| From | Message |
Kristy
IP: 209.102.171.57
1/08/2006
19:56:18 |
 Subject: I am another Newbie with questions
Message:
I have to say thanks Barbara for answering so many questions I had. I had been using Prostrong for 7 months. I did have some luck with it but after about 5 months things went downhill. My nails went the other way. Started drying out, cracking more than normal and nothing has changed with me. I have read so many outstanding post on this product that I had to try it. After one, yes one time I felt this product working. Ten minutes twice a day is nothing compared to the time I was putting into my nails using Prostrong. Of course I am not at all saying Prostrong is a bad product but I don't really think it's for me. Barbara told me she has alot of Prostrong and Tips users that could offer some advice in my recovery to healthier nails. Ok users here we go. I have always been able to grow long nails and they are usually strong but they always crack on the sides no matter how much lotion or polish I use. I do not have ridges but I do have thick cuticles. I refuse to do fake nails in anyway. I only ordered the growth cream. Right now my nails are slightly weeker than normal and 2 are glued on the side from cracking, they are just over the tips of my finger. I always wear a base and top coat and manicure every 7-10 days that's with touch ups. I can't go 14 days. I would barely have anything left on. I feel like if I don't have these coats on my nails they will break. Do you users of ngf wear polish when switching from the Prostrong product to ngf? I like a high shine to my nails and I don't have that unless I use a top coat. I have to ask, long time users of NGF, over 6 months, do you still have success or is it like my experience with the other product after 6 months? No offense Barbara. Also NGF users how much of the NGF cream do you use on a nail? Do you all use the buffing cream with the growth cream? Do I really coat the nail with the growth cream or just enough to see it? Whew, sorry for so many questions. Thanks for any input you can offer. I really appreciate it.
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Barbara Wheeler
IP: 66.82.9.83
1/08/2006
20:36:21 |  RE: I am another Newbie with questions
Message:
No offense taken Kristy,
The formula will not show vast improvements immediately on the nails. It has a cumulative effect so it works over a period of time.
Since I have never been a ProStrong or TIPS user, I have no first hand knowledge to compare the products. Sorry....! I guess I should pick some up and give it a shot but I don't want to damage my nails! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~LOL~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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UniquelyMoi
IP: 66.215.188.48
1/08/2006
21:16:02 | RE: I am another Newbie with questions
Message:
Hi Kristy!
Welcome aboard! First, you need to understand that this product will not pass through your polish. If you have polish on while using NGF, you won't see the benefits as quickly as some of us have. If there's anyway you think you can stand it for 1 month, remove the polish and keep using 2x daily. Keep your nails filed short so you don't break and tear. You'll be amazed how quickly your nails absorb the product. After the 30 days, if you still feel the need, then use a polish but be sure you not use the polish remover more than 2x monthly.
I used ProStrong for about 5 months. I had purchased it as part of the TSV, with the biofusion, etc. I had just taken off my acrylics and wanted to give the biofusion a try. It was okay at first. It helped keep my disasterous nails from tearing as much, but not completely. After a couple weeks of usage, I noticed my cuticles, which had never been nice, were horrible. They were dry, tearing, snagging, etc. I called PS customer service and they told me I was doing it wrong.... told me to add even more moisturizing to the routine. She basically said, whatever you have on hand, use it with the ProStrong. Still didn't help. So I called back and they told me to be sure not to let the flouride touch the cuticle, but on the other hand you're supposed to allow it to get under your nail tip... so... how do you... anyway.... I did what they said and still no help. In the meantime, the damaged acrylic part was grown out but the nails were brittle from the biofusion I think.
So the search was on again for something that would add moisture and help my cuticles. I asked about it on Q and Dapme is the lady that told me about NGF. Tried, love it, won't be without it. Slowly but surely my nails are progressing. Less tearing,etc. I still have to deal with ridges and peeling/chipping but even those are getting better. Having been a chronic nail abuser for my whole life I can't expect any product to fix it overnight. NGF has sure worked wonders though! Good luck!
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Lynnie
IP: 69.207.171.31
1/08/2006
22:01:24 | RE: I am another Newbie with questions
Message:
Hi Kristy! I've been there, done it all! About 7 or 8 years ago, I tried TIPS. You've probably seen the TIPS lady bend her nails on that board on QVC. lol Well, that because TIPS seems to thin out your nails, in my opinion. I probably would have been as well off with scented baby oil. After 3 years of wearing acrylics and experiencing a fungal infection and lifting from a couple beds, I took them off and tried ProStrong. I agree - what a drag lining up all those little bottles! To watch the presentations, you think you need them all. But I will admit, like Moi said, the Biofusion was a big help when my nails were so thin, sensitive and peely at first. Like you and Moi, I had that drying effect overnight after about 4 months of use. My nails were so brittle and I didn't even feel them break off when doing something little like looking for keys in my purse.
I'm one month into the NGF and love it so much I can't bear to think of even putting polish over it. I made it through the holidays and all the dishwashing without a break. If you like shine, consider the buffing kit. I do this now once per week. Then I wash my hands and go over my nails with an OPI brilliance (my favorite) buffer/shiner to give the shine an extra ooomph. Looks exactly like a coat of clear polish - even better. To the touch it feels like an acrylic nail. I also have Barbara's wonderstone file and I keep the edges (where you can get those annoying low cracks) sort of rounded a little. Moi calls them "squoval" shaped nails. This file seems to seal off your edges so you don't get any peeling. I'm not trying to sell you these products as I have nothing to gain by doing so, just adding my personal experiences. I think you'd have really good results with the buffing cream and it would enable you to do without the polish and drying polish remover. Your nails would also absorb some of the NGF better. It's just like exfoliating your face in that it helps the other products you use penetrate and work more effectively.
Glad you are enjoying your initial results!
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cheryl
IP: 206.159.161.156
1/08/2006
22:17:09 | RE: I am another Newbie with questions
Message:
Kristy,
i have a tendency to be a little blunt and to the point sometimes, but i'll always tell you the truth. to get the full benefits of the growth formula, for the first thirty days, you have to "go it bare". right now they need to be kept at a short length, no nail polish or nail polish removers. between the polish and the remover you are drying your nails out every 7 days. we're not saying you can never wear polish again, but for the 30 days for your nails to get the full benefits of the formula and to give them a decent chance at becoming healthy the only thing you should be putting on them is the NG formula. strive for healthy nails and cuticles. i used pro-strong briefly until it dried and cracked my cuticles and did nothing to make my nails grow. tips, i know nothing about. i've used the NG formula and buffing cream for 3 years now. my nails are healthy and shiny. do i break them ocassionally? yes. do they grow back quickly and healthy. yes, again. you've just got to break the polish habit. once your nails and cuticles are pink and healthy you'll wonder why you ever covered them up with polish to begin with!
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Lynnie
IP: 69.207.171.31
1/08/2006
22:28:35 | RE: I am another Newbie with questions
Message:
Cheryl - I'd like to add that when it comes to nails (no matter how healthy or what product), they are still nails. They are that "dead stuff" part of our bodies. We can only expect so much of them and they simply will break in time. Heck, even my acrylics chipped if I hit them wrong.
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cheryl
IP: 206.159.161.156
1/08/2006
22:42:04 | RE: I am another Newbie with questions
Message:
yes, they will break and so much is genetics-out of our hands, so to speak! about every 4 months, it seems, i file down and start over. all together, all at the same time! they seem to respond so much quicker, that way, to the formula. my nails are not meant to be long. i am thrilled with short and healthy. i guess it just works for me.
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Moi
IP: 66.215.188.48
1/08/2006
23:31:53 | RE: I am another Newbie with questions
Message:
I'm with you, cheryl. My nails will never be looonnngg. They are nearing the ends of my fingers again and I noticed today how long my nail beds are. I looked at my daughters nails, my sons and my hubby's and my nail beds are longer by about 1/2 inch .... the length of the matrix. Maybe that's why they tend to break easier? I don't know, I only know that they are longer, healthier and grow faster than they ever have.... and I mean ever, in my entire life. 26 years. :)
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Lynnie
IP: 69.207.171.31
1/09/2006
07:56:11 | RE: I am another Newbie with questions
Message:
Cheryl - that's about how I go with the nails. Nor do I object to short and healthy. After what we've been through, it's a blessing to achieve THAT.
Same goes for hair! I spent over a year growing mine and just cut it last week, a good 4 inches. Like nails, you can't expect it to endure the damages of heat indefinitely and look healthy at the same time.
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Barbara Wheeler
IP: 69.19.14.28
1/09/2006
09:00:10 | RE: I am another Newbie with questions
Message:
Kristy,
To answer your other questions:
If you continue using polish it will continue to dehydrate the nails and cuticles creating the conditions for the splitting and layering.
Since I am not familiar with the Joan Rivers product line of polishes I can not speak to that issue personally. Just the fact that if it dries ON the nails it dries OUT the nails, continuing the process of layering and flaking.
Several other ladies on the forum use the "shine" buffer you speak of. They seem to be in total agreement about the shine being all you will want or need with this buffer.
My Buffing Cream is designed to smooth the surface of the nails and rid them of those little surface imperfections. It has a mild abrasive so you will need to use a light touch. If your nails are in pretty good shape otherwise, i.e. no acrylic damage, you can begin using the buffing cream when ever your layering issues are under control.
You will find that our message board is pretty fair and not viscous back biting. The only thing that is difficult about the boards, (any of them) is reading the words with the intended inflection. It is sometimes difficult to tell if a person is being rude or totally sincere in a desire to get the attention of another poster and make them realize how important an issue may be.
We really try to HELP others here that are sincere in their quest for healthy natural fingernails. We don't want to offend or upset anyone, so if I see that there is a problem or a potential problem I really try my level best to keep things comfortable for my little band of "misfits" (LOL) and those who would become a permenate part of our family here!
I love these ladies, and they really do want your success as much as I do. So we are really here to help and support in any way we can. Just HOLLER!!
Patience is a key to achieving the desired results, but support from friends is paramount too!
And don't NOT ask your questions. There are no stupid questions. Some times there are stupid answers though, lol! The only way to learn is to ask, so we expect you to join us and ask anything you need answered. If we don't have the answers we will try to help you find them.
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Kristy
IP: 209.102.171.57
1/10/2006
08:33:32 |  RE: I am another Newbie with questions
Message:
Thanks so much for everyone's input. Alot of information out there. I have only been using the cream since Saturday with clear polish on my nails and my husband even noticed. Your hands look different, he didn't know I switched nail products. I didn't tell him either. I just said gee I don't know? Ha! Ha! I really have a hard time switching to "bare" for any length of time. I am going to order the full kit before I do go bare. I have no major damage other than dryness and a little peeling on the ends. I did manage to go bare for 2 days in a row and I just couldn't stand it. My clear coat is back on. I will try it again.
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