I have short nails, and I don't polish them. I'm not a fan... but if I do polish I use blue! I love Blue!

I'm with you Melinda...my nails are naturally very hard, and they grow long fast. I don't polish them because I handle paper all day and it wears off too fast. I keep my toenails relatively short and painted. Also gray hair now that used to be dark brown.

Mine (on their own) are nicely shaped, but are thin, brittle, and very fragile. Which is why I've done gel for most of the past 20 years [not counting a short period in the middle when I was an impoverished grad student and had to give them up]. I keep them like Patrice -- just long enough to look pretty, but short enough to type quietly and not get in my way. My nail lady uses a light (i.e., thin), clear gel and that's all -- the shiny finish looks like clear polish.

My hands used to be my one source of physical pride (which is partly why I started with the gel back in the '80s), but they aren't any more -- thanks to all my arthritic bumps and lumps. Now I'm just grateful for the days when I can still knit or quilt without hurting... [sigh]

I took mine off years ago the upkeep was a real pain. Seemed like everything revolved around not breaking a nail .... or getting them filled... or changing the color.... it just got to be too much.

I hate my hands and nails. I have bitten my nails off and on since I was young. My hands are short and squatty, nails are too. I tried fake nails many years ago. I don't really like the idea of all those chemicals, the cost is a factor too. When I do let them grow, they are still not pretty, weak and misshapen. I have some pretty rings and I'm kind of embarrassed to put them on my unatractive hands.

I used fake nails when I was working, then dropped it as soon as I retired. Too much upkeep and $.

Now I keep them short-ish and natural. I treat myself to a pedicure a few times a year, and get outrageous colors, like lime green or orange or purple polish.

I'm also OK with my graying hair and rarely wear makeup. I'm more content with the "natural" me now that I'm older.

Mine grow fairly quick and hard, break a couple and they all get trimmed down, and I start over.
Here's somthing to try though, noticed it helped to harden by accident. When you wax the car notice how hard & shiney they get!

wow, that is good to know about the car wax

I have found that shampoo is great to get the dirt out from under your nails

I like to paint my nails and then give them 2 coats of clear nail polish