Gel nails to last longer

[toppersutz]

Hi

I have been doing gel nails for a while but I can't get them to last longer than 8 days. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[cheekychick]

Hi,
Maybe run through your application or post a pic of your work and we can see if there's anything we can help with. x

 

[perfect10kb]

Like Cheeky Chick said . A lot of people use the terminology 'gel nails ' wrong . Are you referring to a gel polish over natural nails or Extensions with a hard gel ( gel nails ) ?

 

[toppersutz]

Hi,
Maybe run through your application or post a pic of your work and we can see if there's anything we can help with. x

Hi

I file nail, then push back cuticles, buff nail with a buffing block. Clean nail with 100% acetone. Apply bonder, thin base coat. With a clean brush wipe down the base coat so that the gel doesn't shrink. Apply thin coat of colour. Maybe 2 or 3 coatings and finish with top coat. Not sure why they don't last. Do cap nail edge also. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[toppersutz]

Like Cheeky Chick said . A lot of people use the terminology 'gel nails ' wrong . Are you referring to a gel polish over natural nails or Extensions with a hard gel ( gel nails ) ?

IBD just gel nail polish on natural nails. I want to perfect this before I start on extensions.

 

[cheekychick]

Hi

I file nail, then push back cuticles, buff nail with a buffing block. Clean nail with 100% acetone. Apply bonder, thin base coat. With a clean brush wipe down the base coat so that the gel doesn't shrink. Apply thin coat of colour. Maybe 2 or 3 coatings and finish with top coat. Not sure why they don't last. Do cap nail edge also. Any help would be appreciated.

Just troubleshooting
Is your buffer new? Sometimes if it's been used too many times it can have the opposite effect and make the nail smooth/shiny rather than roughing it slightly.

Are you making sure not to touch any surrounding skin?

Making sure the gel isn't too thick near the free edge or cuticle. Sometimes if the gel is a little in the bulky side in these areas it can lift. x

 

[toppersutz]

Just troubleshooting
Is your buffer new? Sometimes if it's been used too many times it can have the opposite effect and make the nail smooth/shiny rather than roughing it slightly.

Are you making sure not to touch any surrounding skin?

Making sure the gel isn't too thick near the free edge or cuticle. Sometimes if the gel is a little in the bulky side in these areas it can lift. x

Hi. I know the gel isn't touching skin as I clean around it. I put the gel on really thin at cuticle and free edge. Do you think it would be better to apply IBD Builder gel at some point when doing nails to stop them from lifting?

 

[cheekychick]

You shouldn't need to, it's got to be something simple. Are clients following aftercare? As a lot of clients don't take responsibility when they leave the salon, are hard on their nails, don't use cuticle oil then moan their nails aren't lasting.

Are there any signs of damage when clients return? x

 

[katie_deanne]

It could possibly be the gel not curing properly in your lamp? What lamp are you using? I use IBD and have clients that can go 3-4 weeks with no problems, and it sounds like your application is okay so this could be another thing to think about?

 

[MrsBB2013]

Have you got a picture of your application? Maybe there is some clues there. Is it one client or a few? Xx

 

[perfect10kb]

Hi

I file nail, then push back cuticles, buff nail with a buffing block. Clean nail with 100% acetone. Apply bonder, thin base coat. With a clean brush wipe down the base coat so that the gel doesn't shrink. Apply thin coat of colour. Maybe 2 or 3 coatings and finish with top coat. Not sure why they don't last. Do cap nail edge also. Any help would be appreciated.

Ok so to correct you . You dont do 'gel nails ' per se you are doing gel Polish overlays

One thing I picked up in this post that you said you use acetone to cleanse the nail . Acetone is not a cleanser . It just dehydrates the nail

You need proper cleanser such as Isopropyl Alcohol
x

 

[sammi010]

Agree with switching from acetone to a proper cleanser.

I haven't used IBD but I know with mine, from learning the hard way, to only cap the free edge with base coat and top coat, not the colour.

Just pushing cuticles back isn't always enough, are you also making sure you are removing it all from the nail? Invest in a curette or similar and you'll be surprised how much tissue can still be there.

 

[Carla-laa]

Hi, I use ibd also. I saw you mention you use bonder before base coat, which bonder do you use? Is it the powerbond?
I can't see from here if your problem is lifting or chipping, if it's lifting then perhaps you're not being quite thorough enough with cuticle removal, there shouldn't be any cuticle on the nail plate or the product can't adhere to the nail plate properly,.
If it's chipping and you are capping the free edge then I've seen that some people use the powerbond along the free edge to help, personally I don't get on with the powerbond I find it welds gel to my clients nails making removal very difficult!
Also what are the natural nails condition? If they're weak, bending, peeling then maybe they're just not suitable for gel polish and a hard gel overlay would be more suitable x

 

[toppersutz]

Hi, I use ibd also. I saw you mention you use bonder before base coat, which bonder do you use? Is it the powerbond?
I can't see from here if your problem is lifting or chipping, if it's lifting then perhaps you're not being quite thorough enough with cuticle removal, there shouldn't be any cuticle on the nail plate or the product can't adhere to the nail plate properly,.
If it's chipping and you are capping the free edge then I've seen that some people use the powerbond along the free edge to help, personally I don't get on with the powerbond I find it welds gel to my clients nails making removal very difficult!
Also what are the natural nails condition? If they're weak, bending, peeling then maybe they're just not suitable for gel polish and a hard gel overlay would be more suitable x

Hi it ASP (Salon Services)bonder. Nails are bendy so would IBD builder gel be better to finish with. Thank you for any advice.

 

[toppersutz]

Agree with switching from acetone to a proper cleanser.

I haven't used IBD but I know with mine, from learning the hard way, to only cap the free edge with base coat and top coat, not the colour.

Just pushing cuticles back isn't always enough, are you also making sure you are removing it all from the nail? Invest in a curette or similar and you'll be surprised how much tissue can still be there.

Ok. Thank you I will try that. Will keep you posted if there are any changes.

 

[toppersutz]

Ok so to correct you . You dont do 'gel nails ' per se you are doing gel Polish overlays

One thing I picked up in this post that you said you use acetone to cleanse the nail . Acetone is not a cleanser . It just dehydrates the nail

You need proper cleanser such as Isopropyl Alcohol
x

Ok. Thanks I will try that. Yeah sorry I just do gel overlays at the moment. Just want to get technique right before I do extension etc.

 

[toppersutz]

You shouldn't need to, it's got to be something simple. Are clients following aftercare? As a lot of clients don't take responsibility when they leave the salon, are hard on their nails, don't use cuticle oil then moan their nails aren't lasting.

Are there any signs of damage when clients return? x

No nails look ok. They don't use cuticle oil. Could that be a reason? Thank you so much for your help

 

[cheekychick]

No nails look ok. They don't use cuticle oil. Could that be a reason? Thank you so much for your help

You are missing a great retail opportunity there.
I advise every client to use cuticle oil at least twice a day. It really does make a difference. x

 

[Carla-laa]

Hi it ASP (Salon Services)bonder. Nails are bendy so would IBD builder gel be better to finish with. Thank you for any advice.

Have you tried it without the bonder?
I don't use a bonder i use ibd's dehydrate just before the base coat.
It's not as simple as just applying a layer of builder gel as its a hard gel, you'd need to do a gel overlay on natural nails and then gel polish on top but you'd have to be trained in hard gel which you'd do in your gel extensions course.
Are you just trained in gel polish at the moment?

 

[eggie]

Maybe you can try ibd powerbond, I tried other bonder they didn't work well.