SOG no longer lasting and don't know why?

L

Lesley1978

Member
Jul 5, 2013
42
0
#1
Hi there,
When I first started using the SOG polishes sound 5 months ago I was getting around 2 weeks from each manicure. I have not changed the way I am doing it but now for some reason the gel always starts to lift after a few days.
I have bought some
Ibd probond but even that isn't making any difference.
I am really gutted cause it has really helped my nails to grow but it seems like such a waste of time to spend so long doing them only for hem to start lifting after a couple of days.

Has anyone got any idea why this may
Be happening or any advice on what I can do about it?

Thanks

X
 
#2
Hi Lesley, funny you should say that, I've recently been experiencing exactly the same thing. I'm leaning towards it being related to the age of my gel polishes, simply because I can't think of anything else. Nothing in my routine has changed but my mani 's are only lasting about 3 days before chipping. My polishes are about 2 years old. I've recently replaced my top coat as that just seemed to stop curing at all. I'm waiting for my new foundation to arrive and am hoping that's the issue. If your polishes are only a few months old then that shouldn't be an issue. And I'm just guessing that they degrade over time, so that probably hasn't been much help sorry. Hopefully somebody else will have some more helpful ideas :smile:
 
#4
I think this has happened to a lot of people …. generally attributed to the condition of your nails changing or your lamp.

Somewhere around 5-8 month mark a lot of people seem to have trouble with their lamps, (whether it's LED or UV) with the exception of the good (expensive) branded ones. That's one of the reasons why those of us that have been around awhile advocate to new people to spend a little more and buy something reliable. It could definitely be your bulbs.

And if it's not that, then probably a change in your nails - either dryness or some removal damage (especially if it's the same one or two nails). But even a change in your body chemistry, medications, diet - something like that can cause changes in wear. If it is related to this, it seems to cycle back around.

I still think some polishes may turn out to degrade, maybe it will vary by brand ….. I have tried to resist building a massive collection just in case. But at the time many of us started out there was no one to ask because it was too new - nobody knew if they were going to "expire" or not. But now, some of mine are 3 years old and still fine. And I know people who have had them longer and they are wearing fine.

So I would suspect something else at this point and start with your lamp.
 
#5
^^^excellent insights! Thank you FLmermaid. That meshes with my experience, as well. I had to change my UV bulbs earlier than I first expected on my lamp & learned here how power degrades over time (rather than simply number of uses). My first Shellac & Gelish bottles (3+ yrs) are still curing well (*knock on wood*), but they get seriously shaken before use & have always been stored in a cool, dry dark place.

AddictedToGel, I will keep an eye on my TIO & will make note of the purchase dates. Thx!
 
#7
I was also having this problem, although mine would still last about a week . I have a good lamp and was using mostly Gelish or Fingerpaints brand . Someone on here mentioned having the most wear from OPI gel base , so I got some of that and so far have had better wear. Do not get the OPI gel base from Sephora . It is not the same and doesn't work as well . I have lots of polish, some newer and some 2 + years . They all still work . If you get OPI colors warm them first like in a warm water bath and shake really well, as they are thicker and harder to apply if you don't do this. I have gotten at least 12 days with this method. .
 
#8
That's interesting you say that Vonni, I used to use OPI when I first started with SOG but found it didn't last long, maybe 3 or 4 days before it started chipping. But that was about 2 and a half years ago, and I have heard they've changed their formula so it might be worth another go. I've got Le Chat base and top coat on their way, so I'm hoping I'll get good wear with them and my Gelish LED lamp.
 
#9
AddictedToGel said:
That's interesting you say that Vonni, I used to use OPI when I first started with SOG but found it didn't last long, maybe 3 or 4 days before it started chipping. But that was about 2 and a half years ago, and I have heard they've changed their formula so it might be worth another go. I've got Le Chat base and top coat on their way, so I'm hoping I'll get good wear with them and my Gelish LED lamp.
Click to expand...
Yes, there is a Facebook OPI page , and others have mentioned that they changed the formula . This is where I got info to heat the colors . I actually put my flax heating pad thing for my neck around the bottles for a few minutes before applying colors. . I started with CND, and that stopped lasting very long. I think it was because my nails were too dry and damaged by a nail tech with improper removal . That is when I started doing them my self. I have the big pro CND UV lamp, which I haven't changed bulbs in. I only use it for me . I also have the small Gelish mini pro LED for traveling . Now I'm trying to decide if I should buy new bulbs or get the larger Gelsh LED light . My light is 2 + years old now. I wish I knew how that light worked with OPI because I have heard that OPI is trickier to cure in some LED lights . It cures fine with my CND light . Perhaps your light wasn't curing it well. I don't really want to invest in the OPI light . I have done some repairs of edges etc with my small Gelish one , but cured for about 2 and a half minutes and the OPI cured ok doing that .
 
#10
I noticed a big change in how long mine lasted when I switched from OPI gel nail remover to straight acetone. I think the acetone just dried out my nails too much. I'm having a heck of a time with peeling. Now, I'm skipping the gel color for a while and slathering in lotion & cuticle oil trying to get them back into good condition.
 
#11
I think that is definitely true . I was using plain acetone and my nails got very dry , but switched to Gelish remover which has conditioners in it. I also put almond oil on my cuticle area before applying the remover wraps, and this has helped a lot .
 
#12
Yes, I was another one that really thought "seriously, acetone can't be that different it's all a marketing ploy" ha ha. But I had terrible dryness, white spots, etc from using acetone. Switched to one of the removers and - poof- white spots all gone. And if mine get dried out and peel-y, it definitely affects the wear time I get.
 
#13
I have been having this same exact problem. I used to get 2 weeks plus easily. Now I'm happy to get 1. I have a new OPI LED, and new foundation and TIO.
I was using acetone, I will switch to a different remover and see if that helps.
One thing I was curious about, it seems like the Gelish polishes in the mini's seems to be thinner than the full size. Has anyone noticed this?
 
#14
I have both sizes of Gelish. I originally got it full size from Amazon, but lately have been getting the smaller ones from Sally's with coupons to try out different colors . I have purchased both the OPI base and about five colors which so far seem to wear much better than Gelish , but I will probably use some of my glittery Gelish on top of them to see how that works. I'm using Gelish TIO . I haven't found much difference in the consistency between sizes of Gelish. .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top
Back