Ok, first just a quick reminder to enter the New Year's Giveaway that you can read all about here. There are a lot of really awesome prizes to win, so make sure you enter before New Year's Day!
Down to business! Here are my nails just after I finished doing Naked November.
Left Hand
Right Hand
As you can see, the skin around my nails has vastly improved. After experimenting for a month to see what skin care products would work best for me, I found that Lush Lemony Flutter is my holy grail. It smoothed the dry skin, plumped the weathered skin, and helped eradicate the tears and frays. MASSIVE CAVEAT HERE: Remember, not all products work the same for all people. Much like with topcoats, cuticle and skin care is highly dependent on your skin type and your body chemistry. I've tried so many cuticle products, but I've never seen results quite like this. The Lemony Flutter has also helped to restore the moisture in my actual nails as well, which, as you may recall, was sorely missing before I embarked on this challenge. I'm pretty sure that the lack of moisture was a larger cause for my damaged nails than even the damage caused by picking my polish or the havoc wreaked on them by Rejuvacote.
As you can see in the comparison above, most of the damage has grown out, the skin has smoothed, and my nails look much healthier and happier. The sad part, though, was that my thumb with the bubbles hadn't grown out completely, which caused my nail to break super far down into the quick. If you see any of my photos on my Facebook or IG pages, you'll see that my thumb is shaped a little strangely. I didn't want to file it all down to the meat, so I chose to take only that corner off. And because of the problems I'm still having from tears, I've also decided to change my nail shape to rounded until I can get them built back up. I'm not a fan of round on myself, but I just have to get over it if I want long and healthy nails! I mean, I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually, right?
So, what do you think about going without polish for a month? Could you do it? Do you think that it helped me gain healthier and stronger nails? I'd love to hear your thoughts below!
So, I'm here with an update on my progress with Naked November. As you'll see from the photos below, it's slow going. I've filed them down once already, and most of the really damaged bits are close to being completely gone.
However, my index finger started to peel at the free edge. I think it's from the way I filed. I used my glass file, but that doesn't guarantee that you won't get any peeling. I was a bit rough with my filing as I was in a hurry, so I'm not surprised about the peeling.
Moisturizing has really been helpful. I can tell the difference in the new growth of my nails as well as on the super damaged parts of my thumb. I've been using my 365 Days of Color Hand Creams and switching it up with my cuticle balms/oils/creams. I've also used a body scrub on my hands twice since starting the challenge and try to use my CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser when I wash my hands when I'm at home.
As for the polish free bit, I can say that I've been pretty successful! I've put on three quick manis for photos, but they came off the minute the photos were taken. Otherwise, I've been polish-free. I will say that it's been really hard staying on the wagon. I'm only 11 days in, and I'm dying here! I can't wait until I can put on some of the amazing polishes I've gotten in the past few weeks.
So, are you participating? How's it going so far? Are you seeing an improvement?
No, that title doesn't imply that I'm moving to a nudist colony. Nope, not me. Just my nails. It makes me so sad to do it, but I'm going to be taking a month away from painting my nails. Last summer, my nails were great. They grew long and strong and had minimal breaks. I attributed that to using Rejuvacote. Unfortunately, something in my body chemistry has decided that it no longer wants to play well with Rejuvacote. My C-curve was becoming less pronounced. My nails were separating from the skin underneath. My nails were peeling. And worse yet, I started to develop bubbles in between the sheets of my nails, which then cause my nails to peel in the middle instead of at the edges. You'll see what I'm talking about in the photos below. Another problem I have is that I'm a notorious polish picker. Apparently, bubbles in your nails + picking off polish = losing several sheets of nail when normally my picking doesn't take off any layers. So my solution? To try and go a month without wearing polish. Please note that everyone's body chemistry is different. What doesn't work for me may work great for you and vice versa. My routine isn't the gospel, so do what's right for you!
I do plan to swatch new stuff once they get in respectable shape, but I won't have any polish on my nails for longer than it takes to get photos. In the meantime, I'll be dredging up some wicked old photos from last summer, so my reviews may not be that great as it's been a long time since I've applied these polishes. I'll do my best to accurately portray them, though! Ok, let's take a look at my routine for this month and then discuss a few giveaways.
Here are my nails currently. The damage is mostly prominent on my thumb and pinkie on my left hand and my index, middle, ring, and pinkie on my right hand. There is an example of the bubbles I mentioned above on my thumb of my left hand. I've INTENTIONALLY left them dry without adding lotion or cuticle oil so you guys can see exactly what they look like in real non-blog life. I am embarrassed about the state of my nails, so please don't leave any not-so-nice comments, mkay? I'm well aware that they are a hot freaking mess.
Until the damage grows out, I'll be keeping them cropped low. The longer I allow them to get while this damaged, the more chance of getting really bad breaks below the quick. To help curb peeling issues, I'll be using my glass files and sealing the free edge with the shine part of my three-way buffer. For more information on that, check out Loodie Loodie Loodie's tutorials on how to correctly file your nails.
Glass file for home from Sephora; mini glass file for purse from Model City Polish; three-way buffer from Sally's.
Next up, I'm going to be moisturizing the crap out of my hands and nails. They are so dry and brittle that they are in desperate need of some TLC, especially now that winter has finally arrived. Below are some of the items I'll use to help keep my hands moisturized.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser; 365 Days of Color Sunny's Hand Cream, Sunny's Cuticle Balm, and Sunny's Cuticle Oil; Lush Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter; Northern Star Polish Tangerine Honeysuckle Cuticle Oil; Model City Polish Candy Corn Cuticle Oil.
I've also got some random things I'm using to try and boost growth and help with moisture and strength. Check them out below.
CVS 5000 mcg Biotin (two pills in the morning); plenty of water throughout the day; 365 Days of Color Sunny's Sugar Scrub; Julep Pomegranate Body Scrub; Sally Hansen Gel Cuticle Remover.
So, there you have it! I'll be showing you guys my progress every Monday through November. In order to help me get through this month without going crazy, I'm going to hold a giveaway. This giveaway is a participation giveaway not a like this like that one. I'm asking that you guys take a photo of your naked nails every day, starting tomorrow, until the end of the month. I want you to post those photos publicly every night on either Facebook or Instagram and tag it #nopolishnovember #nakednovember @blueeyedlawyer. If you do it every day starting tomorrow, 11/5/2013, for this month, you'll be in the running to win a very special prize that will be a secret until I announce the winner at the end of the month! You will be on the honor system. Please don't disappoint me by cheating. As Mr. Darcy says, "My good opinion once lost is lost forever." I know I can't make sure you're all going naked all the time, but that is the goal and spirit of this giveaway. Be honest and be honorable! And good luck to everyone as we embark on this scary world that is naked nails.
Second giveaway information - yes, the Depression Awareness giveaway has ended. HOWEVER, I am currently waiting for confirmation from I Need a Lighthouse on who has donated. Tomorrow, I will be submitting the donations that were sent to my paypal account. I'll have photos of that up on my Facebook page. I appreciate your patience while I wait to get that confirmation in. Trust me, you guys will be the first to know who the winners are as soon as they're announced!
