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05-17-2026 09:13 PM - edited 05-17-2026 09:15 PM
I've been doing my own nails after having the fakes removed and growing out the damage.About three weeks ago I decided to get a gel manicure, just a mani w gel polish, no tips. The tech used a dremel file to go over my nails first. She went around the cuticles and all over. So a couple days ago I went to have the gel soaked off, idea being I will resume doing my own nails with regular polish at home. The tech used a dremel again, to remove most of the polish, then soaked the little bit that was left.
Now I have damaged nails again from that file. Not nearly as bad as if I'd had tips and gels or dip, but still- there's a definite line and my nail beds are rough. Is this how a gel mani is done these days? I thought it would be like a regular mani but with gel polish-just soaking in a bowl, cuticle work, hand filing and shaping. ???
05-17-2026 09:34 PM
I've never had a tech use a Dremel tool for a gel mani. They have only ever used acetone soaked pads with foil outer wraps.
I found these types of wraps at Target during Covid. Life saver as I had a gel mani when everything shut down. They were Target brand I think and 20 to a box.
05-17-2026 10:14 PM
Recently, my nails were beautiful. They grew long and strong.
I got some gel polish as a gift. I should have tossed it. Instead, I used it and my Nails are awful, brittle and crunchy.
I removed the gel polish with a remover, not a dremel.
No more gel polish for me.
05-17-2026 10:46 PM
I've had gel nails and it damaged my nails just as much as acrylics/powder had previously done.
I saw an ad for Nail-Aid Keratin 3 Day Growth polish. I started using it. It's pretty inexpensive for what it is. I give it 200 stars! My nails stopped breaking and became very strong. Highly recommend it.
I now get a mani about once a month, and bring the polish to use for a top coat.
05-17-2026 11:31 PM - edited 05-17-2026 11:34 PM
@smoochy that was pretty unprofessional of her. A Dremel should never be used to remove polish. She just didn't have the proper polish remover, and was lazy, imo. A Dremel will damage not only the nail, but if used on cuticlescan permanently damage nail. When you get to the bed, where new nail grows the Dremel (or even over zealous filing) can injure nail bed. It is soft there. Damage often can cause dented, or wavy nails. There is special remover for gel. That stuff is hard. There is a new kind of gel that is better on nails. Forgot name right now. There is a special remover as well for all gels. Gel polish , remover and products aren't cheap either. Sorry this hooe Ned..
05-18-2026 12:06 AM
@shoekitty wrote:@smoochy that was pretty unprofessional of her. A Dremel should never be used to remove polish. She just didn't have the proper polish remover, and was lazy, imo. A Dremel will damage not only the nail, but if used on cuticlescan permanently damage nail. When you get to the bed, where new nail grows the Dremel (or even over zealous filing) can injure nail bed. It is soft there. Damage often can cause dented, or wavy nails. There is special remover for gel. That stuff is hard. There is a new kind of gel that is better on nails. Forgot name right now. There is a special remover as well for all gels. Gel polish , remover and products aren't cheap either. Sorry this hooe Ned..
you know what, I did ask why a dremel was needed. She said its faster. Grrr. Thanks for clarifying how the damage occurs because of such laziness.i have some products that will get my nails into good shape pretty quickly. No more so called gel manicures.
05-18-2026 07:52 AM
@smoochy Oh, no dremel! I would have stopped her immediately.
05-18-2026 08:55 AM
I have been getting gel mannies for a very long time, probably 20 years, usually a french. NO ONE has ever touched my nails with a dremel. EVER. I arrive 15 minutes before my scheduled time, they immediately wrap my nails with acetone pads and put gloves on me. The polish is quickly removed.
05-18-2026 08:57 AM
@smoochy I'm sorry. Hopefully your nails will grow out quickly.
You go to a "professional" & you trust them.
I would keep my nails trimmed & moisturized until the damage is gone.
I don't do nail polish because I don't have pretty hands & nothing seems to stay on my nails.
I did just buy some Lily & Fox Nail Wraps that I am going to try. It may be a waste but they were only $2.99 a set with free shipping.
05-18-2026 08:58 AM
I don't want a dremel used on my nails, ruins them for sure.
In fact, I'm thinking about doing my own nails now. Seems like mani/pedis are getting expensive in my area and are no longer worth it to me -- or my natural nails.
There's many nail salons in my area and can't say anything good about any of them.
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