I've been a long time user of both NailTek Foundation and OPI Nail Envy as basecoats and I always get a lot of questions about how I maintain my nails so long without breaking. I have a separate article on that with some tips, but I also think the right basecoat and topcoat make all the difference.I started out using OPI Nail Envy (Original Formula) and used that for several months. At first I thought it worked great as my nails were definitely getting stronger and therefore longer as there was less breakage. But I also noticed my nails were still peeling a lot, where the top of the nail would peel into its various layers. This meant I had to keep buffing them to smooth out the texture, which resulted in weak and bendy nails, and therefore caused breakage.
Overall I can say that this product worked wonders for my own nails. It has a very strange and unpalatable smell, but I can overlook that. This product leaves a "grabby" matte texture on the nails that color polish sticks to really well, versus the OPI Nail Envy which felt and behaved just like a clear glossy nailpolish. I definitely noticed more pulling when I used Nail Envy, meaning there would be slight bald patches on the nail where the application did not stick on smoothly. NailTek Foundation smoothes out my nails and helps my polish to adhere; in combination with Seche Vite topcoat, my manicure easily lasts for 5 days, depending on the polish I use.
I order my NailTek from transdesign.com but it is also available at other e-tailers and salons.
Today i got one of their nail polishes and I was stunned with the results, soon I will be buying the whole line because I fell in love with OPI nail polishes. I also got the base coat and the top coat, I was fascinated, because I've never bought a nail polish so glamourous ever. when I painted one hand the and was about to start the other it was alredy dry so I just love it!
ReplyDeletei also swear by nail tek these days even tho i really loved my nail envy matte version too, but nail tek just makes every polish i own look better and wear better. and my nails seem so much stronger when i use nail tek. i'm going to stick with that and see how long i can get my tips to grow :)
ReplyDeleteJulia, thank you for the info. After seeing how beautiful your nails are, I decided to start taking better care of my nails. While I have quite a large nail polish collection I hardly wear nail polish because I don't have the time to wait around for it to dry. I do not have a great top or base coat. I was going to buy the OPI Nail Envy as you suggested in one of your nail videos, but this post came at just the right time. I will be sure to buy the Nail Tek and look forward to letting you know how 'wowed' I am by it :-). Take care.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness thank you for doing this! Recently I've been noticing the same peeling with Nail Envy and it's driving me crazy because I don't have a buffer! I'm definitely going to try this stuff.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to try Nailtek but I can never find it! I'm waiting to make an online order for another month or so, maybe then (^-^*)
ReplyDeleteThanks for reviewing this! I went to the NailTek website because I couldn't decide on which Foundation to get because my nails are a combo of II and III. So, I wrote customer service hoping they might be able to decide for me. I've read about NailTek but haven't tried it yet. I know how long your nails get and they always look so pretty so now I HAVE to have some to try on my own nails.
ReplyDeleteI have been using a product called Onymyrrhe that I found at Head2toe Beauty and I do think has been helping a lot to strengthen my nails. It takes 16 weeks and is guaranteed to work but I haven't come that far yet. I have seen a difference tho since starting it on Aug 18. I'm also using Healthy Hoof intensive protein treatment for my cuticles which does a good job but my nails are still peeling a bit. I want them to STOP peeling! Maybe I can get that with NailTek. I don't like to use a smoother on them because it does make the nail weaker. I just let it grow out a bit and file it down. Anyway, thanks for the review!
Because of your recommendation, I too swear by Nail Tek Foundation II. However, I am sad to say that I haven't used it for about 2 weeks because I ran out. The minute I didn't have it on protecting my nails I've had two bad breaks :( so at the moment I am left with little stubs and a note to buy more Nail Tek because yes, it's fantastic!
ReplyDeletethanks so much for this!
ReplyDeleteOPI also released a bascoat specifically for peeling nails - do who know if that is worth trying out?
Damn wish you posted this one a few days ago, I just bought Nail Envy.. Guess Ill try NailTek if that doesnt work..
ReplyDeleteGreat blog post, thank you. I bought OPI nail envy after reading about it on scrangie's blog before and then i saw that you mentioned it in a video i think. So far, its working really well (i had about a year of literally horrible nails before using nail envy) but i might try Nailtek too. And i totally agree about the glass files and also the Seche Vite, they're both essential in my opinion!
ReplyDeleteOPI has a Nail Envy for Sensitive/Peeling nails, and they have several other ones too. They have the Original Nail Envy, a Dry/Brittle formula, the Sensitive/Peeling, and a few others. They do work, but I'm not sure how they compare to the NailTek Foundations.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I have been hoping you would post something like this!
ReplyDeleteWould love to see/hear about your general nail care/manicure routine!
Thanks Julia!
omg I live in Australia and checked on ebay for the top coat that you use... To buy it and have it posted within Australia is AU$20 and to get it shipped from America is AU$10!!! This is crazy!! =D
ReplyDeleteMy nails THANK U!!!! I saw ur nail tutorial b4 & I had just decided to let my nails grow without wrapping them with arcrylic anymore, they were paper thin and would bend & brake. After using Nailtek and applying polish every week I'm PLEASED to inform u that my nails are strong, don't bend or brake anymore!!!! Now I have long beautiful nails that don't need harsh chemicals to keep them from breaking!!! Thx again
ReplyDeleteJeannie
I tried both of this products. Both of this product did not do a great job on my nail. My nails keeps peeling of, might be because my nail is really weak. So when i picked up Seche Vite topcoat, i decided to try Seche plus fortified strengthener. I see a lot of improvement from it. My nails getting stronger and never peels of again. One coat is enough for me. =))
ReplyDeleteI too luv NailTek! I tried Nail Envy several years ago, but just didn't work for me. I faithfully use the NailTek Foundation and top coat II. When I treat myself to a manicure, I always get comments on how strong my nails are.
ReplyDeleteIch schwöre auf Micro Cell 2000. In Deutschland gibt es das bei Douglas, aber ich meine, es sei auch in der Schweiz erhältlich. Es wirkt ehrlich wahre Wunder (nicht nur für mich) und ist auch in Light&White, einem sehr hübschen, milchigen Off-weiß erhältlich. Falls Du mal etwas Neues ausprobieren magst, wirst Du sicher nicht enttäuscht sein. (Ich mache nie die empfohlene "Kur", sondern benutze es einfach immer als Unterlack.) :-) Liebe Grüße!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this info. I saw your video where you recommended the NailTek, and managed to purchase it from Transdesign (the no.II), and must say, -my nails are so much better! I have the same problem you used to have, and have used OPI Nail Envy so far. From now on: NailTek! :-D
ReplyDeleteI like this product. It's worth the $10. I'm using this to strengthen my nails. If they grow back and stay long I'll look into other products in the Nail Tek line. I'm hoping to see results where it'd be worth the $10 for the top coat and maintance products. They also sell glass & crystal nail files (which are really hard to find). 4 days into using and I've definately seen a difference. This stuff bonds really well, and dries fast. I've tried them all: Nutra Nail, Sally Hansen various oils... None of them worked. I'm currently using Nail Tek II.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny because after I saw your first nail video on nail care. I realized that my long nails would easily break because I would just use basic base coats with nothing to reinforce them, protect them and nourish them. Like you Misschievous, mine peeled and they were soft and a bit fragile meaning after they got super long they would break which is understandable. I started watching your channel and subscribed and saw how gorgeous your nails were and thought, "Oh, I should use those special strenghteners!"
ReplyDeleteI bought OPI Nail Envy...and for 3 solid months my nails grew, no more peeling, they were hard and I used it as a top coat and every day. It worked like a dream.
I then looked at that same nail care vid...and you said that Nail Tek is better so I went on EBay and bought it along with Nail Tek II Intensive Therapy. It came as a package for 15$. I thought good deal. I used N.T. Foundation II as a base and N.T.II I.T as a top coat. It was a fail. The base coat adheres better than the top coat but leaves these white matte residue around the cuticles that kind of peel. The top coat on top of my polish...peels the whole manicure right off! It is so downright annoying! So I thought just use the base coat for now,the Foundation II...well after 3 weeks..my nails were breaking and getting chips.
I will not go back to Nail Tek. Nope.
OPI Nail Envy Original & OPI Nail ENVY Maintenance is the way to go for me. I guess I'm the only one it doesn't work for.
I'm so inspired Mischevious! I've been growing my nails consistently now for about 3 months...and it's great. I pay attention to them, change the polish every 3-4 days and keep a topcoat on them. I've been nourishing them with Seche Rebuild...using the color of my choice...and using Seche Top Coat (which I love!)....but reading your review on NailTek, I think I will give that a try next, as the Seche Rebuild has a Cancer warning on the bottle from California...and that does not inspire confidence....I'm just trying to get long beautiful nails...not create a health risk. I've watched your videos on Youtube and found you here through my base coat research. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have been a fan of Nail tech II for a long time. I ran out and tried the OPI NAIL ENVY and within a week my nails started splitting. Going back to NAIL TECH II. However as far as actual nail polish goes for lasting OPI cannot be beat. I put NAIL TECH II on as a base coat and as a top coat. Works great.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you didn't know that OPI has also other polishes in their treatment line for specific problems, as it seems that many people hasn't heard about it. For peeling nails, you should have tried OPI Nail Envy Sensitive & peeling. I haven't tried it,but I want to,although I'll definitely check NailTek Foundation II. Thank you so much for this review!! :)
ReplyDeletewhere is everyone buying seche vite?!
ReplyDeletealso: winners sells 2 pack nail envy for $14.99 i believe...give or take a dollar
I love nail envy, I am using the orange one though and everyone compliments on my nails. It works very well for me. x
ReplyDelete