The gel polish merry go round

I have had gel polish for 17 years, never had the polish drilled off, always soaked off.

My nails were fine when I had it removed and not replaced in the two Covid lockdowns.

I imagine it is your choice of salon that is the problem here, not the varnish.

Lots of cuticle oil, several times a day and nail strengthening products should help.

Eat a good diet, keep nails short until they recover, look at it as at least 6 months, massage oil into the cuticles. Nothing looks as good as your own healthy nails. I can’t stand the look of those false ones, the long ones look like claws, up there with trout pouts and bottoms you can rest a cup of tea on.

I only have my toenails done twice over the sandal season, the lady just buffs the old varnish off gently with a fine board, then oils the nail. Over winter the nails are bare.

I think that's very bad practice Mazgg and sounds as if they don't know what they're doing.

Gel nails and nail extensions should be gently soaked off in pure acetone so there's no risk of damage to the nail bed.

GrannyGravy13

Lots of cuticle oil, several times a day and nail strengthening products should help.

This has made a huge difference to my nails.

Unfortunately most nail bars use a drill to remove the old polish as it’s quicker than soaking in acetone . I rarely get my nails done as it takes about 3 months for the nails to get strong again . I do get my toes done regularly though .

A good, reputable nail technician won't use the drill-type tool, especially if you ask them not to. The cheaper ones do though, as it's a lot quicker.

ViceVersa

A good, reputable nail technician won't use the drill-type tool, especially if you ask them not to. The cheaper ones do though, as it's a lot quicker.

I don’t think it’s necessarily that the nail technicians are not reputable, but more that most customers don’t want to spend hours in the salon.

I have gel nail polish (my own nails underneath) and more often than not have carefully drilled.

During lockdown they couldn’t be done so I used acetate to soak them off and used cuticle oil every day until I could have them done again.

Ditto toenails. I keep my nails reasonably short and am very happy to continue to keep them painted with gel polish.

I think it’s about 12 years I’ve been having them both.

Done!

Cossy

ViceVersa

A good, reputable nail technician won't use the drill-type tool, especially if you ask them not to. The cheaper ones do though, as it's a lot quicker.

I don’t think it’s necessarily that the nail technicians are not reputable, but more that most customers don’t want to spend hours in the salon.

I have gel nail polish (my own nails underneath) and more often than not have carefully drilled.

During lockdown they couldn’t be done so I used acetate to soak them off and used cuticle oil every day until I could have them done again.

Ditto toenails. I keep my nails reasonably short and am very happy to continue to keep them painted with gel polish.

I think it’s about 12 years I’ve been having them both.

On the occasions I've had my nails done - by my local regular beautician - she's just used a normal nail file and I certainly haven't spent anything like hours in the salon. I wouldn't let anyone near my nails with a drill tool.

I have only ever had my nails done in my life once! that was enough.
It was for my daughters wedding (12 yrs ago)
it was a very painful experience, it was inside a Mall in shopping centre, they had been there a long time it wasn't just a few days pop up one.

They pummelled my nails, stretched my fingers think it was French nails I had on at the time. My finger nails were throbbing all day and had to take paracetamol.

I have mine done every 3-4 weeks. Have done for more than 20 years. Never a problem. During Covid obviously didn’t have them done nor last year when Himself was very poorly and I just stayed home with him.
I have very strong, healthy nails.

Perhaps it depends on one’s own starting point? That and No Electric Drilling! 😱

I get gel nails done regularly with no problems. I often soak them off myself using the same method as the salon. I buy the ready made foil squares and gel remover from Boots. They don’t use drills at my salon. My advice would be to visit or phone local nail shops or beauty salons and ask about the method they use.

I’ve had BIAB nails done regularly since DD’s wedding last year and my technician works from a salon at her home. She soaks off the old polish with a wrap around each nail, then just uses a little manual scraper (for want of a better word), she has never used a dremel. There are a lot of sub-optimal salons and technicians, I think you were very unlucky. I love mine, and my natural nails are still as good as they ever were if I decided not to have the gel replaced.

Sorry I haven’t answered your question.

Wouldn’t touch the stuff and would need my inhaler with me as the fumes make me cough when went in the nail bar with my friend .

OP, wear washing up gloves so your nails don’t dry out. Apply a tiny amount of oil, even olive oil, to your nails and massage it in well, before you go to bed. Don’t use any varnish for the next few months.

How ever you have gels removed they damage your nails. I do my own nails with a normal varnish and then put 2 clear top coats on. The colour stays put for at least 2 weeks and it looks like gel varnish. I do wear washing up gloves though for everything.

Took over 18 months for my finger nails to recover from 2 applications and removals of gel. I used cuticle oil and took Biotin tablets. And my nails are usually very strong!

OPI nail envy got mine back to normal.

I am a qualified nail technician - avoid anyone that uses drills they do so much damage to your nails, often these salons have people who have only done a one day course to get a certificate. I personally take Biotin every day as my own nails are very weak and brittle, and collagen both from NUTRITION GEEKS. Also cuticle oil to restore them back to health. You can have gel nails without damaging your nails but only with quality products and practices. Mine have improved since using gel.

I only have my toes done once perhaps twice a year. I won't have my finger nails done again because the damage takes months to recover from. Christmas nails look lovely but it takes until summer to recover from.

Like GrannyGravy13 I've had gel on my nails, fingers and toes, for many years and my gel polish has always been soaked off preceded by a quick file with an emery board. The only time I've gone without gels is predicted op and my nails are fine.
I agree that it's the technician, not the gel.

OPI nail repair and strengthener is expensive but works.

India Knight wrote an article on her damaged nails after years of gel manicures. She has stopped and now uses Manicurist Active blur. It's a pale barely there pinky tinge which doesn't need undercoat or topcoat. It repairs damaged nails and gently covers ridges. You can buy it on Amazon. Bit pricey but I am using it. I like the natural look. It's better if you prepare nails first by gently filing the top of them.