I've had gel nail overlays - love the look, hate the maintenance. Know an alternative that just grows out?

Question

Gel nails require a fill every 2 - 3 weeks. I just want a thin overlay that I can just grow out, but will keep my nails from breaking and hold the polish like gels do.

Answer 1

Ok. Gel nails.  UV gel nails should be very thin and applied with liquid gels in layers...each layer cured under a uv light.  If they are thick then you might have been duped into getting powder gels with a uv top coat or your nail tech is sloppy.  UV gel nails should feel and look only slightly thicker than your natural nail.  My gel nails are often mistaken for natural because the gels are applied so nicely.  They are thin but not so thin that you'd be afraid to break them  They also hold up way better than acrylic nails.  

Real UV gel nails (not a uv top coat over acrylic) DO hold nail polish way better than natural nails because your natural nail beds are oily.

Buff down the gels with a 3 way nail buffer and grow out the gels if you like.  Make sure not to buff all the way into the nail bed.

My advice is to find a better nail tech to apply the gels properly OR just go natural and use a super sticky base coat and an extra strong top coat to hold your nail polish better.  Also use OPI Nail Envy and this should help stop your natural nails from breaking.

IF UV gel nails are applied the right way and are true gels, you will only need to fill them every 3-5 weeks.

They do not lift if done right.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

You must be talking about acrylic nails because gels do NOT hold polish well at all. Nail polish adheres to acrylic nails much better. But to answer your question, no, there aren't any alternatives but to let your real nails grow out and polish those...