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When gel manicures and shellac arrived on the scene, they were total game changers.
Getty Images/Andreas Kuehn
The cured polishes make it so easy to go about life without worrying about chipped tips.
The thick coat of lacquer also keeps fragile nails from breaking, allowing nails to grow to unexpected lengths.
So after a couple of back-to-back gel appointments, treat your nails to rehab.
We’ve compiled a list of the most common gel manicure issuesand the simple solutionsahead.
Post-gel damage is typically sparked by theremoval process.
Using the wrong tools and technique can leave tips with microtrauma.
Then secure the cotton in place with foil.
Avoid scraping with a metal cuticle pusher for this step.
The acetone soak softens the nail plate and even gentle scraping can push cells creating divots or white spots.
Give your nails a break from gel to allow the nail plate time to recover.
Post-Gel Problem #2: Your nails are constantly breaking once the gels come off.
Post-Gel Problem #3: Your nails are peeling and flaking away.
According to Palm, nails also lose moisture faster than the rest of the skin.
Bigelow chapped hands remedy ($15,amazon.com), especially after washing your hands.
[Avoid] extremes of very dry or very hydrated, says Palm.
Flaky nails can also be a sign that you made another rookie mistake: peeling off the gel.
Shop some of our favorite base coats to disguise the damage and strengthen your nails post-gel ahead.
