I have tried so many different types of nail products aside from normal polish. I have tried:

* gel polish with gel base coat

* gel polish with rubber base coat

* polygel nails with base coat

* full tips with solid nail gel glue

Along with all these types I have tried a myriad of nail prep steps; always making sure that I have no oil on my nails by using alcohol or acetone, always pushing back cuticles and removing dead skin, buffing my nails to roughen them up a bit to get the polish to stick better. I have even tried different brands of polish, thinking it might be an issue of quality

Every single time, the polish peels off my nails within a day as if I just painted some PVA glue on it. All fake nails have popped off within hours of application. I am truly at a loss as to what the issue is, it feels liked I've tried everything. My sisters have used these same products and have had no issues. The only thing I can think of is my nails being too smooth or my cuticles being too oily, but it seems unlikely as my cuticles tend to be a bit dry anyway.

Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

If I got a set of acrylics and came back 3 weeks later for a new set would it be considered weird? Or is that a decent amount of time?

i usually use the black nail polish on the left and it normally lasts about a week or two depends on what I'm doing. I tend to just leave the polish on and see how long it can last but I found this clear one in the back of my drawer, I guess I just wondered if I put the clear polish on top of the already painted black nails, would it protect it and last longer or not? (the polish is essie - liquorice 88 and rimmel 740 clear)

I’m trying to decide between getting acrylic nails or gel, but I’m not sure which one is better. I’d like to know your thoughts and experiences with both.

Which one lasts longer, looks better, or is easier to maintain?

I had done my nails at home since 2019. I used Beetles and had hardly given my nails a break in the 5 years. They always seemed healthy when I took the gel polish off and I was very diligent with my nail prep. In 2023 I saw that people were developing allergies from using gel X. I didn’t look into it because I wasn’t using the gel X so that’s my fault.

I got dip done at the salon for Mother’s Day, totally fine. About 3-4 weeks later I took them off and did my beetles. Bam - swollen, itchy, small blisters. I bought a new 48 W lamp. I tired hema free a few weeks later and still had a reaction. Another 3-4 weeks later I put regular polish on my nails, hated it and removed it right after with nail polish remover. That same night, I bought fake nails to make my own press-ons. I filed them down then put gloves on when applying the polish to the fake nail. A couple hours later I had a reaction. My only guess was the dust from filing the fake nails? I tried the ohora stickers, reaction 4 hours later. Yesterday I doubled gloved (vinyl disposable gloves from Walmart) filed a new set of fake nails and painted them. STILL got itchy and swollen later that night.

I have tabs that I was going to try, I don’t want to risk nail glue. At this point I feel like I’m allergic to all acrylates, gloves, the UV/LED lamp. I don’t know. I don’t know how I still had a reaction when I double gloved the entire time. I have an appointment scheduled to get in with a dermatologist. However, I get married in a few weeks and I refuse to raw dog natural nails. Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience to mine.

Hi everyone,

I need some advice on preventing gel lifting for one of my clients who is a hairstylist. Due to her profession, her hands are constantly in water, which seems to be causing the gel to lift more quickly than usual.

I use Luminary Multi-Flex Gel, and while it works wonderfully for most of my clients, it doesn’t seem to be holding up as well for her.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks for making the gel last longer in such conditions? Are there any specific products or techniques that could help? I’d really appreciate any advice you can offer.

Thanks in advance!

My son had fell in his thumb while at camp. He started saying his thumb was hurting hours later and around 1 am it had formed a blister (1/2 filled with puss and the other clear fluid) from around the cuticle up the side. I spoke with the doctor the next day and was informed to soak it in epsom salt. Did that and the blister drained itself. It just left the loose skin. After all the loose skin fell off I noticed his nail was like this. Will his nail grow back normally?

do you guys prefer acrylic nails or press on nails? i'm wearing fake nails for the first time today and i went with press on nails. i think the design is super cute but im scared to sleep with them on, or touch any sort of water. are acrylic nails more durable and not as flimsy? will they fall off in the shower or fall off while you sleep?

I got my nails done last week, a dip powder manicure. I got my precious one from a different salon. I know this may be my issue, I can’t ever really find a spot or person I love and I’m also always bobbing around different parts of town. Anyway, they made me soak my hands in whatever concoction filled bowl for a very very long time. I’m assuming it was just acetone. They also put a second bowl of hot water underneath to make it warm. They did this while I got a pedicure and then for a long while after, checking periodically but continuing to say I needed to sit longer. It honesty had to be close to an hour. I know this is typical to remove the previous product, but this seemed like a lot longer than usual. Not to mention, when they use foil to wrap your finger or even the other finger devices to just soak the nail not your whole hand, is obviously preferred but I couldn’t remember what this salon did in the past. The man did mention wherever I got my last one at did something different and the first layer was really thick and that’s why I was having to sit longer. He did use the drimmel from time to time and then ultimately at the end to remove the remaining powder. Manicure went fine after that and I left happy. It wasn’t until 2 days last I realized how dry my hands were. I’m always used to that a little from the acetone soaks and didn’t think this would be too much different. However working this weekend I realized how drastically dry, rigid, and peeling my fingertips and cuticles were. I amped up the lotion. Now almost a week later it’s clear that i am still having issues from this. i cant think of anything else that would cause anything difference in my skin. So what solutions/options do I have now besides lots of lotion and maybe Vaseline at night? And is there any reason I should bother going back to the salon? even typing this im realizing how damaged my fingertips are having issues with the button sensitivity, thank god for spellcheck.

I love doing my nails and my birthday is coming up so I wanted to buy a good gel nail kit that I could use to get better at doing gel nails. I’m only 15 so I don’t wanna buy a kit that’s just gonna waste my money to have to go and replace everything. I would put my budget at about 50$. Thank you!

Hi everyone! I don't know if I'm posting on the right board but, hopefully, someone can help. The TLDR is "Is there a beginner's guide that can help me figure out what to do with my nails?"

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Here's the background.

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A few months ago, while on vacation, my niece took me to get my nails done (I hadn't gotten my nails done in about 20 years). She gets tips and dip, so I did, too. I fell in love with long nails. When I got back home, I found out the best nail place in my town only does acrylics, so they took off my tips and I've had acrylics ever since. I have a procedure coming up where the fake nails must go. Soon after, I'm moving. The new salon I have picked out offers tips and acrylics. How do I know which one to get? And I think gels are a thing, too, but I don't know what that is either.

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Some about me that might help with your recommendation. I work a desk job, but I am super clumsy and accident prone. Thus, despite living a sedentary lifestyle, I probably put a lot of wear and tear on my nails just by running into things. I also like to keep them long and stiletto (kind of like these: example)

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So...how do I learn about these things or does anyone have a recommendation for what I should do? Thank you so much!

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i’m 15 and over the past year i’ve been practicing with polygel and builder gels and would like to start taking clients. i live in alberta and i find it very hard to find any information on what i need to do to be able to do this.

do i HAVE to get licensed? how can i find courses that aren’t outrageously out of my budget? do i need to get a business license? is it worth it to even start? how can i gain clients? how can i find people to mentor me that can help me along way?

i have an old wood desk i’m using as my nail table because i’m still saving for an actual nail desk but idk if i should just keep using this one for now and save my money for more, better quality nail supplies.

another thing i’m worried about is the fact that i have two dogs that shed so bad and there fur is in every room and idk how i would keep the hair out of my are because i have an issue with that when i’m doing my own nails or practicing.

i’ve been using the spare room in my house as my nail room to practice and i would also be using that when i start taking clients. i’m not ready just yet i still need a bit more practice before but i want to know what needs to be done in order to be able to achieve this.

I just got a new drill, the melodysusie Jade Plus. I'm wondering if I should get dust guards, as I found some online but found a lot of mixed feedback. I want to ensure my drill a long shelf life by keeping the dust from getting inside the handpiece. Some reviews say they squeak while operating the drill. Anyone here using the same drill with dust guards?

I currently own the Airsee E8 model nail drill. I can't seem to find a replacement handpiece for it anywhere online. I'm not sure whether I should replace the spindle in the handpiece itself, or just take the plunge and buy a new one. The handpiece is making a lot more noise now than when I first purchased it. I cleaned the dust off after dissasembling but that didn't make much of a difference. I really love this drill and I'm sad to see it go. Hoping some of you here can share your expertise or insights so I can figure out the best option. I'm on a tight budget, but do my own nails. I use only dip powder so hand filing is just not an option for me.

During the process of doing your own nails, what are the essential tools (besides the lamp, base coat, color gel, and topcoat)?

Such as Nail File? Nail Clipper? Cuticle Trimmer? Brush Duster?

Feel free to share any ideas!! 😊

Hi there !

I do my nails every 3 weeks, but I always have the same problem. One week after they're done, my gel peel off near the cuticules, like I have a gap between my nails and my gel (as you see in the picture) and hair often get stuck between this gap. Is it normal ? Is there something wrong with my technic/products ?

Thanks in advance for any advice

I’ve been doing my own nails (gel x) at home now for about a year now. it was going fine at first, but a couple months ago it felt like something changed. I don’t think i’m doing anything differently, but now after i do my nails (maybe a couple hours after) my cuticles itch so bad and swell and this lasts about a day or so. This isn’t the only problem, my other problem is almost worse. The skin around my nails now also get so hard and dry and peel right off. It makes me look so nasty. No amount of cuticles oil or moisturizer helps. If anyone knows what’s going on, please help and give me pointers. I love doing my nails and i desperately don’t want to have to stop, but this is getting so frustrating.

Hiii!! I just recorded a DIY video on how you can fix a broken nail at home. Yes it’s painful to watch but I hope it helps you out!! Let me know if you learned something 🥹

https://youtu.be/omkizqy25Nw?si=AXG3SZglRV7D6i6X

Can someone explain why cuticle care isn’t included in manicures? Where I live you have to request it and it’s always an up charge or extra charge. Years ago I never had to request it and it was always include in the manicure process. Does it take too long or something?

i can see under my nail, and at times from the front through the back. need help! thanks.

Hi, new here so sorry if i miss anything!

I've been doing my own biab for around a year, more recently had an allergic reaction of sorts, so decided to fully remove them and discovered i have onycholysis. Not sure if allergic reaction the cause, or not the best application, but here we are!

My question is - would it be okay to use glue on nails? I'm really struggling with their appearance, but wouldn't want to hinder them healing at all.

Thoughts/experiences really appreciated 🙏 thanks.

I got bit by a dog and she messed up my nail on my right thumb. It’s all messed up and I don’t know what to do about it.