Troubleshooting and Solutions

When you work with nail products - especially as a beginner - you will very likely experience some challenges with either application, durability or something else entirely at some point. This is completely normal - practice makes perfect. The good news is that, fortunately, there is always a solution.

In general, it is important to know that it is very often the nail products themselves that are the cause of challenges. It is almost always a small thing in the application or removal process that is forgotten or done incorrectly. It can also be due to things you do in your everyday life that you don't immediately think about can affect the nails. Examples of this are contact with cleaning agents, gardening or contact with a lot of water. Last but not least, the condition of the nails is also of great importance - whether it is from nature or damage inflicted from the outside.

Be patient if you encounter a challenge and be curious as to what the cause may be, for example to review the list below of troubleshooting and solutions or contact us for advice and guidance if you need further assistance.

If you experience challenges in connection with the use of your nail products, you are always welcome to contact us for tailored advice and good advice. We are always available and would love to help with all types of questions. See all the options for getting help right here .

Before you start troubleshooting why your product is not curing properly, you should just check whether it might just be a "sticky layer". Sticky layer is a very thin sticky layer that sits on top of all UV curing products (with the exception of Top Coat No Wipe). Sticky layer is completely normal and must not be removed. The purpose of the sticky layer is to ensure that all layers stick properly to each other. Top Coat No Wipe is the only product that does not leave a sticky layer, as it is by nature the top and last layer. You can recognize a sticky layer by the fact that it is only a very thin layer that sticks. If you find that it is not just a thin sticky layer, but that a larger part of the product is soft or liquid, then there may be something wrong with the curing.

When a product does not cure properly, the problem is almost always with the UV lamp. Therefore, you must first check whether the lamp has a defect. Check that all the diodes inside the light chamber are switched on and that there are no remnants of old product blocking the light. If the lamp does not have a defect, it may be that you have a UV lamp that is simply not good enough. All the UV lamps we sell on Neglefeber.dk are of extremely high quality, and we always guarantee that they cure all our products effectively. However, if you have bought a lamp from another dealer, we cannot guarantee the quality. You can check your lamp by ensuring the following:

1) Check that your UV lamp is a UV/LED lamp that delivers UV light via LEDs (the small square bulbs/diodes). They must therefore not be an old UV lamp that lights up via fluorescent tubes.

2) Check that your lamp can deliver at least 48W and has a wavelength of 365nm + 405nm.

3) Check that your lamp has a CE approval via a mark that e.g. located at the bottom of the lamp. The marking must be placed on the lamp itself and not just on the packaging.

4) Check that your UV lamp has an integrated adapter and therefore does not receive power via a USB plug and requires a small USB adapter. Most USB adapters can deliver between 5W and 20W at most. So if the UV lamp actually needs 48W, not enough current will get through to deliver the required strength

5) Check that your UV lamp generally feels like it is made of decent materials and is of good quality.

If you find that wrinkles appear in your Gel Polish when you cure it in UV light, it is because you have applied too thick a layer. Take it off again and apply very thin layers. Better 3 very thin layers than 2 thick layers.

If you find that streaks/grooves appear in your Gel Polish, it is possibly because you have applied too thick a layer. Take it off again and apply very thin layers. Better 3 very thin layers than 2 thick layers.

Alternatively, it could be because you are holding the brush incorrectly when applying the varnish. Instead of brushing vertically on the nail, hold the brush nose horizontally with the nail. This means that you "flow" your Gel Polish more evenly instead of unprovenly "scraping" the color off with each individual stroke.

The perfect press on tip fits exactly from side to side without having a c-curve that is too wide or narrow and will therefore neither pull in nor press on the nail. If you can't find a tip that fits your nail perfectly, you can choose a tip that is basically too big but fits the c-curve. From there, the tip can be filed so that it also fits perfectly with the sides of your nail and the shape of the cuticle.

To learn much more about finding the correct size tip, you can find guidance here:

Soft Gel Press On Tipper: Read more from page 62 in the theory book or via our online learning universe here .

Classic tips: Read more from page 64 (Polygel) or page 52 (Builder Gel) in the theory book or via our online learning universe here.

1. If you feel that your Gel Polish is flowing into the cuticle, this may be an indicator that you have applied too thick a layer. Too thick layers can cause wrinkles in the surface, uneven color or remain uncured. In addition, it can naturally flow into the cuticle, so always make sure to apply very thin layers. The best method for this is to scrape off most of the Gel Polish color on the inside of the bottle neck before applying to the nail.

2. If you find it difficult to create a sharp edge of color that lies right up to the cuticle without hitting the skin, you can advantageously use one of our thin Art Brush Short to push the color a little further up towards the cuticle. The method for this is shown in all our video guides where Gel Polish is used.

3. If you do get product on your skin, it must be removed as soon as possible. The way you can do this effectively is by using our Micro Wipe Sticks with Cleaner+ , which easily remove all kinds of products and clean at the same time. Alternatively, you can use a rose stick.

When working with Builder Gel (which is liquid and self-leveling), you can create an apex using gravity. This is done by turning the finger upside down after the Builder Gel is applied. If working with Polygel, which is firmer in consistency, it will be necessary to shape the apex by hand or file it forward after hardening. To learn much more about correct construction of the nail, you can read more from page 13 in the theory book or via our online learning universe here .

The upward curved growth direction (also called ski jump nails) grows straight or downwards from the cuticle and ends in an upward arc at the end of the nail at the free edge. Often a trapezoid nail shape (triangular nail) is also seen in those who have an upwardly curved growth direction. With this type of growth direction, it can be particularly challenging to make both reinforcement and extension with a correctly balanced nail. However, it can easily be done with the right technique and a bit of patience.

Before placing either tipper or template, it is important that the nail is cut very short. Preferably so short that there are only approx. two mm free edge left. The shorter the nail, the less it will stick up in the air. The trick is to make sure to create a good apex (the arch in the middle of the nail), which forms the basis for the new shape of the nail with ski jump nails. It is therefore about turning the downward-curving "hole" in the middle of the nail so that it instead becomes a fine upward-curving apex.

If you need more knowledge or have questions, you are always welcome to contact us for tailored advice and good advice. We are always available and would love to help with all types of questions. See all the options for getting help right here .

The downward curved nail shape (also called ear-beak nail) has an elevation of the nail around the middle, which gives a very strong arch. This also means that the nail will hook downwards as it grows out. With this type of growth direction, it is extra important to be aware of creating balance in the nail's strength point by filing the sides of the nail (side walls) straight. The nail must therefore not hook downwards, as this creates an imbalance and will create an exposed breaking point in the middle of the nail. The side walls are thus the biggest focal point for creating a balanced nail with a downward curved growth direction.

If you need more knowledge or have questions, you are always welcome to contact us for tailored advice and good advice. We are always available and would love to help with all types of questions. See all the options for getting help right here.

When the chemical components in Builder Gel and Rubber Base come into contact with UV light, heat can occur in the product (also called "heat spikes" or "exothermic heat reaction"), which can be felt as a burning sensation in the nails. Although it may hurt, it is neither dangerous nor harmful. Always remove your hands from the UV lamp if it burns, or use Low Heat Mode, which over 90 seconds gradually increases the effectiveness of the UV light and therefore ensures gentler curing. None of the products from The Gel Collection cause any heat reaction whatsoever, so The Gel Collection can be used without worry if you want to avoid "heat spikes".

When working with nail products, the question is not whether you will experience lift. It is rather a question of when . Lifting can happen to anyone, and as a beginner you will probably experience it more often.

Lift is when the nail product lifts off the nail plate - and there can be many reasons why this happens. It can occur in several places on the nail, and the location can actually tell a lot about the underlying cause. It is e.g. not always the same cause and solution when a lift occurs around the cuticle, as if, for example, occurs at the tip of the nail.

See our guide on lift to get an in-depth review of causes and solutions for the different types of lift right here .

When your Soft Gel Press On Tipper gets stuck in your hair or clothes, it is because you have not attached your Soft Gel Press On Tipper properly below the cuticle, or because you have not filed the tippers enough. To avoid this, you can focus on your application of the Soft Gel Press On Tips so that the transition from the natural nail to the top of the tip is as smooth as possible.

You can read more about the correct application of Soft Gel Press On Tipper on page 62 of the theory book or via our online learning universe here .

It is important that the Press On Tips fit the nails perfectly and neither press on nor pull on the natural nail shape. A press on tip that is too large will go beyond the edges of the nail and/or have a wider c-curve (arch) than the natural nail. Conversely, a press on tip that is too small will not cover the entire nail and/or have a narrower c-curve than the natural nail.

The perfect press-on tip fits exactly from side to side without having a c-curve that is too wide or narrow, where it therefore neither pulls in nor presses on the nail. If you can't find a tip that fits perfectly with both sides and c-curve, you can choose a tip that is basically too big, but which fits with the c-curve. From there, the tip can be filed so that it also fits perfectly with the sides of the nail and the shape of the cuticle.

If you want to learn more about the correct size tip, you can find a more detailed guide here:

Soft Gel Press On Tipper: Read more from page 62 in the theory book or via our online learning universe here .

Classic tips: Read more from page 64 (Polygel) or page 52 (Builder Gel) in the theory book or via our online learning universe here .

There can be many reasons why one's newly made nails fall off. The most frequent reasons for this are:

• that you have a type of nail which has more difficulty with good adhesion (e.g. oily or thin nails).
• that the product is not properly cured in the UV lamp.
• that the hands are extra exposed to blows, shocks, chemicals, water etc. in everyday life.
• that you have not followed the instructions when applying the product.
• that the structure and shape of the nail is not optimal (e.g. missing strong points).
• that you have a nail injury or nail disease
  
  The list above is not exhaustive, but can give an idea that there can be many reasons why the nail product lifts prematurely.

I wear Gel Polish on:
If a crack occurs in the middle of the natural nail while you are wearing Gel Polish, the reason is often that the nail is too thin or fragile to be able to wear Gel Polish alone. In that case, we recommend that you make a reinforcement of the natural nail before you apply Gel Polish. This can either be done with Polygel, Builder Gel or Rubber Base. You can see videos of how to strengthen your nail via our video guides here .

I have Polygel or Builder Gel on:
If a crack in the middle of the nail occurs while you are wearing nail product, the reason is often that the shape of the nail is not built correctly and thus does not have the correct strength points. It is therefore crucial that the shape of the nail is built correctly.

You can compare the shape of the nail to a bridge. If the bridge is to be able to withstand all the weight that must ride on it, then it must have some points of strength. Exactly the same should be the nail. Otherwise, it will break easily and quickly, or the harder product will come off the softer nail.

The strength point is built by shaping a curved "upper arch", which means that the nail is built in an even arc from cuticle to nail tip. Approximately in the middle of the upper arch, a point of strength must be placed, which is the uppermost point of the upper arch. This uppermost point of strength is called the apex. Apex is thus the uppermost point on the curved shape of the nail.

To learn much more about the correct construction of the nail, you can read more from page 13 in the theory book or via our online learning universe here .

If your nails become, for example, white, red, thin or sore after removing your nail products, something is undoubtedly going wrong in the removal process. The ingredients and composition of the nail products cannot in themselves cause nail damage - it is the process surrounding the removal that is the cause.

The absolute most important thing when removing is that you protect your own natural nail from unnecessary rough handling. You must therefore not scrape hard on the nail or file into the natural nail with a file that is not specifically intended for the natural nail. When you have dissolved your product according to our instructions, the product should preferably be dissolved enough that you can easily push the dissolved product off with a rose stick. If it does not crack easily, repeat the removal process – do not use force or force the product off. This can cause damaged and thin nails.

The best way to ensure that you can remove without damaging your own natural nail in the future is to see our removal guides and follow it carefully step-by-step. You will find our video guides righthere .

If your nails have greenish areas on the surface after you've applied a nail product, there's a good chance you've gone greenie. Greenie is a very common condition where the nail has a greenish/brownish spot after wearing nail product. It doesn't look nice, but fortunately is completely harmless.
Greenie is caused by a soil bacterium called pseudomonas. Pseudomonas is found everywhere in our sphere, for example in the forest floor, in the soil of the garden, in the potted plants of the house, in the soil residues on our purchased vegetables, in the air around us and so on. Therefore, we are exposed to the bacteria on a daily basis without it doing any harm.

The problem arises if the pseudomonas bacterium gets optimal living conditions, which it gets when it is in dark, moist and oxygen-poor areas. This can, for example, be in the cavity that occurs between the natural nail and a nail product that has lifted off the nail. As the bacteria lives and multiplies, the area of ​​the nail will slowly become discolored. The color will go from a yellowish color to a greener color and finally a brownish stain. The longer the bacteria has lived, the darker the color of the nails will be.

Greenie is therefore easy to treat by going through the following procedure:

1. Remove ALL product from the nail. The green/brown area on the nail itself must NOT be filed away, as in that case you risk doing file damage to the natural nail. Instead, it must grow out with the nail. Once all the product is removed, the bacteria will come into contact with oxygen and sunlight, which will kill the bacteria. Although the green/brownish color can still be seen, the bacteria will no longer be able to live and multiply.

2. Disinfect the nails by cleaning with a disinfectant liquid. Then wash your hands thoroughly and clean your nails with Cleaner+.

3. Disinfect all the nail tools that have been in contact with the greenie bacteria. If one's file and brushes cannot be disinfected, they must be thrown away.

4. Perform a careful PREP, making sure the nails are completely dry. New product can then be applied.

First of all, you must check whether the product you are wearing has been developed to be able to be soaked. Some products can be dissolved in an acetone-based liquid, while others must be filed off. In general, all kinds of Gel Polish can be soaked off, but it is rare that hard gels (for example Polygel and Builder Gel) can be soaked. At Neglefeber, however, with The Gel Collection, we have developed all our products so that they can be easily removed with Fast Acetone Remover - including Polygel. This is done to ensure a gentle method of removal regardless of which product you use.

1. In order to achieve an easier and faster removal, it is recommended that you file off approximately half of your Gel Polish, if this is the only thing you have on the nail. If you have additionally applied Polygel, it is recommended that you file off 80-90% of the gel product.

2. When applying your Soak Off Wraps, it is also important that you pour plenty of Fast Acetone Remover liquid on, so that the liquid does not evaporate along the way. Let it soak for about 10 minutes.

3. To help a more effective solution, you can put your hand in a warm towel, since the heat will make Fast Acetone Remover have even better conditions to work optimally.

4. When your Soak Off Wraps have sat for 10 minutes, you only need to unwrap one finger at a time when you need to carefully scrape the product off with a rose stick.

To learn much more about taking off, you can read more from page 21 of the theory book or via our online learning universe here.

NOTE: The most important thing when you buy your nail products is to protect your own natural nail from unnecessarily harsh nail techniques. You must never scrape hard on either the product or the nail or file into the natural nail. When you have dissolved the product for 10 minutes, the product should preferably be dissolved enough that you can easily push the dissolved product off with a rose stick. If not, file off even more product (without hitting the natural nail) and repeat the soak-off process.

Many people may be alarmed if their nails are very soft right after removal. However, it is quite normal for natural nails to be soft after being sealed with product over a long period of time. As oxygen is again supplied to the keratin cells of the nails, they will quickly become hard and strong again. This usually happens within 24 hours.

If your electric "jumps" or "slips" when you use it, it is often because you have it on too low a speed. In this case, your electric nail file will not have enough power/strength to be able to remove the product that you are removing, and it will therefore start to jump when it can no longer file the product evenly. Therefore, try to increase the revolutions and possibly decrease the coarseness to a finer bit, so that you do not risk damaging the nail or skin.

It is very important to say that you should always be extremely careful and gentle when using an electric nail file. If you don't feel like you have control of the file, you may want to try switching to sanding bands instead, as they are very suitable for beginners.