Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Views on gel manicures please

13 replies

Coveredinweetabix · 27/10/2013 20:45

What are your views on gel manicures, please, o stylish women? Was I expecting too much when I thought I could do normal stuff and have it last 2 - 3 weeks? I had my first one nine days ago and am really disappointed with it. It looked good for about the first five days (so longer than a normal manicure would last) but then the varnish came off the tip of one finger and then another and now its growing out really obviously at the base. I got around the chips by filing down those two nails but can't do anything about it growing it at the base. I can't get back to the salon to get it taken off until Thursday and think I'm going to look really scruffy until then. At least with a normal manicure I can just take it off when I'm ready.

OP posts:
HotelTangoFoxtrotUniform · 27/10/2013 20:53

You can take it off at home using acetone. Soak cotton wool in acetone, put over fingernail and wrap in tinfoil. Leave it for 10 or so minutes and then push it off with an orange stick. There are plenty of online guides for this!

I get mine done for special occasions as normal manicures only last a few hours for me. Gel ones last around a week before they start to flake. I think they are a bit misrepresented in their claim as a three week manicure.

Madamecastafiore · 27/10/2013 20:56

I've had all different types and think they ruin your nails.

KateShmate · 27/10/2013 21:05

I do think that it depends on your nails - I can have gel nails done and they still look pristine 4/5 weeks later and I only have to soak them off because I've got such huge gaps! Otherwise I'm sure they'd just stay on until they grew out!

southeastastra · 27/10/2013 21:07

i do it myself with the red carpet set (qvc) i like it as it lasts but not as long as it's meant to

i think i have oily nails Grin though i like that fact that it stays much longer than normal nail varnish

Cheesyslice · 27/10/2013 21:09

I have had a couple of gel manicures done and never been impressed. Plus I am strangely addicted to peeling stuff and it's just too tempting...

EeyoreIsh · 27/10/2013 21:13

I had one done and it was fab. It didn't chip even though I kept it on for four weeks including a beach holiday. However, 2 months later my nails are still weak and peeling.

southeastastra · 27/10/2013 21:14

ooh get the red carpet stuff if you like peeling, it's very satisfying

Casmama · 27/10/2013 22:01

I had shellac and it looked great but hated the gaps at the bottom and my nails are now totally wrecked. Wouldn't do it again.

cardamomginger · 27/10/2013 23:26

I had Jessica Geleration done. I had a couple of problems with it lifting, but they did a free repair, so that was OK. I kind of loved it, but I discovered that my nails grow really quickly, so it's just not worth it for me as regrowth shows really quickly. I had them taken off after 10 days and the woman in the salon agreed that my nails do grow more quickly than usual.

Geleration only involves buffing the nails, so I think it is less bad for them than other systems. When it was taken off, my nails were a bit rough for a day or so, but recovered with moisturising.

RaisingthedeadArizona · 28/10/2013 11:16

I had gel nails done before DDs wedding and I removed it 3 weeks later only because of size of gap at the bottom. Was really pleased with them. I removed it with a kit that my friend had got from QVC (I think). The condition of my nails was no worse than after having normal varnish on for a while. Wouldn't risk doing it on a regular basis though because I'm sure it would wreck them if done repeatedly. I'd have them done again for holidays or really special occasions where I wanted a dark colour and didn't want to risk it chipping.

Leopoldina · 28/10/2013 11:19

varies depending on who does it. Have had a few done at Nails Inc (got conned into buying a loyalty card) and the quality varied from pretty damn good to utterly lumpen and atrocious. If your nails grow quickly, it's absolutely pointless.
would also suggest not to do it if you're going on holiday because exposure to suntan lotion / oils etc causes it to lift from the base of the nail.

BirdyBedtime · 28/10/2013 14:12

I've only had Shellac done once - it lasted around 10 days before a couple of chips, but luckily I had a normal nail varnish almost identical so managed to touch it up to get to over 2 weeks. It did wreck my nails a bit though but I wasn't very good with applying nail oil so probably my own fault really. I would get it done again for a special occasion.

GinnelsandWhippets · 28/10/2013 17:18

I have had shellac once and never again. My nails grow very fast and within 10 days I had noticeable gaps at the bottom. And when I had it removed my (normally rock-hard) nails were thin and weak. I dread to think what it does to nails which are in bad condition to start with.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread