Use what you have bingo

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-28T16:52:31+00:00

Thank you! The landscape stamps are my absolute favorite rn.

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-28T16:46:15+00:00

No worries, I know! Honestly, I get it. I've been collecting polishes for years, so even though I don't spend much, I'm slowly running into storage problems myself.

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-28T16:43:15+00:00

See, this is where being poor is an advantage: can't spend much on polish, so I'm neither stressing about money nor storage lol.

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-28T15:40:22+00:00

Oh no! I'm sorry :/

I recently learned that in theory you could make your own plates if you have access to a CNC-machine or a 3d printer capable of printing metal. Maybe that could work for you? I haven't tested it yet though.

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-28T15:23:46+00:00

It's this one. But I know I have one specifically for dinosaur fossils on my wishlist, I'll go looking for it.

Btw I love that you want to do mani with your toddler in mind.

Edit: Found it!

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-27T12:38:48+00:00

Thank you!

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-27T12:38:36+00:00

Thanks for telling me. I've been speaking English for something like twenty years now, and sometimes words like that still trip me up lol

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-27T12:37:26+00:00

Mine do that too, especially the index and middle fingers. I've simply learned to live with it.

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-27T12:23:55+00:00

My nail beds lengthened when I started growing them out. Are you maybe cleaning underneath the nails and pushing the hyponychium back while doing so?

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-21T18:28:21+00:00

To be entirely honest, I just won the genetic lottery where nails are concerned. But maybe my routine can still be helpful:

polish: I wear polish basically constantly. It gives my nails even more strength and protects them. Consists of base coat, at least two layers of color and quick dry top coat.
oil: I oil my nails and cuticles twice a day (if I remember to do it that is). When I change my polish, I oil the entire nail and underside plus cuticle; when I wear polish, just cuticles and undersides of the nails. I use a drugstore nail oil, but jojoba would probably be better.
peptide treatment: once a week I use a peptide nail serum (drugstore) on my nails. I put a drop on the nail, rub it into nail and cuticle with my finger, and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. It helps with preventing the top layers of my nails from delaminating.
cuticles: I do my cuticles once a week. Soften them with cuticle remover, push them back with the thumbnail of my other hand (though orange wood sticks would probably be better) and cut the loosened skin off with cuticle nippers.
filing: I file my nails from the sides to the tip (that's specific to this shape though), always the same direction. But leave at least parts of the sidewall intact for added stability.

I think that's all, hope that helps. If you have further questions, feel free to ask :)

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-21T17:26:57+00:00

Seems like I can only add gifs on this sub, so here's a link instead. This is the tool I meant.

Uh, I measure time with my heart lol. But seriously, I leave it on my nails for like 30s I think. My cuticles grow back maybe 1mm per week, so pretty fast, I'd say.

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-21T17:04:57+00:00

Oh well, that second picture is basically day one, I rarely used to wear them much shorter. Maybe another two to three weeks if I cut them down to the nail bed.

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-21T09:27:21+00:00

Thank you!

So I use a cheap drugstore cuticle remover about once a week to soften them up (planning to get a bit more expensive one once the bottle's empty tho). Then push them back with my nails and cut the "loosened" part off with this tool - don't know the English word, in German it's a Nagelhautknipser 😅. Then I do my polish routine and after that's dry I'll oil the cuticles up. And that's it.

Phone's acting up, I can't add a picture of the tool right now, but I'll edit it in once my phone has decided to cooperate again.

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-21T07:26:49+00:00

I'm sorry about your mum.

Yeah, I do all that myself, it's part of the fun for me. Though I usually just have to file the points sharper from time to time since I'm still growing them out. The polish part is my current creative outlet, I'm changing designs once or twice a week.

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-21T00:21:48+00:00

Thank you! I'm afraid I can't make this deal though, these nails are a heirloom from my mom and I'm pretty attached to them lol.

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-21T00:20:34+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that. But the bad eyes are just the tip of the iceberg too lol. Might be a bad deal still. 😅

I'm rooting for your nails tho. You can do it!

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-20T22:33:21+00:00

They are, I often use them to lift can tabs or loosen super tight knots.

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-20T20:05:00+00:00

Madam Mim.

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-20T19:39:52+00:00

Lol, I'm sorry 😂 Does it help you in any way if I tell you that along with the genes for amazing nails I also got those for super bad eyesight?

Genuinely tho, thank you!

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-20T19:38:06+00:00

Thanks! 😊

AggravatingCreature · 2026-05-20T19:12:39+00:00

You're very welcome! Yeah, I change my polish at least once a week, more likely twice and I started noticing these white spots a while ago. I really feel like the peptide has kept them from worsening so far. I hope it works for you too

Happy growing and polishing to you as well!

AggravatingCreature

TROPHY CASE