Use cuticle oil daily — Applying oil once or twice a day helps keep the cuticle area and nail bed hydrated, supports healthy nail-plate movement, and reduces lifting risk.
Keep hands and nails moisturised — A good hand cream after washing hands, and hydration in general, keeps the overlay and natural nail healthy.
Wear gloves for chores — When washing up, cleaning, gardening or doing anything with chemicals or lots of water: gloves protect your manicure from lifting or weakening.
Avoid prolonged soaking or extreme temperatures (first 24 h especially) — Immediately after the application your nails are settling; avoid hot baths, saunas, swimming, very cold conditions.
Book your next appointment for maintenance/infills — For BIAB, typical infill/refresh every 3-4 weeks; for gel polish every 2-3 weeks (depending on wear and your advice).
Keep nail length and shape manageable — Longer nails mean more chance of catching and lifting; keep an eye on free edge length to help longevity.
❌ Avoid This
Don’t use your nails as tools — Opening cans, peeling stickers, prising things – all risks lifting, chipping or damaging the natural nail underneath.
Don’t pick, peel or lift the overlay — If you feel lifting or edge-lift, pick up your phone instead of pulling at it. Pulling damages the natural nail plate and weakens future adhesion.
Avoid harsh/acetone-heavy removers and chemicals — These can dry out the nail and cuticle area, weaken adhesion, and shorten the life of the manicure.
Avoid very hot water or steam, and long baths/swimming — These expose nails to lots of moisture and can cause lifting or softening of the overlay.
Don’t postpone maintenance if you see growth or wear — Waiting too long can lead to lifting, breakage, uneven stress and possible damage to the natural nail.
BROW WAX & TINT
✅ Do this
Keep the brow area clean and dry for the first 24 hours after treatment.
Use a gentle, fragrance-free moisturiser around (but not on) the brow hairs as soon as you feel comfortable – this keeps the skin around the brows healthy and helps maintain tint longevity.
After the first 24 – 48 hours, continue to cleanse gently. Use a mild cleanser and pat dry. Avoid heavy scrubbing.
If you want to prolong colour: avoid oil-based products around the brows (as they may interfere with the tint).
Book a follow-up appointment for your next session in about 4-6 weeks or when you see growth/tint fading — this helps maintain the shape, colour and your client-retention.
❌ Avoid this
Avoid steam, very hot showers, saunas, swimming, sunbeds or heavy exposure to UV light for 24 hours post treatment. The skin and hair follicles are more vulnerable.
Avoid touching, rubbing or scratching the treated area for 24 hours. Waxing opens hair follicles, so extra contact can irritate.
Avoid applying self-tanning products on or around the brow area for at least 3 days (these can react with the tint dye and change colour).
Avoid exfoliating products, strong retinols or AHA/BHA serums around the brow area for 2-3 days (especially if the skin was waxed) — the skin is more sensitive.
Avoid using very oily make-up removers or heavy makeup directly on the brow area for the first 24 hours. These can interfere with healing and tint retention.
BROW LAMINATION
✅ Do this
Keep brows dry without water contact for the first 24 hours after treatment. That means no heavy washing of the face that contacts the brow hairs, no swimming or steam rooms.
After the first 24 – 48 hours, you can very gently cleanse the brow area with a mild, oil-free cleanser. Then apply a brow serum or conditioning oil/gel to support the hairs.
Brush the brows gently into shape using a clean brow spoolie to maintain the direction and shape you created. Doing this daily helps keep the look crisp.
Protect your brows from heavy heat, steam, saunas, sunbeds and very hot showers for at least 48 hours.
I recommend booking the next lamination (or infill/maintenance) in 6-8 weeks — going sooner risks over-processing the brow hairs.
❌ Avoid this
Do not wet the brows (or expose them to steam/sweat) for the first 24-48 hours. Moisture and heat can disrupt the setting of the lamination solution and can shorten the results.
Do not apply heavy or oily makeup on/around brows for the first 24 hours. Avoid brow gels, powders, pencils right away.
Do not touch, rub or sleep face-down/press your brows on a pillow during the first 24–48 hours. Pressure can alter their shape while they’re setting.
Avoid exfoliating treatments, strong acids (AHA/BHA), retinol/anti-ageing serums on the brow skin for 3 days before and after the appointment. These can make the skin overly reactive and affect the lamination.
Don’t go for brow lamination if you’ve done one recently (<6-8 weeks) or if there are already issues with brow hair health – over-processing can lead to damage.