Gel Nails Disaster

[30ishiwish]

I recently had gel nails for a holiday. I thought they would look good and need minimum maintenance.

I wasn’t happy with the finish. Told the nail technician who then removed them (using an abrasive handset - not sure what it’s called) and reapplied. It was a much better finish the second time round.

Returned from holiday and have had them removed. Oh my days. My nails are as thin as paper and so very sore.

What can I do? I can’t wash my hair properly or scratch an itch.

Never again.

The gel wouldn't damage them it's the way they've done/removed them.
An electric file should never be used on your natural nails. Sounds like she's basically filed off the top layer of your nail.

The tenderness will go soon but you'll have to wait for the damaged nails to grow out before you get the strength back.

How were they removed? They should file off the very top layer then soak. If they dremelled them off then they will likely have taken off some of your actual nails.

I had this and they will grow back but it might take a couple of months. What I did was take biotin (B7) which I think did make a difference as nails seemed to grow faster. I also bought raw jelly to eat (not sure it made much difference) and some nail builder stuff to paint on - I'll see if I can find the brand.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07NS87WCY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

this is it

Thank you.

The gel was just drilled off with a rotating nail file. No soaking.

A supposedly reputable, long established beauty salon.

Every nail just bends. A steep mound towards my cuticle where there is a couple of weeks growth.

Im going to keep cutting them really short so that they don’t split really low.

I also painted them but it just highlighted how uneven and rough my nails are.

It's ok to file them off if you have biab, they leave a thin layer on the top of the nail and just infill it.

I've never had an issue with a file causing that kind of damage.

I had this too. Was very annoyed. They soaked them but then used an electric file and left several nails really thin. It got a little better but had to grow out to be normal again. My first time getting gels and really has put me off! A recommended salon too.

I had this last summer and my nails are just about getting back to full strength. I found using OPI Nail Envy has really helped

I’ve had this after having gels on for a few months - my nails felt terrible. What worked for me was just pampering them with hand cream and nail oil, cutting them down as short as possible and using a treatment like Sally Hansen Hard as Nails or similar to strengthen them up. They didn’t fully recover til they were grown out (which took a few months) but they felt much better after a week or not - they stopped feeling sensitive/painful.

That sounds awful.

I would complain.

I find gel / shellac strengthens mine (which are fairly weak). I wear it always.

I can't imagine having them removed like that.

Gels fuck up my nails too, no matter how they’re removed. I think so people just react badly to the stuff. Sally Hansen’s strengthener is very good, and keep them painted to protect them.

I had the same - I’ve found nail bars often remove gel this way whereas a salon will soak them off.

A local salon near me won’t commit to removing gels from the local nail bars because it’s so difficult.

It’s so sore isn’t it when your nails are thin. I used Boots Gel Damage Nail Rescue which I think helped while the new nail grew in.

Hey,
didn´t you try BIAB method??

https://www.studiocasamag.com/en/post/discover-the-revolutionary-biab-method-care-and-beautify-your-natural-nails-with-this-technique

I’ve just come across this thread as I’ve experienced the same reaction to BIAB; my nails are dark, bruised looking and have lifted from the nail bed. I’ve sent clippings via GP to test for fungal infection but reading here it seems like chemical allergy- worryingly also affecting dental and some surgical procedures! all my finger nails are badly affected.
My question did anyone affected find anything topical to paint on or rub in that helped? I’m using cuticle cream but it’s not touching it honestly.. I’m loathe to paint any polish to disguise the mess!

That's really put me off having gel nails. My nails aren't great to begin with.

I had gel nails over 20yrs ago now. I had them done for about a year and when they were removed my nails were wafer thin. They are long and harder now, but it took a long time. However, they are very ridged so polish doesn't sit on them brilliantly.