comments:
This isn't super helpful but I was able to fix my retention issues using similar products. I use modelone gel polish (and primer/dehydrator) and saviland hard gel. My key was to use forms instead of gluing tips to my nails. I found these forms on amazon that worked so well for me because of the slits along the side of the nail - it gives you a tighter fit on the form, which is the hardest part about using forms, is making sure its fitted right so that product doesn't get under your natural nail (on the skin), or having upward tilted nails, or having a big dip where the free edge was created with the gel because the form...wasn't super flush against the free edge/fitted tightly. I think what was happening was that my tips would sorta lift or lose bond with the glue (which, is why I don't bother with press ons anymore to begin with) and then (I unload semi trailers 5/7 days a week) additional stress to them would pop them right off - little pain even. I redid my nails last sun using forms and painted them last monday. 3 days ago I got bored with the color and decided to repaint them - took them down, found my index finger had lifted some, filed and filled it, haven't lost any yet and when I do catch them on something, they're hurting - which means they're bonded really well. When you use a form, you're sort- of encasing the (top of the) natural nail free edge in your bonding product + all of the structure in the nail is supported by that product - theres no differential in the bond like how their is when you use nail glue before the gel. I think my problem wasn't necessarily lifting from the base up (because often when they'd break, they'd break leaving a thin crescent of hard gel at my cuticle) I think my problem was the nail glue sucking (as nail glue does) and the bond to half my nail plate (from the hard gel) not being enough to hold against wear and tear.