There are 2 things that damage nails,  and those 2 things are NOT Acrylic and NOT Gel!

Unfortunately, it’s always the products that get the blame, but that’s not always the case.

 The 2 things that can do damage to natural nails are:

1. Clients

This may happen in a few ways:

• * This type of nail damage ususlly comes from the client “removing” her own acrylic or gel nails with force. This type of damage can take up to 6 months to grow out.
• * Damage to the nail can also happen from neglecting the reccomended salon visits as the nails grow out, they become top heavy as they get longer and the enhancement product pulls up on the natural nail, tearing and damaging it.
• * And some clients like to have their nails too long over the end of the fingertip, this also puts pressure on the natural nail plate underneath and could do damage.

2. Nail technicians (and don’t get me wrong here, some nail techs are brilliant at their job!)

There could be a lot more causes here:

• * Over filing the natural nail before applying the tips, acrylic or gel
• * Over filing the natural nail when buffing the tips down
• * Over filing the natural nail around the edges and sidewalls when finishing the acrylic or gel
• * Over filing the nail when buffing during a re-visit (usually called a refill or rebalance)

> you can probably see a trend here now…….and there’s more

• * Forcing the nails off during a re-visit with nippers, a plastic tip, a cuticle pusher or even a scalpel!
• * Repeated soaking off of acrylic nails or gel nails in acetone
• * Applying too many coats of primer
• * Over filing with a drill (this can also cause a burning sensation which can lead to permanent scarring of the nail bed tissue under the natural nail)

If your nails have red patches in them after being done, your natural nails have been, unfortunately, buffed thinner. This will take 3-6 months to grow out.

If you’re ever concerned about quality within a nail salon, why get 10 nails done when you can ask for a free trial. Just get one nail done to sample their work. It will also help you determine whether acrylic or gel is for you, you can see how it looks, how fast it grows out, how it feels, and also find out if you’re tempted to pick it off or not.

And if the nail tech knows you’re just gettng one acrylic or gel nail done to try out their work, they will apply much more care, effort and attention to impress you with their skills and craftsmanship.

Written by Christine Maher

Executive Director, CNE (Senior educator of beginner nail technicians for 12 years and Nail tech for 20 years)