Are you sick and tired of your nail polishes getting chipped and ruined just a few hours or a day after you apply them? Have you heard everyone out there talking about semi-permanent polishes that can withstand daily wear and tear? Well, if you are trying to understand what it actually is, you are at the right place.
If you are always confused between the different manicures and keep searching but don’t understand much, worry not! We are here to guide you today on what is a gel manicure: the benefits, cost, application, and removal.
Let’s take a deep dive into the immensely popular gel nail trend and understand everything about it.
What is a Gel Manicure? The Benefits, Cost, Application, and Removal
Many of you might be facing some problems pertaining to your nails and manicures. Either you have weak, brittle, and breakage-prone nails, or your nail polish gets chipped and loses shine within a day or few hours. Or you simply don’t have the patience for your nail polish to dry and end up smudging it everywhere. Or even if you are just looking to enhance the strength and appearance of your natural nails with stunning nail colors that last long.
Whatever your need, your search ends here. Look no more since we are here with a detailed guide about gel manicures. Let’s understand everything in detail.
What is a Gel Manicure?
If you want to add length to your nails without growing them out, you have multiple options. From salon nail enhancements to press-on nails, you can choose any fake nail tips to get your work done. But what if you just want to apply a nail polish that stays fresh for a long while you are busy with all your chores and boss-lady jobs? That’s when gel manicures or simply gel polishes can come to your rescue.
To define, gel manicures are nail lacquers that are chip-free and long-lasting. Simply put, the concept is nothing fancy that you cannot understand. It is just a ‘nail polish’ that cannot air-dry and needs to be cured under UV or LED light to harden and stay put without budging.
Gel manicures use ‘gel polishes’ instead of traditional polishes. These gel polishes are resistant to daily wear and tear and can be pulled off for a long without having to worry about them losing their shine or peeling or chipping off.
Gel manicures are different from Russian manicures and structured manicures but can be combined with these to achieve the look you desire. Besides giving a longer-lasting and aesthetically pleasing appearance, gel manicures also hold your natural nails strong and prevent breakages due to the different layers of products used in the application.
If you are a nail polish fan and love to keep your nails painted in beautiful colors all the time, gel manicures can be a set-it-and-forget-it solution for all your nail woes. They offer a glossy, chip-resistant nail polish look for weeks together and you can also incorporate nail art in your manicures.
How to Do a Gel Manicure?
When we say gel manicures are pretty similar to your traditional manicures, we mean literally similar even when it comes to application. All you need is some basic tools and simple tweaks in your usual procedure and you’ll be good to go.
Other than your usual nail supplies, you need some special tools like
- UV or LED curing lamp
- Gel polishes
- Gel base coat
- Gel top coat
There is a set of few steps to follow for achieving a salon-like look when DIYing your manicure at home:
1) Nail Prep
Just like any other manicure, you need to prep your natural nails before going in with your polish application. Make sure you follow all the steps properly and in the correct order to prepare your nails in case of a gel manicure. Clean the nail surface to remove old nail polish, cut and file your nails to the desired shape, push and clean your cuticles, buff the nail surface to remove any ridges or debris, and dust the nails to get rid of the residue and other powdery deposits.
2) Base
Now, you cannot use your traditional base coat that air dries for your gel manicures. Instead, you need to invest in a gel base coat that is UV/LED cured to set and harden. Once you have prepped your nails, make sure they are properly dehydrated and there aren’t any oils or water on your nail plate. If you want to add an apex or an extra layer of strength to your nails with a builder gel, this is when you should do it. Then, go ahead with layering your nails with a thin and even layer of the gel base coat. Be careful not to flood your cuticles and the surrounding skin with the product. Cure each finger to prevent the gel from flowing down to the edges.
3) Gel Polish Application
Once you applied the base coat on all the fingers and cured each one of them, go ahead with your color application. Remember, you cannot use your traditional nail lacquers for your gel manicures. Get a UV/LED gel nail polish in the color of your choice. Apply two to three coats covering the nails from edge to edge in thin and smooth layers. Avoid using too much product or blobbing it in one place to prevent clumping. If you want to experiment with any nail art, this is the time to add it. Make sure you use the correct curing lamp as per the product and cure it for at least 60 seconds between coats. Dark and opaque colors require longer curing time, so work accordingly.
4) Finishing
To finish off your gel manicure, use a UV/LED gel top coat instead of a traditional top coat used for locking everything together. Apply a thin layer of gel top coat evenly above the gel polish and nail art, if any, to seal everything together. Since gel products do not air dry, make sure you cure the top coat under the curing lamp for 80-90 seconds before going ahead with applying cuticle oil.
How Long Does a Gel Manicure Last?
Unlike other nail enhancements and manicures, gel manicures can last up to 3 weeks before a new service is required. You can easily pull off the color without losing the shine or causing dullness or fading.
If you choose a nude color, you can carry it for even longer if you wish and take care of it. If the length is not too long and you stay careful not to use your nails as tools banging them or picking on them, a gel manicure will last for a good 3 weeks or more without budging.
Sometimes, if you choose to wear long nails or fake nail extensions under gel manicures, or get a structured manicure with a thick apex, the nails may start feeling heavy and droopy once they grow out. That’s when there are chances of chipping or gel popping off.
The reason why press-on nails are also pretty long-lasting and don’t lose color and shine is that they are also prepared using gel polishes and sealed with gel top coats.
How to Safely Remove a Gel Manicure?
It is always advisable to get your gel manicure safely removed at a professional salon. The manicurists will usually do it at an additional cost. But if you are looking to DIY the removals just like you did the application, it is still possible. All you need is to follow some steps and be very careful and patient in the process.
1) First, file off the gel top coat with a nail file to remove the protective layer from your gel.
2) Once the top coat is off, soak a cotton ball in pure acetone and wrap it up on your nail with a foil. Make sure you wrap a big piece good enough to cover your entire nail and is properly soaked.
3) Leave on the wrap for a good 15 minutes before going ahead. After unwrapping you will see the gel popping off from some areas. Use an orangewood stick to gently scrape this product off.
4) Don’t try to scratch your nail surface harshly if the product doesn’t peel off easily. Remember, your nails are quite vulnerable and prone to breaking when they are soaked in a harsh chemical for so long.
5) If some of the gel is not lifting off the natural nails and doesn’t come off with minimal pressure, soak it again in a similar manner for 10-15 minutes and repeat the process till the entire product is released.
6) The nails usually become dry and brittle in the removal process especially because of the acetone soak and the wear and tear since the protective top layer is ripped off from the surface. So, it is important to rehydrate the nails and the surrounding skin using cuticle oil and hand cream.
7) Preferably, give your nails a few day’s break before layering them with nail polish or the next gel manicure particularly when you DIY it.
How Much Does a Gel Manicure Cost?
The cost of a gel manicure depends on whether you get it done professionally or DIY it.
If you get a gel manicure from a professional nail salon, the manicurist may charge you between $30 and $50 or more. The cost will vary depending on many factors like location, salon brand, the nail technician’s expertise, and the like.
Contrarily, if you are planning to do a DIY gel manicure, each gel polish will cost you around $10 to $15 more than the traditional nail polish, depending on the brand. Besides, you will have to keep in mind other expenses like buying the necessary tools and a UV/LED lamp.
Besides, professional gel manicures are also removed at a $5-$15 cost at nail salons if you don’t want to risk doing the removals at home.
Is Gel Manicure Safe? Does It Damage Your Nails?
Gel manicures are good and don’t cause as much harm to your nails as fake nail enhancements like acrylics. But we won’t lie; they aren’t completely harmless. There are certain downsides of gel manicures as well which may have safety and damage concerns:
1) Gel base coats, multiple coats of colored gel polish, and gel top coats – too much chemical in these gels may cause dryness and dehydration of your natural nails.
2) If the application and removals are not proper, gel polishes may even give you brittle and fragile nails or may even cause fungal infections in the worst cases.
3) The UV lamps used to cure gel manicures may cause skin implications like tanning beds in the long run.
4) UV lights from the curing lamps can also possibly have carcinogenic side effects that can result in skin cancer, which is the biggest concern when it comes to gel manicures.
To minimize the damage and safety concerns, it is recommended that you keep taking breaks between gel manicures. This will help keep your natural nails strong besides forming a habit of using cuticle oil and hand cream regularly.
Wrap-Up
In conclusion, a gel manicure is more than just a beauty treatment; it’s a game-changer in the world of nail care. With its long-lasting shine, chip-free finish, and a rainbow of colors to choose from, gel manicures offer a salon-quality look that lasts for weeks. Despite the initial investment and the importance of proper removal to maintain nail health, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Whether you’re a busy bee or simply love having flawless nails, a gel manicure is worth considering.
So, why wait? Treat yourself to a gel manicure and experience the magic firsthand. Your nails will thank you!
