Like a lot of long-nailed ladies, I felt that I was doomed to a lifetime of growing-breaking-chopping down-growing-breaking-chopping down…
It’s demoralising to have to cut down your nails if you’ve spent a long time caring for them, but I always thought it was just part of having long nails. Happily, I was dead wrong.
Here’s a pic of my nails the last time I had a break.
Nails Inc Victoria & Albert

That was over a year ago. Since then, I haven’t had a split, peel, chip or break. (I did slice a nail with a carving knife, but that’s another story!). It’s almost unbelievable, isn’t it?
Here’s a pic of my nails at their longest. I think they would have kept growing forever…
Pure Ice Heartbreaker over CND NFS

I have now settled on this length – still long, but perfectly manageable.
OPI Dear Santa

My nails are the length I choose them to be, and I’m not dictated to by breaks. And how did I get to this blissful state? Sally Hansen Nail Quencher Hydrating Base Coat, which is now sadly and shockingly discontinued. Happily, I have a stockpile to keep me going.
This post isn’t a review for that product, though (as much as I love it). Nor is it a rave for long nails. It took me a while to realise that my nails were breaking because they were too strong, and they had become brittle. They were desperate for moisture, and I’ve found NQ has delivered that. So the moral of the story is to really evaluate what problems your nails have, and to use products specific to that concern. Don’t be tempted to try a product just because others have had success or because it has a slick marketing campaign – it may be for a completely different nail type than your own. Make sure to research carefully, and hopefully you can join me in the Break-Free Club!


















