Pros and Cons of a Gel Manicure

Gel nail polish can be applied directly onto natural or acrylic nails and then cured under UV or LED lights for an average two minute cure time.

While some experts express reservations about long-term damage from these manicures, most experts agree that so long as they’re performed correctly and you do not pick at your nails (which causes thinning), getting manicures regularly should not cause long-term harm.

Long-Lasting

Gel manicures offer many advantages over regular nail polish jobs, lasting up to two weeks when maintained correctly – great news for busy ladies! No more worrying about chipped or smudged nails – fantastic solution for keeping busy lives looking their best.

Gel nail polish contains photo-initiated polymers that are activated by UV or LED lighting to harden and “cure” on your nails, significantly decreasing drying times to just minutes! This makes the experience of applying gel polish a much smoother one!

Repetitive gel manicures may cause your natural nails to weaken and break, particularly if you soak them too often in acetone to remove polish. This can lead to peeling and brittleness while simultaneously undoing any progress made toward longer nails while using gel formula. To combat this effect, soak only certain fingers in acetone while applying cuticle oil daily for healthy nails.

Easy to Apply

Gel manicure polishes contain photo-initiated polymers that activate when exposed to light (either UV or LED), according to Ashlie Johnson of another manicurist shop. Once cured, gel manicured nails become hard and their color becomes permanent.

To apply an effective gel manicure, the most efficient way is through short and smooth strokes, which allows the polish to form even layers with greater control of color. Capping edges of nails also prevents their polish from lifting after curing under a UV lamp.

A gel manicure should last up to two weeks with proper maintenance, such as regular manicures. However, it’s still wise to give your nails a break from nail polish periodically in order to prevent weak or damaged nails. Consider including cuticle oil into your daily regimen to ensure healthy nails.

Easy to Remove

Gel manicures are one of the top reasons people turn to them: They’re virtually immune from chipping compared to regular nail polish which chips with every pull on your bag or opening of an oven door. Unfortunately, though, getting this look requires visiting a salon for an extensive process that involves wrapping each nail with cotton balls saturated in acetone solution.

Soaking nails in acetone deprives them of natural oils that keep the cuticle and nail healthy, leading to dryness and cracking, according to Hadley King, MD, an NYC dermatologist who specializes in nails. You can protect cuticles and nails by applying oil prior to soaking – this may also hasten the process.

We consulted several professional manicurists and a dermatologist with expertise in nail health to get some tips for how you can apply gel manicures at home with minimum fuss and effort. Keep reading for their expert advice as well as an in-depth step-by-step guide for how you can safely remove your gel manicure yourself without breaking your nails or upsetting the technician!

Healthy

Gel manicures offer an ideal solution for those who lack time to maintain regular nail polish. The entire process, including base coat, gel color and topcoat application can typically be completed in less than 30 minutes! Following curing under UV lights, nails must be baked again so that the gel adheres and dries correctly.

As with any nail product, gels shouldn’t always be your first choice in terms of health. Regular exposure to UV lights used during curing processes isn’t beneficial to either skin or nails, and incorrect removal methods using acetone may result in lasting damage.

At the same time, picking at your gel manicure can cause water to seep beneath the polish, harbor bacteria and cause fungus growth if left too long – this could damage and weaken nails! Be sure to apply cuticle oil daily so your cuticles remain healthy!