Advanced Technique · Polygel Reconstruction
Problem Nails Masterclass:
Hooked, Curved & Downward Nails
— Fixes That Actually Work
Four real clients. Four different disasters. Hooked nails, missing sidewalls, deep cracks, inherited extensions. The cases other techs quietly refuse. This is advanced reconstruction — polygel, precision filing, and techniques that transform problem nails permanently.
Enroll Now — $109.99 →
🛡 14-day guarantee — refund if less than 30% viewed
🛡 14-Day Money-Back Guarantee — refund if less than 30% of course viewed. Full policy at vel.academy/refund
What You'll Learn
✓Correct hooked, curved, and downward-growing nails using polygel reconstruction
✓Build sidewalls "in the air" when natural structure is completely gone
✓Assess crack severity — know when to cut, seal, or wait for grow-out
✓Transform oval shapes to squares by building corners that don't exist yet
✓File reconstructed nails without undoing your correction work
✓Fix inherited extensions faster than full removal
✓Lift dropped tips that point at the floor
✓Handle the cases other techs quietly refuse — and charge premium for it
Who This Course Is For
Nail techs who want to stop turning away clients with difficult nails
Professionals ready to charge premium prices for reconstruction work
Techs who inherited clients with hooked, curved, or damaged extensions from other salons
Graduates of Oval or Square courses ready to move into advanced cases
Anyone who wants to become the go-to tech for problem nails in their area
Course Curriculum
12 lessons across 4 real cases · hooked nails · crack repair · shape transformation · extension correction
Case 1 — Curved & Hooked Nails
1
Reading the Disaster: What I Look for Before Touching a Problem Nail
Assessment checklist before picking up any tool. Where's the growth point? How severe is the hook? Is it growing down, twisting sideways, or both? This determines everything that comes after.
Assessment
2
Building Sidewalls in the Air: Polygel on Nails with Nothing to Hold Onto
When the natural sidewall is gone — over-filed, twisted, or just never there. How to guide polygel toward growth points, create structure where there's nothing, and lift tips that point at the floor.
Polygel Placement
3
How to File Reconstructed Nails Without Undoing the Correction
The sequence that protects your work: thin from underneath first at low RPM, then surface file at high RPM, then shape. Check tip thickness constantly.
Filing
4
Square Corners on Nails That Never Had Corners
The e-file gets you close. The hand file gets you perfect. Grip, pressure, and the trick of using your file edge as a visual guide. Tip first, then lower arch, then sidewalls.
Hand Filing
5
The Final Layer: Gel Over Polygel for a Finished Look
Polygel alone looks matte and rough. Gel over top gives you shine and refinement — but the layer has to be thin or you lose the shape you just created.
Gel Finish
Case 2 — Long Square with Cracks
6
Cracks Into Living Tissue: When to Cut, When to Seal, When to Wait
Not all cracks are the same. Surface splits can be sealed today. Cracks into the nail bed need to grow out. How to assess crack severity and choose your approach.
Crack Assessment
7
Long Square Reconstruction: Lifting, Cracks, and Twisted Sidewalls All at Once
Crack repair protocol, higher base placement for elevated growth points, and why polygel wins over gel when deformation is this bad.
Repair & Rebuild
8
Filing Long Reconstructed Nails Without Losing the Structure You Built
Long nails flex more. How to match finger lengths, thin from underneath without weakening, and surface file without heat or vibration.
Long Nail Filing
Case 3 — Oval to Square Transformation
9
She Wants Squares But Has Ovals: Creating Corners That Don't Exist
Polygel at the growth points, shape before curing, then file the square in. How to decide where the new corner should be and how to create structure to support it.
Building Corners
10
From Round to Sharp: Filing the Transformation Complete
Gel overlay for refinement, then precise filing: tip, lower arch, sidewalls. The client came in with soft ovals and leaves with crisp squares.
Final Shaping
Case 4 — Inherited Extension Corrections
11
Inherited Extensions: Why Correction Beats Full Removal
Assessment, fill workflow, and how to fix problems without adding more. Correction is faster and less damaging than starting over.
Extension Fix
12
Filing Corrected Extensions: Same Rules, Extra Caution
Thin the tip from underneath first to prevent dropping. Open the lower arch evenly. Protect rebuilt corners. Same technique as natural nails, just more patience.
Correction Filing
Watch the video and see exactly what's inside — in under 60 seconds.
This Nail Result Diagnosis Map
practical troubleshooting tool for nail techs. It helps you identify the most likely cause of common failures and apply a First Fix (the smallest change with the biggest impact).
You agree to our Terms and Conditions
Ready to start? 12 lessons · 4 real cases · Lifetime access
Enroll Now — $109.99 → What You Need
- Complete the Oval or Square course first — this is advanced work, basics are not covered here
- Confident with gel leveling, e-file removal, and shape filing at various RPM settings
- Access to polygel, e-file with carbide bits, and standard manicure tools
- Comfortable working at 10,000–25,000 RPM depending on the stage
Your Instructor
Yuliia
Nail Educator · International Competition Winner · VEL Academy
With over 15 years of hands-on experience and a first-place win at an international nail competition in Warsaw, Yuliia used to refer problem nail clients out. Now they're her favorite appointments. This course documents exactly how she got there — four real cases, every decision explained, no basics assumed.
15+ Years Experience 🥇 1st Place — Warsaw Dry Manicure Specialist E-File Expert
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this course suitable for beginners?
No. This is genuinely advanced work. The course assumes you are already confident with gel leveling, e-file removal, and shape filing. If you haven't done the Oval or Square course, start there first.
What is polygel and why is it used for problem nails?
Polygel is a hybrid product — thicker than gel, more workable than acrylic. It holds shape where regular gel collapses. For hooked, curved, or structurally compromised nails, polygel can be shaped before curing, which means you can guide it toward growth points and build structure in mid-air.
Can hooked nails be permanently corrected?
The nail grows the way the matrix tells it to — that doesn't change. What you can do is correct the appearance and structure at every appointment. With proper reconstruction at each fill, the nail train gradually improves. Some clients see significant long-term improvement; others need maintenance at every visit.
How do I know if a crack can be sealed or needs to grow out?
Surface splits above the stress point can usually be sealed today. Cracks that reach into or near the nail bed need to grow out — sealing them can trap bacteria. Lesson 6 covers the assessment in detail.
Why is correction better than removing inherited extensions?
Full removal damages the nail plate and takes more time. If extensions are structurally intact, correction is faster and less traumatic. Lessons 11 and 12 show the full workflow.
How long do these appointments take?
Longer — don't promise 50 minutes. A hooked nail reconstruction first appointment can take 90 minutes or more. This is premium-priced work, and clients who need it understand the time investment.
Is a certificate included?
Yes. A certificate of completion from VEL Academy is issued automatically after you finish all modules.
What is the refund policy?
14-day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied for any reason, contact us within 14 days of purchase for a full refund — provided that no more than 30% of the course content has been viewed. Full policy at vel.academy/refund.
Enroll Today
Problem Nails Masterclass
One payment. Lifetime access. Four real cases, complete reconstruction from start to finish.
$109.99
One-time payment · Instant access
- 12 lessons across 4 real cases — hooked nails, cracks, transformation, extensions
- Full polygel reconstruction technique — sidewalls, lifting, cracks, shape change
- Filing sequences that protect your correction work
- Full equipment list included
- Lifetime access — revisit any lesson at any time
- Certificate of completion from VEL Academy
- 14-day money-back guarantee — up to 30% of course viewed. Zero risk.
14-Day Money-Back Guarantee Not satisfied? Contact us within 14 days of purchase for a full refund — as long as less than 30% of the course has been viewed. Full policy at vel.academy/refund
Get a free Nail Anatomy Map
Just type your contacts
It's totally free