To find someone that does them in the style you like I would probably look at people's hands and when I see someone's that I like ask who does them. I know what you mean, I hate that look too. My nails are natural, that is all my manicurist does. I have one nail that gives me trouble and even the patch that she uses absolutely ruins the nail. It ends up thin and yucky. I really dislike using acrylics but under your circumstances I just might do so as well.

You will need to talk to the nail technician before you start, I think.
I have had them a couple of times but they did damage my nails.....and I hated to have to go in for "fills" every two or three weeks. It was more money than I wanted to spend.

I've had acrylics for years, now. My shop offers the brush on gel type that is hardened under ultra violet light. Not only are they thinner than the old glue on type, but they go on over your natural nails. Nails do not have to be smooth, but they are lightly sanded to "take" the gel.

Only thing is, depending on how fast your nails grow, you do have to keep up with fill-ins. Even with a French manicure, I have to go every 2 weeks.

I'm glad I asked! I had no idea I'd have to go so often. I can't justify putting the money into this, plus I know how lax I am about something as simple as getting my hair cut.

Thanks for the info, everyone. I'll just put up with my ugly nails a little longer. Unfortunately, by the time they've grown out and are looking good again, it will be winter and new damage will occur. I think the solution is to get rich and become a snowbird, heading for Florida during the cold months. :-)

I was a nail tech years ago (about 20 or more). I don't know how they are now but I would NOT recommend them to anyone. Sure they look great but they will make your real nails thinner then paper when you quit having them done.
I broke my real nail below the quick and it is very painful. I was doing my own nails while working as a waitress and had to re-do them almost everynight. The nail product back then was not as good. Just don't start something you don't want to do the rest of your life. Save you money.

I do Solar French Nails and I don't usually break my nails. I go every 3 or so weeks. Pedis I go longer, but I do French also on Toes.

If Solar Nails grow to long they tend to break off. I'm in a small town and find really good rates.

I also have Raynauds. Are you talking about nail ridges because I have these in my thumbs all year. No ridges in the other nails and they all are strong. I'd never wear acrylic. Reminds me of Kate Gosselin.

I am confused about the Raynauds too. I have had it for 20 years and don't understand the "damage" you are talking about.

What happens is that I get essentially frostbite in various spots on my fingers, one of the most common being just below the nail. This damages the developing nail, which at the time isn't visible. But as nails grow (they push up from the bottom), the damaged part shows up all lumpy and misshapen. It takes months for this to grow out. Usually there's a deep crease involved, and the nail will fall off at that point.

I'm hoping this winter will be somewhat better because I'm without a dog for the first time in decades and won't have to go out, or even open an outside door, except if I'm leaving the house to go to work or whatever.

My feet are also involved with the Raynaud's, but disposable foot warmers solve that problem.

Thanks, everyone!

alisande, my Rheumatologist has suggested this Winter I try a low dose BP medication. (my BP is fine but the med helps keep blood vessels from spasms) I am willing to try as he said he has had very good results with a number of his patients.

My daughter is a beautician. She told me stay away from all acrylics,silk,wraps, anything where they file down your own nail and apply a chemical coating. I was a nail-biter all my life. I mean from age 4 to age 48. At 48, I decided to try and get manicures. In the past, I had tried manicures at home, but my nails grew in curved and deformed, yuck! So I started regular weekly professional manicures. At first there was nothing but pink nails to paint, I had no whites. But I didn't bite any more. Within three months, my nails had grown to a decent length. As I continued my weekly appointments, I noticed my nails were getting stronger and staraighter. Now they're perfect. And I can even skip a week now and then. But I love my manicures. I get a free hand and neck massage every time I go. And I get pedicures once in a while now. My feet are still ugly.

I've worn acrylic nails off and on for years! I will say that the acrylic will weaken your natural nail so if you're trying to preserve them or let them grow, don't get acrylic.

A product I just learned about are actual glue-on, fake nails from Walmart. I read a blog recently where someone recommended them so I tried them out because I wanted something on my nails but my natural nails are weak, ugly and short. I hate having my nails done at the salon and never can find the time to go. Anyway, I tried these nails from Walmart and let me just say that fake, glue-on nails are nothing like they use to be years ago. They look great once you get them on your nail (providing you get the perfect fit and make sure there are no air bubbles between your natural and fake nail) and you cannot even tell they're not a salon french manicured nail. They're about $5 per box and once you glue them on, they last about 5-7 days and they don't ruin your natural nail. There are enough nails in the box for 2 sets I believe.

There are several differnt brands, but these (link below) in particular are really good.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nails

My symptoms with Raynualds is mostly in my feet. In the winter my toes can turn white. When I get into a hot bath, they turn deep purple and then finally pink. Although I am out all the time, my fingers don't bother me except once in a while when I'm in the grocery store near the frozen food one finger will get white and turn numb. My daughter has it too. Weird disease or syndrome whatever they call it.

With age, my nails were splitting and tearing so I finally decided to go to a salon and get acrylic nails. I love them. I get a fill in and new polish about once a month....my treat to myself.

Lily, mine started in my feet about 30 years ago. Didn't show up in my hands until much later, but has gotten dramatically worse in recent years. One winter the sores on my hands opened, and the doctor was concerned about gangrene, which is a possibility with Raynaud's. We talked about a beta blocker, but left it as a last resort because my BP is already low.

Eandhl, let us know how you make out with your med this winter.

Steph, I'll give those a try--thanks! Now I wish I hadn't already gone to Walmart early this morning. :-)

The last few years I've noticed red sore/itchy bumps on mostly all my fingers and knuckles. Is this what you mean? By the time I saw my doctor in May , they had all but disappeared and none all this hot summer. I'm guessing this is Raynaulds too. Is this directly related to fibromyalgia which I know you have and so do I for 20 years.

I had gel nails for a while. Loved them but hated the fill-in and the cost. Mine would cost about $35 every 2-3 wks. I also felt quite the burn from the heat lamp that hardens them. Didn't matter if the heat wasn't high. It hurt.

I haven't done them in a bit now and I will say that it has taken forever for my own nails to grown back nicely. They were paper thin to begin with and they keep cracking now more than usual. I'd probably do them again if it wasn't for the upkeep. Just takes too long and about $70 every 6 wks. Add that to my hair upkeep and I'm in trouble!

The last few years I've noticed red sore/itchy bumps on mostly all my fingers and knuckles. Is this what you mean?

It sounds like how it started, Lily. Mine have progressed past the point of itchy to intensely painful. And yes, the sores swell up. I advise you to be careful!

We had a Raynaud's discussion here last year, I think. Someone mentioned that it helps to keep your core warm. After reading that, I occasionally used a disposable body warmer, tucked into my pants. I think it helped somewhat.

Someone else suggested heating a damp washcloth in the microwave for a short period (15 seconds or so), and using that as a quick hand warmer. I used that a lot.

I don't know if Raynaud's is directly related to fibromyalgia, but I've heard that a lot of FM patients have Raynaud's as well. I got Raynaud's before FM. Raynaud's is an autoimmune condition; possibly FM is, too, although there seems to be no firm consensus on that.

I have been warring acrylic nails for over 30 years and I love them.Of course your real nails will get thin,but who cares.I used to go every two weeks but now I go once a month.I get real light nail polish color so that when my nails grow out they wont be so noticeable .I got tied of them one year and decided to go without.Went about a month and I missed them.Your hands look so much nicer and you can't take it with you so go for it.

I have fibromyalgia but not Raynaud's. I do however have terrible fingernails and use the glue on nails Stephanie suggested. I've been wearing them for almost six years. I hate going to get a manicure as I'm allergic to polishes with formaldehyde and would have to bring my own. And I don't have the time to do it during business hours anyhow.

The glue on nails are available at Target, CVS, Sav-On, Rite-Aid and many other stores.

If you go this route, don't use the glue that comes with it. Buy Nailene Ultra Quick Nail Glue with the purple cap. I keep trying others and nothing compares to the reliability of this brand. Also keep in mind super glue goes bad quickly after opening. Once it becomes thick or goopy, toss it. It won't hold nearly as well as the day you opened it.

I wear the very short French style. Even after all these years of wearing them I really haven't chosen a favorite. But I will not buy the Revlon brand as they don't last as long as the others.

Jodi-

I have been warring acrylic nails for over 30 years and I love them.Of course your real nails will get thin,but who cares.

Me!! LOL

Your hands look so much nicer and you can't take it with you so go for it.

I can't take it with me, but I can try to make it last as long as I do--and then leave some behind if I'm lucky. :-)

I'm glad you enjoy your acrylics, Goldy, but they're not for me. Like I said, I'm glad I asked.

Jodi, I can't wait to try those. I hope my lumpy nails can accommodate the fake ones. I'll get the glue you suggested. If they only last a week, is that because your own nails start to show at the base? How do you get them off to put new ones on?

I was diagnosed w/ fibromyalgia in the early 90's but the Raynaulds just showed up in the last few years. Good idea about microwaving a damp cloth for your hands. Thanks for the tip. I have a microwavable tube thingy filled with herbs which I lay on my shoulders in the winter. Why is the Raynaulds a cold weather disease? I've also heard it's an auto immune one. My nails are good, strong and rarely break. In fact when DD treated me to a spa last year for my b-day, the only part of the day long event I didn't like was the nail treatment which was just buffing soaking and two coats of polish. Two days later I removed the polish and haven't used anything since.

Lily, Raynaud's only shows up in winter for most people because symptoms appear when capillaries shut down (or narrow) when the temperature drops. I think the triggering temperature varies from person to person, but I'm not 100% sure about that.

At other times of the year, many Raynaud's patients have to be careful when getting things out of the freezer. And peeling a cold carrot can give me a problem at any season.

My unaffected nails (only four of them at the moment) are good, too. Nice and strong and easy to shape.

Susan, if your nails are really uneven you can smooth them some with a 4- or 6-in-1 buffer. They sell them everywhere. I like the Revlon brand.

The glue starts to break down after about a week. The edges are usually the first to lift. Sometimes I lift the nail further and put a drop of glue under it to re-glue to get a few more days out of them.

You're supposed to soak your nails in polish remover with acetone until the fake nails loosen but I hate the feel on my hands when I soak them in polish remover so I just carefully lift them off.

I do have to admit, after wearing glue-on nails for so many years, my natural nails have been growing out kind ridged (both vertically and horizontally). The nails don't stay on as well as they used to. I actually made the decision about a month ago to grow my natural nails out and get them healthy. I will only wear glue-ons from now on for special occasions.

Jodi-

I always had thin hair and weak nails. When I got pregnant, my doctor prescribed Pregnancy Vitamins, lots of B's and C's. It may have had something to do with pregnancy hormones, but I noticed my hair became fuller and grew fast, and my nails improved too. I still take multi vitamins with B's and C's. My overall health is pretty darned good. Fancy nails are the least of my worries. I get a manicure once a week , but with regular nail polish. No fakes, wraps, acrylics,etc.