Product Lifting

When your gel polish lifts at the free edge — the tip of the nail — it is often because the free edge has not been sealed thoroughly with base coat, color coat, and top coat.

It can also happen if the seal has worn away over time. This may occur, for example, if you have filed your nails afterwards, use a computer frequently at work, or often have your hands in water, such as when cleaning.

Gel polish is not a flexible product, which means that if your natural nail bends underneath the gel polish, it may loosen from the tip of the nail. The product can also lift if the nail has been exposed to impact, as this can damage the gel polish and cause it to loosen.

When the product lifts around the cuticle area, it is typically because the nail prep has not been thorough enough when removing the invisible cuticle and excess cuticle.

The product can also lift from the nail if the nail plate has not been dehydrated enough with cleanser. It is therefore important to thoroughly cleanse the nail plate all the way up to the cuticle before you begin application. The product can also lift if it has come into contact with the cuticle, as this will cause lifting right from the start.

This can also happen if the base coat has not been applied thoroughly enough, as a color coat cannot adhere to the natural nail and will therefore loosen quickly.

When a product lifts along the sides of the nail, it is usually because the nail has not been cleansed thoroughly enough with cleanser.

A color coat is not a flexible product, which means that if your nail bends beneath it, the product may lift from the nail. If you experience this, we recommend using our builder gel.

When your products lift off in one piece, it is often because the nail has not been prepped thoroughly enough, including removing any invisible cuticle, buffing the nail, and cleansing the nail plate.

If the nail is not dehydrated properly, the products will not adhere to the nail. The product can also lift off in one piece if you have skipped key products such as base coat, or if your products have been applied in layers that are too thick.

Your products may begin to lift from the nail if your nails are very oily. Some people naturally have oilier nails than others.

In this case, it is important to cleanse the nail thoroughly with cleanser before application. It may also be a good idea to use a PH bond, which helps dehydrate the nail plate, or a primer, which creates a bonding layer on the nail.

Your product can lift from any part of the nail if it comes into even the slightest contact with the skin.

This creates an air pocket that makes it easy for moisture, oils, and bacteria to get underneath, which can lead to nail conditions such as nail fungus and greenie, as well as reduce wear time.

If the layers of product are too thick, they may not cure properly. This can result in bubbling, wrinkling, and peeling or lifting.

We recommend applying several thin layers rather than fewer thick layers to achieve better curing and longer-lasting results. Layers that are too thick can leave uncured product on your nail plate for an extended period of time, which may increase the risk of developing an allergic reaction.