I've been enamored with long nails my entire life. My Mother always had long nails. Long perfect naturally rounded nails.  She tended to forego colors and opted for a clear polish on most days.  I appreciated how graceful they made her hands look. Every gesture she made looked much more dramatic with a long nail growing from each fingertip.  I wasn't allowed to polish my nails when I was young. My conservative Daddy thought painted nails were better suited on young ladies and women, not little girls.  However, as soon as I was allowed to, I ran to my nail obsession with open arms. 

I amassed quite an impressive array of nail colors and I started the weekly ritual of painting and manicuring them. Many of my peers were into acrylic nails, but I never went that route.  I was blessed with the ability to grow long nails on my own and I was grateful. Nail care was a habit I also learned from my Mom,  although she wasn't nearly as obsessive as I was.  (Probably because in addition to holding down a Full Time secular job, she had 2 additional jobs as a Wife and Mother) 

Fast forward to me becoming and busy adult.  It was getting harder and harder to maintain 10 perfect chip free nails while living life.  My nagging perfectionist tendencies would not allow me to display chippy polish.  So what's a girl to do? 

Enter the Gel Manicure.  I could spend 30 to 40 minutes in a nail salon and walk out with a perfect manicure that lasted me 2 to 3 weeks before the telltale signs of new nail growth caused the gap to widen between the nail color and my cuticle.  I didn't have to carry a bottle of nail polish around in my purse.  And yes, I did that. Sometimes I even carried a bottle of top coat.  Beauty is work and I'm not afraid to clock in!

For a few months I faithfully went and got my gel manicure redone but I soon tired of the routine. I missed the freedom of doing my nails on my own time.  As an insomniac, my nail maintenance usually began after midnight and I've yet to find a salon that is open at that time.  I eventually stopped going to the salon and embarked on an ill advised self removal process that involved lots of scraping and picking.  Needless to say, I ruined my nails.  Gone were my long Femme Fatale nails and in their place were weak and peeling disappointments with damaged nail beds.  I just wore them short and played with bold colors.

All of that changed about a year ago when I was on a road trip with one of my best girlfriends.  She had enviable nails and told me that her secret was nail protein.  Nailtiques to be exact. I started out using Formula 2, which was for weak and peeling nails. I applied it daily and noticed a difference in less than a week.  In about a month's time I graduated to Formula 1, the formula for healthy flexible nails.  I don't even have to apply the protein as often and my nails have grown almost twice as long as they are when this picture was taken.  

(This is not a sponsored post, all products mentioned were purchased and are used by me on a regular basis).