Gel nail help please!

[FriedEggs1]

I'd been getting regular gel nails for five months but in February, I had to stop. The gel started to peel and whole nails of it were falling off. Underneath, my nails were white, flaky and brittle, so the gel couldn't adhere to them properly. So I stopped for a few months so they could totally recover.

I now want to get them done again but with another salon because I'm thinking maybe my original one was doing something wrong. If you get them done regularly with no problems, how is that? I've always put Solar Oil on them nightly (and still do).

In my experience the removal tends to do more damage for me than the nails themselves. I've had fortnightly gels for about 4 years with only a few breaks and my nails underneath are still strong and healthy. Mine are always soaked off with acetone and never filed off. I use Sally Henson cuticle oil maybe 2 or 3 times a week.

I don't have gel regularly but I find it damages my nails. It's not good for them.

What brand was it you were having? I’ll be honest, no gel has ever worked for me long term. I’ve tried: Biosculpture, Gelish, Shellac, Jessica Geleration and The Gel Bottle. None of them last. I might be ok for the first couple but then they all start lifting, my own nails break and then the gel peels off.

Acrylic is all that’s ever worked for me. However, I’ve been on holiday and yesterday I had SNS (powder dip) and I’m liking it so far. Only drawback is I can’t find any salons that offer it in my area (I was in NYC). I’ll probably have to go back to acrylic when I need an infill.

Make sure they use branded products like CND. Don't soak your nails in acetone (wrap instead) as that ruins the nails and also make sure they don't file your natural nails.

Thanks everyone. She'd been soaking them and then filing and scraping them off. Always CND Shellac. I'm really disappointed because most people seem to have them done regularly with no problems but I've only been getting them done for a few months.

If she's using CND shellac she shouldn't need to be filing and scraping at all!

Oh really?! I think she's favouring quantity of customers over quality of service. It only costs a tenner, whereas the new salon I've booked is around £23. Never again!

CND shellac is a premium product and when it came to market one of its main selling points was how easy it is to remove.
CND have a big thing about not causing damage to natural nails.
Is she using a normal file or an electric file ?

I have had similar issues and have given up OP. The upkeep, the cost and the damage was just not worth it overall.

Definitely the salon - £10 is far too cheap - the juniors in the salon I use are £20. I’ve been getting mine done for years and my nails are in great condition underneath.

£10 is far too cheap.
Have you thought about using biab instead? Might work better for you.

£10 is way too cheap, especially if it includes removal. I pay £30 for mine and think that’s very reasonable. I don’t have any issues.

Gel is awful for nails. The only people I've heard say otherwise tend to be nail technicians!

I think gel looks good. It's not until the gel is removed that you see the state of the nails underneath.

No it’s not. I’ve had gel nails for nearly 10 years, recently moved to BIAB and my nails are fine underneath.

Depends on who removes it
I've had gel on constantly for about 3 years and my nails are perfect underneath

Its not the gel, it's more to do with how it is removed. If removed carefully with no scraping or filing it will not damage your nails.

Gel should only be used on healthy nails to start with. There are lots of things that can cause issues with gel polish, even just the wearing of it. As people say, aggressive removal can cause damage but even just wearing it can too.

if you imagine it’s painted on to your nails then cured, as you use your hands, it can knock the nails, causing tiny bits to lift. This happens more the longer the gel is on because the gel becomes more brittle the longer it’s worn. It’s never good to have it on for too long.

CND is generally one I’d be happy with as it’s one of the best, and with the right technique shouldn’t cause damage, so it makes me wonder if they’re using legitimate products at that price.

Other than Bio Sculpture all the other products mentioned are not semi permeable (which means air is able to get through the gel to your nails) so basically they're being suffocated.

I've trained in Calgel (which was the original one phase system that Bio Sculpture formed from and they split into two companies. Calgel stayed with the original formula they've always had) which is semi permeable, and have not had any issues when soaked off properly. Myself (and clients) usually get 3-4 weeks with no problems, some ladies can go as long as 6 weeks, no chipping or lifting.

Maybe see if there is a Calgel tech in your area?

Another thing to consider - if you take any types of medication this can also affect your nails and make them more dry/ brittle / sensitive xx

I love SNS

Kind of defeats the object then doesn't it?

She was scraping it off with a tool and then I think it was a glass file.

I don't want to give up on having coloured nails 😩 They're in great condition now (as they were in the very beginning) so I'll make sure the new salon take more care.

Yeah I'm realising why £10 is too cheap now 😩

Yes it does.
She is damaging your nails not the product it should be soaked off with acetone and simply flake off in pieces.
I would suggest paying someone a bit more for a gel manicure and removal and they should carry it out properly.

I'll try BIAB if the new salon doesn't work out I think

£10 does include removal! I don't know how they make money to be honest.