How to avoid gel nails from lifting
With busy lifestyles, women are constantly looking for convenient solutions to add time back into their lives. When it comes to nails, Gel nail polish has taken front and centre position in the world of nail polish, having become increasingly popular over the years.
One of the key benefits of gel nails is the length of time they last (on average around 2 – 3 weeks, compared to 3 – 4 days with normal polish). Although gel nail polish does last longer, you may be wondering then why your gel nails are lifting so soon.
At Surmanti Nail Tech Training, we have broken down 5 reasons your gel nails could be lifting, and our professional advice on what you can do to prevent this from happening.
1) Incorrect nails being applied
Many items contribute to the success of your nails. Your health, your lifestyle and whether your like to pick at your nails and cuticles. If you are on certain medications, these might also have adverse effects when it comes to conducting nail enhancements on your nails. They might start lifting off – often as complete nails.
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Surmanti Nail Tech Training advice:
A through client consultation before you get your nails started is very important to ensure you are getting the right type of enhancements for your nails. It is also important that your nail technician offers multiple services not just gel nails. Hence, if one nail system is not working for you, they can offer another solution. Often acrylic nail application is better suited to clients on medications for medium to high doses of anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medications, thyroid medications, and heart medications, then gel nails. If you are on any of these medications, we believe that it is important that your nail technician knows what she is dealing with and keeps record of it.
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2) Insufficient nail preparation and disinfection
If you do not build the right foundation when building a house, it will fall over. The same theory applies to nails. Nail preparation is vital to avoid gel nails from lifting, and there are no short cuts to the process. If the correct nail preparation has not been completed prior to the application of gel polish, you can get lifting from the back and sides, allowing water to seep underneath. This results in the perfect microclimate to grow mould and bacteria. In some cases, this could lead to permanent damage to the nail plate. Sometimes it causes the gel nail to come off perfectly in one piece. Other times, you can get big chips at the fee edge (the front of the nail). Washing your hair in the shower with jagged tips and accidentally scratching the skin on your eyes or face or that of your kids is the painful price you pay for gel nails insufficiently prepared. If sanitisation and hospital disinfection are not followed you can open yourself up to a raft of nail and skin infections.
| Surmanti Nail Tech Training advice:
In NZ, there are bylaws that certain councils have put in place for businesses that provide manicures and pedicures (even though there are no national regulations), however our advice would be to:
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3) Faulty knock off products that are not as they seem.
With the internet at our fingertips, you can purchase almost every conceivable item online including a wide range of gel nail polishes. DIY gel polish kits are now becoming popular on various websites, promoting that they sell professional brands at unbelievable prices.
The old adage goes if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. With the variety of knock off copies and brands, it is hard for even a seasoned nail technician to know the difference, however, the differences are significant.
Many knock off brands contain potentially harmful ingredients that can cause side effects such as skin allergies, dermatitis, nerve damage and breathing issues like asthma which are known as endocrine disruptors. They are often associated with damage of liver, kidneys, and even affect the reproductive system.
There is a host of harmful ingredients that are considered toxic that should not be in used in gel polish. Some of these ingredients are Formaldehyde, Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Toluene, Camphor, Xylene, Formaldehyde Resin, Triphenylphosphate (TPHP), ColophoniumOrganic Halides (AOX) or Thinners, Silicone. Perform a quick google search of these ingredients and you will find that they are used for multiple reasons such as embalming fluids.
| Surmanti Nail Tech Training Advice:
If you are not qualified in gel nails, get them done with a qualified gel nail tech professional. If you are qualified in gel nails, ensure you are choosing quality gel nail technology and materials. At Surmanti Nail Tech Training, we offer nail technicians with high quality nail materials and products used by certified nail professionals all through New Zealand. View our nail catalogue for our latest nail materials and products here. |
4) Chemical Responses
Often when you get your nails done, a nail technician could be using a wide variety of nail products from different manufacturers. Gel nails are a system of chemicals that have been designed to work together. When you start mixing chemicals from different manufacturers you are playing with an unknown chemical outcome that can cause many issues. These include product breakdown, premature lifting and difficult removal. All of these factors may cause serious damage to your nails and skin.
In addition, after you have had your nails done you need to be very aware that certain chemicals such as strong cleaning products and solvents like acetone, methylated spirits and paint stripper can also cause your gel nails to appear soft and gooey at the edges. This could cause the gel product to break down. When breakdown occurs, you can get lifting from the back and sides of the nails, allowing water to get underneath, causing the perfect microclimate for mould and bacteria. And in some cases, this leads to permanent damage to the nail plate.
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Surmanti Nail Tech Training Advice: Have a conversation with your nail technician to gain a better understanding of the nail materials they are using. Make sure they are using the same products from the same manufacturer. If you know your nails are going to come in contact with chemicals such as cleaning products and solvents, look after your beautiful nails by wearing gloves. |
5) Maintenance and regrowth not addressed.
Gel nails that have grown away from the cuticle not only look shabby, but the grown out gel changes the balance and structure of the natural nails themselves. If you are leaving your gel nails on for longer than two to three weeks, it can lead to weakened nails and cause a painful mid-nail split (where the heavier gel nail causes the natural nail to tear), introducing potentially harmful bacteria. Picking or peeling off the gel nails causes damage to the natural nail by tearing off layers of the nail plate. This could cause weakness for about 3 to 4 months until the natural nail has regrown for the cuticle to the free edge (front of the nail).
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Surmanti Nail Tech Training Advice:
If your gel nails are starting to grow away from the cuticle, it is time for a visit to your nail salon to get a fresh set of gel nails applied. |
6) Final Thoughts
Gel nails come with lots of lasting benefits. However, understanding gel nail ingredients and the gel application process will ensure your natural nails remain healthy, and your gel nail polish lasts longer.
If you are a qualified nail technician, Surmanti offers all the products and materials used by qualified nail professionals in New Zealand. Download our latest nail catalogue here.
