I had acrylics for about 3 years....and never had it all removed until I decided to go back to natural nails. Any tech who worked on my nails, and there were about 6 or 7 just did a fill... filled in what had grown out....filed the tip and polished.
Your nails must be a mess! When I finally took the acrylics off it took about 5 months for my nails to get even sort of healthy.
Your nails may not be strong enough for a Gel....I would try a different tech.
Linda c

I don't know anything about acrylic nails, but my last two manicures have been gel/shellac and I love it! I always get neutral colors in regular manicures because I'm wary of chipping, but with a gel manicure I can have red nails and for me, the manicure lasts a good two weeks. And even then it's not chipping -- it's just that you start to see a "space" at the top of the nail where your nail is growing. It does take longer than a regular manicure -- a solid hour between getting the old polish off and putting the new polish on. Fortunately the salon I go to has a TV :)

Sue, I haven't tried this product, but there is now an at home system for the gel/shellac type polish. I saw it at a local store, and it's available at Ulta.

Another good option for long lasting polish are the Incoco nail polish strips. A friend gave me a french manicure kit, and it lasted about 2 weeks without chipping. I tried a similar product from Sally Hansen, but it didn't work well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Carpet Manicure at Ulta

I don't understand why they were removing the nail every month. They should've been just doing a fill. Did she apply tips or use a nail form to create a white tip?

I prefer the look and application of gel nails. You can have it applied over your natural nail for added strength or over tips. You also can have then apply gel nail polish which holds up better than regular since it's cured under a uv lamp.

Terriks, I just went to the Incoco site and watched the video (I guess I'm overly-caffeinated this morning, because that "slow talking" voiceover drove me nuts! ;-)) and am intrigued. Were the strips easy to apply yourself, especially to the right hand (if you're right-handed, that is)? For the French manicure, I assume the white tip is "built in" to the strip? How does that work?

I do think that there is a bit of a learning curve to the Incoco strips, I didn't get them on perfectly, and then they stayed on so long that I was forced to see my imperfect application for two weeks! And I did have more difficulty applying to my right hand. For the french manicure set the white strip is separate, and I believe that it is applied first, then the sheer pink over top. I think that you could probably buy just the white tips and apply your own sheer polish over the top. These things stay on so well that you could probably remove the top coat of sheer and repolish after a week or so if you wanted to.

Thanks! I've tried DIY French manicure kits with a little strip that guides where the tip is to be painted on, and just never got the hang of it. I've also tried a kit with a white pen, and felt like a toddler learning to draw all over again. ;-D I can never seem to find the time to go and have my nails done professionally, although I was recently at an out-of-town resort for a work conference and did treat myself to a manicure at the onsite spa. It was such a nice thing to do, that I really ought to make it more of a priority on regular basis.

Sheesharee,
Maybe they were not acrylic nails that I have had done, I thought that is what it was called.
I did not get tips. I have a long nailbed and I wanted my french manicure to be very short. They just dipped my fingertips in white powder and then put something on top. It just looked like clear polish but it hardens immediately and dries instantly.
My nails have always been very hard but now they are like paper.

Yeah, sounds like acrylic. There are different types/brands. You can put it over your natural nail too but gel is more common around here for that.

I'm sorry your nails are in rough shape right now. I'd find a new manicurist, like you mentioned, and give gel nails a try. Honestly, I really don't feel that one is better than the other for your nails, just a preference on how they look.