6 things you should never do to your nails after a manicure, according to nail artists

Julie Kandalec, a celebrity manicurist, educator, and founder of Julie K Nail Academy, told BI that picking at a gel manicure can cause long-term issues.

Depending on how fast your nails grow, it can take months to see them healthy again after ripping off the cured polish.

Lauren Ortega, an independent nail artist based in New York, also advised against the practice.

"You're peeling off layers of your nail — making them a lot thinner — and that'll cause your future manicures to not last as long as they should," she said.

Instead, get them professionally removed. If that's not an option, invest in products specifically made for removing gel.

In a similar vein, avoid pulling on any cuticles or dead skin around your nails in between appointments, as this can cause painful hangnails.

Instead, Kandalec said to apply cuticle oil and moisturizer to the top, free edge, and underside of your nails for full, moisturizing effects to keep natural nails healthy.

"If that natural nail underneath is dry, it's going to curl away from the enhancement, and that's what causes lifting," she told BI.

Nicole Wong, an expert nail designer at MiniLuxe nail-care studio, recommended staying away from extremely hot and cold water after a gel manicure. This can cause the polish to expand and contract, which may lead to chipping.

Ortega also told BI that water can be incredibly drying for the nail area, and hot water can cause the gel polish to soften on a fresh manicure.

"I always recommend that people wear gloves for any kind of house chores or dishes," she said.

If you're facing a gnarly hangnail or a nail extension is beginning to lift, Wong said to make a salon appointment, stat.

She also told BI that bandages are your best friend — keeping one on the affected area can help lessen the overall damage and prevent you from picking at it.

"Lifting can cause real damage to the nails," Wong said. "It could cause a crack in the middle of your nail bed and that is very hard to heal. It takes a long time for it to grow out."

When issues like this arise, Kandalec said, it's important to avoid cuticle oil.

If your nail is lifting, moisturizer and oil can slip underneath and cause the nail glue to erode, popping the extension off entirely. Oil and water can also get trapped beneath your extension and cause bacterial infections known as "greenies."

Ortega's mantra for fresh nails is "jewels, not tools."

The beautiful set is meant to be admired, not used for things like opening a soda can or tightening screws — no matter how convenient your claws are.

"You want to be super mindful of the pressure you're putting your nails under," she told BI.

Everyone wants to get the most out of a manicure, especially if they paid top dollar for special polishes and techniques. But don't let a beloved set overstay its welcome.

Wong told BI that the longer your nails are, the more stress they'll experience, which can cause breakage and lifting.

She recommends getting extensions removed after three or four weeks.