Falsies until nails grow?

My nails were growing beautifully but my hands and nails are REALLY dry right now and they've been splitting and breaking. Arrggh! Can I get something artificial put on until my nails grow? Not the usual tips but is it acrylic overlay or something that they put over the nail and they just grow out naturally? Or am I wrong. Thanks!

In the past when I've tried growing out my nails I've had silk wraps applied to them which protects them thus helping to grow out. Now that I'm at a great length I use Sally Hansen products for maintenance and strength. If you haven't tried this line, I highly recommend it. The Maximum Growth to start and then any of the other prods for maint. If you stick w/ the prods I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

~hth~

The problem with putting an artificial nail on your own is that natural nails will only get so long before breaking.  If you put an artificial nail on top, yes they will get long, BUT as soon as you take off the artificial portion, the natural nails cannot sustain the length and will break.

If you do choose to get an artificial nail, you can apply any type - acrylic, gel, silk, fiberglass, etc - without tips. 

If your nails are dry, I highly recommend using a good quality cuticle oil on them (yes on your nail!) - it will put moisture back into the nails and keep them flexible.

What's an "acrylic overlay"? Also, what's this artificial nail w/out tips -- I mean why would someone get those? What is their purplse?

I guess I was wrong in my thinking then. I think I'll just do the oil like you said -- I know that's a good idea because I was doing it before and it really does help. I have been neglecting my nails and I guess there's no getting around it. I'll just have to wait til they grow back. Thanks for the info.

Sorry, I HAVE to answer this.  Acrylic and wraps are NOT damaging!!!!!!!!  Take any one of the products and put a cloipping of your nails in it and in 50 years, your nails will still be there - the same as it was the day you put it in!!!  What IS damaging is the technician.  You should NEVER allow a tech to "drill" your nail or use a coarse nail file on it and you  should never EVER allow anyone (even yourself) to rip off the artificial nail!!!  These are the 2 sources of damage to the nail- not the product.
Look at it this way:  If you went to a hairstylist and your hair was damaged - would you blame the products?  No, you would blame the stylist.  IT confounds my why people are always saying acrylic ruins your nails, but they would never say that about hair.

Anyway, off my soap box - water is more damaging to your nails than a lot of things.  Soaking in water will cause polish to chip and the nails to split and peel.  This is the reason the beauty industry has pretty much phased out water manicures in favor of oil or lotion based ones.  If youyr nails are dry - use a good quality cuticle oil on the nail to keep it flexible and keep the cuticles nice.