Nails - remedy after gel polish

[roobyred]

My nails are completely trashed after getting two manicures. What can I do? They were removed in February and the nails are just breaking off all the time. I’m a long time user of collagen. Can anybody recommend a good product? They are dull, weak and brittle.

I was a lifelong destroyer of my nails and cuticles. Gel is the only thing that has stopped me for good. This is the only way I can justify what my underlying nails are like now. But Id love to find an alternstive.

I have my nails done every 3-4 weeks for the last 15 years.
They are in perfect condition. I've had 2 technicians in that time and they have never used an electric file.
Mine are filed down using a emery board.
Please don't use the Asian bars.

Time I’m afraid

Time and a strengthening nail polish while the crap bits grow out. Mine have suffered from excessive buffing after having several goes of biab. Am giving myself weekly manicures (pushing cuticles, filing, lightest of buffs, polish, cuticle oil) and painting with regular Manicurist polish, which helps a bit and they look decent if damaged, but if I hadn't bought that I'd go with a strengthener/hardener type polish. Sure someone will be able to recommend a good one.

That is exactly why I won't allow any of this rubbish anywhere near my finger nails. Leave them to be natural or just use ordinary polish - much safer and nicer.

Mine were ruined after 2 years of Biab. I now use Sistaco, ok it doesn't last as long as Gel/Biab but it's a great alternative and a lot cheaper

I don't get my nails done but they're really brittle for other reasons. I've just started using Manicurist nail strengthening serum. What I love about it is that it isn't like a clear nail varnish or an oil - you paint it on like polish but it just sinks right in. I've only had it for a week but it does seem to be improving my nails straight away.

Yes same here. I was horrendous for skin picking, biting, my fingers were a dreadful mess. Since having gels I haven’t done it once, I don’t touch my fingers. So I just look at it as a way to stop myself self-harming! Plus I do love the way they look, I just feel ‘put together’ and they give me a lift every time I catch glimpse of them. One day I’ll have to deal with what’s underneath but that’s a problem for future me!

Years ago I wore false nails for 6 months and it trashed my nails.

I used Zoom Nail Food & Drink and it brought my nails back to life. I swear by it. You can get it on Amazon (I bought it off QVC back then)

So much the same.

Holy Gels are easy to use and your nails stay healthy below them 👍

that’s how these places get return business….the nails are so fucked underneath that people cant handle it so keep getting them done again.

but you have to stop at one point.

and if you don’t get them done again following one manicure at christmas, your nails are trashed until they grow out. that could be eight months.

I had mine done continuously for 20 years. Not because my nails were trashed - I never saw them - but because I liked the groomed look of short, glossy, squoval nails. I still do and because my nails are still rubbish after five years of no gel I’m getting close to starting to have them done again.

Another for time, got shellac done and adored them but for weeks after my nails felt horrific, as I I’d keep looking at my hands and wincing. Now back to normal but would love to get them done again, they were so beautiful and I looked so different with them (burgundy colour that made me look so much more put together!!)

All manicures seem to ruin my nails but biab is the worst.

I find that Active Glow or Smooth by the manicurist are nice products to make nails look less damaged whilst the weakened nails grow out.

I’ve had a few (like maybe 5) gel manicures in my life, and after the last one I decided it’s just not worth it ever again. The thing that rescued mine after essentially being industrially sanded down to the nail bed having the gel removed was absolutely bog standard Rimmel Nail Nurse.
It’s cheap as chips and somehow wears off rather than peeling or chipping. It miraculously kept my nails from breaking over the 6 months it took them to regain their length and strength. That as CND Solar Oil on cuticles, which is the shiz.
https://amzn.eu/d/030QTpNL

Same. I got back to back gels for years - it became a vicious cycle as my natural nails were in such bad condition that I refused to have them bare. Switched beautician to someone more responsible who finally convinced me to give them a decent break. First few weeks were awful - they looked horrendous and were very weak and brittle. 6 weeks on and I finally have my nice, strong & healthy nails back. I do acknowledge though that I am lucky to have very fast growing and naturally good nails. I really don’t think I want to start gels again, my nails just don’t seem to tolerate them

Mine were trashed after Christmas after having Gel polish 3 times in a row
they were thin 3 had long splits down them ( I am a gardener so they take a bashing )so I bought Sally Hanson nail hardener 1 or 2 coats and coconut oil and slowly they have become nearly back to normal (3 months) so last week I went to the salon for just a file and tidy up and no more . I too take a collegen supplement
good luck

I had the same experience and my nails are trashed it will take 4/5 months for them to grow out, those nail bars are a health hazard and should be investigated

I like the Manicurist Active polishes.

I can't swear they improve nail health, but they cover the damage done by the gels and improve appearane, are easy to apply myself without making a mess (the reason I had gel in the first place) and strengthen them by virture of a laquer coat at least.

I won't be having gel again.

Had the gel put on about 2 months ago did not like it so picked it off which is probably a goof thing but the Gel destroyed my nails and apparently it will take 44/5 months for the nails to grow out.
It seems to be a health hazard as my podiatrist has mentioned a chemical that is in the gel which interferes with any cement used in hip replacements

The gel didn’t destroy your nails. They were destroyed by you picking it off.

Thank goodness I picked off the gel instead of them using their chemical to take it off which destroys the nail bed