acrylic nails for recruitment
 

this may be a frivolous question, but it is nagging at me.

are they an okay for recruitment, namely in southern california?

french tip and short is what i'd get. thanks :)

paging ellebud!

If you are getting them short, then why do you need fake ones? I don't know about SoCal but in the South over here, obvious fake nails and french tips in general are usually for a certain type of girl. Not the type that I'd want to be associated with.

What did girls in your highschool do with their nails? If you decide to go with you original plan, I would get the pink and white's with the white part really small, NOT taking up half of the nail. Don't get them too square or pointy and you should be fine.

I've never been a huge fan of wearing them, mostly because I've played sports all my life. But now that I'm done with sports, I was considering getting them.

If I do, I'd like them to look like this:
http://s438.photobucket.com/albums/q...urrent=gel.jpg

I'm not from the South, nor from California, but girls in my high school wore acrylics mainly for special occasions. I would consider rush a special occasion, but I'm not sure if it's "fancy" enough for them?

Oh, and Lady Pi, I was curious about your comment on the "certain type of girl" that wears french tip. Only because, if I don't get acrylics, my plan was paint my natural nails french tip anyway. Do you advise against this? You can PM me if you'd like. :)

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you mean the squared off French manicure...very early 90s and not in a good way. Think the RHOC with silicone.

...sorry, I went a bit nuts.

Thank you AzTheta, I blush. But my girls (notice I didn't say old mother) will wear dark in winter (last year it was Chanel black) and paler shades on short(er) nails for summer. I haven't seen blue nails in awhile..happily. But fun shades yes...but only if you keep them from chipping.

Interesting...french manis are very popular in Alabama...esp for pedicures....

I personally think they would be ok if you go with rounded tips and SHORT nails. Have them done professionally, though, if you go this route to avoid any accidents. However if your nails are strong enough you can just paint your own nails which is easier, and better for them. Mine have always been brittle, so I sympathize with girls that go with acrylics for that reason.

You can also paint your nails a cute color...think Lauren Conrad. She almost always has a color in the summer. If you do this I'd get them done the day of or the night before (or do them yourself the night before) to avoid chipping. If it were me, because I am prone to chips, I would pick a light pink, clear, or beige color for your fingers, and then do something cute on your toes, since they're less likely to chip (plus, it isn't like anyone is going to be staring at your toes). Light polishes that are close to your nail color won't show so badly if you do get a chip. Not exactly the end of the world if you do of course, but there's no point going to all that work/spending all that money if a big chunk comes off of your teal polish 10 minutes before you have to be there.

To preserve your manicure just apply a little topcoat every other day. And have the nail color to blend in chips.

Yes, I have seen French pedicures. Still not that popular, but its done. But the long nails....really not done here. An exception would be if one is ill and does arcylic over the nail bed to hold some sort of polish but again, short with a color. But really not done anymore.

And I apologize for the instant reaction of No..s. It was a viseral reaction.

So they look perfect for a whole week-ish without having to repaint your nails for every round. Sure, you can try to preserve a manicure by adding topcoat, but it's not going to look perfect for as long as acrylics. Short and round, definitely. As natural-looking as possible.

I do not know if you have heard about Shellack? It is a professional manicure that lasts for at least two weeks. It goes on like polish - no filing of the nail surface. This is for those of us who do not want fake nails but are frustrated by chips that occur within a day of (with me sometimes hours) of a manicure. I had it done and my manicure lasted three solid weeks!!

Is it expensive? I kinda hate having my nails done because I have a thing about being touched by strangers but for that I'd do it...if I could swing it.

Sorry for the mini thread hijack, but I have a quick question...

I'm an active going through recruitment and we're not allowed to have colors on our nails. The problem is mine are pretty broken and roughed up thanks to summer work. What's the recommendation then? Could I go super short acrylics with a natural looking tip? (I'm in Chicago, for what it's worth.)

Can you have a pale pink or beige? That is, does "colors" just mean bright red, hot pink, etc. I would call up your rush chair and ask her just to make sure. (I don't think she will have a problem telling you. LOL)

She pretty much said polish-free. "I don't want anyone being distracted from the conversation by nails." *sigh* I just don't know what to do with these ugly nails of mine. PNMs would be more likely distracted by them now than if they were painted. I'll give her a call and see what she says.

okay well looks like acrylics/french tips are out haha

Luckily, I found this amazing thing on the OPI website that has a hand that you can try all their nail colors on (you can even change the skin tone and nail length!).

Now I just have to decide whether I want one universal color, or if I want to buy different colors to match my various outfits.

Oh, the trials of preparing for sorority recruitment :rolleyes:. If I weren't such a planner who overthinks every minute detail, it'd probably be easier. But it's fun for a one time thing :)

If she digs in her heels and says no polish whatsoever, you can still go to a professional manicurist and have your nails buffed and cleaned up. (Men do this but don't like to admit it. :) )

Good point, I never really thought about that! I would say just keep them as natural as possible.

Trojangirl1- I was just talking about the really square, really thick, really fake looking nails with the HUGE bright white tip. Those are Porno nails. If you do a small stripe of subdued white it will be way better. I would suggest a soft pink all over though, just a couple shaed different than the actual nail color but still dark enough to cover. OPI just released their new "Soft Shade Collection" which is perfect for Rush. The colors are subtle enough to not clash with different outfits but still cover up nail imperfections.

LyrePantsOnFire- Acrylics look kinda wack without polish. There are nailpolishes out there now that are a matte finish, meaning they are not shiny. If you get a beigey-pinky color in matte finish that is close to your natural nail color, no one can tell you're wearing polish! The colors cover up wierdness-es of the nails without looking like regular nail polish. The natural shades are hard to find in matte finish now b/c it is new, but they have a matte-ifying top coat that you can put over any color of your choice now! They might have it at Sephora, Ulta, or probably Sally's Beauty Supply (aka heaven)!

You can definitely buff the nails. I use a product that is available from a beauty supply (and Christian Dior at 5x the price) that is pink in color (for reference only) that is a cuticle cream. Believe me, your cuticles will look very good within three days.

Funny how the world is different: men go routinely here for their mani/pedis. (Not Mr. Ellebud nor junior Ellebud). The only weird time is that friends really can't talk about stuff. The men are generally straight.

Thanks all for the great advice! My hijacking is at an end, haha. :)

@ellebud, spot-on advice as usual and the "no..s" probably saved this PNM from potential disaster.

When you can't remember PNMs because there are so many, the ones that stand out usually do so because of some feature or mannerism (like the PNM who flapped her arms like a bat or pretended to be swinging at a baseball in an attempt to illustrate what her last name rhymed with, I kid you not, I still remember her to this very day).

To the OP: remember to focus on conversation skills in addition to your details about your appearance. There was a great post in the Auburn PNM thread (I think that's where it was) that spoke to the importance of conversation. ellebud also wrote about this in a thread a while ago, I believe.

^^^^thank you...I'm blushing.

AzTheta, I'm so glad you brought that up! I've been working on them all summer with random people I encounter in situations.

I know it has NOTHING to do with nails, but I did have one small question (so minute, I don't believe it deserves a whole thread :p)

As far as conversations, is it better to keep it like a casual interview, or a casual, back and forth conversation.
Examples to illustrate my thinking:

Casual interview:
Active: "What did you do this summer?"
Me:"Oh I went to New York for the first time with my family, we went shopping at such and such, ate here, etc" and let the conversation continue and let her ask most of the questions...

or
Back and Forth:
Active: "What did you do this summer?"
Me: Same answer PLUS "What did YOU do this summer?"

I (as I'm sure most people do) always like to reverse the question in a conversation to get their answer. This is mostly a question for the first round, where I feel first impressions are crucial and time for them to get to know me is limited. I'm sure conversation will become more natural and friend-like as recruitment goes on.

P.S. Sorry if this is just me overanalyzing everything again :)

Think of it this way, she wants to get to know you personally, you want to get a feel for the sorority. Answer her questions and talk about some random stuff, but make sure you find out what you want to know if you have any questions about her sorority.

Everyone says that people love talking about themselves, but sorority girls love to talk about their sorority and their sisters!

Definitely ask the what did you do....my favorite is...what's yours? And try not to ask/answer a question that requires a yes or no answer.

So, I am planning on getting nails (so I don't have to redo nail polish every day), whether it be acrylic, solar, gel. I don't know, but could you post some photos where they don't look hoochie, but a bit more natural looking. Thanks!

The only problem with this is matte looks best on bright, dark or jewel tone polishes. With neutral colors (ie: light pink or beige), your hands look flat (think mannequin.... I have the top coat and tried it, not very flattering). I echo what some others have said and think a buffed nail would be best.

It depends...I wear acrylics without polish. I think the cheap acrylics need polish because it's cloudy, but we use a newer acrylic with a UV treatment afterwards, it's one where you can see my nails underneath. It's nice and clear and allows me to keep shiny nails for the 2 weeks between fillings. I'm a terrible nail biter, and I need some sort of tip or wrap.

At the end of the day, as long as you don't come in with three inch purple nails covered in little pictures of unicorns or something, or porno nails, you're probably ok. (And if you make sure they're clean of course.)

I think as long as they are a normal length and shaped well, no one can tell if they are fake or not. I have 3 acrylic nails and the others are natural. No one knows which ones are which. I keep them on the short side as I love to work in my yard, build things, etc and it's way too much trouble to do with long ones. A nice neutral beige or pale pinky fleshy color and you're good to go.

Uh, what?

This is when you know our "helpfulness" of posting rebuttal pictures has come back to bite us.

Plus I think other posters just spent this whole thread telling people NOT to get fake nails!

haha. I understand. But, if people are going to get them, I'm they would like to know which looks best out of them all.

It cost me $35 dollars for the manicure, but it lasted 3 weeks with no chips, nicks, nada! (And keep in mind I was moving so packing lots of boxes and cleaning) I love having polished nails but usually chip mine within the day. I have done both the colored and french but next time I think I may just have her do clear. BTW, the SHINE is even there three weeks later! I am sold. This is not for those that need extensions, just for those of you who, like me, had just given up on professional manicures because they never lasted. You can find the service in upscale salons. This will not be in your normal "strip mall" high productivity salons. My nail tech said that another company is also coming out with something similar this fall and will have a wider range of colors. I am so excited that I can remove it and not have a commitment to regular salon visits.

Lyre - Get a manicure without the polish. Your hands will look soft and pretty.

OP - just don't get them. What happens if one breaks (it happens, and it can be pretty ugly to look at)? Seriously, just get a manicure with a light color that goes with everything. Save the "matchy" colors for after recruitment.

I've only had fake nails a handful of times in my life, but I once ripped one nail off in a drawer, right before a huge business-social event (the biggest event I've ever been to in my life - people were dressed to the hilt, so I couldn't show up with a ripped-up finger). Thankfully, the spa at the hotel I was staying at sent someone right up to my room to fix it, but you probably won't have the time or access to something like that.

I have hypothyroidism so my previously iron-hard nails are now soft and peel. Thank God for acrylic nails - they last up to 2 weeks, polish stays on them, and I don't have to worry about breaking and peeling. I keep them short, and currently have a neutral color on them.

Sounds worth it to me, I'm adding that to my budget pronto.

Though I'll have to also add the cost of the gas it'll take me to get to a salon that will offer them. :mad: