Is Gel Polish Bad for Your Nails? The Truth and the Right Way to Do It

This is the question VESSCA hears most from first-time guests. The short answer: gel polish is not what damages your nails — the way it's removed is.

What really happens to your nails

Gel sits on top of the nail and is cured under a UV/LED lamp. It doesn't soak into the nail or "eat" it. Properly applied gel actually protects the natural nail from knocks and breaks. The problems come at three points:

• Prep filing — only the shine needs to be lightly buffed so gel can bond. Filing deeper removes natural nail.
• Removal — the riskiest step. Prying, peeling or heavy drilling takes layers of nail cells with it.
• Leaving gel too long — as the nail grows, gel still grips the tip, pulling on the nail and making it peel.

Nails that thin out after a few manicures almost always point to poor removal, not to the gel.

Proper removal — and why it takes time

Done properly, it takes 15–20 minutes and there is never a "crack":

1. File off only the shiny top coat.
2. Wrap each nail in acetone-soaked cotton and foil for 10–15 minutes.
3. The gel softens and slides off with a gentle push from a wooden stick. If force is needed, it hasn't soaked long enough — wrap for 5 more minutes.
4. Apply cuticle oil and hand cream afterwards, as acetone dries the skin.

If a technician has ever removed your gel in three minutes with a drill, that is why your nails got thinner.

Keeping nails healthy with regular manicures

• Cuticle oil every night — the simplest, most effective habit.
• Don't use nails as tools — peeling labels and prying lids create tiny cracks.
• Wear gloves for washing up — hot water and detergent make nails swell and peel.
• Take a 1–2 week break after 3–4 sets if nails feel soft or look dull.

When to stop

Give your nails a rest if they curl up as they grow, the surface ripples, they hurt when pressed, or white spots persist. That's the time for a strengthening base instead of colour gel. At VESSCA your technician checks your natural nails first and will tell you plainly if they need a break.

VESSCA is at 251/30 Le Quang Dinh, Gia Dinh ward (Binh Thanh), Ho Chi Minh City, open 9:00–20:30 daily.