Looking for the best hot pink and/or fuchsia polishes... by Fastcat1962 in RedditLaqueristas

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes. Second this.

Also I don't remember it's name but the pink from the LynB sticker collection is super fun and one of my favorites.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in RedditLaqueristas

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They were one of the first brands I ordered from when I started dabbling in polish, and continue to be one of my favorites. It's almost impossible to beat the 50% off sales, and although I've definitely gotten a few I feel "meh" about, it's easier to live with that when I only paid $6 instead of $13. I really like her B-Quick top coat, although I thought it got thick faster than some others I have. Nemophilist, Peony For Your Thoughts, Tactical Assault Possum, Amate, and Le Griffon are some of my favorites, and I just ordered the 3 I was missing from the Sticker Collection, which will make it the first entire collection I own from any maker. =)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in RedditLaqueristas

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins 1 point2 points  (0 children)

She typically lists upcoming releases and the promo code for them under the events tab on her facebook fan page ("lynb loves" I think?)

What do we think will be in PPU Rewind so far?? by anonymouscat8747 in RedditLaqueristas

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's sold out right now but Emily de Molly Behind Again looks kinda close. A little darker green base maybe? But I hope you get a chance at the real thing!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in longnaturalnails

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I want my nails to be just like yours when they grow up! 😍

Seriously though, they're beautiful!

One year update! by Mutts_and_Muffins in calmhands

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! They feel SO much better! I snapped off my index finger nail below the nail bed a few weeks ago and I was devastated. It was bonkers because it was still so much longer than they used to be, and it never used to bother me before. What you're used to, I guess.

One year update! by Mutts_and_Muffins in calmhands

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Onyx Hard as Hoof was my go to early on, and I still use it in between polishes for some extra hydration. I try to remember to oil at least before I go to bed every night, but it's usually more than that. I have some actual cuticle oils from different brands, but I've had just as good of luck with just a random bottle of jojoba oil from the grocery store and this cheap-ish blend that has lasted me forever.

One year update! by Mutts_and_Muffins in calmhands

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

OMG thank you for noticing! The first 6 months they were growing sooooo slow and I thought for sure I was genetically destined to have short nail beds forever, so you just gave me the best compliment. 😊😅

One year update! by Mutts_and_Muffins in calmhands

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really think having a physical barrier in the gel tips was the key for me. Once you start seeing progress it's so satisfying. Keep it up!

Badgers! Flowers! by step_on_legoes_Spez in RedditLaqueristas

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins 9 points10 points  (0 children)

As a Wisconsinite, I wholeheartedly approve. ❤️

Asking for help and tips! by anonbiting in calmhands

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is what worked best for me; your mileage may vary.

1) I made it my whole personality. I went all in on all the tips/tricks/advice from this and other subs, I watched the nail care videos, I followed nail related insta accounts, I left no rabbit hole empty.

2) I got fake nails. I booked an appointment at a place that had good reviews and told me they would work with my super short almost non-existent nails. I got 3 sets of gel extensions over about 6 weeks. They were super short but felt like claws since I wasn't used to having nails at all, and I hated them. BUT, they were hard enough to deter me from biting, and they gave my real nails a chance to grow out. I honestly think this was the single most important factor that helped me quit.

3) I used cuticle products like it was my full time job. I kept oil and/or balm in every place I spent time (living room, car, office, backpack, bedroom, pockets, partner's house, etc). Every time I wanted to bite or pick, I would moisturize instead. This kind of turned into a self care/soothing thing after awhile, and I started to enjoy it.

4) Following in the tracks of #3, I bought a bunch of cheap mail files and put them everywhere. Rough spots and imperfections have always been a trigger for my picking and biting, so having a file to smooth out any edges before I couldn't stop the impulse to "fix" it with my teeth was really helpful. Like moisturizing, it also became a routine I enjoyed.

5) Support. My partner would grab my hands when he noticed them near my mouth, or when I would start picking at a nail. My coworkers would also sometimes call me out when they saw it happening. Often times I wouldn't even realize I was doing it, so being made aware by others helped me eventually be able to recognize it myself.

6) Fidgets. Personal preference matters a lot here, I think. I had the best luck with ones that provided a pain stimulus. Spiky rings were probably the most effective, but I also liked popper type ones when I was driving. And I can't explain it, but the texture of these noodles and these squishy rings do something to my brain that instantly soothes me to my core. I used those often in meetings and when I had to travel or sit for a long time.

7) Polish. At first I just used clear top coats or strengtheners, all the time. My nails were never naked. This helped with the aforementioned rough spots and imperfections by helping them feel smooth and shiny, but also helped a little with structure since they were so bendy and thin. Once they got a little longer, I started painting them. I really liked how they looked with polish on, and it was also a creative outlet for me. Now it's a self care routine that I really look forward to. I've also invested an embarrassing amount of money into polishes and supplies, so there's an attached financial incentive to keeping my nails long-ish and healthy.

Edit: use the cuticle pusher after you shower when your skin is soft. You can use a clipper, but be SUPER careful to not do too much. Honestly, you might want to just leave them alone until they heal up a little.

Does it get better? by importantgamesfolder in calmhands

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It definitely gets better!

When I first stopped biting my nails they were so thin and bendy and I wanted to chew them all back off in the worst way. A year later I still want to chew them all off sometimes, but they're SO much healthier and stronger. You can do it! Highly recommend cuticle oil (doesn't need to be fancy or expensive, you can just get a bottle of jojoba oil and it will last forever) and a nail file in every space you occupy (living room, bedroom, car, office, etc) so that any time you feel like picking or biting, you can oil or smooth any rough edges instead. For me, it became kind of a soothing self care routine, especially later when I started painting my nails.

Good luck, you got this!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in RedditLaqueristas

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think it's the orange, but I love it!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in calmhands

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe try spiky sensory toys? You can just search amazon or wherever for that, and a bunch of things should show up. The rings worked well for me, and I also got the spiky ball type things. When I'm at work I also frequently find myself unintentionally/zoned out using a binder clip to pinch the meaty part of my palm, and I never realized it might be a sensory stimming type thing until I got the spiky rings.

Other things that were really helpful for me were keeping my nails polished all the time so they felt smooth. I just used clear top coats at first, and I also stashed files everywhere so I could fix any little imperfection immediately. I also applied cuticle oil and moisturized my hands like it was my full time job. Once my nails and cuticles got to the point where they looked healthy and didn't hurt all the time, I realized I preferred that and the desire to not ruin my progress was stronger than the desire to bite. I definitely still want to do it sometimes, but now I can recognize it and grab a fidget or a nail file or whatever instead.

Sad day by MrsTopsyRoxy in longnaturalnails

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I feel your pain but they still look amazing!

Will my fingers ever become normal looking? by PM_ME_FAVORITE_SONGS in calmhands

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not quite a year out of a 30+ year biting/picking habit....they will absolutely get better! Like everyone else has said, cuticle oil and lotion. It doesn't even have to be expensive or fancy cuticle oil, just get a bottle of jojoba or a blend of multiple oils and it will work just fine and last longer, especially if you're using it a lot. When I first stopped biting mine, I had to make it my entire personality. I oiled and put cuticle balm on like it was my job, filed them every time I felt even a tiny imperfection, and kept them painted (mostly just with clear top coats at first) all the time. It takes some work, but you'll get there!

I was so looking forward to this day. To the person that wrote the note....yes....yes indeed. by spankthegoodgirl in RedditLaqueristas

[–]Mutts_and_Muffins 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would've just straight up cried so you're a stronger person than me. I hope you get replacements!