Gelish Vitagel Recovery Nail Strengthener - Strengthening Polish, Base Coat, Fortifies and Repairs Weak, Thin, and Brittle Nails (0.5 oz)

My nails crumble like crackers if I have polish (gel or regular) for more than three months straight. I thought gel polish was the answer and bought my own LED light (takes less curing time that UV lights). BUT -- my nails then began to crack lengthwise (instead of just breaking across the "smile line." Enter Recovery. I read about the fact that it might not adhere to my nails. Since I work at home, I figured I could just reapply and took a chance. The first time I tried just one coat (not even a top coat), with nail prep using a medium fine grit file. Two days later all five nails on my left hand had peeled off. THE RIGHT HAND STAYED A WEEK. The only difference is, I had surface flaws in the right hand and had buffed the flaws out and put a second coat on the the right hand. i have now used this for over a month and can HIGHLY recommend it, but have adapted these "stay" procedures. I am very careful not to have had my hands in water or oil for at least 3 hours before I will use this. I prep with a coarser grit file. I cleanse my nails, I use two coats of Gelish ph bond and let that dry. I add one thin coats of Recovery and LED cure the full 30 seconds (I do not cleanse until the end). Then another thin coat. Then two coats of Simple Sheer and then a top coat curing in between). The last time, this stayed on my nails until I needed to change because of nail growth, A bonus is that it soaks off so much faster than regular foundation -- so I am getting less time in the acetone soak. My nails look great! I almost cannot believe this. Please do not stop making this. I did try to put one coat of Recovery then one coat of Strengthener in this same line, with good results, too.Also, I had a pedicure professionally using this a base on my toenails, using the matte top coat, then using regular polish on top (to protect my nails from the evil formaldehyde in the regular polish) I am just adding the polish as it gets dull and will take the Recovery off at home before I go again. Again, this has been on two weeks! Yeah! I am a dancer and want my toes to be pretty all the time, not just 3 months at a time (while I wait for my formaldehyde damaged toenails to heal). I am thrilled with this product.Edit after a couple more months of use: I am finding another technique works even better and the polish stays on my nails (and my nails are still not crumbling). I still use ph bond first and this product second. But, I only cure this (the Recovery) for 15 seconds using this LED light MelodySusie 2013 Upgraded 12W Violetili LED Light Lamp Gel Nail Dryer for Curing LED Gel & Gelish Nail Polish Black + MelodySusieTM Nail Nipper. This lamp has a default 30 second cure time, so I am only curing for half the time (as in other instructions for gelish foundation. Then, after that 15 second cure under an LED lamp, I apply a thin layer of Gelish regular foundation and cure that for 15 seconds. Then I wipe the surface of the nail with a clean completely dry flat brush and THEN I apply the Gelish polish and top coat. The gel manicure done this way is lasting just as long as with the regular foundation only and does not destroy my nails. I am so happy!

My nails spilt vertically into the the skin under nail and that's very painful. I've tried (unsuccessfully) for years to use diy silk nail wrap with ibd brush on gel resin (and ASP bio-set resin activator for instant drying of gel). That only lasts about 3 days before peeling. Vitagel Recovery is AMAZING! I have never had gel nails, but my friends do and it looks like a gel overlay. I've had it on all of nails for 10 days with no lifting or peeling. My nails aren't splitting with this on. I clean houses on the side and my nails still look nice as strong with Vitagel Recovery on all 10 nails. I use a tool to remove cuticle from nail plate, prime with Sensationail Gel Primer and apply as instructed and curing between coats. I used 4 thin coats, but you can use 2 coats. I searched youtube for vitagel tutorials before trying this on myself. You need a uv lamp to cure, but I own a MioPure uv/led nail lamp. I love my lamp. It's large and all fingers fit inside. That means my thumb fits in too! Search youtube for tutorials on doing a Vitagel fill in as nail grows out. (This is a soak off gel.)

This is a great product. I am a guitar player, and I needed a product to strengthen my nails so they don't break while playing. The best way to use this product is to file the surface of your nail with a very gentle filing block to create a slightly rough surface, then clean it with gelish nail cleanser, or acetone, or alcohol. Then apply an acid free primer, then apply a very thin layer of this product to your nail, and then use a uv flash light, or multi finger uv light unit to cure the gel for about a minute or two depending on your uv light, then you apply the nail cleanser once again to remove the oils and residue at the last stage. If you want to apply another layer, then apply it before cleansing it, meaning once your cure it, then apply another layer, cure it again, and then use the nail cleanser again to wipe the residues and oils. If you follow these steps, the gel will stay on your nails for over a month easily if you don't wash your hands twenty times a day. The negative reviews seem to be written by people who haven't learnt how to correctly apply this product. I highly recommend this fantastic product.

I bought this because it is to repair the natural nail. I wore acrylic nails for 3 months and it made my nails weak and thin. You use this Vitagel which is thicker than the other Vitagel product Gelish makes in place of the Gelish Foundation layer and then proceed with with Gelish Nail Color. I don't understand how it works but I figure it is worth a try. Amazon has a very reasonable price on this.

I bought this cause my salon where I use to get my nails used a similar product. I've been having issues of why (after I spend 3 hours doing a French manicure) all of the nail polish peels off in one piece. I'm careful at not putting it on to thick. All of my polish says it cures in 30 seconds. I thought maybe I needed to cute longer. Nope went to 60 seconds to now two 6 seconds a coat. I'm guessing by some of the reviews that this product is causing it. I'll be redoing them without this. I'll find out and will repost! Hope this is my answer cause I have a lot money invested in gel polish in all color, led lamp and tools. I hate to give up and I like doing them and saving me money on getting them done and having to travel out of town.