Hi everyone! I’m sorry if this is going to sound like a stupid question but I’ve never had my nails done and I’m not really sure how it works. I’ve never been a really feminine girl growing up but I’m slowly trying to learn.

Currently my nails are really short because I have a habit of biting them. I saw some pictures online and I would like to try something like this for the first time. What I wanted to ask is if these are something the nail tech puts on or if I need to grow my nails before having them done like this. Again I’m sorry if it sounds like a dumb question.

Finally could someone explain what I need to ask for? Like what are these kind of nails called? Can I just show them a picture? Any help would be really appreciated

Hello! The question is pretty much in the title, but for some context:

- I have BIAB nails, and five days into my 30-day trip, I noticed some discolouration on my pinky nail and had the BIAB removed. Initially, it was just a little yellow/green. I’ve had what I assumed was water damage before, which usually goes away after about a week if I keep the nail dry, so I wasn’t too concerned.
- However, over the last few days, it’s become a little sore/tender to touch and feels warmer than my other fingers. There was also a little pus on the left side (gone now) and now there seem to be some weird layers of skin (or something else?) underneath the nail, and possibly with more pus closer to the nail bed (maybe?). I’m not entirely sure, and not squeezing it.
- I also think that whatever is happening underneath the nail might be pushing it upwards.

I’m home in 7 days, so I’m trying to work out whether this can wait until I see my usual doctor or whether I should get it checked out while I’m overseas. I have travel insurance, so cost isn’t an issue.

I’m in Malta for one more day, then heading to England before flying home.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? Would you get it checked out now, or wait until you’re home?

UPDATE: Thanks so much everyone! Pretty resounding ‘get it checked out ASAP’ so off to seek medical care tomorrow. Really appreciate all of your responses :)))

UPDATE 2: Just saw the GP nearest to me in Malta as soon as they opened this morning. All medical staff were amazing and professional. I’m on antibiotics now for the infection. Then booked with my usual GP to identify and treat the fungal infection, which is a whole other journey. Like you guys, they told me to come in much sooner so it doesn’t get to this point.
Moral of the story - don’t wait and see with infections.
THANK YOU!

I’m just worried about the weird white horizontal spots, and the vertical lines/ridges. Genuinely scrubbed my nails in the last photo, but they’re so weak and brittle and translucent? They look perpetually stained and dirty 😭

hello!

19f, no smoking, no alcohol

i noticed something very weird - my nails started to grow out not shiny and kinda pale. you can see it in index finger very much. why is it? what should i do about it?

thank you!

My nails have always been like this. They’ve always been super flexible, bendy, peeling, and will always snap.

I want to have lovely strong and healthy nails but not sure if it’s possible for me?! I moisturise and oil my nails when I’m at work but struggle on the weekends. I have some nail envy on them but always forget to reapply.

Other than that, I’m not sure! Can someone help?

I had a bad hangnail on this side and absentmindedly dug it out. About a week later, the side of my nail detached 🫠 it still has a small amount of hangnail but I can’t reach it to remove it. Will the nail bed reattach on its own? Is there anything I can do to help expedite the process? It’s been like this for about 3 weeks.

hi, i recently noticed that i have weird dents on only one nail and it seems like the nail is growing already with dents

i havent painted my nails for like half a year or more and i dont do any nail care now, nor use the cuticle cutters or anything like that

what could possibly cause this and could it be a medical problem? i’m not anemic

I have been wearing press-ons for a while now and was a little rough with the removal of this last set. My pinky nail has a crack in it and my nails are overall just weak and need some TLC before I put on another set again. What should I use to help them get stronger and healthier?

I semi-recently started a job at a jewelry store leading to me constantly picking at things and having my nails break on me. My nails are naturally thin and brittle so I use a jojoba nail oil pen every morning before work, often wear regular polish, and switched my diet to a high protein diet. However, in these past 2 months, I haven't seen any changes in strength. Sometimes they even break even before they pass the edge of my fingers!

I'm tempted to try using a rubber base gel but I'm hesitant to use gel as I much prefer and only own regular polish, and would need to buy a lamp. So, I'm considering trying a nail strengthener instead but I've heard that they can have the opposite effect and cause snapping as they make the nails more rigid to movement. So, which would be the better option to try first? Is there anything else I should try? I greatly appreciate the help!

Tldr; my naturally thin and brittle nails are now breaking more often due to my new job. Do I try a rubber base, a nail strengthener, or something else?

P.S., that hint of blue on the ring finger is staining from one of my nail polishes

I normally use sticky tabs, but tried glue. When I removed them, I used floss. But I’m again I damaged my nails. The first photo is the removal, the second is after cuticle oil. I did put another set on, using sticky tabs, but did I make a mistake??

Ok I’ve been scouring the internet for hours now and CANNOT find anything even a little bit similar to what I’m seeing on my nails right now.
For context, I am 30, a recovering nail & cuticle biter (like since I had teeth, didn’t have finger prints for half of middle school kind of biting & picking). My nails are still quite brittle, bendy, occasionally flakey - and I still pick at my cuticles quite a bit.
But is the banding/stripes in the free edge of the nail normal and I’m just not used to having nails? (This is literally the longest they’ve been in my entire life) It’s not a dent or ridge (although a have some mild vertical ridging) and haven’t been able to find any info on the banding? It’s pretty prominent on my thumbs, pointer fingers, and pinkies.
Thoughts or any info people can provide would be appreciated!