My nails grow fast and are naturally a bit soft and bendy. My nails would grow a decent amount, then snag, break, or just get so dirty and ragged and uneven that I would clip them super-close to avoid being embarrassed by them. I never had the money to go to a salon and even if I did, I don't trust anyone who wants to clip off my cuticles! Nor did I want fake nails they had always struck me as uncomfortable, unsanitary, a bit dangerous, and just too false-looking. So I had just figured that my nails would stay in their sorry state until I was old enough and bourgeois enough to afford a good-quality weekly manicure.
Then I became single for the first time in 6 years, and found I wanted to pamper myself and do something to feel more feminine in a small and easy way. People notice nails I know I was always aware of which of my friends had glossy, beautiful nails. I specifically went into the nail-hardener search looking for a product that would give me long, glossy, hard, natural nails.
I was honestly looking for a different product with higher reviews (OPI's strengthener) and after trying 3 different stores without success, I bought Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails in Clear instead, out of sheer shopping exhaustion. It's available everywhere and cost at least 5 dollars less than what I was looking for. At Target it cost less than 2 dollars.
I also bought a super cheap 4-sided nail buffer (also less than 2 bucks at Target). I wanted my nails to look as smooth and shiny as possible and I knew that progressive-sided buffers like this were the best first step. I once got roped into buying a 25 dollar buffer-and-moisturizer set from a mall kiosk salesman what a crock! You can buy the same buffer anywhere for less than 2 bucks and get perfect shiny nails.
That night I used the various sides of the nail buffer to sand down the ridges in my nails, buff, and shine all 10 nails. A note sometimes it's easier to hold the buffer still and move your nail over it instead, especially when doing your dominant hand.
Then I washed my hands (there's a fine dust that comes off your nails from the buffing). I noticed that my nail tips were looking a bit yellow, so I soaked them in a strong solution of hydrogen peroxide, water, and lemon juice for about 5 minutes, until they had clearly bleached out to a shade much closer to white. I washed again and dried thoroughly.
Then the moment of truth I got the medicinal-looking little bottle out of its package and opened it. As I applied it, I was very happy with how easy it is to apply. It's clear, so it's tough to mess up, even if you're as uncoordinated as I am. I applied one coat to my nail and one coat to the underside of the nail.
This stuff dries reasonably fast. I gave it 30 minutes or so on each hand before doing anything strenuous.
I was immediately pleased by how shiny my nails were. The gloss is high on this product, which for me was a big plus like having shiny hair, I feel shiny nails look healthy, youthful, feminine, and pretty. It's clear, so it's understated, but it's still obvious my nails have been cared for.
That was Friday night. This is Monday night, so I've had it on about 72 hours. I had a big 3 days that involved a trip to an amusement park, a day-trip to Washington DC, and a day's work as a nanny. Despite having only applied 1 coat, my nails are still nearly as shiny and nice right now as they were Friday. After 3 days of being rough with my hands, none of my nails have chipped, torn, cracked, split, or peeled in the last 3 days, even though they are all at an advanced stage of growth. They are long and shiny and glorious, and they definitely don't bend anywhere near as much as they did they're positively hard, in fact.
I am a convert and a believer. If you're interested in a glossy, hard nail that lasts long enough to grow out, I recommend Hard as Nails without reservation. Cheap, available, glossy, effective.
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I used this many years ago. Couple of months ago my nails had gotten to be a good lengh and wanted them to stay that way till my daughters wedding. So I started using it. With in a few weeks all my nails broke off, are split, cracked and in horrible shape. It had to be this product cause I have never had this problem before using this product. Now I have no nails, nothing to file they are so short. Must have changed the formula, was so disapointed.
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Love, love, love. I know this keeps getting a lot of bad reviews, but it's been a fantastic product for me. I do have to agree, if you only use one coat, it will come off rather easily. However, I've been slathering this on, and it works wonders. I feel I have "normal" nails, but they are quick to split and break most days. I'm in food service, so I can't have any polish, technically, but I want my nails to be longer, so I use it since it's clear. It's been wonderful, even with all the handwashing. I applied two coats before I spent 2 weeks abroad in Japan, and my nails were all flawless, except by the end it had started to peel off, and the tiniest bit of splitting was evident. However, as soon as I arrived home, I brushed on two more coats, and no fuss!
This product may not be for everyone, but bottom line it's saved my nails, no questions asked. Besides that, it's a total value for under $4 a jar. I'm usually fond of higher-end brands, but I would MUCH rather get two of these for the price of one bottle of essie or OPI.
If you're consistent with its application, you won't be disappointed!
Honest reviews on Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Regular Nail Enamel - Clear - 0.45 oz
In an effort to put a stop my nail-biting routine, I decided to apply some clear nail polish to my fingernails every once in a while. While the polish does its job well (it doesn't taste awful but reminds me that I shouldn't bite my nails :P) it also comes off pretty easily. The layer of polish will consistently come off a couple days after its application, and is quite easy to peel off manually when it does. I suppose it would probably last longer when applied over another layer of nail polish, but still.
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this stuff doesn't last a day.....it chips and comes off way too easy.......I don't want to reapply nail polish in the middle of the day! Why does it not last through hand washings? I hate it. Waste of money.
