Why has this happened?

[Violet Star]

Hi Geeks,

A few days ago i done my mum Natural nail overlay and today the gel on her thumb had chipped off (this is unusal as gel isnt meant to do this) i think it was because i applied it too thick!

Anyway the problem is her nail has split down the middle its quite far down and you can see a line going all the way down her nail and she is worried incase her whole nail split, why has this happened? and is it likely that her nail will split all the way down?

thanks :hug:

 

[gillian w]

If it was very thick it could have shrunk and put a lot of pressure on the nail almost squeezing it then it gave way which is why it chipped off.If her nails were not particularly strong you could get a split.Did it feel tender to her when you had just put it on ?

 

[Bagpuss]

To be honest the only time i have found that gel chips is when its too thin...and not capped.

Chips can happen but they wont happen on their own...she must have banged or caught it to chip.

The white line you mention sounds to be like lifting caused by air getting in where the chip has happened....just gently file off the gel and re-apply.

Doing NNO's doesn't mean applying like polish (not that i am saying you did this)...people sometimes think that cos no tip has been applied that they don't need to build any strength....thats fine to a certain extent depending on the length of the nails...but the overlay must be able to withstand knocks and when the nail gets knocks the natural nail under will flex, if the gel is too thin then it cracks and chips under the pressure of that flex....so build the overlay thicker to withstand the natural nail flexing.

 

[Violet Star]

Thanks for your help guys. I think perhaps i didnt cap it then hence it chipping.

But the white line down her nail isnt on the gel its on her actual nail it looks as though its going to split even more

 

[Bagpuss]

well maybe thats a stress mark from where she knocked/banged it...?

Lifting isn't on the gel either...its an area that looks paler than the rest due to air being between the gel and the nail...

either way the damage has been done so remove the gel carefully and see what the nail looks like from there...then re overlay it..capping the free edge.