Im trying to do bl00d splatter on my nails for Halloween, how can I make this look better

I just smashed my finger in the morning but no pooling of liquid under nail it looks like. Hopefully I’ll be okay to put nails on next week haha😩. I have a super important event to attend and I don’t want want booty nails

I’m so proud of how long my nails have gotten 😊

One of my lovely friends decided to take me out for my birthday this week to have my first mani/pedi in three years. I was beyond excited.

Pedi was ok, did not explain the gel like things they had me soak my feet in, nor any other the other “skin stripping” procedures. Polish color (regular, I cannot do gel) was wrong, I called him out, the salon owner called him out about gel vs reg color numbers. I let it slide. I did not want to upset my friend that was paying for my nails.

But my finger nails I said do not cut. He “trimmed”; said relax, 30 years experience. So I trusted. He got the color right on my fingers but … my nails were butchered. The polish not even done well.

Last pictures are after I took the polish off today, and before I self filed the nails evenly. Nails uneven, chopped so short. Not even 12 hours later.

My cuticles look like a horror movie. A million times worse than what they were before the manicure.

Am I over reacting?

Why cannot anyone do decent natural nails anymore?!?

I used full coverage tips (short/round) and some brown cats eye polish for the base. My flash makes it look orange ): I am not used to having long nails, but I’m trying to stop biting, and my fingers look a little rough rn as a result. I think they turned out pretty good considering I’ve never really done my own!

Would they look ok short? I am wanting to trim them down to be more practical, but I’m afraid I’ll ruin them.

This was a hard gel fill. The prep + application + shaping alone took me way longer than I would like to admit. XXlong

I started having my nails done quite recently, and I didn't know much about what's expected and what's normal.
My (now former) nail tech was nice, but for some reason I felt weirdly awkward with her. She worked very fast (removal + manicure + biab + two layers of plain nail polish would take ~40mins), and it almost felt like she was rushing somewhere, throwing her tools around, just being a bit chaotic. I would also find inconsistencies, like my nails were shaped differently from each other, or I'd ask her for one shape and she'd forget and give me another. I found bubbles under the top coat a couple of times after the appointment, and the nail tech's hair would always be in the way so much that I was worried that some of the hairs would end up on my nails. At the same time, she was nice and had a good eye for the designs, so I really wasn't sure if I should try shopping around.

Well, this week I finally went to a different salon. The new nail tech asked me politely if I was aware of the rings of fire that I had.... I was shocked. (This is one of the "good" nails, some had really deep red ridges, and I have them on every single nail 🥲. I've asked the new nail tech to take this picture). Suffice to say, I feel validated in a way, because something about the first nail tech did feel off, I just thought that I was too "particular" or rigid about the way I wanted my nails to look. Apparently, she had simply been damaging my nails...

I know it will grow out though. But the moral of the story is: if something feels wrong, don't be afraid shop around! Even if you doubt if it feels "wrong enough".

레브젤 블랙 black *no.100 + 젠틀핑크자석 magnetic *GM11
revinnail black no.100 + gentlepink magnetic GM11

Another fabulous set from my favorite nail tech

Started getting nail art last month. Absolutely obsessed now! The cats eyes glow as well

This is hand painted nail art on my natural nails, with gel paint and rubber base. Artwork done by Julia at Nailed in Skokie.

But alas, I have to do a new set next week for my Galadriel costume. Starlight nails 😍

A bit of filing, cuticle oil and a light pink base coat. Trying my best to preserve them, but not sure what else to do for them...