AIBU to think my nails are completely fucked now?!

[Aberforthsgoat]

Had acrylics on for a couple of months with infills every few weeks, all at the same place
Went back this weekend as they’ve started to lift and I thought I’d have them removed and give my nails a break
Was in there for ages and the guy has basically filed my nails down to nothing (thickness wise) and they are all peeling and barely there. the ones that haven’t snapped off are going to have to be cut as they’re so flimsy and bendy they’re just going to rip otherwise.
I’ve had acrylics before and when I had them removed my nails were nice and strong underneath so I wasn’t expecting this.

What can I do with them?! HELP

Also please ignore grubby tea towel I was using remover to get rid of some of the bits he did manage to drill off (god knows how he seems to have taken as much of my actual nail as possible!)

This is standard with acrylics; especially if you’ve been having infills for a while. I’m surprised that you’re surprised tbh! Nothing you can do, just wait for them to grow out

Oh is it? Maybe I got lucky last time then as they were nothing like this before :(

I've always had mine soaked off to remove them, never drilled off

Cut them down and use a clear nail strengthener polish.

I had the same issue, I had to keep filling them down until the damaged nail had completely grown out and I used cuticle oil several times a day.
I've not had false nails since. I have had shellac but not by someone who uses a drill.

It took about 6-8 weeks until my nails felt normal again.

Yes I'd definitely cut them down as they're bound to snag on something and rip. When I get my acrylics taken off I use the malava nail hardener to make them less flimsy.

Ouch!! Fwiw I never go somewhere where they have electric files, it always takes far too much of the nail off. Gel nails are much kinder than acrylics I find.

Cut them as short as you can do they don’t catch. Buy some nail repair and use liberally. If you haven’t got any tonight use olive oil.

And give your nails a break, and don’t go back there again

Thanks for the advice
I’ve still got some little bits of acrylic left on some of them :( shall I try and persist with soaking off or just put strengthener on and leave them to grow out do you think?

Never drill them or soak them off. Just buff the acrylic down carefully to thinner layer and allow to grow out. Had acrylics on for almost 20 years and soaking them or drilling them off never ends well. Allow your nails to grow out in full and they’ll be back to normal. It just takes awhile.

Thank you
I did realise drills were a no no although it seems bloody obvious now!
Definitely not going to have acrylics again
Hopefully will have some nail repair knocking around

That's a very strange way to remove an acrylic nail..
A soak off is standard..
You're nails look as though they have a lot of acrylic left on them..

X post!

They do @bigonesmallone3 I somehow have some left and then my actual nail feels very very thin in other places

Sounds like the place I went to wasn’t great then, I feel a bit stupid now.

Never had any trouble with them actually putting them on so just assumes what they were doing was the standard way - couldn’t remember how I’d had them taken off the previous time as it was a while ago

Get some OPI nail envy, works very quickly for strengthening nails. Have tried dozens of others and not really noticed a difference until I tried this one. Now have to cut my nails rather than them breaking off!

Can't remember where it was but there was a article by a doctor wondering why (mainly) women put and leave nail polish on. You are essentially covering a very porous part of the body in chemicals and leaving it to be soaked through.

He said that nail polish should only be used once in a while and removed before bed, just like make up etc.

Ever since I stopped painting my finger and toe nails regularly and leaving the polish on I have noticed my nails are so much more healthier.

Get some CND Rescue RX. Really does help - needs to with the current foul up in mine!

My salon recommends Nailtiques Formula 2 for use after acrylic removal. You paint a layer on each day. It really does help. You can get it from lots of places. I think I got my last lot from LookFantastic.

Thank you so much for the suggestions, I always feel like a scruff when my nails look crap and they look the worst they ever have now!

You need to buy a bottle of acetone stuff to soak them off (soaked cotton wool with foil to hold in place, leave on for 15 mins or so). Then cut your nails very short and either have a manicure, or apply a treatment yourself followed by a couple of layers of varnish. Keep them short for a few months whilst your new stronger nails grow through. Ex nail tech here.

I’m afraid this is just what acrylics do to your nail, especially if drilled off. Lots of nail oil and a good top coat to do your own normal manicure where the nail isn’t being buffed a lot. The article PP mentioned was the Mail or the Times I think. I didn’t find it hugely insightful but got his point - there wasn’t much science behind it from what I read, but I say that as someone who always has painted nails so maybe I was being wilfully oh ffs about it.

Well I won't be getting them again, that's for sure!

Thanks for advice, I'm gutted they're in such a state.

I've got some OPI nail envy in light pink so I'm going to use that for now and see how I get on. They feel quite tender to touch as well, I think the drilling really did a number on them!

I had the exact same thing happen to me, it was horrible! I got some cuticle oil and I think OPI strengthener and cut them as short as possible. They were very tender for a while and took a few months to get back to normal but they are fine now.

Good luck OP

Very normal but highly annoying especially when you’ve been used to having nice nails for ages! I had mine taken off mid january - had been on for 4 months with infills & they’re still abit f**ked at the top but will be ok in another week once i’ve filed & shaped them again

I'm sorry op , your nails look really distressed!

I've never been through this before but I agree with pps , I'd file them down , get some nail oil and stick some clear polish or strengthener on them until they grow out. They just need a bit of tlc.

Going forward , maybe try gel nails. I alternate gel polish and regular polish. I do them at home because I'd heard too many horror stories about crap nail bars.

I used to have arcylics but ruined my nails ... I now use a Halal water permeable nail polish and my nails have never been longer or stronger, it protects them from chipping and cracking but allows them to breath at the same time... my favourite brand is Vivienne Kondor :)