Marti

99% of the damage done to natural nails from wearing acrylics is done by the nail technician when they over-file the natural nail with a heavy grit file or a drill. My first question for you is hoe did you remove the nails? Dis you crack them off with nippers, or did you gently file them from the nail plate? Gel is not a porous product so it cannot be soaked off, it has to be gently filed off the nail plate. If you cracked it off with nippers, it not only breaks off loose material, it tears up good tight material which in turn rips up layers of your natural nail plate.

If the nail plate is rough and uneven, you can buff it with a 3-way buffer available at your local Sally Beauty Supply. Buff with the black side, then the white side then the gray side to buff to a high shine. Do not over-file. You just want to lightly buff away and 'layering' of the nail plate cells. File off as much length as you can and keep them short until the nail plate has completely replaced itself from cuticle to free edge. This can take anywhere from 3-6 months depending on your genetics for nail growth. While you are at Sally's, get a bottle of Botanical Oil from the nail department. Apply twice daily and massage into the nail plate and the cuticles. This will keep the nail plate hydrated and flexible until it grows in. You should oil the nails twice daily after they have grown back in to help prevent cracking and breaking from a dried out nail plate.

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