If you have ever experienced Gelish Gel Polish shrinking or pulling back prior to and/or after curing, it could be due to several factors. We’ve put together some troubleshooting tips which will help you achieve the perfect Gelish manicure:

 

  1. The most common reason for this is because there is too much natural light in the environment where you are applying your Gelish. Even if there is no direct sunlight, shrinkage can occur from indirect sunlight. You may notice that even the Foundation application shrinks away from nail edges very quickly and may even be obvious after applying on only one hand prior to curing. Do not apply Gelish in a room with direct sunlight and for even better results, pull down blinds/curtains so natural lighting is minimal. Working under an overhead or table light is fine.
  2. When applying Gelish, always cap the free edge with very fine brushstrokes. This should be done with PH Bond, Foundation, Gelish Colour and Top It Off. This helps “seal” the product on the natural nail.
  3. It’s recommended to use a dry brush and stroke over the Foundation after curing. This creates microscopic grooves on the Foundation which enables better adhesion of Gelish.
  4. It’s very tempting and common to apply Gelish too thickly. It takes practice to get the hang of perfect application. The first coat of Gelish colour will often appear streaky and transluscent. This is normal. Solid coverage should appear after the second coat. Some shades may even need three coats to achieve desired coverage. Better this than two thick coats, as applying thick coats can result in “crinkling” and “shrinkage”.
  5. PH Bond – must be used to dehydrate and PH balance the natural nail. It should be used prior to application of Foundation as it prevents shrinking and facilitates better adhesion of a Gelish manicure..