2 years ago I got gel nail polish. The kind where your natural nails get the nice durable gel polish, no lengthening of any kind. I had it done a few times and did it myself with a sally Hansen kit. I don’t know if it was that last time that wrecked them or not. I had to use so much acetone to get it off and had to scrape too. My nails weren’t back to themselves for over a year. They kept peeling and stuff.
Now they are nice a good again. I hate to pay for a manicure with normal polish because it only lasts a few days before chipping. I can’t get it as nice myself. I loved the gel when I had it and would like to get one this month. It would be something to do with my mil who,is coming today for way too long of a visit. Will just one round of it kill my nails again? I know the removal is the problem. Does keeping it on for only 2 weeks, rather than 4 (until its really grown out a lot) help? Is it easier to take off after 2 weeks than 4?
My neighbor gets it, but her nails are shorter and she just keeps getting it reapplied, so I guess it doesn’t matter how,weak and bad your nails are if you keep getting more put on. My mom gets it too, but she never had good nails like me. She gets the kind where they do build them up I think, so she doesn’t know about my question.
I do gel nails. It wouldn’t hurt if you do it for one time. The real problem is that to apply them, you have to buffer your nails and that repeated buffering process is what weakens them
You could get regular nail polish, then use the chipping in a few days as an excuse to get another manicure and get away from the extended house guest!
I have the same problem with gel manicures. My nails are weak to start out with, and the buffing of the nail just destroys them. I got two gel manicures, but never again.
My sister goes to a manicurist where to remove the old gel they put soaked cotton on the nail itself, keeping it away from the cuticle and nailbed. It seems to be gentler on the nail. Or it may be that she just has better nails than I do!
I have never gotten jel manicures, but in my opinion anything that makes your nails, teeth, skin, or any other part weaker, unhealthier, or otherwise messes it up, is just not worth it.
Getting it for a month won’t hurt. I think the process for removal has gotten better. I took a break of about 3 months from the gel and my nails came back quickly.
If I ever have to take the gel nail filler off, I go to the salon, and they soak my finger tips in acetone, then it comes off pretty easily. My nails are bad, whether I have the gel nails or not, so I keep them; they do help protect my cuticles which really get banged up if I don’t have the gel/fill on.
If you’re looking for a polish that will last longer, why not do a no-chip manicure? This is what my daughter does who has very healthy nails. You still need to use acetone to get it off, but it lasts for at least a couple, to three weeks. To take that off, it’s easy, just soak some cotton balls in acetone, place it on top of your nail, and wrap a piece of foil around it to hold it in place. Keep it there for a half hour or so, then the polish should come right off.
Teriwtt- I’m pretty sure the OP is talking about the gel/shellac “no chip” manicures and not the acrylic or gel fills. It still is hard on your nails and the acetone is bad, but to me it is worth it.
I’m getting one today! I think the secret is the manicurist. I have thin, weak, short nails and typically only have this done in December before parties and springbreak (or other vacations). It used to take 3-6 months for my nails to get back to normal…which were bad to begin with. Then I found a manicurist who is so gentle, doesn’t file the nail that roughly. She’s takes them off fairly easy. I’ve had them done by her twice…and both times I had zero…yes…zero…recovery time for my nails. And the gel nails lasted almost 3 weeks! She’s amazing…charges $38.
My advice is to tell whoever is doing them that you want them to be very gentle with your nails. Just had them taken off a month ago after springbreak and they are fine to have it done again today.
“It would be something to do with my mil who,is coming today for way too long of a visit.”
Rather then worry about the possibility of having your nails in a bad state for an extended time, I’d suggest that you come up with a different way to treat yourself. If you just want an excuse to be out of the house when the MIL visits, and you do like the pampering of a manicure/pedicure, consider having one of the treatments where no polish is applied. Just a nice buffing might be good enough considering the fragility of your fingernails. Or go for a pedicure - that gives you an excuse to not walk much for a while afterwards!
Gel nails killed my nails and I had to wait for them to just grow out, it was so bad that the nail would bend and crack the gel polish where the nail grows beyond the nail bed (where the white part starts), so even with gel on it, they would bend and crack
I don’t think one gel manicure would be horrible, though.
Actually, I am just pleased with their length and think it would look really nice, just for a few weeks though as I learned my lesson. Yes, it is a no-chip manicure, no fillers or lengthening. Its not to get out of the house, though a great idea, I think she would want to come with me. At least it’s something for us to do. She might get hers done, but will whine about how much it costs…Is it cheaper in FL than NJ??
To get out of the house I will simply not be skipping my gym classes! I really do go often, so it’s not even a made up excuse to get out, but more of I will not try to find an excuse to NOT go! She has zero interest in joining me there.
I would like o find someone good and gentle. The problem here is that most of them do not speak much English, so I don’t know how to explain to be gentle. I guess I’ll start by finding an English speaking place. Perhaps my hair salon, probably more $, but worth it if it saves my nails.
Thanks to those who agree one time might be a problem, but I agree, probably not as bad. I wonder if I had hurt my cuticles in some way that made it take longer to grow out to normal.
I get a gel polish a few times a year - usually before a vacation. My secret is to remove it myself at home. I take my own sweet time. I rough up the polish with a file. Then soak cotton balls in acetone remover, put on top the nail, and wrap each finger in foil. Then I watch TV for a good hour. You can’t really do anything at all with foil on your fingers!
When I remove the foil, the gel polish has turned white and literally falls off. No extra filing of the nail needed.
There is a window of time that a manicurist can spend with you at the salon, so it’s always rushed and they end up filing off most of it - that is what really weakens nails.
Buffing your nails does not have to destroy them.
If done properly, it will smooth the surface for polish and stimulate the nail bed to increase growth.
If you use your hands a lot, even keyboarding, that will stimulate nail growth.
I agree it can be very tedious keeping them manageable.
I stash emery boards in all my handbags, in my car, at my desk, & my bedside table.
I don’t cut them.
I’ve used loreal gel polish system, that uses a primer and sealer, but does not require the uv light and was happy with it, but I don’t generally like nail polish as it just draws attention to my weird hands and feet.
I’ve never had a manicurist file off the gel polish. They always do the acetone and the foil. Unfortunately, I’m really bad about picking at it myself and usually peel it off, which is the worst possible thing. That’s why I took a break. It’s my own fault. Now I have promised that I won’t pick at it but will let them remove it. Having gel polish is almost the norm around here in any sort of office workplace. Not 100%, of course, but I would say the majority of women have salon gel manicures unless they are really skilled at doing it themselves.
After ruining my nails with three successive no chip manicures, it took forever to return them to a presentable state, many months if not years. That said, I was going away on vacation and really wanted to try the no chip again because not only doesn’t it chip, but the shine stays for the duration. I also thought trying it one time wouldn’t hurt. Well I was wrong, and I spent months with terrible nails again. I really took care oiling my cuticles and keeping my hands moisterized too. Now it may be just my bad nails, but be aware, especially since the manicurist told me I would have no problems. It’s a bummer though because I loved the way it looked!
I do gel when I really don’t want chips or smudges. Like now…because we are going on vacation and then to a wedding. In mid June, I’ll have it all removed and let my nails air out!
I have only had a manicure once, ever, in the late 80s for my wedding. I guess I am a low maintenance gal - I wear makeup once or twice a year, though I do get my hair cut and colored every 2-2.5 months
I have always had good strong nails that grow well. I had a gel/shellac manicure last summer when a friend and I went for her birthday. Loved the initial result and how long the manicure lasted. But it really messed up my nails for several months. They kept splitting and peeling. I had to keep them short for about 6 months.
