How to correct extended nails: step by step for beginners

Hello, dear readers! Perhaps the fastest way to make your nails long, strong and amazing is to get them extensions. After this procedure, your hands will look well-groomed and stylish. But even if you are very careful, “repairing” or updating such a manicure needs to be done from time to time. Do you want to know how to correct extended nails and avoid unpleasant moments? Then you should check out today's article!

What is correction

The most important procedure after nail extensions is timely correction. It is usually carried out 2-3 weeks after applying the artificial turf.

The point here, of course, is that real nails continue to grow. And with some coatings, for example, biogel, they grow back even faster than usual. As a result, an unpainted hole appears and enlarges below the level of the extended nail.

Agree that such a manicure looks, to put it mildly, unpresentable! And if there is a design on the surface, it looks even more untidy and attracts sidelong glances from others. Is not it?

This is interesting. Did you know that every 7 days your fingernails grow by about 1 mm?

In what cases is it necessary to correct extended nails with gel?

Correction of extended nails is necessary as they grow

The most common reason for needing gel nail correction is for them to grow back . Overgrown nail extensions not only do not look very nice, but they are also much more likely to break than those that have just been done.

Other reasons to visit your master or to work magic on the beauty of your nails yourself are blows and pressure, as a result of which the plate becomes deformed and cracks appear.

Gel nails often crack along with natural nails. This is unpleasant, but not critical - the defect can be corrected.

The essence of the correction

The main task of correcting artificial nails is to “restorate” the coating. How often to do it depends not only on the external influences to which your fingers are exposed, but also on the quality and properties of the extended component:

Gel or polygel nails. Correction depends on the amount of damage. If they are insignificant, then the repair will be done in fragments. In the case when the girl wore the coating for more than 3-4 weeks, complete removal of the artificial surface with a milling cutter and the usual manipulations during manicure (giving shape, length, etc.) will be required.
Acrylic (including extensions on tips and forms). The coating is more resistant to damage and chips. “Restoration” can also be partial or complete. Usually correction is required within 2-3 weeks.

Advantages and disadvantages of correcting grown-out gel polish without removing it

Correcting overgrown gel polish without removing it has many advantages:

makes a 2-3 week old design fresh, making your nails look neater;
saves time and money, as well as materials;
allows you to “get your hands on” in applying a flower bed near the cuticle;
protects nails from additional exposure to liquid for dissolving gel polish or cutters, which can injure them;
makes it possible to grow the desired length;
coating defects are quickly corrected;
there are conditions for the manifestation of imagination in the search for a new design.

Some girls still prefer to completely renew their manicure, since the method of correction without removal is not without its drawbacks:

it may turn out that there is too much material on the free edge, which increases the risk of breakage;
It’s not always possible to do everything neatly and beautifully; surfaces may look “pot-bellied” or uneven, with flower bed overhangs;
the old coating still wears out, that is, there is a greater risk of peeling and chipping;
under the peeled layer, if the defect is not immediately noticed, an infection may develop;
The color of gel polish gets boring when worn for a long time.

Types of "repair"

There are three main types of correction of nail extensions:

"Mini". Often it is performed within a few days after lengthening. The reason is usually various kinds of chips, cracks, scratches, etc. They need to be eliminated and gel polish applied again. The duration of the procedure is no more than 15 minutes.
Average. This is a standard elective procedure that is usually performed at 3-4 weeks. The nails are filed and the regrown area is covered with varnish.
Complex. May be required at any time due to serious damage (e.g. peeling coating, broken nail, etc.). In this case, it is necessary to do the extension again.

Attention! Nails coated with gel, acrylic or polygel take a little longer to correct than those treated with shellac. Some girls repair their nails at home themselves. However, in order for everything to go smoothly, it is important to know how to make the correction correctly and be sure to follow the step-by-step instructions.

Causes of detachment

Have you ever had artificial turf peel off? For me, yes. A very unpleasant phenomenon, I tell you! If this defect is not corrected in time, you can cause significant damage to your natural nails. The causes of detachment are as follows:

carelessness during “operation”;
incorrect selection of nail length - such a nuisance as detachment most often occurs with excessively long nails;
allergic reactions to the applied component (they say that in case of type 2 diabetes, the coating immediately flies off);
taking antibiotics;
hormonal imbalance;
severe sweating of hands;
incorrect technique for applying acrylic, gel or polygel.

In my case, the correct extension technology was not followed. In general, it is advisable to go to the same “trusted” nail specialist, then the likelihood of various unpleasant moments arising will be minimal. And if you come to a person for the first time, you can ask him to show a photo with examples of his work.

“Restoring” the artificial surface

As is now clear to us, correction can vary greatly in technology and time spent. Here, a lot depends on the presence and nature of the damage, as well as on the materials that were used in the extension.

Many girls do not visit nail salons for correction and carry out this procedure at home. It's actually not that complicated. However, before you do the “restoration” of the gel coating yourself, it is important to learn some subtleties...

Inspection and preparation of the nail plate

A couple of days before the correction, you need to carefully examine the regrown nails. Is there any damage? Has the color changed (yellowish or black)? If yes, then the problem will have to be solved differently and you should not make “repairs”. During this procedure, it is important that the nail plates are in order.

If everything is normal, then until the correction itself it is advisable to use caring creams with caution and not to abuse water procedures. This will prevent the gel coating from peeling off.

Selection of tools and materials

So, if you decide to make repairs at home, then your set of necessary materials and tools should be almost the same as that of a master in a salon. You will need:

LED or UV lamp;
abrasive file;
buff;
any antiseptic;
gel polishes in the desired colors;
base;
top coating;
dehydrator, primer or degreaser;
brush;
tips or shapes (depending on damage and coating material);
acrylic, gel or polygel (your choice);
brush;
clinser;
orange stick;
cuticle nippers.

In nail salons, a milling cutter is also used for correction.

This is a multifunctional device that removes old coating well and more. Using many different attachments allows you to remove cuticle residue, polish the surface of the nail, and, if necessary, the skin, and also do many, many other things useful for nails.

If you don’t have a router yet, I recommend purchasing it - you’re unlikely to regret it.

Quick correction

Has 1-2 weeks passed since the extension? Do you want to “refresh” your manicure or get rid of a couple of blemishes? A quick correction will help you with this. It doesn't take much time and is ideal for beginners. You can see this for yourself!

Treat your hands with antiseptic.
Take an orange stick and gently push back the cuticle.
Use a soft small cutter to process the natural regrown nail. If there are detachments or cracks, then it can be used to file down these defects.
Do not press too hard on the nail plate. Remove natural shine and make it matte. Carefully cut off any remaining skin.
Take a brush and sweep away the remains of the cut. Use a cotton pad with a cleanser to remove dust from your nails.
Apply primer and then base coat to the natural nail plate. Dry your nails in a UV or LED lamp for a minute.
Fill the regrown space with modeling gel. Then dry again in the lamp for 1 minute.
Remove the sticky layer and shape with a nail file.
Apply topcoat and dry again in the lamp.

“Restoration” of extended nails is completed!

Normal correction

Next, I’ll tell you how to do a standard “restoration” of a gel coating after 3-4 weeks.

Process step by step:

Treat your handles with a disinfectant.
Take a router and carefully remove the old coating with a ceramic cutter using smooth movements. Make sure that the attachment does not damage the natural surface of the nail. You should not feel any burning or heating sensation.
If necessary, cut the length with a machine.
Take a nail file and start filing from the cuticle area. Gradually work your way down to the sides. If there are detachments, they must be removed with a file.
Do a manicure: use an orange stick to push back the cuticles, polish the surface with a buff, and shape your nails.
Apply the dehydrator over the entire surface of the nail.
Take an acid-free primer and spread it onto the natural nail plate (there is no need to apply it to the base of the old gel coat). It will ensure good adhesion of the gel to the nail plate.
Apply base coat. Do not get on skin!
Using a brush, apply the modeling gel for extended nails evenly in a middle layer.
Dry the nail for a minute in a UV or LED lamp.
Remove the sticky layer using a cleaner.
Take a file and make cuts on the artificial turf using smooth, gentle movements.

Artificial nails adjusted! Now you can choose any gel polish and apply it to the gel surface. It is not forbidden to come up with an interesting design. It all depends on your taste. Experiment!

Type "repair"

I bring to your attention a video that shows the correction of nails extended with top tips. “Restoration” of the marigolds will be carried out using the same plastic forms.

Tools and materials for nail correction

To perform correction you need the same set of tools as for extensions. It includes:

Before the correction procedure, it is necessary to prepare all the necessary materials and tools

gel;
forms or types;
disinfectant;
file;
primer;
wire cutters;
orange stick;
buff;
tassels;
cuticle oil;
lamp;
materials for design.

Is it possible to repair a nail or make a full correction on your own? Yes, but if you haven't done this before, it's better to make an appointment with a specialist.

The cyclical nature of “restoration”

Many girls want to know exactly how many days after extensions they need to make corrections. No one can give a definite answer to this question. It all depends on the following factors:

brittle nails;
proper manicure care;
extension technology;
materials used (quality or not).

On average, girls wear artificial nails for 3 weeks. With careful wear and slow growth of the nail plate, you can enjoy perfect nails for up to 5 weeks. After this time, in any case, it will be necessary to carry out correction in order to avoid very unpleasant consequences (for example, breakdown or infection).

Decorative coating

Each gel nail correction includes a final decorative coating. It can be done with regular varnish or gel substances. This part of the work depends entirely on your imagination and desires.

Often women apply the design under the gel. In this case, the drawings are made after the formation of the second layer. The final coating provides for consolidation of the work. It protects created beauty. Please note that simple varnishes do not last long, even on gel nails. Therefore, for practicality and durability, craftsmen are increasingly using coatings that require the same drying in a lamp as gel.

Caring for artificial nails

Do you want your new nails to last as long as possible? Then you need to follow the recommendations of experts:

Try not to visit baths and saunas for 24 hours after correction or extension. The artificial turf has not yet matured, so you should not expose it to temperature changes.
Get rid of the habit of tapping your nails on the table, opening objects with them, picking your teeth, etc.
Do household chores (such as washing floors and dishes) wearing rubber gloves. Household chemicals have a detrimental effect on artificial surfaces (and on the skin of your hands, of course, too).
Choose the right lotions and creams to care for your nails and hands. It is best to give preference to natural oils (ylang-ylang, peach, rose).
If you wear extended nails, forget about paraffin masks, salt or soda baths. Artificial turf doesn't like this.
Don't forget about caring for your cuticles. Special products (they can be found in any cosmetic store) will slow down its growth, and your nails will look beautiful longer.

Caring for extended nails is not so difficult, is it? It is enough to follow these tips, and then the artificial turf will serve you for a long time.

Features of extended nails

Artificial turf requires special care:

Over time, air penetrates between the nail and the coating, so detachment occurs, and the beauty of the manicure is lost.
An indentation appears between the cuticle and the extension material, which spoils the overall appearance.
Without proper care, not only the aesthetic appearance is lost, but also the natural nail cover is damaged. To do this, you need to know how to properly adjust your manicure.

Acrylic nails

It is not necessary to take expensive paid lessons, the main thing is to follow simple instructions.

What to remember

Let's summarize:

If you wear extended nails, it is necessary to correct them from time to time. There are three types: minimal - for example, to eliminate an accidental scratch; medium or planned - necessary in any case, simply because our nails grow; complex - carried out in case of serious damage to the nail or peeling of the coating. In the latter case, you need to find the cause - this can be very important for the health of your real nails.
You can “repair” the coating yourself at home. To do this, you will need to acquire the necessary tools and materials and follow all the recommendations outlined above. If you have doubts and don’t know exactly how to correct extended nails in your particular case, then it’s better not to take risks and contact a top nail technician. It will give your hands a flawless look again.
In order for artificial turf to please you for a long time and cause less trouble, you need to properly care for it. Follow the general care recommendations and do not neglect the advice of nail technicians - then everything will be fine with your nails!

Girls, almost every one of you has done nail extensions at least once in your life. Tell us, how often did you have to make corrections? How long do artificial nails last? What troubles did you encounter? I look forward to your stories in the comments and see you again in the next articles!