After thousands of clients have come through our salon in Durrës, we've seen the same mistakes repeat themselves. The worst part? Most people make them every day without realizing they're damaging their nails.
The good news: all of these mistakes are easy to fix once you know about them. Let's go through them one by one.
Mistake 1: Cutting cuticles
This is the cardinal sin of nail care, and also the most common. The cuticle isn't 'extra skin' — it's the natural barrier protecting the base of your nail. When you cut it, you open a doorway for infection and also cause damage to the matrix (the part where the nail grows from).
Mistake 2: Filing back and forth
When you file your nails back-and-forth like a saw, you're separating the nail's fibers. The result? Nails that split, crack, and break before reaching any length.
The right technique: always file in one direction, from the outside toward the center. This respects the natural fiber direction of the nail and keeps them bonded.
Mistake 3: Forcefully removing gel
When gel starts to lift or you just 'want a change', the temptation to peel it off by hand is huge. But when you do this, you're not just removing the gel — you're also removing the top layer of the nail itself.
After improper removal, nails are thin, weak, and translucent. They take weeks to recover — and during that time any new manicure will damage faster.
- Never peel gel off with your teeth or other nails.
- Don't use sharp objects to scrape it off.
- Don't use 100% acetone at home if you don't know how — it can extremely dehydrate the nail.
- Come to us every 3 weeks for professional removal or refill.
Mistake 4: Skipping base coat
Base coat isn't a step you can skip. Without it, colored polish bonds directly to the nail, leaving pigment residue and making the nail yellow over time. On top of that, the polish lasts much shorter and chips quickly.
Base coat plays three roles: it creates a protective layer for the nail, improves color adhesion (so it lasts longer), and prevents yellowing. Those extra 60 seconds are always worth it.
Mistake 5: Lack of hydration
The nail and surrounding skin are living structures. When dehydrated, the nail becomes dry, peeling, and ridged. The surrounding skin cracks, creating hangnails and encouraging ingrown hair growth.
Hydration isn't a luxury — it's a basic need. Apply cuticle oil at least twice a day (morning and evening), and hand cream after every hand wash.
Bonus: the mistake nobody admits
Using your nails as tools. Opening cans, scraping labels, pressing buttons with the tip of your nail — all of these create micro-damage that accumulates over time. Make it a rule: nails are for looking, not for working.
“Beautiful nails don't come from expensive products. They come from the absence of small daily damage that people do without realizing.”
Summary: the mistakes list
- Don't cut cuticles — gently push them with a pusher.
- Only file in one direction, never back-and-forth.
- Don't remove gel yourself — come for professional removal.
- Always use base coat before colored polish.
- Hydrate twice a day with cuticle oil.
Fix even one or two of these mistakes and within a month you'll see a change. Fix all five and your nails will completely transform. And of course, if you need specific advice for your nails, the Blooming team is always here for you.