wwyd re bad shellac manicure

[littlejolee]

Posting here for traffic as much as anything else. So just over a week ago I got a mobile beautician to come and do my nails in shallac. I picked shellac because I have a toddler so a normal manicure lasts two days tops but this was for a night out a few days later so I wanted to make sure it would last and not chip. So she turned up and got to work, but she was using what felt like a very cheap/rough nail file that left loads of ragged edges (which I tidied up when she left), she pushed my cuticles right back without soaking them or putting cream on them or anything (I always use cuticle cream / hand cream because it hurts a bit otherwise) and then she started filing at the top part of my nails where the polish goes iyswim, she said to make the base coat stick properly. Having never had a shellac manicure I didn't know if she was supposed to do that or not and I have pretty strong nails so I went with it. Anyway ten days later it's chipping like mad so I decided to soak it off (oh is a scientist so I have a pretty endless free supply of acetone so I just pour some in a bowl and let them soak wo worrying about wasting loads) and I've noticed these little holes in my nails where she's filled almost down to my nail bed and they're bright red and quite sore to touch. So apart from leave them alone and let them grow out what would you do re this useless nail tech? Thanks in advance x

She clearly doesn't know what she's doing. It's not necessary to file the nail surface,and you shouldn't have had ragged edges as most people take the shellac over the nail edge which improves longevity.

I'd steer well clear - suspect you would have little joy with a refund but always worth a try.

What she's done is definitely wrong (I used to manage a salon and still do my own gel nails).

You're meant to gently buff the top of the nail, but that's it, a light buff, not filing at all.

Don't ever go back to her and warn your friends so they don't go to her either. Leave your nails to grow out & don't get another gel or shellac on until the thin bits have grown out. You could raise it with her but in reality you're not really going to gain anything, she probably won't listen (as it's likely she's well aware she's doing it wrong but she just can't be bothered to do it properly) and I bet she wouldn't be forthcoming with a refund either.

Shellac doesn't work for everyone. A colleague of mine uses Gelish as she says Shellac just chips off after a few days. On the other hand (), my Shellac is still going strong after 3 weeks. It may be that your nails have a lot/not enough natural oils which isn't compatible with Shellac.

I always have my nailed buffed - the salon I go to use what looks like a mini sander to do it but I've never been left with sore nails afterwards. Pure acetone is quite harsh on nails - it may have been that she was a bit over enthusiastic with the buffing and the acetone has irritated those areas. I would take some photos but wouldn't bother asking for a refund.

THere's not much you can do as you're not supposed to remove it -

i had a shellac once and it peeled right off when I took some clothes out of the dryer the day after

and my fingernails were pink and sore (and woke me at night they were so sore) for about a week

never again.

I have quite oily and flexible nails. so normal nail polish wont last 12 hours before starting to chip and crumble off at the corners. Im also a very non-girly girl so Im not particularly careful with them :D

Gel nails last for 3 weeks + on me perfectly, in fact I usually get them taken off when my nails have grown out so much they start looking silly!

Always go for Gel :D