I can't recall the last time I wore my nails bare. I've been wearing nail polish since I was a child.
When my nails are done, I feel more put together. While I used to do my nails at home, I've been having gel nails at a salon for the past few years.
Hard gel, also known as building gel, is my favorite type of gel to use on my nails.
It lasts longer than soft gel, is chip resistant, and strengthens nails so they don't bend or break (ideal for folks with long nails like me).
Hard gel, in my opinion, is the path to near-perfect nails.
However, there is one drawback to hard gel, and that is how difficult it is to remove.
To properly remove hard gel, first file or drill out the majority of it, then soak the remaining gel in acetone.
went to a manicure salon that wasn't equipped to remove hard gel a few months ago,
and I ended up with the most damaged nails I'd ever had—they were brittle, thin, and covered in unattractive scrapes.
My nails were in desperate need of some TLC. And I knew I needed to take a break from the hard gel to allow my nails to breathe.
Meanwhile, I needed to discover a means to fortify them.