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"After months of gel, my natural nails went thin and papery." If that has made you hesitant about nails, here's the key: damage usually isn't the gel itself — it's over-filing and forceful removal. Change the method, and you can enjoy nails while protecting them. That's the idea behind "growing" your natural nails (ikuzume).
What really damages natural nails
Conventional gel often files the nail surface for adhesion (sanding); repeated over time, this thins the nail. And filing gel off down to the base at every rebooking shaves the natural nail too, building up damage. In short, the harm is in how often and how much you file.
What "growing your nails" means
It's the approach of filing as little as possible and keeping your natural nails healthy while you continue with gel — not resting them, but protecting and strengthening them. The two main methods are Paragel and fill-in.
First, a key distinction: Paragel and fill-in are different things. Paragel is a type of gel; fill-in is a rebooking method. Combine the two and you protect the natural nail as much as possible.
Paragel — a gel that bonds without filing
Paragel is a type of gel that adheres without filing the nail surface. Its structure bonds tightly to the surface of the natural nail, so the sanding (filing) step required by ordinary gel isn't needed — greatly reducing damage. It's ideal if your nails are already thin or you simply don't want to harm them further.
Fill-in — rebooking without filing to the base
Fill-in is a method that doesn't remove all the gel: it leaves one layer of base gel against the natural nail and removes only the color and top to reapply fresh. Since the natural nail at the base isn't filed, there's no damage at each visit — so your nails tend to stabilize the longer you continue. See the Paragel & fill-in Q&A.
Longevity and rebooking cycle
Even with gentle methods, longevity is the same as regular gel — about 3–4 weeks. Leaving it too long lets bacteria in through lifting, a cause of green nail. Rebooking on a sensible cycle ultimately protects your nails. See the longevity Q&A too.
To start "growing your nails" in Shirokane
PRIVÉ Shirokane is a fully private, women-only salon offering minimal-filing Paragel and fill-in. We tailor a comfortable plan to the condition of your nails. Find a look that's kind to your natural nails in our design gallery.
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PRIVÉ白金 編集部