Gel nails routine???

[Paperdolly]

Hi
For the first time I have had gel nails done in a salon. My nails are awful condition and bitten. I expected the very dry cuticles to be soaked before anything was done but no. She just wiped them quickly and commenced pushing them back and pulling the resulting mound off with tweezers. Suffice to say two fingers bled. 😳

I just want to ask. Was this the right way to do gel nails? It was the last appointment of the day and there was no conversation. I even had to ask her name as I paid. 🙁

I've never had cuticles soaked before gel nails. I think I've only had a little blood once when they snipped off a little too close.

If they soaked your nails the gel might not adhere properly. At most they should have used a cuticle removing gel before scraping the tissue off the nail plate.

No. Gel nails application is just application with necessary prep. Any thing else would cost more. You would need to book a treatment and/or manicure if you want cuticle oil etc.

I've never had my cuticles bleed when having gel nails done. They put some kind of cuticle softener on, gently push back the cuticle and then snip away at any loose bits of skin. It doesn't sound like a great salon.

Although as a previous poster said - did you just ask for gel nails (literally just applying the gel) or a manicure too? My description above was for a manicure. If I request gel nails only they do a very basic tidy up of the nails first (trim down and buff the surface) but very little with the cuticles.

It depends on where you go I think. I’ve had some great gel nail manicures but have also gone to some really cheap places (the ones where the poor ladies don’t seem to speak any English and I wonder if they’re here by choice). They tend to use an electric nail drill / metal file which completely ruined my nails. I stay away from those places for quality and moral reasons now.

Most technicians won’t spend a great deal of time on your cuticles prior to gel or acrylic. Any soaking/product applied may compromise the adherence of the gel/acrylic. I used to soak, push back and remove any excess cuticle myself the night before. Having said that, a good technician would have a) told you her name b) recognised they needed a bit more attention and done what was needed more carefully

That sounds right, they've only ever pushed back the cuticles and clipped. I've never bled though!

Gel Should be applied to a dry nail so a good nail tech will not ever soak your cuticles. If the nail bed is damp adherence of gel is compromised

Thanks all. Seems like the technician was just doing her job. I was extra worried as I am diabetic and injuries are extra scary for me.

I'll ask the routine next time.