Gel polish paint on hands

MAKING THE SWITCH TO GEL NAIL POLISH

Gel nail polish has only been on the market since 2010. Still the gel manicure has quickly become a salon staple. For those who are hesitant to try gel polishes, these are their benefits:

1. QUICK TO DRY

Gel polish is thicker than ordinary nail polish. The primary feature distinguishing it from a classic manicure is that gel nail polish doesn’t dry naturally. Gel polishes need to be cured under a UV or LED lamp in order for the gel polish to dry.

Curing refers to placing your nails under an LED or UV light to activate the chemical process that dries each coat of gel polish. With gel nail polish, you can leave your appointment or after applying at-home with flawlessly dry nails.

2. CHIP-FREE

With a quick-drying, durable formula, gel painted nails hardly chip. Your gel manicure is resistant to chipping or smudging, and the gel color will stay as bright and shiny as it was on day one.

3. LONG-LASTING

While gel polish is generally said to last at least two weeks, your gel manicure may last as long as one month — or as long as you want to keep it. The only long-term side effect of wearing gel nails for a while is that your nail will eventually grow out.

Removing gel nails is a slightly longer and more complicated process than removing regular lacquer, but the ability to get a manicure done once is worth the time it takes to remove.

 

MOST COMMON GEL VS REGULAR POLISH QUESTIONS

Since gel is still a relatively new polish offering, there is confusion about what it is. Below are some of the most common gel polish questions and how it compares to regular polishes.

HOW MUCH STRONGER IS GEL NAIL POLISH VS. REGULAR POLISH?

Gel polish lasts between 2-3 weeks at the minimum, while regular polish is lucky to go a week without chipping. With light wear, your gel nails last at least twice as long as a normal polish, but realistically they get you four to six times a standard manicure mileage.

In terms of wear and tear, gel polish will not chip the way regular polish is known to. If applied correctly, it is also not likely to smudge. The strength of gel polish is most visible in its removal process, since you’ll need to be deliberate when removing it.

 

DOES GEL NAIL POLISH RUIN YOUR NAILS?

No. Since gel polish applies to your natural nail, unlike fake nails, which are glued on top of your nail, it will not cause any permanent damage. While you will want to be careful to properly remove your gel nails, with proper maintenance, your natural nails will not sustain any lasting harm.

The best way to remove gel nails is to go to a salon and have the process done by a professional, or to use a gel polish remover.

That said, you can also do it at home fairly easily if you are familiar with the steps. Simply soak the nails in 100% acetone for at least 10 minutes. Then, the edges should start to lift, and with gentle nudging from a cuticle pusher, the gel polish should come right off.

Another important part when using gel nail polish is to let your nails rest between applications. A common misconception is that this step is necessary because the nails need to breathe.

While this isn’t the case — nails are made of keratin just like hair, and therefore don’t need to breathe the way skin does — it’s true that your nails will need a gel break from time to time.

With proper time allotted between manicures to restore your nail beds, using gel polish will have no harmful effects on your natural nails