If you’re trying to break up with acrylics or gel for good, the growing-out period can be torture. When your nails are weak, brittle and peeling, booking another appointment to cover them up starts looking like the easier option.

But that uncomfortable grow-out phase is temporary and necessary. You can't skip it, but you can make it shorter and less painful.

Why do acrylic and gel damage nails?

The damage doesn't happen all at once, but over time, it adds up. Every application starts with filing down your natural nail to create grip, which means you're making them thinner each time. The chemicals involved aren't doing you any favours either, dehydrating both the nail plate and the skin around it.

And then there's removal. Even when done professionally (which, let's be honest, is the only way it should be done), you're looking at more buffing, more filing, and that extended acetone soak that leaves your nails feeling like paper.

So after all that, you’re likely left with nails that are in serious need of serious TLC.

Immediate aftercare for acrylic and gel nails

Give them a break

No polish, extensions, or harsh treatments for at least 2 weeks. And ideally, forever. 

Gentle filing

Keep nails short to prevent snagging and further breakage; file in one direction only.

Moisture is key

Apply cuticle oil, such as Ultimate Nail Rescue, 3 times daily. The water-based serum delivers nutrients into the nail cells, while the oil provides moisture to the top layers and creates a protective barrier on the surface that repels water throughout the day. This hydration and moisture balance is what prevents brittleness and breakage.

Keep them away from water

Paradoxically, water absorption can actually weaken nails. When keratin cells absorb water, then dry out again, this expansion and contraction weakens the bonds between cells, resulting in peeling and flaking, or weak nails. Be sure to wear gloves when washing dishes, cleaning or gardening.

No picking or peeling

It's incredibly tempting to peel away those annoying flaking layers, but doing so will only make the damage worse.

Now that you’ve done damage control, the next step for healthier nails is establishing a nail care routine.

Your post-gel & acrylic nail care routine

Aftercare will prevent further damage to your nails, but to get them back to where they were, or even better than before, you’ll need to rebuild them. Luckily, this doesn’t require a science degree. Just some consistency and the right products.

Rebuild and strengthen

A serum-style nail strengthener is a good first step to rebuilding the core of the nail. Strengthening treatments work by reinforcing the nail plate with proteins and hardening agents, building back that structural integrity you've lost. But nail strengtheners should not be used for more than 2 weeks at a time. After 2 weeks, you can transition to a product like The Miracle Base Coat, which will continue to build strength while ensuring some flexibility too.

Make hydration non-negotiable

Nail oil becomes your constant companion during recovery. We're talking multiple times a day. Quality nail oils penetrate the nail plate and cuticle, delivering essential fatty acids and vitamins that actually rehydrate from within, as well as creating a protective layer that stops unwanted chemical and water absorption that comes with daily activities.  sitting on the surface. Keep it everywhere: in your bag, on your desk, by your bed and apply it before showers and swimming. For targeted application throughout the day when you're not at home, a cuticle pen delivers concentrated treatment exactly where you need it without the mess of a bottle and brush. And remember, nail health declines with age due to reduced blood flow to your nails, so massaging nail oil also stimulates circulation, which helps with healthy nail growth.

Treat what you see

If your nails are looking yellow or discoloured post-removal (common with gel), it could suggest a nail fungus. Nail fungus is commonly contracted post-gels, from the salon itself (and yes, even expensive clean salons) or more commonly from public spaces where they wedge in under a lift of the gel and make themselves right at home in the porous layers of your recently buffed nail plate, where it’s warm and moist. Nail fungus is notoriously tricky to treat, so early action is very important. The longer a fungal infection has time to take hold, the longer and more expensive it is to resolve. We recommend a visit to the podiatrist (especially for people over 50, where nail fungus can become increasingly serious when coupled with other health issues) and a supporting topical treatment like the Yellow Nails Set.  

If your nails have visible damage, like flaking, start with a hydrating serum and oil product like the ultimate nail rescue set and use it consistently for at least a month. Remember, all topical products can help strengthen and support nail health, but none can regrow the layers of nail that have been removed during buffing. For your nails to be at their strongest, you need to wait until the nail plate has fully grown out. which can be up to 6 months for fingernails and 12 months for toenails.

Don't overlook the support system

Your cuticles are part of your nail's infrastructure, and right now, they're probably as distressed as the nails themselves. A proper cuticle softener uses gentle emollients and acids to condition and hydrate without requiring aggressive pushing and cutting that can introduce infection when your nails are already vulnerable. It naturally breaks down dead skin, making it easy to gently push back cuticles without trauma. Healthy cuticles mean healthier nail growth.

How long does it take to repair nails damaged by acrylics or gel?

So you’re wondering when your nails will look normal again?

The short answer? Longer than you'd like. Your nails grow approximately 3mm per month (roughly the width of two credit cards stacked together). So if the damage extends halfway down your nail bed (which it often does after repeated acrylic or gel applications), you're looking at at least 2 months before that damaged portion grows out completely.

But here's where it gets more complicated. Even after the visibly damaged nail grows out, the new growth coming in isn't automatically in perfect condition. Those first few weeks of new nails are still recovering from the stress your nails endured. 

Realistically, here's the timeline for repairing nail damage:

Weeks 1-2: The worst of it. Your nails look their roughest and feel paper-thin. Consistent care matters most now, even though you won't see dramatic results yet.

Weeks 3-4: You'll notice improvement at the base, where new growth is emerging. The line between damaged and healthy nail becomes visible. Encouraging, but still awkward.

Weeks 6-8: About half of your nail is now healthy growth. They're stronger, less prone to breaking, and you're through the hardest part.

Months 3-4: Full recovery. Your nails have completely grown out, and you've rebuilt their natural resilience.

The frustrating truth is that you can't speed up nail growth. No supplement, treatment, or miracle product will make your nails grow significantly faster than their natural rate. What you can control is the quality of that new growth and preventing further damage while you wait.

So start the routine, be consistent, and in a few months, you'll forget this phase ever happened… until you're tempted by acrylics or gel again.