I'm Madison, and I run The Nail Guide by myself, from picking what to try to writing the posts and editing photos on my own laptop. I'm the kind of person who keeps a running list in my phone of colors I see in real life and notes on what worked, like how long a gel polish stayed glossy for me or which base coat stopped my peeling. I love beauty and nails because they're small, repeatable wins, and I like having a plan for when my nails are short, weak, or just plain stubborn.
My story
I started The Nail Guide after a string of frustrating nail weekends. I'd buy a polish that looked perfect online, follow the steps, and then watch it chip or lift within days. I kept notes on what I changed each time, and friends kept asking what I was doing. So I wrote it all down where I could find it again, then kept going. Once I realized I wasn't the only one guessing, I turned my trial-and-error into posts with the details I wished I'd had.
What I cover
On The Nail Guide, you'll find color and product recommendations, step-by-step routines I've tested on my own nails, and troubleshooting when something chips, cracks, or won't dry right. I've been experimenting for years, mostly by learning the hard way: layering, prep, curing times, and what my nails do in different weather. I keep my advice specific to what I saw and measured, not what a brand promises.
