AFTERCARE & TIPS

Our nails are naturally porous (they soak up water), causing them to slightly expand. This is why they feel softer when you come out of the shower or bath. If you have nail enhancements on, they won’t budge but your natural nails will still soak up the water. This can lead to premature chipping or peeling.

Cuticle oil has a number of benefits. It can prevent your nails from breaking, keep your skin moisturised, help them grow, and aid in repair. Add it to your daily routine and you’ll notice a huge difference in the health of your nails.

The gel brand we use usually lasts up to three weeks for average nail growth. If your nails grow faster, you should have your appointments two weeks apart.

Infills for gel overlays should be no longer than three weeks. The longer you have product growing out, the more likely it is to add unnecessary pressure to your natural nail as the apex (where the strength of your nail enhancement is) moves as your nail grows out. This means after three weeks of growth, there is little to no structure preventing your nails from breaking.

For pedicures, you can go four to five weeks between appointments as toenails grow at a slower rate than fingernails.

Nail products are not made to be permanent, so if you experience lifting and chipping beyond 2 weeks, it is due to normal wear and tear. Lifestyle plays a big factor in how well nail enhancements last.

Not wearing gloves during hands-on work can cause chipping, peeling, or even breakage.

Nails are jewels, not tools! If you need to remove a sticker, use an implement like tweezers instead. Scratching at surfaces can cause micro-tears on the edge of your nails. This can lead to chipping and peeling.

Not only is it unhygienic, but you can cause your nails to peel, chip, lift, and even break. Moreover, you can make yourself unwell from the bacteria under your nails free edge.

You can purchase a nail brush at your appointment from us or buy one from anywhere. When washing your hands, don’t forget to also scrub under your nails free edge no matter how short your nails are. This removes any dirt that may potentially be harbouring bacteria. Thoroughly dry your hands and nails afterwards, and don’t forget to apply cuticle oil.

Waiting for the flare up (from an allergic reaction) to subside does not mean it won’t happen again. Allergies are very serious and can lead to further issues in everyday life.

We understand the necessity to save money, but allergic reactions are not worth it. It’s never a matter of ‘if’, but ‘when’. We can develop reactions to things we have used for many years, and using at home gel kits can increase the risk. There is no cure for allergic reactions, so please avoid using gel polish if you aren’t a qualified professional.

This is the number one cause if nail damage. The gel is adhered to your natural nail. Peeling it off causes layers of your natural nail to also peel off with it. You cannot reverse this damage, you can only wait for it to grow out. Any type of nail enhancement needs a sturdy foundation to be applied. If your nails are extremely weak or paper thin, it is likely your manicure will not last. There are a number of reasons that can cause your enhancements to lift: you have gone too long between appointments, your nails have sustained some type of damage causing the enhancement to lift, excessive tapping, oily nail plate, or even issues during nail prep. If your enhancements start to lift, we recommend booking an appointment at your earliest convenience.

This allows us to review without delay and advise accordingly. There are certain factors that can potentially prevent us from carrying out a treatment for health and safety purposes.

You do not need to take a break between appointments to let your nails breathe as they do not have a set of lungs. You can, however, take a break from nail enhancements simply because you want to. Your blood is what carries oxygen to your nails. Massaging the skin encourages blood to the surface, thus bringing more oxygen to your nails. The best way to do this is to use cuticle oil and gently massage it into the skin surrounding the nails. You can do this even when you have nail enhancements on.

This includes nail files, buffers, cuticle pusher, cuticle nippers, nail clippers etc. By doing so, you risk cross-contamination which could lead to infections.

Our nails can be an indicator for potential underlying issues. If the appearance, colour, smell, or shape changes, contact your GP for further investigation. If you suspect an infection, please reschedule your appointment for after it has fully healed and you have been given the green light from your GP.

This can cause a lot of pain and potentially become infected. If you find that you have a hangnail, take a pair of clean nail clippers and clip it off. Applying cuticle oil regularly can prevent hang nails.

Please wear gloves as this can prevent any potential discolouration and service breakdown. If you’re going on holiday, it is important to remember that your manicure may not last as long. Chemicals in sunscreen and swimming pools can lead to service breakdown.