Gel Nails

Mar 31, 2012

Yolanda N.

I been thinking of getting gel over my natural nails, for them to be stronger and grow. I dont think I really need the hole false nail. Has anybody got this done, tahta can tell me if I should or not? ore give me some advise. Thanks for your help in advanced!

Mar 31, 2012

Meghan C.

My natural nails are very thin and brittle so i thought i should get gels to help them grow out, however when i got them removed at the salon my nails were even thinner then they were before from wearing the gels. Gel nails are pretty and they look more natural then acrylics but they aren't great for your natural nails!

Apr 1, 2012

Yolanda N.

But what if you just neve take it off? my idea was just to keep it on my nails? cant I do that?

Apr 1, 2012

Marissa F.

Even if you just never take it off, it will be a VERY obvious nail line where the gel stops while it is growing out. I would suggest getting your nails shellac'd. It will make them stronger and the polish lasts for weeks, and it does NO damage to your natural nails.

Apr 1, 2012

Yolanda N.

oh! i have never heard from that! thank's for suggesting, i'll look in to it :)

Apr 2, 2012

Meghan C.

isn't shellac the same as gel? at my salon the gel polishes are referred to as shellac

Apr 3, 2012

Aly G.

The difference is that the shellac polish his just that, a polish. It doesn't require any artificial nails. It's stronger, longer lasting, and tougher than regular nail polish and comes off with a quick soak in acetone. 

http://shellacnailpolishgel.com/

Apr 3, 2012

Amy S.

I would highly recommend CND Shellac or Gelish. My nails used to be very brittle and would break and peel all the time, I started getting shellac or gelish done and my nails started growing and getting very strong. Also make sure you keep your nails hydrated with a good cuticle oil or butter CND Solar Oil and Lush Lemony Flutter are both really good. Doing these two things made drastic improvements in my nails. Shellac or Gelish you do every 2 weeks and I did that for about 2-3 months but that was probably about a year ago, since then I just use regular polish and my nails have stayed strong and healthy.

Apr 3, 2012

Santina A.

I've had Bio Gel nails on for about a year, and previous to that I always had UV Gel nails - which absolutely destroyed my nails which were already thin and brittle to begin with! I really enjoy the Bio Gel nails, but it's definitely not a long term solution, I'm aware of the damage I'm doing to my nails, but they're so thin it's really the only thing that works for me. And it's expensive! A new set runs you about $50 and a fill for me is $35 every two weeks (at my salon where I get a discounted price because I'm a regular!). I would HIGHLY suggest CND Shellac or a gel polish - and this is coming from someone with gel nails! 

Apr 3, 2012

Bianca T.

Gel and acrylics bond to your nails like superglue, so in order to remove them, you need to remove a few layers of your nail (as gross as that sounds). Yes, you can just keep them and get infills forever, but it reduces the oxygen levels that get to your nails which makes them even more brittle, and fungus and bacteria love that kind of environment, which can lead to infection it you don't give your nails a breather from time to time. Also, your nails have to be filed down before gel/acrylic application so that there are no small ridges for bacteria to seep into, which adds to the massive damage list.

In short, gel is NOT a good idea to help strengthen nails.

Shellac on the other hand is the way forward. It's basically a nail polish infused with gel, so that it doesn't bind to your nails but still gives it a long lasting, protective coating with no damage whatsoever. It also uses a formula that allows more oxygen to get to your nails than a regular polish.

Also, try to take a cod-liver oil/omega 3 supplement every morning. And eat broccoli. Both of these help to give healthier hair and nails naturally. :)

Apr 16, 2012

Yolanda N.

thanks Bianca, I will try that :)

Apr 17, 2012

Emily L.

Hi Yolanda! Getting a gel overlay is an excellent way to grow out brittle nails! There are so many misconceptions about gels/acrylics but I'll break it down. I'm a certified technician in 3 countries with experience in many competitions and teaching so you can take my word for it.

If you decide on gel nails, you can leave them on and almost never have to remove them. Basically, your technician will do an infill on the natural nails that grow out. It's best to get an infill when your nails has grown out about about 0.3mm. This prevents unnecessary lifting of the gel layer that can cause fungi. An infill will reseal the edge and also re-cover the entire nail surface.

For minimal damage from the gel process, make sure your technician is using a soak off gel or use Gelish instead. Also, make sure you choose a VERY good technician. Meaning they are great at the system and technique instead of the look. A good technician will never file down nor damage your nails while prepping your nails for any form of extension/overlay.

By prepping, I mean the process where the technician uses a rough grit nail file to lightly scratch the surface of your nail. What this does is create a rough surface for gel/acrylic to grip onto. If this isn't done, the material will just peel/drop off when your nails get wet or oily. Usually within the same day. The proper method of filing the surface only makes the current nail layer rough. It should not remove any nail layers. If your nails are thinner or weaker after removing the gel, it means they filed down your natural nail while prepping.

Bianca mentioned that nails need to breath but that is unfortunately a myth, a lot of people believe that but the truth is that nails are actually just keratin. Basically bone. It shields the tips of our fingers to protect them. That's about it. You can add to it to make it stronger, like hair, but they aren't living. The reason why people get fungal infections while having extensions is when the technician don't do a good job and leave gaps around the edges. This causes lifting and when that happens, bacteria can enter and mingled with water, creates a perfect breeding ground for fungal infections.

Basically, hunt for a good technician. Don't settle. You don't settle on haircuts so don't do it to your nails. Technicians are churned out without much care nowadays so make sure you find a good one and stick to them!

Hope this clarifies some of the woes you and some of the girls have! Feel free to ask anything else that I might have left out or am vague about. =D

Apr 17, 2012

Jasmine P.

That is such interesting information Emily! Thanks so for the fantastic input.

Apr 18, 2012

Yolanda N.

Yes, very helpfull. Thanks so much. I will take your advice :)