Do gel nails damage your nails?
Properly applied and properly removed, gel should not damage the natural nail. Damage usually comes from three things: over-filing during preparation, pulling the gel off at home, and leaving too long between infills. When nails end up thin or sensitive after gel, the cause is almost always one of these three.
Hippie Chic, Cascais ·
Where the idea that gel ruins nails comes from
Almost everyone knows someone who took their gel off and found their nails thin, soft or with white patches. It happens, but it is rarely the fault of the gel itself.
The natural nail is made of thin layers. Anything that strips layers away, whether an aggressive file or gel pulled off by force, leaves the nail thinner. That is what people notice when they say gel ruined their nails.
What really damages nails
Over-filing. For gel to bond, the nail surface needs preparing, but removing the shine is enough. Filing until the nail is thin weakens it from the start.
Pulling the gel off. When gel lifts at one edge, the temptation is to pull. Pulling takes the top layers of the nail with it. It is the most common cause of thin, sore nails.
Stretching infills too far. With five or six weeks of growth, the weight of the gel sits near the tip and the nail breaks more easily, sometimes below the free edge, which hurts and takes time to recover.
Rushed removal. Scraping gel off forcefully instead of taking the time to remove it properly also strips layers from the nail.
Signs a nail needs a break or some care
Nails that bend easily, feel sensitive to heat or pressure, or peel in layers are thinner than they should be. Tell us at your visit: we adjust the preparation and the gel structure, and sometimes the best thing is a short break with some care.
Redness, swelling or pain around the nail, or a patch that changes colour under the gel, are something else: in those cases gel is not applied, and you should see a health professional.
How to protect nails with gel
Use cuticle oil every day. It keeps the natural nail and the gel flexible, and the cuticle area healthy.
Wear gloves for cleaning and washing up. Hot water and cleaning products make gel lift sooner.
Do not use your nails as tools, to open cans or scrape off labels.
If a nail lifts or breaks, do not pull it off: book a repair, which costs €5 and takes ten minutes.
And keep to your infill every three or four weeks. It keeps the structure in the right place and the nail protected.
When you want to take gel off
Have it done in the salon. Removal costs €15 and is done carefully, so it does not strip layers from the natural nail. Afterwards, a few days of cuticle oil and short nails help the nail recover as it grows.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take breaks from gel?
If your nails are healthy, it is not essential. If they are thin or sensitive, a short break with some care can help. Talk to us at your visit.
Is gel bad for weak nails?
For many people with weak nails, gel actually protects them, because it strengthens the nail. What matters is gentle preparation and removal done in the salon.
How much is a gel nail repair?
At Hippie Chic a single nail repair costs €5 and takes about ten minutes.
The treatment
The first conversation is free.
We look at your case and tell you what to expect and what it costs. You only book the treatment if it makes sense for you.