Short answer: No! Long answer: Products don’t ruin your nails (within reason) - technicians do. Although yes, professional vs retail nail products are formulated very differently and we’d never condone grabbing a DIY kit and giving it a go at home (that’s a rant for another day), at the end of the day the part of the service that causes the most damage is the prep and removal. Remember, you get what you pay for - if you see an untrained tech who doesn’t understand what tools to use and how to use them properly, you’ll go away with natural nails that have been over-filed, skin that’s been cut, and product that’s been forcefully removed (taking layers and layers of nail along with it). These techniques cause pain, discomfort, extreme damage and in some cases encourage the nail plate to separate from the side of the finger/nail bed. Properly trained technicians (like us!) can always recommend the best nail product for your lifestyle and will never over-prep or forcefully remove product from your nails - always ask to see a qualification if you’re unsure.

Acrylic is the "concrete" of nail products and used to extend the nail. Gel Extensions are made of gel and go on as pre-shaped tips and have slightly more strength professionally polished natural nails. Acrylgel is a hybrid product between acrylic and gel - it has more "give" than standard acrylic, more like an earthquake-proof building (compared to the "concrete"). Acrylgel can be used as an overlay or an extension product.

No it won’t! UV-B is the type of light that is damaging to your skin, and professional nail lamps work on the UV-A spectrum - furthermore, the LED bulbs in professional lamps have specific films over them to filter out any residual UV-B light that might be present. Sitting under office/library lights or walking to the coffee shop from your workplace exposes you to more UV light than an LED lamp at the nail salon.

If you do have concerns you are welcome to wear sunscreen, however please note sunscreens can jeopardise the adhesion - and potentially shorten the lifespan - of your manicure.

Gel Extensions - Gel Extension Rebalance

Gel Extension Rebalance - your technician will let you know whether to book for a Gel Polish Manicure Infill + Builder Gel Overlay or an Acrylgel Rebalance based on their recommendation

Gel Polish Manicure - Gel Polish Manicure Infill

Gel Polish Manicure + Builder Gel Overlay - Gel Polish Manicure Infill + Builder Gel Overlay

Acrylgel Extensions - Acrylgel Rebalance

Acrylic Extensions - Acrylic Rebalance

If it’s been 5 weeks or more since your last appointment, you need to add 5+ Weeks Rebalance to your booking so we have enough time to get them re-structured.

If your nails are 20mm or more past the tip of your finger and you’d like to keep them that long, you need to add XL+ length (see service descriptions for further details) to your booking.

It’s perfectly safe - as is recommended regardless of pregnancy, proper application and use of products is paramount for best results, and a properly ventilated space is most important for general health in a nail salon (all of which you’ll find at The Nail Vault). If you’re unsure, please speak to your lead maternity carer.

SNS itself isn’t an industry-regulated product, effectively being layers of finely milled acrylic powder and painted on superglue - although there are plenty of professionally formulated Dip Powder systems available, we currently don’t service any at The Nail Vault. However, we do have plenty of options available! If you’re wanting similar strength, we’d recommend a Builder Gel Overlay. If you’re wanting extensions, we’d recommend Sculpted Acrylgel Extensions. If you currently have SNS on your nails, you’ll need to book in for SNS/Extension removal alongside your fresh set.

Absolutely! We’d always recommend IBX and a Gel Polish Manicure + Builder Gel Overlay for natural nail, or acrylic extensions (rather than acrylgel - it's too soft a product to withstand your teeth) for length. We don't recommend gel extensions for nail biters (they don't hold well to shorter damaged nails and can severely damage your nail beds if ripped off by habit). If you’re after extensions, please do note the length we can extend does depend on the length of your natural nail if they’re particularly damaged (feel free to send us an email with a photo of your natural nails and your inspo pic so we can let you know our recommendations). Our highly trained techs prep nails gently, educate you on the best care for your enhancements and only use high-end industry grade products. If you’re looking for a specialised way to kick the habit, check out our tried and tested Nail Biter Rehab program!

Your enhancements should last anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks with minor damage - this is dependent on the health of your natural nails, your general lifestyle, and providing you practised the correct aftercare advised at the time of your appointment. We don’t recommend leaving your nails on for longer than 5 weeks; too much regrowth can become too “heavy” for your nail to hold properly, putting your nails at risk of breaking.

Try to keep chemical exposure and water submersion to a minimum by wearing gloves when you’re gardening, doing the dishes and/or using cleaning products.

We also recommend using a cuticle oil (or moisturiser) daily, applying to your cuticle area and the top and bottom of your nails - this not only encourages healthy moisturised regrowth but also helps to keep your natural nails from becoming dry and brittle, peeling away from the product we apply on top.

Don’t use your nails as leverage! Grab a spoon to open your coke can, or use your knuckles to flush the toilet.

Make sure you’re not picking or peeling at your polish, and if you do get a crack or a chip, feel free to give us a call and we can fix it up for you!

You can book here to come into the salon and get them gently soaked off, or you can purchase an at-home removal kit here. We don’t recommend forcing the product (i.e Ripping or picking) off your nails - this is what causes damage. Wherever you go to get your nails removed, make sure they’re soaked in Acetone rather than aggressively filed - remember, nails shouldn’t be painful!

No - your nails don’t have lungs! Getting your nails redone continuously at a reputable salon shouldn’t cause damage - if you’re worried about the health of your natural nails, always chat to your technician and discuss your concerns (we always want to know!). As it takes over 3 months to grow from cuticle to tip, “letting your nails breathe” won’t make any noticeable difference unless you add strict nail care (such as daily cuticle oil use, and keeping your nails short with a quality nail file while they grow out) and take at least 12 weeks between your appointments.

All of our gel products are 11-free, cruelty free and vegan - the only non-vegan product in our salon is acrylic powder.

Yes! Our 2 main nail courses are Gel Tech and Full Tech, however we do have some smaller courses available as well as upskilling for pre-qualified technicians. Click here for more info or contact us!

We currently offer manicures, pedicures and extensions, with a particular focus on nail art and nail biter rehab - however we can recommend an amazing local eyelash extension technician!

Send us a message!