Is a gel manicure right for you?

As a licensed manicurist I try to give my client’s the best possible advice for their nails while keeping them up to date on the latest trends.

Gel manicures are the latest craze and were introduced about three years ago.  Since I was never a fan of acrylic enhancements I’m happy to see that more people are opting for the gel manicure in place of the acrylic enhancements.

Gel manicures are less damaging to your natural nail. However, you still have to be aware that it is a chemical and will do some harm (even though slight) to a healthy natural nail.  The best part about gel manicures is that they can be removed with regular acetone (nail polish remover) so no more poking and drilling of the natural nail to remove the product.  That in itself is a huge advantage to keeping your natural nail in the best health possible.  A healthy nail is a strong nail and a strong (but flexible) nail will grow long and strong for months at a time.

Gel manicures will not extend the length of your nail.  It is just a coating for the nail like a polish.  I do find that my clients with shorter nails have been able to grow their nails much longer than in the past with the gel manicures as they seem to provide added strength and protection for the nail underneath.

CND (Creative Nail Design) was the first company to introduce the gel manicure system that did not require mixing.  Their product comes ready to apply right out of the bottle much like nail polish. The idea behind this product was to create a manicure that would not chip or peel for up to fourteen days and dry almost instantly.  I have personally used this product and can tell you it lives up to its claim.

Since CND released Shellac, there are many other companies who have introduced similar products (OPI, Harmony, Orly, Cacee, Gelish, Artistic Nail, and the list goes on and on) on the market today.  The list continues to grow from month to month with new products and lots of fabulous colors and effects for gel manicure products.  You can even buy starter kits in drug stores that require no training to apply.

The gel product is applied in thin coats (like nail polish) and cured under a UV light making it dry and touchable almost immediately.
No more sitting in the salon for hours waiting for your manicure (or pedicure) to dry so you can dig into your handbag and get your car keys.

Just a warning about gel manicures.  Although I mentioned that it is much less harmful to the natural nail than an acrylic application and removal you will see a slight decline in the strength of your natural nails when the product is removed.  This is caused by a break-down in the ketatin (the substance that our nails are made of) from the acetone soak which is required to remove the product each time a new gel manicure is applied.  Some nail technicians are now using electric files to remove the gel applications but I'm not sure I am comfortable with that process.  One slip with the electric file and you can be seriously injured.  Once you injure a nail bed it rarely heals properly and some times you can lose your nail permanently.

That being said I do love these gel products and would recommend you give it a try.