Gel Nail Issues: Troubleshooting & Avoiding Problems

Question
2 months ago I had the white plastic tips and pink uv gel (all gel, no powders) done for my wedding. This was my first nail salon experience. They looked fantastic however when i returned to work I found i couldn't work in them, i was told to soak them off in acetone which i did (took about 2hrs mostly because the glue holding the white tip wouldn't come off)
Once off i noticed they were (still are) paper thin, i decided this was the tech's fault and refused to dabble in nail enhancements again. Because they're paper thin I opted to go to a new salon to see about getting them cleared gelled to keep them hard til they grow out.

The prob i have now is that they gel looks great for a day or two but keeps popping off. I don't know exactly what they use but its all IBD and the first coat paints on, looks/comes in a nail polish bottle. then a couple coats of clear gel. I have asked why they continue to pop off, they claim its because i refuse to let them file my nails.

i am at a loss as to whether to let them file my already paper thin nails further, or to just let my natural nail break off continually till grown out. (which i heard could take months)

what is going wrong here?
thanks

Answer
Hi there!  I'm sorry you went through such a disappointing experience.  You were damaged at the hands of aggressive filing from the last tech, and you are right to not want your nails damaged any further.  But the new tech may be right- Gel has to have a "rough" surface to stick to, or it will just "pop off." If the tech you are seeing is reputable, they won't use more than a 240 grit abrasive on your nail plate to get the adhesion they need from the gel, and in single strokes on the nailplate, only to remove the surface oils that build up in the nailplate itself.  If you want to make double sure that this type of file is used, go find a CND Koala buffer- it's a very soft abrasive, one side is in fact a 240 grit.

If the gel continues to pop off after letting them file, take them off and start getting bi-weekly manicures, and pick up some formaldehyde free nail strengthener.  CND makes one called "Toughen Up" that utilizes Dimethyl Urea, a keratin crosslinker that does NOT overly crosslink and make the nails brittle. Used with their "Solar Oil," you can have your nails back in pretty prime shape in a shorter period of time :)