Anyone who’s ever made the switch from traditional polish to a gel manicure knows that gel is pretty damn magical. The polish stays shiny for weeks and you rarely get chips no matter how many dishes you hand wash or how hard you type on your keyboard. However, even though gel manicures seem like they’re indestructible, that’s not entirely the case.
I once had a gel manicure that looked great a week after getting it done, but my nails were starting to feel too long. I reached for a pair of clippers and a nail file and went to town, only for my gel polish to start peeling off afterward. My initial reaction was to blame the polish that my salon used, but then I wondered if my ruined manicure was, in fact, entirely my fault. To get to the bottom of my mani mishap, I turned to nail expert Amy Ling Lin.
Meet the expert
Amy Ling Lin is the founder of nail care brand Sundays, which is based in New York City.
Keep reading to determine whether you should—or shouldn’t—cut or file nails with a gel manicure.
How to Shorten Gel Nails
Don’t Cut or File
It turns out that cutting your nails is the worst thing you could possibly do when you have a gel manicure—whether it’s to fix a hangnail or to shorten your nails as your manicure grows out. “Trimming your nails will break the seal at the tip of your nail [created by the gel polish and UV light], making it more vulnerable to chipping, peeling, and snagging,” says Ling Lin.
So, what about filing your nails? You should avoid doing that too, if possible. “Gel manicures are sealed around the edges to keep it all intact and long-lasting, so filing your nails would most likely break this seal and make the manicure more susceptible to wear and tear,” explains Ling Lin.
If you have a jagged nail you will need to buff the nail gently to smooth it down, notes Ling Lin. Take great care when doing this so you cause as little damage as possible.
Get Another Manicure
Ling Lin recommends redoing any nails that need trimming or starting over with an entirely fresh manicure if your nails are just too long to handle. “The best option would be a fresh manicure or just a redo of that particular nail,” she says. “A fresh manicure nourishes the cuticle, moisturizes the nails, and creates a fresh protective coat on top.”
We’re sensitive to different budgets, so if getting another manicure isn’t in the cards for you, perhaps just get your gel manicured removed. If you go this route, though, make sure you go with a professional so you don’t damage your nails.
Apply a Quick Fix
If you’re just dealing with a small break on the corner of a nail, it is possible to quickly fix it without getting another manicure. Ling Lin suggests buffing a layer of the gel off of that nail and reapplying a fresh layer, plus a top coat. “It’s always better to take off the gel to see your nails’ health and see if we need any further treatment, such as a silk wrap,” she says.
Get Creative With a Nail Design
An alternative to cutting and filing your nails—and extending the life of your mani—is to try out a new nail design. If you start with a short gel mani, you have some room to experiment with your nails as they grow out. Consider filling the new negative space with a fun color, nail art, or by leaving it as is and playing up contrasts.
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