Gel Polish Manicure

Gel polish provides a high-shine finish that resists chipping and smudging, plus is stronger and longer-wearing than traditional nail polish.

Avoid frequent gel manicures to preserve the health and integrity of nails. Frequent applications of gel polish may soften and thin out nails over time. Rehydrate nails and cuticles with moisturizing products between salon visits for best results.

Preparation

Gel manicures differ from powder dip manicures in that they do not involve using liquid and powder polymers to shape and extend natural nails before polish is applied; rather they adhere directly to them for greater freedom in nail art creation with varied textures, finishes, tools and formulas available.

Prepping for a Bettina gel manicure begins by buffing and shaping nails before pushing back cuticles with a cuticle pusher and wiping down with an isopropyl alcohol-soaked cloth to remove oils and residue.

Apply a thin layer of the base coat to each nail and cure them under either an LED or UV lamp, taking care not to get any on your skin or cuticles as it will lift and chip prematurely. In addition, regularly moisturize nails and cuticles with moisturizing products in order to minimize brittleness that could lead to early chipping.

Application

Gel nail polish differs from its air-dried counterpart by being applied and cured under UV or LED lights, in order to become hard. This allows it to withstand normal daily activities without chipping.

At the outset of any gel polish application process, nails must be prepared by filing and shaping to ensure they are free of debris and suitable for adherence of new coats. Acetone may then be applied to remove existing nail polish while opening cuticles for better adhesion.

Once nails are dry, they are then polished using a buffer block in order to smooth and prepare for application of bonding base coat. This layer allows gel polish to adhere more securely onto natural nail plates for longer-term results.

Next, color gel is applied and cured successively until the desired nail shade has been reached. A topcoat is added afterwards for protection and to ensure a high-sheen finish for your nail art.

Curing

Gel polishes offer long-lasting and reliable manicures when properly applied and cured. Base coat, color and topcoat layers are each exposed to UV/LED light for 45 seconds in cycles; this prevents peeling or chipping of the polish from occurring.

As some gel polishes require multiple coats to achieve their desired effect, it’s essential that users abide by curing time guidelines to guarantee an eye-catching manicure lasting up to three weeks!

An essential step to creating a long-lasting gel manicure is making sure both nails and cuticles are free from oil, creams, or dust – this will increase nail surface area so polish can adhere better. Furthermore, applying hand and nail moisturizer several times each day between applications will help decrease brittleness while preventing dry cuticles that could otherwise lead to early lifting of polish.

Removal

Picking and ripping at your gel manicure may seem tempting when its quality deteriorates, but doing so is never recommended. Doing so could damage the natural nail plate and lead to further infection by bacteria that causes nail fungus; over time this will only make your nails more fragile and fragile.

Schedule an appointment with a nail technician instead, who will use a gritty nail file to break down the seal of topcoat before wiping away excess polish with pure acetone-soaked cloths or wipes. They may also wrap your nails in foil and soak for 10-15 minutes to allow the polish to lift with minimal pressure – this process is far less stressful on nails than simply filing or cutting them off!