Gel nail aftercare
Gel is cured hard before you leave, so there is no drying time and nothing to smudge. What shortens a set is water, force and picking — in that order.
For the first 24 hours
- Avoid long hot baths and washing up without gloves. Prolonged soaking is what lifts an edge.
- No picking at the cuticle area or testing the edges with your thumbnail.
Day to day
- Wear gloves for washing up, cleaning and gardening. This single habit adds a week to most sets.
- Cuticle oil every night. It keeps the natural nail flexible so the gel bends with it instead of lifting.
- Use your fingertips, not your nails, to open things. Nails are jewellery, not tools.
- Sunscreen on your hands stops paler colours turning yellow.
Removal and rebooking
- Two to three weeks is a normal life for a gel manicure.
- Never peel or pick a set off. It takes layers of your natural nail with it and takes months to grow back out.
- Book a proper soak-off and let me take it down gently.
- If a nail chips or lifts within a few days, message me — a quick repair is usually five minutes.
Message me if…
- Lifting within the first week.
- Any soreness, redness or heat around a nail.
- A nail that has broken under the gel — do not try to fix it yourself.
Get in touch — I would far rather you asked.
Book again: Nails on the menu .