Terrible nails after builder gel removal

FlowerUser · 2025-08-30T13:30:36+00:00

I had to have my builder gel nails removed because I had an operation a few weeks ago. I used to bite them but false nails stopped the habit. Since then, they break all the time. Little chunks and tears, that I file with an emery board. They are growing but still not above my fingertips. The left ring finger just tore off. What can I do to help them grow? To be honest, it’s expensive to have them done professionally and I am not good at doing my own. I would like to have nice natural nails that are strong and just over my fingertips, that I could have manicured and painted for special occasions, but wouldn’t need to have gel every three weeks. Any ideas?

MiniCoopers · 30/08/2025 19:49

You need to oil them and keep them very short to let them get stronger.

amispeakingintongues · 30/08/2025 19:53

You can get nail gel wraps now. Either online, via instagram or at Boots. I am going to try them after nearly a year back to back builder gel! My nails are like paper

NiceUnusualDifferent · 30/08/2025 19:54

Cbd rescue rx twice a day, handcrean after you wash hands

dudsville · 30/08/2025 19:56

Can you give your nails a few months off? Take some supplements and just keep them short.

Lifesyoungdream · 30/08/2025 20:11

Oil on your nails every time you wash your hands. Hot oil soak once a week. A lot of time and patience it won’t happen overnight

BloodyHellBob · 30/08/2025 20:22

I normally have really strong nails but after builder gel a few times they got exactly as you described. I cut them short and bought Manicurist Active Bright and Active Glow polish and it was really good! Made my nails look really healthy (and kept them stuck together while they grew!) My nails are back to normal now and I’ve bought some more of their polish in different colours. Not the cheapest but affordable and worth it as far as I’m concerned.

newshoestoday · 30/08/2025 21:29

I made my nails strong after wrecking them with gels by taking multivitamins and keeping them short. If they break, cut them as short as you comfortably can. What you have is so thin now and painting stuff on it won’t make it strong but the new stuff your body hasn’t grown yet can be good. Now I won’t even gel mine for special occasions or holidays as I don’t want to start again! They are strong and just off my finger and I just do them clear shiny if I ever want them “done” as I can’t paint straight lol!

Itstwelveoclocksomewhere · 30/08/2025 21:34

After having a similar problem, my technician advised using a base coat and a top coat only.

I dont like gel nails after a bad experience with shellac and I was eager to get BIAB but she said they ruin natural nails too.

I was surprised as I thought it was meant to strengthen them but the more I researched them, the more I learned to stay away from it!

IGaveSoManySigns · 30/08/2025 21:35

It’s not because of the gel.

It’s because that’s literally how your nails naturally are. The gel makes them feel so much stronger than they actually are. I had mine off for an op too and for the first couple of days they felt awful. But then I realised they were fine, just not the hard nail I had become used to

Noshadowsinthedark · 30/08/2025 21:37

Nature spell rosemary oil (carrier oil almond) worked wonders on my nails after having gels.
I didn’t realise how damaging they were…

jamnpancakes · 30/08/2025 21:39

Tbh they don't look that bad but yes they need some TLC

onlyoneoftheregimentinstep · 30/08/2025 22:07

NiceUnusualDifferent · 30/08/2025 19:54

Cbd rescue rx twice a day, handcrean after you wash hands

This should actually be CND Rescue Rxx - and I highly recommend it too. I read about it on a post here about 6 months ago, decided to give it a try and was really impressed with the difference it made to my nails. Available on Amazon!

WinWhenTheyreSinging · 31/08/2025 08:06

IGaveSoManySigns · 30/08/2025 21:35

It’s not because of the gel.

It’s because that’s literally how your nails naturally are. The gel makes them feel so much stronger than they actually are. I had mine off for an op too and for the first couple of days they felt awful. But then I realised they were fine, just not the hard nail I had become used to

I don’t know why people are so determined to maintain the myth that gel in all its forms doesn’t ruin some people’s nails - perhaps not everyone’s, but certainly a lot of people’s.

My natural nails are great, very strong. Gel will ruin them for months. There is no beating it for durability, so I still occasionally give in and do it for holidays or occasions, accepting that recovery will take a good while, and swearing ‘never again’ every time.🤣

Can’t get away with more than one or perhaps two consecutive applications anyway, because big lumps of nail (and therefore gel) will peel, despite oiling them regularly - or indeed NOT oiling them, to see if it makes a difference.

This has been the same over the decades that gel has been available, all done in reputable salons.

IGaveSoManySigns · 31/08/2025 08:30

WinWhenTheyreSinging · 31/08/2025 08:06

I don’t know why people are so determined to maintain the myth that gel in all its forms doesn’t ruin some people’s nails - perhaps not everyone’s, but certainly a lot of people’s.

My natural nails are great, very strong. Gel will ruin them for months. There is no beating it for durability, so I still occasionally give in and do it for holidays or occasions, accepting that recovery will take a good while, and swearing ‘never again’ every time.🤣

Can’t get away with more than one or perhaps two consecutive applications anyway, because big lumps of nail (and therefore gel) will peel, despite oiling them regularly - or indeed NOT oiling them, to see if it makes a difference.

This has been the same over the decades that gel has been available, all done in reputable salons.

Show quote history

It’s not the gel. It’s the form of removal.

TuesdaysAreBest · 31/08/2025 08:34

The new OPI repair mode in the black bottle is amazing. Worth the price. It repairs the bonds in your nails.

Bobnobob · 31/08/2025 08:40

amispeakingintongues · 30/08/2025 19:53

You can get nail gel wraps now. Either online, via instagram or at Boots. I am going to try them after nearly a year back to back builder gel! My nails are like paper

Yes this… I have been converted to holy gel nails. My nails were in terrible condition from using gels but I tried these and now they are so long and healthy! They stick over your natural nails and protect them from breaking and are easy to get off with cuticle oil without any damage

SummerDaysAreTheBest · 31/08/2025 09:08

Take some collagen.

SummerDaysAreTheBest · 31/08/2025 09:09

How can you remove gels without buggering your nails?

RandomlyGeneratedTriad · 31/08/2025 09:19

Those of you who have weak nails after gel, can you say how your gel was removed? I've heard that the removal process can be very destructive, but I'd not heard that the gel itself caused damage. Can anyone say how exactly the damage is thought to occur.

I'm like the OP in that I am an awful nail biter, and have resorted to builder gel applications to try and quit the habit. I'm a month in and all is going well. My nails are so strong now that I can easily imagine finding them weak without the gel, just because of the contrast.

The technician has told me that removal will be by soaking, which she has said can make the nails very dry, but won't thin them like the other form of removal.

She is very frank and knowledgeable and told me that builder gels are a great way for a nail biter to journey towards healthy nails. I don't believe that was an empty sales talk as it is a very reputable salon. In the past the same salon advised me not to get a certain treatment from them as it wouldn't be right for me. So I do trust their advice

IGaveSoManySigns · 31/08/2025 09:24

SummerDaysAreTheBest · 31/08/2025 09:09

How can you remove gels without buggering your nails?

Depends if you’re getting builder like OP, or normal gel.

with builder they should be using an e-file, but not taking it all the way down to the nail plate. A small (very thin and indistinguishable) layer of builder should be left to grow out. I did this and my nails were absolutely fine. The layer of builder isn’t enough to reinforce the nail, but it means you’re not thinning the nail plate with the e file.

WinWhenTheyreSinging · 31/08/2025 09:26

IGaveSoManySigns · 31/08/2025 08:30

It’s not the gel. It’s the form of removal.

Show quote history

I would disagree, on my naturally strong nails at least (see above re. lumps falling off). It’s a bit immaterial which part of the process it is though, really - it’s got to be removed, no one is just going to grow it out. Still leaves the nails buggered.

Iwasneverafan · 31/08/2025 09:36

It’s taken over a year to sort mine out after BIAB. I used Essie “Good as New” with a top coat and their Platinum top coat for a couple of months and now only use their gel polishes and gel setter.
Ill never use UV polishes again

IGaveSoManySigns · 31/08/2025 09:45

WinWhenTheyreSinging · 31/08/2025 09:26

I would disagree, on my naturally strong nails at least (see above re. lumps falling off). It’s a bit immaterial which part of the process it is though, really - it’s got to be removed, no one is just going to grow it out. Still leaves the nails buggered.

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That’ll be because your nails aren’t naturally strong then? If lumps are coming off!

AlwaysFreezing · 31/08/2025 09:50

Weirdly, moisturising really helps. With oil. And keeping them short. If they used a dremmel to remove them that's what's caused the damage and realistically until it's all grown out you have to manage the weakened nails.

Something like nail kale or a decent base coat will also help but I prefer to just oil and cut short and wait for them to grow out. 6-8 weeks in my experience!

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 31/08/2025 09:53

Taking collagen has really helped my nails. Similarly to you I had biab removed for an operation.