I do have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis that affects my nails. they are very ridged. She did use a manual file and file them down slightly but when I peeled the polish off, there are still significant ridges. When I buy the rest of my supplies, I think I will file them some more.

I used to do that too! I used an Essie Base coat, but soak-off did not take 5 mins, and peeling it off will remove a layer of your nail. Ask me how I know......

Soak off takes just under 10 mins, but with a regular base coat, it does come off in one piece, but the downside to this method is that you get more lifting, and a manicure doesn't last as long. If you want to change it every week then it should work fine for you.

You can also add the pro bond after the pH bond.

For those of you who like to change colors more frequently than every two weeks or cannot tolerate the regrowth, some manicurists are using a regular polish base coat before using the Gelish/Shellac base coat. This makes removal much quicker and less damaging. About a 5 minute soak vs 15. Some say they can just peel it off when they are ready w/o acetone. The down side may be a bit shorter wear time, but if you are wanting to change the color more often it doesn't matter. For me, I just like the look and drying time of the gel polish so much better than regular polish that it would be worth it. I find myself wanting to change the color after about 10 days anyway, and I cannot stand the growth at the cuticle.

Has any one tried this?

Update:

I finally tried this, with just a coat of good clear polish as the base. For me it lasted as long as usual, and when I was ready to remove it I just peeled it off without a whole lot of effort (the peeling is so fun) with no damage to my nails.