How to make your gel, BIAB or acrylics last longer
The first 24 hours, the daily habit that doubles wear time, the one thing you should never do, and how often to come back for each type of set.
A great set of nails should look good on day 14, not just day one. How long it lasts depends partly on the service and partly on what happens once you leave the chair.
Here's the aftercare we'd give a friend.
The first day
Gel, Shellac, BIAB and Gel-X are fully cured under the lamp before you leave, so they're dry and hard straight away. Acrylic sets completely too. Still, go easy for the first day:
- Skip very long hot baths, hot tubs and saunas.
- Hold off on harsh cleaning products.
- Don't test your new set by opening cans or peeling stickers.
The daily habit that makes the biggest difference
Cuticle oil. Every day, ideally twice. It keeps your natural nail and the skin around it flexible, so the product underneath moves with your nail instead of cracking or lifting. It also makes even a two-week-old manicure look fresh.
A drop per nail, rubbed into the cuticle and along the sides. That's it.
Things that shorten a manicure's life
- Hot water and cleaning products. Wear gloves for dishes and cleaning. This is the number one cause of lifting.
- Using your nails as tools. Opening cans, scraping labels, prying lids. Use the side of your finger or an actual tool.
- Sunscreen and some lotions can dull top coat over time. Wipe your nails after applying.
- Picking. If an edge starts to lift, it's very tempting to pick at it. Don't.
Never peel it off
We can't say this enough. When you peel or bite off gel, Shellac, BIAB or acrylic, the product doesn't let go cleanly. It pulls off the top layers of your natural nail with it. That's why nails look thin, white and bendy after a peeling habit, and why they can take months to grow back to normal.
If your set is lifting, chipped or you're simply done with it, come in for a proper removal. It's quick, and it's the single best thing you can do for your natural nails.
When something goes wrong
- A chip or crack: come in for a fix before it catches and gets worse.
- Lifting at the edge: don't glue it, don't push it back down. Book a fix or an early infill. Lifted product can trap water underneath.
- A greenish spot under the product: this can be a bacterial infection that likes moisture trapped under lifted nails. Don't cover it with more colour. Have the product removed and see your doctor or pharmacist if it doesn't clear.
How often to come back
Every set is different, but as a rough guide:
| Service | Typical wear | What's next |
|---|---|---|
| Shellac or gel colour | 2 to 3 weeks | New colour or removal |
| BIAB (builder gel) | 3 to 4 weeks | Infill |
| Bio Gel | 2 to 3 weeks | Refill |
| Gel-X | 3 to 4 weeks | New set or removal |
| Acrylic | 2 to 3 weeks | Refill |
Fingernails grow roughly three to four millimetres a month, so the gap at the cuticle is usually what decides it. Leaving a set much longer puts more weight on the tip, which is when breaks happen.
Between appointments
- Oil daily, hand cream after washing.
- Keep a fine file in your bag to smooth any rough edge right away.
- Wear gloves outside in winter. Cold, dry air makes natural nails under your set more brittle.
Need a fix, an infill or a proper removal? Book online and choose the service. There's no need to wait for your next full set.
— The Luxify Nails team
