Why Do My Polygel Nails Pop Off?
Polygel Nails are a great way to add polish to your hands without having to worry about them drying out or cracking. They’re also easy to apply and remove. But what if they start popping off? Read on to find out why!
When it comes to artificial nails, polygel nails stand out since they are one of the best in the industry. Polygel nails are equally durable as they can last up to a maximum of four weeks. These types of nails enhancement are safe as they help keep the nails healthy. What’s more, the nail technician is protected as well since there are no fumes that can cause headaches.
Polygel nails are your best bet when it comes to nail enhancements because they have very little chemical. This means that they won’t eat away your natural nails as long as you get them to securely stay on the nails without popping off.
Why Do My Polygel Nails Pop Off?
There are several reasons why polygel nails pop off in less than four weeks. Some of these problems are caused by issues during the process of nail preparation, the state of your natural nails, nail application issues and failure to use the right products that help them adhere properly on the nail plate.
The most common mistake that nail technicians often think that they can get away with when applying polygel nails is flooding the nail with a lot of slip solution. This instead prevents it from hardening properly. If the polygel nail doesn’t harden, then it tends to slip around or pop off from the nail plate.
The best thing about polygel nails is that you can get any look. However, there are no guarantees that the nail plate will comfortably support the nail if its longer. This is because polygel nails lack an ideal base on natural nails since its more susceptible to popping the nail off or stress that can make it snap.
Sometimes, your polygel nails might just pop off, not because you are doing anything wrong but due to certain tendencies of your natural nails. Fortunately, there’s a solution for those with oily fingers and nails.
The polygel nails won’t stick properly on the nail plate if you don’t file and buff the nails before application. Consequently, they can pop off easily.
Using a nail hydrator is equally important as it helps prevent these artificial nails from slipping off the fingers since replacement was long overdue.
The period in which the polygel nails will stick on securely without popping off also depends on the Ph levels in the nails.
Sometimes, finding the root cause of the problem requires you to evaluate the base coat.
1. Is the Slip Solution Too Much?
Slip solution helps thin out polygel nails to make it malleable and easy to move around in nail form. The chemical solution not only has to be strong but also curing resistant to help thin out the polygel. This draws us to the conclusion that too much slip solution makes polygel nails not to cure properly. Sometimes, it doesn’t even cure!
RECOMMENDED: How to Make Slip Solution for Nails
Most slip solutions contain isopropyl alcohol and isobutyl acetate although they vary depending on the brand. You can opt for other alternative solutions like acetone-free nail polish remover, gel base coats and rubbing alcohol. However, polygel nails need to maintain their structural integrity and these solutions are not capable of doing that which makes the nails liquify in certain areas. This especially happens in some of the deep parts of the nails where the UV light did not penetrate fully.
Some nail technicians use acetone as an alternative for slip solution. However, that’s the product used to remove polygel nails. When it comes to polygel, acetone is quite powerful since it tends to eat it away instead of thinning it out. Some people still argue that using acetone in small amounts works just fine but you should know that even the tiniest of amounts still eats away the adhesive capabilities of polygel.
Using acetone interferes with the curing process since it can make your nails take longer to cure or not cure at all. This can result in sunburns on your fingers. Some people use a hand sanitizer as an alternative for slip solution since they assume the two have the same ingredients. However, save for isopropyl alcohol, a hand sanitizer contains other different ingredients that can get make it hard for polygel nails to adhere properly on the nail plate or even cure as it should.
You cannot use water in place of a slip solution.
2. Are Your Nails Too Long?
You can go for other artificial nail alternatives if you prefer having longer nails since polygel is not ideal for extra length. You need an adjusted well-built nail that fits properly on the nail plate for support. Thankfully, you can make your nails perfect without necessarily compromising on structural integrity.
The tip and the apex should be big enough when building the nail to comfortably support your desired length. In addition, the nail has to be thin to fit on the finger perfectly well without the polygel getting attached to the skin.
The nails tend to pop off prematurely or lift when the polygel nails tend to extend further than the length of your natural nails. However, your natural nails should also be long enough to support your polygel nails.
Those with short and thin nail plates find trouble attaching polygel nails securely as compared to their counterparts with long and wide nail plates.
The nail plate should equally be strong to comfortably support the entire weight of nails if they are longer.
The polygel nails should be thicker if it’s only the nail tip that tends to pop off.
The determining factor of the length of the nails you choose to go for should be the type of day-to-day activities that you engage in. For instance, if you type for a living, then shorter polygel nails would be ideal. If you usually lift heavy things, play sports, sew, wash dishes, do laundry among other activities then you are more prone to your polygel nails popping off.
Artificial nails that are super long can equally cause damage to your natural nails. This makes it hard for people to give their nails the necessary break they so much deserve in an attempt to cover up the affected nail.
When it comes to wearing artificial nails, the health of your nails should always come first in the long term. If you are looking to keep your nails healthy and young, then you can forgo the short-term appearance for a while for best results.
Nail Type and Polygel Nails
Just like any other part of the body, the type of nails is equally unique since it plays a significant role when it comes to nail preparation and treatment. There are four different types of nails including sensitive nails, oily nails, dry nails and a combination of all the three.
You can spot dry nails easily by just looking at them especially if they are not being treated right. This type of nail tends to chip, flake and crack frequently leaving the cuticles equally cracked and flaked. To solve this issue, it’s usually advisable to take a break from getting the nails done to apply Vitamin E treatment on the cuticles and the nail plate alike. If your hands are dry, then the nails will also be dry. In this case, you can use hand lotions that are rich in oil all through the day.
Those with oily nails have a noticeable shine on them without necessarily applying any product. It’s probably better than having flaky and cracked nails but can make applying artificial nails harder. With oily nails, even the traditional nail polish can’t adhere properly on the nail plate. Most people with oily nails also have oily hands and fingers. If you have oily nails, the nail polish tends to flake off within a few days.
Those with sensitive nails are usually more prone to nail pain, damage and trauma which can affect the way the nails grow permanently. The nails tend to become red due to irritation resulting in pain. It’s always important to know the root cause of your nail sensitivity if its from spread of bacteria, infection or any allergic reaction. Ensure you seek medical attention from a dermatologist if it occurs frequently since the swelling causes polygel nails to lift or pop off prematurely.
3. Not Using the Nail Dehydrator
If your wear artificial nails frequently and the tend to lift, pop off or not adhere properly especially if you have oily nails, never forget to use the nail dehydrator. Using a nail hydrator to treat your nails helps reduce the risk of bacterial and fungal infections. Plus, it makes them last longer.
Using a nail dehydrator is very important when it comes to wearing artificial nails such as gels, acrylics and polygel nails. Most of us need all the tools in the nail care department to make them last longer. Dehydrators usually come in handy since they give the nails long-lasting durability up to a maximum of three weeks before they pop off or slip away.
What’s more, nail dehydrators make filing easy as it dries up oil which makes the nail surface more adhesive. This way, your nails will adhere on the nail plate properly since they won’t be sliding around making them look more consistent. Plus, they’ll need very little maintenance and repairs. You’ll save a few coins on nail enhancement with longer lifespan and fewer repairs here and there.
If the dehydrator is not up to task, then you can try pairing it up with a primer, should be non-acid based to help make the nail more adhesive. You’ll want to use a primer from the same brand as the nail dehydrator for best results. However, you need to be cautious when using the nail primer since it makes taking off the polygel nails harder.
A combination of a nail primer and nail dehydrator create a super strong bond. This means that you’ll have to soak your nails for longer and use more acetone to if you want to take off your polygel nails. However, if the nail dehydrator works just fine for you, then there’s no need to include the nail primer.
Why the Solution You are Using Should Have a PH Balance
Water with a pH balance is a fad in matters health. However, a pH balanced solution for the nails is medically proven as it helps create an adhesive surface for polygel nails since it controls the acidity of the nails. Consequently, it helps the nails securely stay in place for longer without slipping away or popping off. When your manicure tends to pop off or chip prematurely especially when it comes to polygel nails, then that’s a clear indication that the Ph balance is a little off. Fortunately, this is an easy fix as it requires you to go an extra mile during the nail treatment process.
When the nails are more acidic, it prevents them from forming extra grease. More grease tends to form on the nails when they become more alkaline since it blocks the polish from properly adhering to your nails. Using a pH balance solution when treating your nails can cost up about $ 10 on the higher end but is saves you both time and money for repairing and replacing your manicures. The solution takes a few minutes to dry and remains virtually invisible underneath your artificial nails and nail polish.
Not Buffing Properly
Not buffing the polygel nails properly can make them slip away or pop off. It can also cause nail damage depending on the severity of the buffing whether over or under buffed. Buffing correctly usually helps strengthen the polygel hold on the nail plate which in turn strengthens its structural integrity.
You may not be paying attention to type of nail file you use especially if you are normally do your nails at home. Most people believe that all nail files are the same telling them apart depending on how coarse or fine they are. However, nail files are usually graded. If the number is higher, then the nail file is finer and vice versa. This means that the nail files are coarser as the numbers decrease with the coarsest having an 80/80 grit.
Coarser nail files have long-lasting durability and work well even with the thickest of nails. However, you should be more careful with this type of nail file since you are likely to over-file the nails. Don’t use the 80/80 grit on your natural nails as it will not only damage the nail bed and nail plate but also tear the nail to pieces.
Nail files with 100 grit are ideal for filing down the edges and length of the nails. This nail file is coarser than most of its counterparts but not as much as the 80/80 grit nail file. There are the 180 grit and 150 grit nail files as well. 240 grit is the best nail file grit when preparing the nail plate to apply polygel nails. It has a low corrosive surface that gives the nails the perfect texture to secure the new nails without compromising on the gentleness of the nail surface.
You Need a Good Base Coat
The base coat could be the problem if nothing seems to help the polygel nails adhere properly to the nail plate. Using a cheaper base coat can save you a few dollars but investing in a better one saves you the repairs and replacements every so often.
A better base coat helps smooth out the nails and prevents them from staining. Plus, it makes your polygel nails last longer. You can go for a base coat that provides your nails with calcium and keratin if they are healing.
How to Keep Your Polygel Nails Longer
Create an ideal base for the artificial nails if you want to increase their lifespan. Your polygel nails will have a stronger base to hod on to if your nails are healthy. Remember to take a few breaks here and there to allow your natural nails to heal and grow stronger.