Too much water on your nails can eventually cause peeling or lifting of the gel, this is why you should avoid excessive water contact if you have a gel manicure or you wear other kinds of nail extensons. Use gloves when you clean, especially if you're using hard detergents, detergents and water causes skin to dry as well as cause your gel or acrylic overlay to lift from the natural nail. Avoid putting your nails in your mouth, as biting nails or skin around your nails will damage your cuticles as well as ruin your manicure. When soaking in a bath or hot tub, make sure to hold your hands out of the soak or minimize time spent in the tub.

Our skin is always renewing, to keep your cuticles lush, make sure to hydrate with nail oil or a good moisturizer every day. If you're using oil, choose a time of day you're not using your hands and message the oil on the skin around your nails. The easiest way I found to keep hydrated skin is to slug before bed - apply the moisturizer when you're already in bed just before you go to sleep, that's when you least use your hands.

Learn how to use the other parts of your fingers or actual tools to do things you used to do when you had short nails. For example, you should use you knuckles to press on buttons (like elevator buttons), it's also more hygenic as you usually don't use that part of your hand when you inevitably touch your face.

If there is even a small split or lift on your nail from any kind of accident, a quick file off can help prevent much larger damage. Keep one in your bag at all times so that you are always in control if anything happens. Fixing the nail is easier with just a small split or break instead of a whole peeled off nail.

To keep your hands looking young and fresh, and to remove debris, dirt, and dead sking cells from around the nails and under your nails, use a bristle brush under your nails at least once a day, preferably in the morning, so you have your hands clean all day when you touch your face and phone. Once a week, add in a gentle exfoliator, and rub at your hands well. This will help remove dead skin cells and make your hands look younger.

If you get regular gel manicure without a strcutured layer, or using soft gel only, your manicure may not last long. A soft gel manicure without structure can last up to two weeks maximum, while using a structured soft gel layer, can add almost two weeks to your manicure. The best way to keep your gel manicure for up to 6-8 weeks, even for really long nails, is to use builder gel and have the right nail preparation.