Proof is in the pudding

I do love it when readers try things and then send me pictures. It's quite gratifying. I mean, I know the things that spew from this blog work for me, but to have someone else get something out of it is pretty terrific!

This little lady right here... Kat from Hooked on Polish started chatting me up on Twitter the other month (you can follow her too... click here.) We've been having a hilarious love affair every since. Like me, and many of you, she has to deal with a little wonky nail here and there. After my last post, "Straight and narrow", she showed me her wonk and decided to try the simple filing technique. She was happy with the results and I was ecstatic for her! She was kind enough to let me share her before and after pictures. AND WHO DOESN'T LIKE A GOOD BEFORE AND AFTER. Sorry for shouting, but I really am THAT excited.

Today, I will share with you her results.


Before: photo credit (from twitter)

Before

After: photo credit (from twitter)

 

After

It seems silly, but these minor little changes makes a difference when your wonk is getting you down. YAY!

Hugs and kisses to Kat for her testimonial. Thanks for letting me use your pictures! Now, if you will excuse us, we have to go hump. *inappropriate*

WARNING: please read the previous post and all relevant posts linked within and attempt all filing carefully and responsibly as messing with the nail side walls can be tricky.

Good Luck!

Straight and narrow

How lovely would it be if all of our nails grew evenly and straight?! This is the stuff of dreams! Well, maybe second to winning the lottery. If you weren't blessed (because I sure as hell wasn't), grab your favorite gentle nail file and join me in this tutorial! I recommend either a 220-320 grit strength for strong healthy nails or a 400-600 grit strength (or high quality crystal nail file) for weak problem nails. Here is a nail file post for reference.

I don't know about you, but my nails curve, wonk and do crazy things depending on factors such as water exposure, moisture content and whether they are polished or unpolished. I do pay special attention to filing to make them appear straight and narrow.

At this point, this filing technique is so automatic for me, it's hard to find a before picture. I would have to let my nails grow for quite a while and endure the fatness, crookedness and unevenness. And well, that is REALLY hard. The fact that I know they can look better with a few simple strokes of the file is just too much temptation to not do it all the time.

The look we are going for is very symmetrical. We are going to shoot for even nail beds, paying particular attention to the nail side wall to make it look nice and even...

Essie - Licorice

There are several factors that do not allow my nails to look like this all the time naturally.
First... there is the wonk:

WONK

I have discussed how to improve a wonky curvy nail in this post. For me, keeping the nail hydrated and at a length below a certain point makes the wonk improve. One thing I did not mention in that post is how we can also manipulate the nail side walls with filing, to create a more even appearance.

If you take a look at your nail from the side you may see this..

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

First, notice the curve. Some nails are worse than others. Second, notice the extra overhang at the tip of the nail (free edge) particularly more obvious in the second picture. I can't change that curve shape (my first concern); it is inherent, but I can play with the angles and eliminate the over hang (my second concern). If I file the nail side walls like this...

....suddenly the nail appears flatter and straighter...

 

I would advise being very careful while filing the nail side wall. I stressed that point in this and this post. Please read those posts first before attempting... don't fret, there are pictures!

This filing technique is really the key to getting my nails straight. Now, let's look at the c-curve of this nail.

Filing the sides (carefully!) allows me to straighten any imperfections in the c-curve. You may notice your nail c-curve is longer, heavier or curvier on the left vs. the right. Afterwords, my left and right side is not only balanced (I've included a white line that your eye can follow), but some of the c-curve is relaxed a bit. See if you can release/relax your c-curve by filing the sides off a bit. I think this helps trim off some of the weight. Your nail may appear more narrow.

A few small strokes of the nail file allows you to create a much straighter balanced nail. Using a gentle file and the correct technique, I strongly encourage you to play around with your nails to see what kind of shape and balance you can create.

And now for one of my favorite sexy polishes shown above....

Essie - Urban Express

*DEAD*

Eww ... gross ... I hate you.

WONK!
Not cute.  Do not adjust your screens.  This is not a broken nail.  Rather a really ugly curving to the nail.  I wish I could beat it out of me, but that simply doesn't work.  How is one supposed to deal??

As much as I want to walk around and constantly straighten it out against hard objects ... like this ... that is just unreasonable. 

Just in case I have not convinced you of its ugliness ...

<----- LOOK *barf*

What is worse than a wonky nail? ... Nothing comes to mind.

All is not lost.  Here is that same nail ... less ugly.

What the what?!?

How is this possible?  How can we get the wonk to relax?









There are a couple of steps you can take to remedy the situation, but keep in mind the end result is not permanent. DARN IT!   



The most effective solution is to use a combination of moisture (in the form of water) and oil/balm/waxy products together.  I have mentioned previously, long and constant exposure to water is not good for the nail layers.  I have several posts on "fat nails" and why it can weaken the nail plate layers and cause problems, i.e. splitting, peeling.  However, since there are times you simply cannot avoid water ... unless you're dirty ... you might as well use it to your advantage!  You can use unavoidable water exposure to help un-wonkify (<--O.O new word) your nail beds.  After your nails have been submersed in water, one good thing you can do for them is moisturize them with your favorite cuticle oil/balm/cream/lotion or wax containing product directly after the exposure.  Not only will this help seal in moisture, but it will also help keep the wonkiness at bay for a bit longer.  If you continue to add oil/balm/waxy products every few hours it will keep the nail less wonky.  I have found oil makes the results lasts longer than lotion.  Like I said, it's not permanent and takes effort to put cuticle oil on every couple of hours, but hey, it's either that or the weird wonk.

In summary: Constant moisture is like a Valium for the wonk.

Of course there is always that nubbinizing option ... but that makes me cry.

Do you know about the wonk, have the wonk?  How do you deal with the wonk?

Edit: Two other helpful posts on how to make a nail less wonky with filing can be found here and here.