Why I’m Kicking my Fake Nail Addiction (+ my Natural Nail Growth Plan!)

fashionlush, natural nail growth, recovering from acrylics

TBH- I have been putting off this post cause I am actually traumatized about the state of my nails.

To start, I have quite the history when it comes to fake nails. I got my first pair at 13 for my birthday & 4 weeks later they fell off & that was that. In highschool I would ditch class & on a whim get FAKE NAILS. I loved a chunky french manicure situation LOL. Again though, they’d grow out, fall off, & I went back to doing my own shitty manicures until the next time I got some chunky claws.

In college, I took a long break from nails cause I was on a budget… but when everyone & their Mom started getting Kylie nails, I hopped back on the train. This was about 5 years ago & I have pretty much had fake nails ever since.

& LET ME TELL YOU, it was a real love/hate relationship.

Every single time we went out of town I had one break in the most painful way. It became a joke with Zack & I… how long till a nail breaks. When we were in Positano my nail broke in the WORST way. There was no nail place around & my nail was held together with super glue/bandaids/& a hair tie because if that nail MOVED it would hurt like hell.

Then there was the time my nails got SO weak that when one fell off it literally split my real nail in the middle. I asked the nail lady if it was okay to put a new nail on or if I should wait. In retrospect, I knew the answer to that question, but when she told me it was fine I just went with it. Later that night I was at my Mom’s & my finger was THROBBING. We had to leave & when I got home I had to get that nail off ASAP. It hurt like a bitch but as soon as it was off I felt relief. I won’t tell you what happened next cause it is sick… let’s just say, it was infected. BAD.

THEN- the straw that broke the camel’s back…

Last month I was visiting my Dad in Vegas & two days before the trip I got a fresh set by someone new. I told her during the entire appointment they were way too long but she insisted that’s the only way I will get the look I want. SO AGAIN, I trusted the nail lady. When in Vegas I was helping my Dad settle in his new house/unpack boxes… so kinda rough on my nails & every time my long ass nail tapped I had shooting pain. It was a fresh set & if you’ve ever gotten nails, you know the fresh set is ON THERE GOOD but I got my Dad’s nail clippers & got them off. It was a miserable & my Dad was asking my where there was hot pink pieces all over his bathroom. OOPS.

SO- that was it. I called it quits on fake nails… for now atleast. I can’t make any promises because I really was addicted to nails, but I do have a plan that I fully intend to execute. I am currently working with a nail GURU who specializes in natural nails. Her name is Bronte & works out of Bluxom Salon– if you live here, SEE HER!

Currently we are working on nail rehab which involves a manicure every 2 weeks, biotin supplements, acetone free SOY polish remover, jojoba oil, & a really good nail strengthener in between manis.

It takes 9 months for your nail to double in length & I will be documenting this journey as we go! Be sure to follow me on Instagram for NAIL UPDATES!

The Natural Nail Growth Plan Essentials