LDM...great question! For the last few weeks, I've had one nail, then two nails, where the acrylic just kept falling off. Part of the reason I liked the acrylic nails (other than they look very good) is that I didn't have to mess with them for a good two weeks. I came to realize that they were probably falling off because the health of my nail (s) were deteriorating.
I couldn't fix one and I went out of town. So, I used super glue. I needed a "fill," and a few extra days went by. They were all lose. I went to a different salon where I was visiting. The new person commented that I should get a pink and white since I like French manicures and it would hold better.
I took a good look at my nails and many were lose (partially because it was now over two weeks and partially because of the health of my nails) and I thought it would be a great time to just pop them all off. Of course, she tried to talk me into a new full set or the pink and white.
Oddly, I'm normally someone who prefers natural things and I never liked them for this reason and the money part of it ain't so hot either!
I just made the decision then and there that it was a great time to easily get them off and to try again more earnestly.
I had my nails polished, but the polish doesn't hold more than three or four days at this time (nails are too thin, etc.)
So, I have clear polish on now that I'm going to continue to do myself.
As suggested here...I'm going to put on myself Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails and keep them short. Every week or two, I'm going to get a regular manicure at the salon, probably if I'm going somewhere. I know that it wont last more than three or four days, so I will time it when we are going somewhere. I have picked up a more natural nailpolish from the store...with less harsh chemicals. I'll take that with me when I go. I will probably have very short nails for 5 or 6 months. When my nails are healthier, I might do a regular manicure once a week. If I recall correctly, when my nails are healthy, a regular manicure lasts me about six days. I would often take the polish off the sixth day...and sometimes leave them natural or put on clear the last day.
We'll see how it goes...
I'm REALLY going to avoid the acrylics...surely they can't be good for us and this also gives me a chance to try the more natural polishes, etc.
Well, sorry about that long answer.
Thank you guys for the good suggestions...considering them all.