Anonymous wrote:Nobody else does dip nails? Are they not common in DC, do you all do gel? PP who said she'd been doing her own for decades, tell me more.

I have not been using the SNS product (you can find it on Amazon). Before reading this thread I had never heard of DIP nails. My nails are natural and long but as I age they are getting more fragile and tear more easily. If I get a break, I immediately glue it, let it dry, then put glue on top and bottom (if showing) to patch it and dip the nail in the powder that comes with repair kits To smooth out the powder, I put glue on top. Sometimes I have to buff down the sand a bit. Then my nail is good as new and off I go. I usually put gel nails over any breaks. I never sand my natural nails.

I was thinking about getting them but for some reason I am worried they’re bad for your nails. Mine are thin, brittle and peel. Will SNS make them worse?

Nobody else does dip nails? Are they not common in DC, do you all do gel? PP who said she'd been doing her own for decades, tell me more.

It works SO well. Nothing has ever lasted on me before, including gel. But I only end up getting these redone because of growth - they NEVER chip or peel.

Anonymous wrote:Is that the same as what they call SNS these days?

Nexgen is the most common brand name around me.

Hah - I've been doing my own "dip" nails for decades and never knew there was a name for it.

Is that the same as what they call SNS these days?

By the way, dip nails are like crack. They're really hard to give up once you get used to them, because your nails are bulletproof and you don't have to think about them for a good 2+ weeks (and even then you're really just bothered by growth). It is a hard habit to break. I travel a lot for work and that's what I really loved about it - no worrying about chipping or breaking on trips. I'd only get 10 days out of gel before it started peeling.

I've had them for the last 2 years and just had them taken off yesterday and back to a regular manicure. I looked at the DIY kits, and I honestly think it would not give as good/long-lasting result. At the very least, I'd get it done at a salon a few times so you can watch and understand the process.

VERY important to find someone good who won't file too far. I live in an area (Texas) where dip nails are very very common. I've gone to a few different salons, but I ended up settling with one where they did a better job, even though it's a smaller salon and actually not as "clean" looking (supplies are clean, but the shelves and stuff are dusty). Some of the things that made me realize they were better than the salon I'd been going to:
- They do a good job of keeping the dip thinner down towards your cuticle. A best practice is to do a "half dip" of the top of the nail for one or two layers so it's thinner near the cuticle.
- More consistent shaping of the nail.
- Having a fine-point file they use on the underside of the nail so there's no excess there.
- Never knicking me with the file.

I really liked dip. Very strong, lasted a full 3 weeks with zero chipping, kept me from biting my nails. However, I got really sick of the upkeep and cost. The cost wasn't a big deal, but going to the salon every 2.5 - 3 weeks just became a hassle. It takes a solid hour, and that's if there's no wait.

My nails are in surprisingly good shape after having them taken off. I had it taken off once when I was at the old salon before, and my nails did feel a little soft/ragged for a few days. Not really any different than after gel though. At this salon that I think is less aggressive with filing, my nails look EXCELLENT and feel great, even after having them on so long.

I paid $35 + tip for mine (+$5 if you want french/American).

Do you have experience with dip nails? Best to go to salon or easy enough to do at home? Brands suggestions if doing at home?