Gel nail dissapointment

[stars_bright]

I have fancied having gel nails for years and 10 days ago I took the plunge, finding a mobile lady who seemed very reasonable. I didn't have extensions, just the overlays for £15. The day after I had them done I caught a nail on a chair and some of one of them came off. I rang the lady and she very kindly fitted me in,I went to her and she re-did it for free. Then yesterday I noticed that another nail seemed to have cracked in a couple of places, I don't remember knocking it and today the whole overlay has come off. I am wondering whether this is a) normal b) the lady is not very good c) my nails are resistant to the gel or I am too rough on my hands?

[Skint_Catt]

If you're too rough then so am I! I had them done a few times a couple of months ago (but with extensions initially) and within a few days days at least two were lifting/peeling and by 7/10 days pretty much all were. They are supposed to be longer lasting and tougher than acrylics but I cant say they were.

I also had the new 'biosculpture' that the same lady provided and that was exactly the same :confused:

[alison999]

Ive never had gel nails done - I always get acrylic and yeah, they can break but they're pretty tough, if i ever broke them it was very much my fault!

[zaharris]

hi gel nails are not as strong as acrylic!! i am a city and guild qualified nail tech and qualified in acrylic, gel and fibre glass ...i gave up using gel as never found a product as strong as acrylic obviously not tried them all!! also i would like to say that people always haggle the price but with buying acylic you get what you pay for, there is some real crap products out there. i only use creative which in my opinion is the best but is more expensive ...people have left me to try other techs as cheaper but always come back

[stars_bright]

I chose gel because I thought they were kinder to your nails and more natural than acrylic - are the acrylic one painted on or do they come as a nail that is stuck on over your nail? what do you do about infills with acrylic?

[alison999]

I chose gel because I thought they were kinder to your nails and more natural than acrylic - are the acrylic one painted on or do they come as a nail that is stuck on over your nail? what do you do about infills with acrylic?

they mix powder with water (i think - its a liquid anyway) and paint it on over your nails. some places use white tips which makes them stronger. infills are done the same way as the 1st appointment, they just paint it over.

[danio]

they mix powder with water (i think - its a liquid anyway) and paint it on over your nails. some places use white tips which makes them stronger. infills are done the same way as the 1st appointment, they just paint it over.



The powder is mixed with Monomer(L&P), which forms a ball at the tip of the brush, this is then placed onto the nail (usually in 3 stages) and worked across and down the nail avoiding touching the skin around the nails as this is a cause for lifting...I wish it was JUST painted on, as this would make my job a whole lot easier

Infills are done by filing down the old acrylic removing any lifting and re applying the L & P, filing down and buffing (I have simplified this, it really is not that easy lol, an infill can take just as long as a new set of nails takes)

IMO Gel nails look the fakest of all systems

[alison999]

^ lol thx for the more detailed explaination!! ive never had gel nails, personally ive never liked other peoples so have just kept to what i know with acrylic

[foxy-lady]

I had a set of acrylic nails fitted 20 days ago and I LOVE them! They were intended to be just a special thing for over christmas but now I want to have them forever!! I feel so glamourus even when wearing scruffy work clothes. Typing is becomig increasingly difficult though LOL.
They cost me £20 for the set.
They still look beautiful but are now longer and the regrowth is becoming obvious at the nailbed just as the lady explainedit would.
What I am wondering is shall I have the infills (£15) or pay the extra £5 for a full new set. Would there be any benefit in this?
xx

[jillie1974]

i love my acrylic nails!! having a break from them at moment to let my own nails strengthen a bit. but will be getting them done again.
once my own nails were long enough i had acrylic overlays rather than tips. have never had any problems with them lifting or breaking.
i would always use the acrylic rather then gel

[hieveryone]

Wow where are you all getting your nails done?? I've had acrylics and gels done for years and I look at between £35-£50 to get mines done!

[Skint_Catt]

Mine is a local lady who works from home - she advertises in the local paper.

[jillie1974]

the going rate in my town is £20 for full set

[cathy2702]

I only recently got gel overlays done on my nails, like someone else it was only suppose to be for a few occasions over Christmas but I love them and I did pick at them when they started to regrow but went this week and got them done again

The lady explained how the infills work and drummed home how I wasnt to pick at them again, she was very surprised how good a condition my nails where considering what I had done

I paid £30 for the overlays, I've no idea what acrylics are

Cate

[alison999]

the going rate in my town is £20 for full set

mine are £25, £15 for inlays. i also get the nail art done usually too, though i have paid £38 for a full set, the £25 one looks just as good - infact not 1 has broken yet, unlike the £38 set.