The gel polish merry go round

They only use drills on acrylic nails. Gel nails are "soaked" off

My nails were bumpy. I started taking Vitabiotics Well Woman 70+ multivitamins, one a day. My nails now are the best they've been in years.

Mine are only gelled so no adhesive etc.

I've had someone wash my hair in a salon with long pointy gel talons...it was painful. I skipped the head massage offered.

I reluctantly have acrylic nails as I have a severe nervous habit of picking my fingers until they bleed and spent years with plasters on my fingers.
The acrylic nails are a miracle as I can’t pick at all, even though I absolutely hate having them done and put it off as long as I can. I can’t understand anyone finding it relaxing to sit for such a long time being dealt with.

I wish they were prescribed on the National Health!💅

monami

Terrible things, people can't do their jobs properly wearing these nails they can't type, use a till, hold a pen etc

I don't have them, but many people manage perfectly well with those tasks (and many others) with long nails, whether they are their own or gel nails.

Mine are very short monami

I have thin, flaky nails like pen50. I've tried oils and creams etc but nothing helps. I now have a natural colour biab nail every 3 to 4 weeks. I keep them fairly short. I can certainly type and use a pen and they look so much better. What's wrong with a bit of vanity for goodness sake!

Such vanity

Terrible things, people can't do their jobs properly wearing these nails they can't type, use a till, hold a pen etc

Eat jelly cubes. Massage your hand cream in.

I have had my nails done every 2-3 weeks for 5 years. They are soaked off and have never been better. I think it's a salon issue.

I’m not convinced continuous use of gels is good - however it’s personal choice. I much prefer a short, well cared for healthy nail that’s been buffed.

For the first time in years in early July I had BIAB gel applied to my fingernails for a special occasion and was reassured it’s better for nails. I’d never heard of it before. I shall have them soaked off this week and reapplied as they last three weeks. Other gel nail polishes used to make my nails weak and flaky so I’ll be interested to see if after the next application my nails don’t flake.

CND solar oil is also very good - really helped to strengthen my nails, and I love the smell of it.

My natural nails are so thin and weak that they split longitudinally straight down into the quick. It's incredibly painful. I have tried every treatment and covering going over the past fifty years and it's only now that the technology has evolved that I have a reliable fix in the form of BIAB nails, basically reinforced gel coatings. Every other covering has self removed after a few days as my nails are so thin that the natural oils permeate through and lift them off, but BIAB genuinely stays put. It's transformed my life, genuinely.

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.

OPI nail repair and strengthener is expensive but works.

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.

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.

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.

OPI nail envy got mine back to normal.

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!

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.

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 .