Nail Polish and ADHD: It'll Never Last
Nail Polish and ADHD: It'll Never Last
Perfect Manicure vs ADHD Brain
My ADHD brain hates nail polish. I'm a picker. I LOVE getting my nails done. A manicure feels like the final touch to any look. Even when I haven't brushed my hair, worn deodorant in days, or looked in a mirror, if I look down at my perfectly painted nails, I feel like I have my life together. Do you know what doesn't pair well with a fresh mani? Nail picking.
ADHD affects aspects of your life you may not even realize. "Picking" is often thought of as a trait of OCD, and it isn't as widely recognized as an ADHD habit. Because my brain is wired to focus so intently, I can't stop myself from picking my nail polish until I'm satisfied the job is done.
If you're reading this, and you have a tendency to pick, touch, pluck, etc., a part of your body, it may be a sign of ADHD. Or maybe you're like me and just thought it was a thing you did subconsciously and your reading this going, "Woah. My ADHD made me do it!" It's self-revelation.
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| exhibit A |
Since I rarely splurge on getting a manicure (why waste money on something I'll ruin), I usually paint my nails myself. Let me tell you. It ain't pretty. This picture is exhibit A. I don't take my time. I can't color inside the lines. And I definitely can't sit still until the coat dries. It never fails, I always reach for something, scratch my head or spontaneously decide to fold laundry. It really is disastrous.
A few years ago, my husband volunteered to start painting my nails because he knows how much I like having dressed up fingers lol. As a perfectionist, he does an amazing job. You'd swear he was a pro. He even would watch me making sure I sat still until the paint had dried. It was the perfect deal for me.... Until he caught me chipping away at his work or noticed nail polish flakes caught in my teeth when I smile. Now he refuses.
Now that I'm truly left to my own devices, I'm going to share a few of my favorite nail products that have a better chance of survival than ordinary at home manicure tools.
Nail Polish
I've had great experiences with two brands: Essie and Sally Hansen.
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| Photo taken from SallyHansen.com |
Sally Hansen
Sally Hansen is a brand that's been around forever. My grandmother used their products. So I trust they know what they are doing. Tons of cute colors to choose from and their polishes are widely available.
A few years ago they came out with Sally Hansen Miracle Gel. It's perfect for a picker like me! The gel polish that comes with the kit, seals your color in place, and prevents chipping for weeks. This combo is a miracle for me because no chips mean no picking.
Essie
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| Photo taken from essie.com |
Essie has a line called Couture Longwear nail polish system. It's similar to the Sally Hansen gel kit because it's a 2 step system with color nail polish and a strong topcoat.
Honest Review
In an honest review of the two systems, I love the variety of the Essie colors so I usually lean towards that brand. I opt for their couture longwear and regular nail polishes. But I haven't been impressed with their topcoat. I feel that it doesn't hold long enough and is easily defeated by my ADHD picking. As for Sally Hansen's brand polishes, their color selection is not as vast and not as fun as the Essie brand but their Gel top coat is bomb.
Pro Tip: After years of trial and error, I've found that the seal gel coat from Sally Hansen works better, longer, and can be applied over regular nail polishes by any brand AND the gel polishes from Essie. Essie gel polish + Sally Hansen gel is a match made in heaven!
If you have a brand of nail polish, press on nails, or any tips to help me and others stop picking off our beautiful polish, please comment below! I look forward to hearing your tips.
Below I'll link a few summer favorites from each brand, to make shopping easier:
XoXo, Meg
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