I recently discovered my perfect nail treatment combo, and I’m so glad I did! It’s a few layers, but totally worth it! In order of application:
Barielle Hydrating Ridge Filler with Silk Fiber
Barielle Growth Activator for Natural Nails
Nail polish of choice
Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
Barielle Ultra Speed Dry Manicure Extender
Anyone who uses SV knows it tends to get gloopy real quick. It might work extremely well, but the shrinkage is irritating. At first I tried to battle shrinkage with wrapping my tips with polish and SV. No luck. Then I tried using another top coat before SV. Again, no luck.
A few gals on the MUA Nail Board love their Barielle Manicure Extender, which I’ve owned but never really used. However, something made me use it the other night almost immediately after using SV. I noticed I had extremely minimal tipwear the next day… And I even wore the polish for two days! Still minimal shrinkage. In case this was a fluke given the polish I had on, I tried it again… Same results! So, I think it’s safe to say I have found my “holy grail” combo!
And while I’m thinking about it, I should mention that Barielle products are the best! My nails are growing like weeds thanks to the Growth Activator. I never thought to use it over the Ridge Filler until a fellow Nail Boarder mentioned it. Since I started using the Ridge Filler I haven’t had a lot of breakage or peeling nails either! Oh, nor have I had an issue with my nails yellowing!
I think this is a winning combo that I’ll keep using. Heaven forbid it quits working for me though! Thankfully, as long as my Marshall’s continues to receive shipments, I can keep getting my Barielle for 75% off! If I have to pay full price of $16 per treatment, I’ll die! (There you go, if you didn’t know that, run to your nearest Marshall’s and/or TJ Maxx to see if they have any Barielle products!)
Oh, and I reckon I should mention that my other winning nail products are: Barielle Natural Nail Camouflage, Sephora Glass File, Barielle Intensive Nail Renewal Oil, CND Solar Oil, B&BW True Blue Spa Cuticle Treatment and Barielle Ultra Soft Hand Crème SPF 15.
I got a bunch of the Barielle treatments at my TJ Maxx – no growth activator, but I will look for that! I have been using the restorative nail serum, ridge filler and the intensive nail renewal oil – my cuticles still look like heck, but that’s mainly because I spend so much time in water at the job. However, I have noticed a serious reduction in my splitting and peeling, and they seem less brittle! I will keep using the Barielle and look for your other treatment, and then I’ll post up my own little review. I’m quite impressed, like you, though!
I did quite using Seche Vite. I had nothing but problems with it after using less than half a bottle, so I started looking at other quick dry top coats – my favorite is CND Air Dry. Dries quite quickly, and levels even the most chunky glitters down. No shrinkage – and no cement even after half a bottle of use!
I had to quit using the Restorative Nail Serum because it was causing my nails to peel! Eek! I still have a full bottle too! I’ve debated on leaving SV, but I haven’t done it yet. Something has me wanting to try SH Insta-Dri or Poshe. Any experience with either of those? I’ll have to look into the CND!
So that’s why you told me to check out Barielle when i was at TJ Maxx. I had no idea. That growth treatment sounds like something I need.
I have read about the SV shrinkage but haven’t experienced it on my nails.
Yes! That’s exactly why! Barielle products ROCK!