When you peel off polish from previous applications, it continuously removes the stronger layers of your nail's surface, which reside on the top of your nails. This then exposes the weaker layers of nail, which can cause the shellac nail polish to peel off with the weaker layers of your nails when applied.
After 1 week
If they are peeling at this point you may not be a good candidate for gel manicure. Some nail types are very thin, weak, or oily. Thin and weak nails can't be buffed well enough to create the little “velcro” action that adheres the polish to the nail.
“Lifting occurs when there isn't a correct bond between the product and the nail plate. Therefore, the best way to prevent lifting is through proper prep of the nail plate and product control. It's important to be very thorough when removing cuticle stuck to the nail plate—a quick swipe of the file isn't enough!
The key factor here is moisture - too much water will cause your nails to expand, and when you apply polish on such moist nails, they may begin chipping or peeling sooner than they should. Many technicians use acetone before applying gel polish to prevent this.
Don't rough the nail up too much!
Nails need to be lightly scratched to ensure proper product adhesion. However, I have found that too much buffing weakens the clients' nails, which makes nails more susceptible to bending, eventually tearing the Shellac or gel over time, causing the gel to chip.
A shellac manicure can usually last 14 days without chipping. If you want your shellac to last another fortnight or so, protecting your natural nails, a nude-ish Shellac Forte is your best bet.
No, it is not normal for gel nails to come off in such a short amount of time. A set of gels should last you around 2-3 weeks. They may have lifted prematurely as the nail plate may not have been prepared correctly before the gel application, or they may not have been capped/sealed at the free edge.
NOT PROPERLY BUFFING/ PREPPING YOUR NAILS
It needs to be totally “roughed” up with a nail file (gently) and completely matte. If you don't do this properly, your precious gel mani that you just hunched over for hours for, will pop right off in a week or so.
Keeping your skin moisturised will extend the life of your shellac nails and keep your hands looking healthy and youthful. Use hand cream during the day (reapply as often as needed) and a richer cuticle oil at night before bed. The oil will treat your fingers overnight and keep nails from flaking for lack of moisture.
Shellac was the first hybrid polish, produced by CND, and you can expect manicures to last about two weeks. Some may find that the chip-free finish lasts longer than this, but it's recommended that you get them removed after 14 days as by this time your own nail will have started to grow out.
Once your nails are prepped, apply a base coat before applying the shellac polish. This will help the shellac adhere to your nails better. Finally, be sure to seal the edges of your nails with a top coat. This will help prevent the shellac from peeling at the edges.
Over-curing a gel is possible. Some gels will discolor when over-cured and some will lose the gloss, while others will do both or neither. So much of this depends on the gel and the curing light. Each manufacturer should be able to assist the nail technician in what issues they may see with over-curing the product.
Take a break between shellac manicures. It's as simple as that. “We always recommend our clients give their nails a break from shellac, especially if they have had multiple shellac manicures in a row,” Dunne says. “It gives your nails a chance to re-strengthen.”
In our experience, SNS can last up to one week longer than Shellac nails without chipping, and SNS also creates a thicker-looking nail from all that powder getting added on. But we've found Shellac to be a little less damaging to our nails long-term than SNS nails.
This is rule number one for shellac nails – DO NOT peel them off. Peeling off the shellac nails yourself can damage your natural nails by peeling off the stronger layers of your nails leaving the weaker nails exposed.
Step 1: Give Your Nails a Break
Most nail technicians suggest giving your nails at least a week-long break every eight weeks. Shellac, gel, dip dye, and acrylics require buffing the nails beforehand, and the harsh acetone for used removal compromises the top layer of the nail.
You do not need to sand between shellac coats, but it can seriously improve the piece's finish. That is because small imperfections like specks of dust get bigger and bigger every time you add a new coat. Shellac will bond with the coat under it, making one layer. Not sanding can leave you with a lumpy finish.
Gel manicures benefit those with weaker nails and lasts just that little bit longer than Shellac.
The cons of a shellac manicure include:
Curing with a UV lamp is necessary and frequent exposure can be harmful over long periods. It isn't good for those who have weak nail beds.
IMPROPER REMOVAL/APPLICATION – aggressive removal of CND™ Shellac™ including harshly scraping the natural nail with a metal tool can cause damage. As can over buffing of the natural nail – over buffing every few weeks can cause your nails to become thinner and weaker.
Use a Cuticle Cream or Oil
Manicurist Rita Remark says that one of the easiest ways to repair damaged nails is to apply cuticle oil, followed by a hand cream. "Cuticle oils deliver vitamins and nourishment; the cream will lock moisture. Moisture loss is a common symptom of gel nail damage."
A Gel manicure typically lasts anywhere from 3 weeks to a month and there is a very low chance of a Gel manicure chipping. In comparison, a Shellac manicure typically last about 2 weeks if it is taken care of properly and has a higher chance of chipping after a few weeks go by.
When the builder gel is applied directly to the nail, it can flex more than the natural nail, meaning they don't move together, and this can cause lifting. This can commonly be seen as pocket lifting, where the centre of the nail enhancement lifts away from the natural nail.
If the gel polish cures too short or too long, the layer on top of it will not adhere properly. This causes the nail polish to come off in one go.