What Damage Can Gel Nails Do To Your Own Nails?

[scruffbag]

Many thanks in advance x

[puzzled54]

Do you mean the gel nail varnish that stays on for a couple of weeks, or do you mean gel extensions?

[Prudie]

Not had gel nails but had acrylics non-stop for a year. My nails have never been the same since. Much softer and break at the slightest thing.

[maggiebee]

I had my nails "jellied" last year. Layers built up using heat between each application. When I decided to have it removed I was told it would take about 15 mins.
The damned stuff wouldn't come off and ended up getting it scraped off with a scalpel blade. Took an hour and what a mess. For months afterwards my nails broke off at the point where the blade had cut into the nail. Never again, my nails are just back to normal after about 10 months.

[scruffbag]

Gel varnish x

[puzzled54]

Ok, I have had gel varnish a couple of times. If you are going to have it done, check with the salon first on how they take it off. They should soak it off with acetone soaked cotton wool pads, and then lift/scrape it off, I think with a wooden stick. When soaked, it should lift off, but if they talk about filing then don't go there.
When I had it done, it stayed on well for nearly 3 weeks - got fed up of the colour in the end, and you could see where my nails had grown. I found my nails were nice and strong afterwards as they had been protected from the usual wear and tear by the polish.
They slightly run a file across your nails before the varnish goes on, but not too much and thats just to rough the surface a bit to make the varnish stay on better.
I wouldn't fancy having it done all the time, but its quite good before a holiday.