Gel Polish Problems, Solved: 25 Quick Fixes
Key takeaways
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Thin, even coats + full cure solve most problems.
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Prep is king: dehydrate, prime (if your system needs it), cap edges, and keep product off skin.
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Dark/reflective shades need extra attention (thinner coats, full cure).
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Lamp matters: correct wavelength/output, hand position, and thumbs separately.
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If it’s going wrong, stop, remove the last layer cleanly, and fix the underlying cause—don’t keep layering.
Quick diagnosis (symptom → top suspects)
| Symptom | Most likely causes |
|---|---|
| Streaks / patchy colour | Coat too thin or overworked; pigment-heavy shade; dirty brush; under-cure |
| Wrinkles / ripples | Layer too thick; under-cure; incompatible lamp; thumbs angled |
| Pooling at sidewalls/cuticle | Too much product; hot room; over-floated coat; nails not level |
| Chipping at tips/corners | No free-edge capping; too thick/rigid on flexible nails; poor prep |
| Peeling from the base | Oil/moisture left; flooded cuticle; base too thick; skipped primer (if required) |
| Dull or soft finish | Under-cure; layers too thick; wiped while warm; contaminated pad |
| Bubbles / pitting | Shaking bottle; over-brushing; dust in layer; brush contamination |
25 quick fixes (grouped by problem)
A) Streaks & patchy colour
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Load, place, float — don’t scrub. Lay the brush flat and float the colour; over-brushing drags pigment.
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Use enough product for coverage. Too thin can look streaky; aim for two thin, even coats, not three ultra-thin scratchy passes.
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Wipe one side of the brush. Keeps a consistent bead to avoid dry drag lines.
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Roll the bottle (don’t shake). 10–20 s between hands to re-disperse pigment without bubbles.
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Clean the brush if contaminated. Wipe on a lint-free pad; avoid touching prep liquids with your colour brush.
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Cure fully per shade. Dark/white/neon may need the full stated time; don’t “save seconds.”
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Use a smoothing base under pastels. Rubber/leveling base hides micro-ridges that cause shadowy streaks.
B) Wrinkles, ripples & shrink-back
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Thin the coat. Most wrinkling is film thickness. Apply thinner and let self-level 2–3 s before curing.
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Check lamp compatibility/output. Use a quality UV/LED lamp that matches your system; replace aging lamps.
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Thumbs separately, nails flat to diodes. Angle causes under-cure at sidewalls; cure thumbs alone.
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Mind the pigments. Dark/reflective/glitter gels absorb/reflect light; give them full, even exposure.
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Cool the layer before cleansing. Warm layers can smear or collapse to a dull ripple if wiped too soon.
C) Pooling, flooding & sidewall problems
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Reduce product load. Wipe more off the brush; float don’t push.
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Level the client’s hand. Keep the nail parallel to the table; briefly flip palm-up to pull product to the apex (then flip back).
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Cap after levelling, not before. Cap the free edge once the film is even, so you don’t drag bulk to the sides.
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Work one nail at a time in heat. In warm rooms, flash cure 5–10 s after each nail to freeze the film.
D) Chipping, tip wear & corner breaks
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Perfect your prep. 180–240 grit remove shine; dust off; cleanse; primer/dehydrator if your system requires it.
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Cap the free edge properly. Colour + top must seal the edge; use a light pass, not a blob.
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Match flexibility. On very flexible nails, use a rubber base or flexible top; too-rigid systems chip at corners.
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Mind the length-to-thickness ratio. Long nails need slightly more structure (from base/overlay), not just colour layers.
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Client care reminder. Avoid heat/chemicals for 12–24 h; daily cuticle oil helps reduce micro-cracks.
E) Peeling/lifting from the base
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Keep product off skin. Leave ~1 mm margin; clean any touch with a dry detail brush before curing.
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Thin base layer. A thin, scrubbed-in base bonds better than a thick, glassy base.
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Dehydrate properly. Wash/dry hands, push back cuticles, remove non-living tissue, dust, cleanse, then base.
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Use the right primer. If your system recommends acid-free primer, use it sparingly; flooding causes lift.
Application routine
Prep:
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Wash & dry. Push back cuticles; remove shine (180–240 grit); dust & cleanse.
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Primer/dehydrator if required by your brand.
Base:
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Thin, scrubbed-in base; cap edge. Full cure.
Colour:
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2 thin colour coats; load → float → quick cap; full cure each.
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Dark/reflective shades: extra attention to thickness & hand position.
Top:
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Thin, even top; cap edge; full cure. Cool 10–20 s, then cleanse if needed.
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Oil after cleanse only.
Pro tip: Cure thumbs separately; keep nails flat to the diodes for even sidewall cure.
Troubleshooting cheatsheet (symptom → cause → fix)
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Streaks → Overworked coat / too thin / dirty brush → Float, not scrub; two thin coats; clean brush.
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Wrinkles → Too thick / under-cure → Thinner application; full cure; cure thumbs flat.
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Pooling → Too much product / warm room → Smaller load; flash cure each nail in heat.
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Chipping → No edge cap / rigid system on flexy nail → Cap carefully; try rubber base/flexible top.
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Peeling → Oil left / base too thick / flooded cuticle → Re-prep; scrub-in base thinly; keep 1 mm off skin.
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Dull/soft → Under-cure / wiped warm → Full cure; cool 10–20 s before wipe.
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Bubbles → Shaking / over-brushing → Roll bottles; float; avoid reworking the same area.
FAQs
Why do my dark colours wrinkle but nudes don’t?
Dark/reflective pigments change light transmission. Keep coats thinner, ensure full cure, and cure thumbs separately.
Do I need a rubber base for every client?
No, but it helps flexible nails resist corner chips. For rigid extensions, a standard base may feel crisper.
How can I tell if I’m under-curing?
Tacky layers are normal, but if the film feels soft/dents easily after the stated time, you’re under-curing. Verify lamp, hand position and thickness.
Can I fix wrinkles without removing the whole nail?
Usually best to file off the wrinkled layer back to a smooth surface, then reapply thin and cure fully.
Why does my finish look dull after oil?
If you oil while the nail is warm, it can haze. Let it cool 10–20 s, cleanse if applicable, then oil around the nail.
