Okay, Let’s Talk About My Gross Toenail
Honestly? I was kind of hoping I’d never have to write this. But here we are. So, I’ve had this one toenail – the one on my right foot – that’s looked… off for like a year. It wasn’t the full-on horror show you see in Google images, but it was thick, kinda yellowish, and I was absolutely not taking my socks off in public. My girlfriend, the saint that she is, pretended not to notice. But I knew. I tried ignoring it, hoping it’d just magically fix itself while I was busy doomscrolling. Spoiler: it didn’t.
Enter the West&Month Nail Fungus Treatment Essence. I saw an ad for it and figured, “What’s thirty bucks compared to a lifetime of closed-toe shoes at the beach?” So I ordered it. Here’s the thing – I was fully expecting it to be snake oil.
First Impressions & The “Warming” Thing
The bottle is small, and the instructions are… specific. You have to warm the unopened bottle in hot water for 5 minutes before using it. Listen, I’m lazy. My first thought was, “Ugh, another step.” But I did it. It makes the essence feel kind of soothing when you apply it, so I guess there’s a point. The smell is very herbal, not chemical-y at all. It’s like a faint tea tree and earth smell. Not unpleasant.
You’re supposed to clip and file the bad nail parts first. I felt like a weird, self-appointed podiatrist. The essence itself is a thin liquid. You just brush it on the nail and cuticle. Dries fast, no sticky residue. Easy enough to do while watching TV.
What Actually Happened (The Real Timeline)
Nothing magical in week one. Or week two. I gotta say, I was getting skeptical. Around the start of week three, I noticed the new nail growing in from the cuticle looked… clearer. Like, actually pink and normal. The old, thick, discolored part at the tip was still there, but I could see a clean line of healthy nail pushing it out.
This is the part they don’t show you in the ads: patience. Toenails grow painfully slow. You’re not fixing this in a week. But by the end of month one, about 30% of the nail was new and healthy. That’s when I knew it was working. It wasn’t just covering anything up; it was helping the new growth come in clean.
My Quick & Lazy Comparison Chart
Look, I did some half-hearted research before buying this. Here’s what I was looking at (prices are approximate, don’t @ me):
| What You’re Buying | Price | Main Stuff In It | My Take on Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| West&Month Essence | $29.99 | Matrine, Coptis Bark, Snake Seed (sounds intense, it’s just plants) | Brush it on daily. Warm the bottle first (minor hassle). |
| Drugstore Anti-Fungal Cream | $10-$15 | Typically Tolnaftate or Clotrimazole (chemical antifungals) | Rub it in. Can be greasy, might not penetrate the nail well. |
| Prescription Pills (from a doc) | $$$ + co-pay | Oral antifungals like Terbinafine | Just swallow a pill. But requires a doctor and can have side effects on your liver. |
No BS, Here’s What I Didn’t Love
Alright, let’s keep it 100. It’s not perfect.
The Wait: This is the biggest thing. If you want overnight results, you will be disappointed. Nail growth is slow. You need to commit to at least 2-3 months to see the full nail grow out clean.
The Bottle Size: It’s small. If you have multiple nails on both feet you’re treating, you might go through it faster. I was just doing one nail, so it’s lasting.
The “Warming” Step: It’s a tiny extra bit of effort. Sometimes I just wanted to slap it on and go to bed. You really need to warm it for it to work best, they say.
Final, Real-Talk Verdict
So, is the West&Month stuff worth the hype? For me, yeah. It actually worked. My nail is about 70% clear now and the gross part is literally growing out. I can see the finish line. It’s a natural, non-prescription option that doesn’t feel sketchy.
Would I recommend it? If you’re patient and consistent, absolutely. If you think one application will fix a year of fungus, no. Manage your expectations. This is a treatment, not a miracle.
Honestly, the best feeling is not being paranoid about my feet anymore. I might even wear sandals this summer. Wild concept, I know.
Anyway, that’s my two cents. Do with it what you will. Back to my regularly scheduled Netflix binging.
