Summer is here, so you know what that means – it’s time to bust out the bright colors and nail art. But before you can do that, you need a good gel base to start with.
The key to long-lasting gel nails is application and care. Here are three tips for getting long-lasting gels.
Keep Them Clean: One of the most important things about your gel manicure is keeping them clean. When you get home from the salon, take some time to wipe any excess residue off your nails with alcohol or acetone. This will help keep your polish from staining and will also help it dry faster. You can also use a cotton ball or cotton pad soaked in alcohol.
Don’t Apply Too Much Polish: Another way to prevent your gel polish from chipping is by applying too much polish at once. Most people think this will give them a deeper color, but it actually makes the polish less durable because it takes longer for the polish to dry. Try using less polish when you’re doing one layer then when you’re doing two layers of nail art. Use More Base Coat: Your basecoat is what holds everything together and makes sure that your gel nail polish stays on for as long as possible. Make sure to apply a coat
Gel nails can easily last up to two weeks or longer, but there are some precautions you must take.
Gel nails are gaining popularity these days because they look great and they last long. Gel manicure is a service that uses an air dry gel on top of the nail to give it a smooth and glossy finish. The gel used is similar to the acrylic in consistency and appearance. However, it is less harmful as compared to the acrylics.
Acrylic nails are known to damage the natural nail underneath making them brittle and weak. Gels, on the other hand, do not have such side effects on the health of your nails and hence are preferred more by people these days. After applying a base coat of gel, your favorite polish color is applied over it and topped with another layer of clear gel at the end for protection.
The application procedure for gels is somewhat similar to that of acrylics except that you don’t need any monomer here as the gels are already sticky enough to stick on their own. You just need to cure them under an ultra-violet lamp after each step to dry them off before applying the next coat of gel or color on top.
Many people love to get gel manicures because of their long-lasting nature, but there are some caveats. The ultraviolet light used to cure the gel can actually cause your nails to yellow and dry out over time, which is why we generally recommend a break of a few days in between manicures. If you’re really into gels, though, here are some great tips for keeping your nails as healthy as possible.
1) Use cuticle oil every night before bed.
Paint it on your nail beds and rub it into the skin around your nails. This will ensure that your cuticles stay moisturized even if you don’t always have time to give yourself a full hand massage.
2) Use a base coat before applying gel.
This will protect your nails from staining and yellowing and help the polish adhere better. We like OPI Natural Nail Base Coat or Essie Grow Stronger Base Coat.
3) Try not to pick at your gel manicure when it starts chipping.
If you do this, you’ll likely pull off too much of the polish and might end up damaging your nail bed, so try to just let it flake right off on its own! If you can’t resist, take breaks between picking so
Take a break. I can’t stress this enough. Like most things in life, a little bit of time off is one of the best ways to stay healthy and strong. If you’re going to commit to gels, I suggest taking two weeks off in between every three or four appointments (and definitely take a break if you’ve had issues with nail health before). Of course, this does mean you might have to rock some natural nails for a little bit, but trust me — it’s worth it.
You can also try applying a coat of clear gel as soon as your gels start to chip — just be sure not to get any polish on your cuticles or skin. This layer of gel will help keep everything in tact until you’re able to get back into the salon!
One more quick tip: It’s always important to make sure your nails are clean before applying a fresh coat of gels. Take your time in removing the old polish and cleaning off any residual shine with an alcohol pad. This helps everything adhere better, and keeps your nails looking fresh!
Gel nail polish is a long-lasting resilient polish that is set under ultraviolet (UV) or LED light. It was developed as an alternative to traditional nail polish, and can be applied similarly to traditional varnish – but with a few key differences! Gel nail polish is more durable than traditional varnish, and does not chip as easily. This can be a great advantage for those who want their nail art to last, without having to constantly touch up their manicure. However, gel polish also requires certain steps to be taken during its application and removal process that must be adhered to in order for the gel nails to turn out flawlessly and remain damage-free.
Following these tips will help you get the salon-quality nails you want at home!
1. Use A Base Coat
2. Cure After Each Layer
3. Avoid Overheating The Nail
1. Cut your cuticles the day before your gel manicure, not on the day. If you cut them on the day of your gel manicure, you risk getting bacteria under your gels and that is a recipe for disaster.
2. When you go to get a gel manicure, bring your own files and buffers. That way you know they have not been used with anyone else’s nails and are clean.
3. When you get a gel manicure, wash your hands thoroughly before the manicurist applies the gels to your nails.
4. Do not use cheap gels from China! They do not last long and often change colors when exposed to UV light.
If you’ve ever had a gel manicure, you know that the glossy finish lasts longer than a traditional lacquer one. But did you also know that not all gel manicures are created equal?
Gels have come a long way in the last few years, and there are now different types of gels that can be used for nail enhancements. The most common types of gels are acrylics, hard gels and soft gels. A lot of people think that all three are the same, but they are actually very different from each other.
The main difference between these three kinds of gels is the consistency and hardness of each. Hard gel is a thicker viscosity gel with a “self-leveling” property so it can be applied thinner than acrylics or soft gels. Once cured, hard gel is firm like an acrylic nail; however, when soaked off it does not damage your natural nail as bad as an acrylic. Hard Gels have been around for years and have become more popular because of the health benefits over acrylics and ease of use for nail techs (no mixing liquids or powders).
Acrylic nails on the other hand are much harder and stiffer than hard or soft gel nails. They require a monomer