12 Ways to Treat (and Avoid) Gel Polish Lifting

Do Not Pick

If you like nothing more than picking at a two-week-old manicure, let this be a warning to you. "Our nails are made up of about 25 layers of keratinized skin cells, and peeling off gels will take off those top protective layers, causing the nail to become thinner, weaker, and uneven," says Snow.

Mercedes reiterates how bad picking is for your nails. "When you peel off any nail enhancement, you rip off layers of your nail plate and make your nail weaker and cause your nails to chip more. It's a vicious cycle," she says. Jeopardizing the strength of your nails by peeling gel polish can lead to white spots and stress breaks.

Add a Layer of Top Coat

So, in short, if you notice your manicure has started to peel, do not start picking. Mercedes' three-step method? "File the nail where the chip happened, don't pick [at the nail], and seal it with a top coat." It's as easy as that. For those who have busy hands and can't stay still, Mercedes recommends a fast-drying top coat, like Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat ($6).

Cap the Free Edge

After filing near the chip, apply a thin layer over the top of the polish, and seal the edge by painting over the tip of the nail. This will help your manicure hold out until you can get to the salon to have the gels removed.

Prevent Chipping When You Can

As with many things, prevention is far better than attempting a cure. Snow recommends wearing gloves when washing up and cleaning and avoiding opening boxes or cans to increase the longevity of your gel manicure.

For those nail-biters out there—keep your hands away from your mouth. It can be tempting, we know, but for the safety of your manicure (and your health), nix the finger-chomping. "Don't use your nails as tools!" Mercedes says. She also says to avoid super hot water when washing your hands and showering.

Keep Hands Moisturized

If you do end up picking at your nails, make sure you still keep your hands and nails moisturized. "Apply hand cream after every hand wash, and regularly massage cuticle oil over the gelled nail to encourage flexibility and prevent chipping," Snow adds. Glossier's Hand Cream ($18) combines ingredients such as meadowfoam seed oil and coconut fruit extract to moisturize hands without leaving them feeling greasy.

To avoid dry, cracked hands, it's also worth considering the brand of gel used. Snow uses Bio Sculpture Gel, which doesn't require primers, bonders, or harsh buffing to be removed.

Invest in Cuticle Oil

Investing in cuticle oil can keep both your nails and skin healthy. The nutrient-rich oils can boost circulation around the nail, helping them grow. Plus, it can also protect your polish. Mercedes' favorite cuticle oil—which she recommends using twice a day—is the Famous Names Dadi Oil ($24), which is full of nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil and vitamin E.

Use Thin Coats of Polish

Whether it's an at-home mani or done by a professional, the key to a long-lasting, non-peeling gel manicure is thin, smooth layers. It can be easier to do a thick, single layer to save time, but it won't help you in the long run: Thick layers will peel easier, or even worse, they can be prime for the picking. (Meaning the moment you feel a tiny lift, you'll be digging at your nails). To avoid all of this, start thin and build your color.

Keep Your Hands Dry For Your Mani

It may sound redundant but try to keep your hands as dry as possible on the day of your manicure. The less malleable and flexible your nails are, the more likely they are to break or get caught on something, and keeping your hands dry is a great way to avoid this. Moisture and nail polish are true enemies for life, and you want to keep them far, far away from each other.

Stay Away From The Clippers

We know, we know—it can be deeply tempting to make sure your nails aren't growing too long, or maybe you have a jagged edge—plenty of reasons to pull out your clipper and nail file and go to town. But using clippers and files will break down the seal, which will cause lifting and peeling, so just let your nails be.

Take Downtime Between Manis

Ever heard of "nail dehydration?" Your nails need access to water and air as much as the rest of your body, and going back-to-back with gel manicures is like suffocating your nailbeds, which can lead to damage and breakage. Both wearing gel manicures and the removal process can be a lot for your fingers to handle, so take time between gel applications. Your fingers will thank you.

Don't Wait Too Long

It can be massively tempting to want to see how long your gel manicure can last without chipping but try to avoid doing anything of the sort. A gel mani should last you two to three weeks maximum before running the risk of potential damage to your nail beds. When you go too long with a gel manicure, you run the risk of weakened nails and the potential for moisture to cause some issues—once the gel starts to lift, it can lead to moisture gathering under the gel, which can be tough to clean and can lead to bacterial growth.

Leave Removal to the Pros

It's best to leave gel removal to the pros. "The removal at a salon will probably go quicker and presumably more safely," explains Mercedes. "Tools and techniques that quality nail technicians use will remove the top coat more thoroughly, allowing acetone to soak color gel quicker."