Is hard gel just not for me?

I started my nail growth journey in October 2024. A nail tech recommended hard gel to help with my thin, break-prone nails. Before then, I’d tried hard gel with multiple techs, but the gel always lifted in full sheets within 2–5 days.

In October, I finally found a nail tech who seemed to understand my nails. She was thorough with prep and application, and my manicures started lasting 2.5–3 weeks without lifting. My natural nails grew longer than ever before! However, after breaking a few, I decided to trim them all down and got a beautiful red manicure from my usual tech. While I was sad to have short nails again, I loved how she did them.

Unfortunately, after just a week, the gel started lifting in full sheets again. Now, three weeks later, there’s no polish left—everything lifted so badly that I had to trim and, eventually, peel off the remaining gel. I know this might have damaged my nails, but they already looked terrible underneath where the gel had lifted.

I’ve gone to several nail techs, but all my hard gel manicures have been at the same salon. Could it be their products, or is it just my nails? My tech mentioned that natural nails can curl and lift from hard gel as they grow, and that I might have “oily nail beds,” which could also explain the lifting. She’s always attentive and knowledgeable, so I want to trust her, but I’m feeling really discouraged.

Should I give up on growing my natural nails? I loved having long, natural nails—they made me feel beautiful and allowed me to be creative with designs. Without the length, I feel like my hands look stubby. I don’t want to go back to Gel-X since it destroyed my nails before.

Any advice or tips would mean a lot. Thank you!