Frustrated with soak off gel (Le Chat)

[Nail Perfection]

I am new to le chat soak off gel but have done a few sets. One of my clients gets on well with her nails and I am waiting to find out how a couple of new clients have got on with theirs.

The problem is when I do my own nails. I am finding that my index fingernail which has a wee bit of length is peeling off straight after! The gel seems very soft and peels off in one piece! I didn't have this problem when I first started using le chat and it does seems to be worst on the index finger. I have recently changed from a 9 watt to a 36 watt lamp but I don't imagine this would cause this problem?

I prepare the nail thoroughly, removing cuticle and scrubbing with sanitiser followed by primer. I then apply one thin coat of nobility clear, cure for 2 mins followed by a second coat slightly thicker and cure for 3 mins. I try my best to cap the free edge. Is there a technique to this "capping" as I may not be doing this correctly but I am pretty sure I am.

Any advise would be great. I have considered trying another brand but as others do fine with Le Chat, I am guessing that it must be me and not the product!

Any pointers please?

 

[Purelynailz]

Hi,

I would pm angelfingers, she is a educator for lechat and should be able to give you the answers you need .

Hths

Hazex

 

[Nail Perfection]

Thanks.

I am finding that the gel feels very soft and rubbery even when cured?
I just wondered if this was normal for soak off gels in general?

 

[Bagpuss]

compared to non soak off gels i think all soak off gels feel rubbery...all the ones i have used do. Thats why i don't like them...filing on them is horrid...its like trying to file a rubber band IMO...i think thats why alot of people just tend to soak them off and redo them every few visits...where as non soak of gels can be filed find and therefore just in-filled/rebalanced at each visit.

 

[Nail Perfection]

Thanks Angie, at least I know that it's normal for them to feel "rubbery"

I am used to acrylic and am finding they are just not lasting at all on my nails. I would love for this to work for clients though as loads of them love the idea of a soak off gel.

 

[Nail Perfection]

Have just re-did them applying a 3rd coat and therefore building more of an apex. I think with my nails this could be the problem as they are naturally thin and bendy. I also paid particular attention to capping the free edge and freeze curing 2 nails at a time.

Fingers crossed!

 

[angel fingers]

lechats soak off gel is softer than their file off ones but not as soft as some other soak off brands. it actually files o.k and it is possible to rebalance if you dont want to soak off every time.

if nails are very flexible, adding some extra strength with a vertical apex really helps. ive got really thin and bendy nails myself and it works well for me.
if you scroll back through older posts on my blogspot you will find a tutorial that has a photo of what the free edge should look like when the ends are properly capped.

when you do the first layer you will get superior bonding if you use a very thin layer of gel and work it well in to the nail .

you may also like to try using the lechat gel top[in the red bottle . from the powder gel collection] as a top coat. it gives extra strength and gloss.

 

[Nail Perfection]

Thanks susan.

I have been studied your blogspot many a time! Just had onther look and I think its the pic of the coloured soak off gel that you mean, that shows the capped edges? If so then I think I may not have been putting enough product on. On the other hand, when i try the coloured gels, the dark ones, i feel i need at least 2 coats and this seems to make them too thick and easily peeled!

I will just have to keep practicing and maybe try the red top coat.

 

[angel fingers]

Thanks susan.

I have been studied your blogspot many a time! Just had onther look and I think its the pic of the coloured soak off gel that you mean, that shows the capped edges? If so then I think I may not have been putting enough product on. On the other hand, when i try the coloured gels, the dark ones, i feel i need at least 2 coats and this seems to make them too thick and easily peeled!

I will just have to keep practicing and maybe try the red top coat.

i'm sure you will get there with practice.
nobility is moving off the shelves like greased lightning, its a top seller, a lot of techs are loving it and i'm sure you will do too when you have had a little more practice with it.