Ok Ladies... Fingernail Help!

I've had to deal with this while we're on our 2-month trip. Last summer while on our trip I bravely walked into places I knew nothing about and had them done. They were good experiences, and my nails came out great. This time, I've been hesitant for some reason, so finally pulled all the acrylic off and said the heck with it. Actually, the longer they're off, the more freeing it feels, and trust me, I LOVE nice nails, so I'm not sure what I'll do when I get home. I've also had the same problem with a hair cut and hair color. Other than going gray, which isn't going to happen, I don't know how to solve that one.