How long do gel nails last
Well-made gel nails last until your infill, which is done every three or four weeks. The gel does not wear out in that time: what makes the infill necessary is the growth of your natural nail, which leaves a strip without gel near the cuticle and shifts the nail’s balance point.
Hippie Chic, Cascais ·
Why infills are every three or four weeks
Nails grow a little every week. After three or four, the regrowth shows and the gel structure, built to give strength to the middle of the nail, has moved closer to the tip. That is when a nail is most likely to break.
At the infill, we file down the old gel, fill the regrowth, rebuild the structure and change the colour if you like. It takes about an hour.
What makes gel lift or break
It is almost always one of three things: rushed preparation of the natural nail, a poorly built structure, or using your nails as tools, to open cans or scrape off labels.
Hot water and cleaning products matter too. If you wash a lot of dishes or clean without gloves, gel lifts sooner.
How to make gel last until your next visit
Wear gloves for cleaning and washing up. Use cuticle oil every day: it keeps the nail and the gel flexible. If a nail lifts or chips, do not pull it off: book a repair, which costs €5 and takes ten minutes.
And do not skip the infill. A nail with five or six weeks of growth breaks more easily and takes more work to put right.
Gel, gel polish or extensions
Gel builds and strengthens the nail and lasts until the infill (€50 for a first set on natural nails, €41 per infill). Extensions add length (€70). Gel polish is colour only on the natural nail and lasts about two weeks (€29).
Frequently asked questions
Does gel damage your nails?
Properly applied and properly removed, gel should not damage the natural nail. Damage usually comes from pulling gel off at home or over-filing during removal.
Can I leave my infill for five weeks?
You can, but the nail is more likely to break and the infill takes more work. Three to four weeks is ideal.
How much is a gel nail infill in Cascais?
At Hippie Chic an infill costs €41 and takes about an hour.
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.