How long should gel nails last - if applied by a professional

[incognitomummy]

i was pondering this question because I went to a new nail bar in London on Thursday evening, after work. I had a lovely manicure and my nails looked fabulous.

roll forward to Saturday afternoon and I realise that the middle finger on left hand is badly chipped - has not even lasted 48h!
when I went to bed and was thinking of sending a photo to the nail bar I noticed the middle finger on the other has also chipped.
I’ve done very little since Thursday ….. dinner with friends, office job, shopping with kids.

I’ve just not done anything particularly stressful for nails. And this has never happened before.

I like to get 2 weeks. Mostly they last well for a week. 48h is a new low.

what are your expectations?

and if you have had this experience, what did you do about it?

any tips?!

Here you go. Left Much worse than right so far….!

bring and use your own polish so that you can touch up at home on your own.
pale colors don't show as much.
i do too many dishes and washing of my hands to have nails last longer than 24 hours without the tips chipping.

My gel lasts forever. It starts growing out rather than chipping off.

Mine lasts forever and grows out still perfect.

Yeah that’s bad for 48 hours, can you go back?

I would go back. Where I go will fix for free within 4 days.
Are you sure that’s gel?

I get mine done every three weeks and they have grown out rather than chipped.

Mine lasts three weeks to a month, I have Sns rather than gel, but I used to have gel before that.

I used to have gel nails pre Covid and they never chipped. Lasted two-three weeks (others managed longer) and then they’d drive me mad lifting at the base. I now have biab which most places now offer in preference to gel and they last 4 weeks.

Yeah that’s very poor, I’d expect gels to stay in perfect condition for a couple of weeks. Like pps mine normally grow out before chipping. I’d ask them to fix (and then find a better nail place for next time!)

Just an update. The nail bar re did the impacted nails. They have a 7 day guarantee!

I normally grow mine out so the nail bed can recover again. Are you sure its gel? Mine can last 5 weeks. But that's me clipping them and regrowth. Only minimal chipping. Got nail art for the first time £50

They look fun!

i was told it was gel. And they were cured under a UV lamp.

I think the girl smudged them when doing them originally and then when she finished them she filed them and didn’t finish the ends properly.

normally I let them grow out a little bit and only get them changed when it really is obvious!!! So a few weeks.

Would it be okay to add a quick question here, she says doing it anyway! I had my first ever manicure on Saturday and went for gel. They're absolutely fine so far although as I've noticed and everyone who's seen me with my nails done before - I do my own - I do a better job, but I'm wondering will I just be able to remove them like normal nails or do I have to do something special to remove salon nail gel? I'm also thinking that even though I do a better job of looking good when I do my own, what's working for me with the professional job is that it's staying on better than if I'd done it so would consider having this done again but, yeah, the taking it off bit is something I'm totally ignorant about!

@FagsMagsandBags it depends if you want to get them redone I would grow them out. And clip them short to let them recover that's what I do. But if you know you won't get them them again for a while simple acetone will work. Try not too peel them as it will damage the nail 🙂

Mine always last 3-4 weeks and I do all housework without gloves. Any issues in the first 7 days fixed for free. I do have a builder gel base which seems to really make them last as well though.

Thanks, @SnakebitesandSambucas . I had a feeling it was something like that which is why I hadn't got a gel manicure in the past because of the fear of damaging my nails. Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated!