r/GelX_Nails

Hi! I’ve recently started doing my own gel nails and I’m struggling to get them to last more than a few days.

The gel basically peels/lifts off from the bottom of the nail in one whole piece, rather than chipping away. It almost comes off like a false nail when I bend/lift it at the bottom.

My current prep/application is:
- Push back cuticles
- Lightly buff the natural nail to remove the shine
- Remove all dust
- Wipe with isopropyl alcohol
- Apply nail dehydrator
- Apply base coat
- Cure
-2 thin coats of colour, curing between each
Top coat and cure

I originally thought I wasn’t roughening the nail enough, so I was using a drill to rough up the natural nail, but I’ve stopped doing that because I don’t want to damage my nails.

All of my gel products are from SHEIN. My lamp is also from SHEIN and is one of those tiny pen-style lamps that can only cure one finger at a time.

Any advice would be massively appreciated! I’m just trying to get them to last more than 3-4 days 😂

hi all! nail tech about to do boards/ actually start in my salon space. interested in gel x, but wanting to do some research before i invest too much into it. i had a couple questions about it because my teacher didnt teach us specifically on it.

can you use onecuts on long tips? or do you need to file them down. not trimmers/clippers, the onecuts you use for acrylic tips.

can they be shortened with an e file?

what is the typical maintenance? is it viable to do fills, or is it something you fully remove every time?

thanks yall!

So, I'm still on the new side of Gel X nails. I've done them a handful of times on myself.

I struggle to keep them on. Even when I do the most tedious prepping under a magnifying glass and bright light.

I have super flat nails, almost ski slope nails (The free edge actually points and grows upwards a bit from my nail plate).

I love, LOVE the look of a defined apex and c-curve. But, I worry that this may be an issue as to why my retention isn't great. The Gel X nail isn't adhering to enough of my nail plate to get long retention.

So, as I'm currently prepping to do a new set, looking for nail art and color ideas, as well as retention tips, I was wondering, if I put some glue on the inside of the Gel X Nail and build it up, or down depending on how you look at it, would that increase retention?

My idea was to put some glue in the middle of the nail, cure it, then reapply the glue to the Gel X nail and my nail, apply the nail, then cure again.

Would builder gel work better?

Has anyone tried this before?

Or does anyone have experience with applying high-apex full-coverage tips to flat nails and getting good retention?

Thanks in advance for any tips and advice!!!