What causes gel nails to lift and how can lifting be prevented? | Sally Beauty

What causes gel nails to lift and how can lifting be prevented?

There are many things that can cause lifting. The best way to prevent lifting is to properly prep the nail before applying. Push the cuticle back and removing non-living tissue from the nail plate. Then, take a medium grit nail file (around 150 grit) and gently rough up the surface of the nail. This rougher surface will allow the base coat to stick and grip to the nail better. Be careful not to damage the natural nail, just gently remove the shine from the nail. Remove any dust and dehydrate the nail to prep for the next steps. Then, you can proceed with applying your base coat, gel polish, and top coat. Avoiding getting gel on the cuticle area will also reduce the chance of lifting. Keep in mind that simple things like mineral oil, suntan oils and some cleaning solutions can lift any nail extensions.