Hollyer Than Thou

I have terrible, weak nails, which shred and break and are constantly stubby due to their suicidal tendencies.

Or, I should say, I have naturally terrible nails. But one mustn’t have natural nails. We have options.

My history in fake nails:

• Nasty “french nail” acrylics for 8th grade graduation, which I abused so sorely that they damaged my natural nails.
• Pretty but fragile gel nails that were too expensive to justify. Also, the lady who did mine used the electric file so harshly that I still have sore spots on my nail. 
• Opi Axxium gel nails:

So, yes, this Axxium stuff is “fake” nails. But your idea of fake nails probably consists of a false tip covered up with plasticky hard stuff that’s chemically anchored to your nail. 

Axxium is that same plasticky hard stuff, but without the false tip, so it’s the same shape as my natural nails. At this point, Axxium is more like mega-nail polish. It’s strong, it makes my nails strong and able to grow out, and—here’s the kicker—it lasts 2.5 weeks.

I am a handsy person, and I like to touch and fidget and mess with my nails, and it still lasted a 2.5 weeks. I put normal nail polish on top of it after 2 weeks to cover up the growth below the gel, which extended its lifetime for that last week. Things I did with OPI Axxium on:

• Dyed my hair
• Did the dishes (no gloves)
• Painted my toenails (used acetone)
• Picked up gift cards (try that with false tips)
• Typed violently
• Texted on a touchscreen phone
• Scratched off a price tag
• Packed for, and traveled on, a trip
• Went ice skating and fell hard
• Opened my purse with its stupidly small zipper pull

You get the gist; I did normal things.

If you’re not like me, and just outright abusive and physical with your hands, then you could probably have 3 weeks of beautiful nails.

My local place charges $15 for the Axxium polish, and probably $5 for removal before reapplication, which for some reason they didn’t charge me. I’m sure at other places is costs a lot more.

As a cheap-ass college student, I don’t splurge on much besides subway tickets. But this is well worth one hour and my money.