish…but clear.
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No that won’t work. there is also a great essie basecoat that looks pink but goes on clear…grow stronger I think?! Thta might work as well 🙂
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My nails are so weak after having gel polish and I’ve been curious about this Essie oil for some time! Great review, I might have to check it out!
(Also, well done for stopping the nail biting. I always find myself doing it when I’m stressed and I really need to stop!)
Becki | http://www.beautyandthebrunette.co.uk
xxx
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Hi Becki!
I have never dared to try gel polish, I am so scared it will damage my nails to much.
I think this would be a great product to try (or something similar, but I prefer this over other nail oils I have tried before).
xxx Anne
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Would never have guessed you were once a nail biter! Good to know about this product 🙂
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Oh it was really bad: I came across an old photo of my nails the other day and they looked so awful.
Great product though!
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Seems like a good one! Have not yet tried anything from that brand believe it or not! Will keep an eye out for this one 🙂
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Really?? i love them, but they are a little expensive. Well worth looking out for a discount 😀
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Yes believe it or not! Not sure I can get them where I’m from as I’ve never seen them so far 😦 Will have to go online, as usual!!
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Well, they made it to Holland only two years ago but I am still addicted. Fragrance direct does some great discounts on older colours!
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Ah good to know, thanks 🙂
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Great review! I just might have to try this. I have issues with occasionally biting my nails. I would like to get them in a lot better shape lol. 🙂 xo
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I guess most of us occasionally bite in stressful periods. This really helped me though!
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This sounds great! I’ve been wondering about trying this, so this was a super helpful post ♥
Amy xx
Perfect Imperfections
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I really like it, before I used a different cuticle oil by a dutch brand but this is so much better 🙂
xxx Anne
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That nail oil sounds like a miracle worker! I know someone who really struggles with brittle nails so I shall suggest this to her. 😀 Brilliant article, Anne! Well done on not biting your nails anymore. 🙂
I used to suck my thumb as a baby and never got out of the habit as I got older since it provided me with comfort. Eventually, just before I started school, my mom resorted to buying this horrible tasting polish to put over my thumb nail in order to get me to stop. It was probably just before I turned six and I have never sucked my thumb again. 😀
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Hihi, well I hope this helps your friend, it made a real difference for me.
And I know the weird tasting stuff you mean: my mom tried in against nail biting but I found it only tastes bitter on the first and second bite 😉 Sounds awful, but these are quite powerful habits 🙂
xxx Anne
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Hahaha I didn’t brave trying it a second time. :’) They really are. Have a lovely Saturday, Anne! 😀 xx
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Unfortunately, I’m still a nail biter, it’s been my new years resolution ever since I can remember, but I just can’t stop. I’m the same as you, it tends to be when I’m nervous, stressed or anxious. Whenever I do grow my nails out slightly they’re always breaking and splitting, so I think I definitely need to give this apricot oil a go! Great review, thanks for sharing x
emily x ❤ | emilyloula
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I need to try this! I don’t usually bite my nails but the tend to break😞
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Such a lovely colour. No matter how many vitamins I take my nails always split and crack in the winter and grow lovely and long in the summer time. Bizarre!xx
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Sunshine is magic! And I do find eating lots of healthy oily products like nuts and avocado helps. But this stuff is like sunshine in a bottle for my nails 🙂
xxx
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Yeah I’m big into my healthy oil foods too, but no matter what they’re fuelled by sunshine. ☀️ I’ll have to check it out, your nails always look lovely xx
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Thanks 😀
Hope you have a great weekend !
xx Anne
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Thank you! 😄 You too Anne xx
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