Gels and fast nail growth

[ChangePlease]

I’ve just started trying gels (short, pale nude colour) but my nails are growing so fast it’s only been a week and I have a clear gap between the cuticle and start of the colour, which I think looks really tacky. Can I just not use gel polish??

I stopped having mine done for this reason. I just do them myself now using Barry m gelly nail polish which gives a similar effect.

What is a clear gap? Mine are right now 10 day past last done. And looks like the picture. I'd say pretty standard. I find adding anything myself looks awful.

I get mine done every 2 weeks.

I can just stretch mine to 2 weeks if I get them done in a salon; which is why I learnt how to do them and now I do my own. I usually do them every 7-10 days just because they grow out so flipping quick!

toes last much longer though.

It’s one reason I stopped having them, the picture above is about the limit of what I think looks ok on me and I also get to that stage after about 10 days. I think larger gaps look worse than bare nails.

Yes, just get yourself a curing lamp and use gel polish if you prefer.

Also they get too long, I have them done short but I can’t cope with going more than two weeks without a trim. And I can’t afford to go every fortnight.

10 days! 😮 I'm like the OP and my nails grow fast, mine look like that pic after two or three days. By ten days or two weeks they're halfway down the nail bed. I ended up giving up on gels for this reason. It doesn't look so bad on nude colours but any actual colour looks dreadful after only a few days.

Can you cut them? I've just had gel on my toes and it looks fine after 2 weeks but my nails are too long.

You can file them shorter.

I've also added normal polish on top. It fills the gap, and because the nails are firmer from the gel polish the normal polish lasts longer than usual. Tides you over, at least.

It depends how close to the cuticle the manicurist paints the gem too. I’ve been to places where they do it quickly and there’s a small gap as they haven’t gone right into the cuticle. The best place I’ve been to they use a tiny brush to go into the very edges so it looks good for much longer.

They’re not supposed to go right into the cuticle IIRC. Can’t remember why that is, though. Think it might be something to do with potentially causing allergies or dermatological problems for some people.

My nails grow quickly too @ChangePlease and I can just about cope with two weeks before it looks really awful and yes, tacky.

I've started doing my own and have started using Beetles gel polish have to say very impressed so far!

I’ve given up on gel for this reason, plus how thick it is. I use ‘traditional’ polish now, and just redo every 2-3 days.

@Flyinggeesei234 that’s what I was doing and was trying to avoid 🙄 maybe back to the drawing board. I don’t think I have the time or money to do it often enough and I’m not good enough at it to do my own gels

@ChangePlease me too! I avoided for years as ‘normal’ polish only lasts a day on me, I stretch to 2-3 only with very neutral colours. Day 3.

Sorry missed pic.

I would t attempt my own gels. Resigned to old fashioned polish and regular upkeep. Non neutral colours for one offs only.

I like that colour @Flyinggeesei234, I use neutral polish too because I find my nails grow very quickly. I really dislike seeing the gap after a few days.
I have gels on my toes.

Can I ask a question?!
I've never had anything done with my nails, theyve always had to be short for work and because I worked with food no polish or anything and the condition wasnt great either due to handwashing so often. I now have changed jobs. I like the look of gel nailsvand the fact that they last but are they good long term for nail underneath? My nails aren't to bad Ive just been using nail hardener and gel polish at home. Also do you need to go to a salon to then get them removed/ replaced?