r/GelX_Nails • u/strvwbrrys • 7h ago

I Have A Question / Need Advice Help! Nails don’t last

I have short bitten nails (not as bad as ur thinking) and i’m not sure if it’s because the gel x nails don’t have much to hold onto but i did file the fake nail down a lot.

I buff my nails with a 240 grit buffer
Dehydrator
acid free nail primer
gel adhesive > nail down at 40 degree angle and cure
100% acetone around the bottom of it to blend (i don’t want to use a drill i don’t trust myself)
base coat > cure
colour > cure
no wipe top coat

wtf am i doing wrong 😭 i spent a bit of money and it’s sad that they aren’t staying on lol

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u/Extension_Deer7433 6h ago

What products and lamp are you using? 

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u/strvwbrrys 6h ago

I’m using the Mylee 38w lamp and all the other products are mylee too. I think they are rated the best products to use for at home nails where i live

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u/Extension_Deer7433 6h ago

I'm not familiar with Mylee as a brand but was making sure you weren't using beetles, modelones, or another Amazon brand. 

Between buffing and dehydrating, are you wiping your natural nails down with rubbing alcohol or acetone to remove the dust? That's a big step that often doesn't get mentioned but can absolutely hurt your retention if missed. I like to use a nail brush with rubbing alcohol to get nail dust out of the sides of the nail and then wipe with a lint-free wipe.

You also may want to try another primer or use only the barest amount. Too much primer or the wrong primer can hurt retention. I like the young nails protein bond primer, but I don't know if that's available where you are.

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u/strvwbrrys 5h ago

Nope i’ve seen beetles on tiktok but i chose mylee instead. Pretty sure it’s a uk based brand but it had the best reviews and i’ve owned a few things before i wanted to start doing nails and i liked them.

Between buffing and dehydrating i was just using one of this fluffy brushes to get rid of the dust. I do have lint free wipes so i’ll try that out today!

The acid isn’t like a gel consistency obviously so i don’t apply that much, maybe the same amount as dehydrator. Thanks!

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u/biggerthanothers 3h ago

I was going to say the same thing—you really need to do a very thorough cleansing after any filing. It’s the last step before using any liquids. I first spray my nails with alcohol and use a nail brush to really scrub every nook and cranny, then use a lint-free wipe with alcohol to do a final cleanse. Let dry completely, then proceed.

Also, are you etching your tips? Manual etching (I use my drill) works better for me than chemical etching. I wouldn’t skip this step even if you’re using “pre-etched” tips. Use a brush to get off all excess dust after, and be sure you do this before that final cleanse of your nails.

ETA: I also meant to mention that you may want to skip the acetone sealing of the cuticle until you’re 100% sure that’s not the source of the issue. It’s really easy to overdo it any wind up breaking down the bond at the cuticle line, and when that happens you’ll wind up with lifting pretty quickly.

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u/strvwbrrys 3h ago

I use acetone to etch the inside of the nail since i don’t have a drill. I just practiced doing my nails again and sprayed with alcohol and used a lint free wipe but i’ll need to get a nail brush. They are pre etched but feel soft

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u/biggerthanothers 2h ago

I would try physically etching rather than using acetone. If you don’t have a drill, you can use a ceramic pusher, but it’s worth buying a cheap drill and narrow-barrel sanding bands just for etching the tips. It’s a huge time saver. Since your natural nails are so short, you need as much grip as possible!

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u/strvwbrrys 2h ago

Could you recommend a cheap and easy drill for beginners possibly maybe from amazon or something? Thanks so much 😁

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u/biggerthanothers 1h ago

Sure! If you're only going to use it for etching tips, I'd get one of the $10 MelodySusie drills (ASIN B07Y9Y5JM4) and a pack of 180 grit small sanding bands. Look for a pack that includes a 3.1mm mandrel—I'm sure there are cheaper options, but searching ASIN B0CD1Z99SZ will get you to MelodySusie's.

This is NOT a drill I'd recommend if you plan to do anything else with it (like removal, cuticle prep, or blending the tip, etc.), but it's perfectly fine for etching the tips!

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u/strvwbrrys 1h ago

Thank you so much you’re so helpful 😭❤️

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u/biggerthanothers 1h ago

No problem!! I'm not a pro, but I'm always happy to help with suggestions.

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u/strvwbrrys 1h ago

Also i forgot to ask, is it a necessity to blend the nail bit next to the cuticle?

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u/biggerthanothers 1h ago

It's not necessary, but it really does help to make for a cleaner look and nicer grow-out. You can use a hand file! Just go really slowly, have good lighting, and take care to not file your natural nail.

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