I hate this manicure

[thesilver]

I really hate this manicure. It's builder gel, I go every 2-3 weeks. It's so thick and lumpy. I did ask for extra short. I have been going here at least 15 years, same woman. I really like her, should I say something?

Oh dear - they do look awful.

I had a similar problem. Tech was the loveliest lady - so kind and just lovely to chat to but her manis were not great. I then had a manicure with her that was so painful and she cut my fingers a couple of times removing her previous gel. It was often really bulky looking too so I just had to say something. I was so torn but in the end had to cancel my next appointment and was just honest with her.
It's meant to be a pamper not an endurance!

These look like a toddler did them!!

They can't have been like that when you left the salon? It looks like they haven't dried properly, and all the gel has run to one end.

She may be lovely but something has clearly gone wrong here.

A chimp wearing oven gloves is an image that can stay in my head rent free 😆 🐒 🧤

I agree they don’t look good at all.

It looks like as pp said the gel hasn’t set and then it’s clumped at one end.

Definitely go back in and show her, she'll be able to see that they're not right. I'd worry that there's some kind of reaction happening, especially as you've said they've got worse.

This isn't just about not liking the colour or shape, these don't look right. It doesn't have to damage your relationship with this nail lady, you can approach it all with warmth and respect "hi, I'm not sure what's happened this time but my nails now look a really odd shape, I'm quite worried and I don't like it. I love coming to you so could you pleas have a look and help me out?" or something.

It could be the gel, but it doesn't look as though she's shaped your nails properly either.

I'd want that off now, though I wouldn't trust her to remove it, she's clearly neither skilled nor trained.

I get gel (not builder) fortnightly. You want to come out of a nail appointment with your nails looking perfect, ie a result you couldn't achieve yourself. If they're not perfect, go elsewhere.

Looks like it was done by a builder.😂. Seriously though, I would definitely go back - if only to check you are't allergic to something.

That looks like a very badly done infill where it was left too long and the gap to be infilled was too big in comparison to the builder gel left on the nail. It should have been soaked off and she should have started again. The shaping is also awful.

I'd find somewhere else and get them to take it all off and start again (if they will)

I'd go somewhere else and get them redone and never use her for nails again.

I’ve only just started having manicures in my late 50’s as something happened to my nails post menopause - brittle and constantly breaking. Tried every product over 2 years and couldn’t get them to grow at all.

I’ve been having BIAB to strengthen and protect the nails, with a gel colour over the top, so it’s thicker looking than just nail polish… but NEVER have they looked like that. They should look even from cuticle to tip. I’d ask for them to redo it.

Attached a photo of my first manicure.

Send her a picture of them and ask of there's something wrong with the products as they're so clumpy. Ask her for an appointment to remove them asap.

It looks awful to me ( but I know nothing about latest nail trends) but I don't know what you asked for.

Oh love I’m sorry, they really are awful.

can you get her to fix them? Or is there somewhere else you can go to get them done?

im not too au fait with BIB nails, but if you have them super short, why not just go for shellac? They provide a great strength to the nails and they soak off etc etc.

my mani survived a tough mudder course in May 😆

Terrible. If she's that great at other things tbh I would just get them removed elsewhere and never ask her to do your nails again. But I'm all for an easy life.

BTW has anyone ever found a place that does builder gel that doesn't wreck your nails? I love the look (not yours OP, sorry!) but the filing ruins my real nails and I have just left them alone for six months to recover.

What the bejesus is going on there? Have you had BIAB with her before? How did she let you pay for that?

Hope she sorts them - she can’t think they look ok.

Did you get a reply?

I’m sure it’s been said but I’d have honestly thought this was a wind up post!

I cannot believe a nail technician would let you leave with them looking like that?!

Another vote for go back and say something. It's great you have a nice relationship and she could have just been having an off day maybe since this hasn't happened before. However, it is unacceptable to even charge for that and you will do her a favour by telling her as it will enable her to improve her services and thus business.

Without filing there's nothing for them to adhere to, you have to rough up the nails to give something for the gel to grip to, it's part of the prep otherwise they just pop off x

Thanks - how do others manage to have BIAB all the time then? I had it back to back for a few months and my nails got so thin I had to stop. They actually got sore they were so thin.

They're probably not doing removals every time. I put down a clear base layer down first and file down to that for infils and colour changes

ETA - could be over filing damage during prep or incorrect removal. BIAB doesn't need to be removed every time if you intend on having more BIAB, Techs are usually taught to do the base layer first, for both acrylic and gels x

Thank you, that's helpful. I really liked it but the damage was so bad and it's taken months to grow healthy nails back. I'm now torn between never doing it again and wanting to find a better salon!