Regular nail polish has been around for ages. You can find it in any colour you like and easily apply it at home. But, no matter how many bases and top coats you put on, no matter how quality it is, the regular nail polish can't last longer than a week. The gel polish nail trend is here for a decade and people love it because it's much better than its regular counterpart. If you intend to switch to gel nail polish here are several reasons why it's a great choice.
Dries Fast
Unlike regular nail polish, gel nail polish will dry much faster. The primary feature that distinguishes it from the classic manicure is that you don't have to blow on your nails or wait for them to dry. Simply, you will place your hand under a LED or UV light. The chemical process will activate this way and the nails will be dry in no time. So in literally a minute, your nails are dry and you can continue functioning. This is a revolutionary thing for busy ladies who have no time to wait for the polish to dry, and be careful with their nails in the next few hours.
It Doesn't Chip And Lasts Longer
Gel nail polish is resistant to chipping or smudging and isn't this a wonderful thing? You can do the dishes without rubber gloves, type on your keyboard, touch things and still, the nails will remain in excellent shape. Regular gel polish nail options won't last more than a week, while gel nail polish can easily remain in excellent condition for a month.
The only way you will notice that something has changed is that your nails have grown out. The removing party may take a bit longer since gel nail polish won't just vanish if you slide a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover. But, let's agree that having your nails in great condition for a month is worth it.
Will Gel Nail Polish Ruing My Nails?
The short answer is no. This nail polish isn't fake nails glued onto your regular nails. It's just gel nail polish applied just like regular nail polish. To avoid damaging your natural nails, it's important to remove the gel polish carefully. The easiest way to do this whole process is to go to the salon and let a professional do it. But, even if you opt-out of a home manicure, you can easily do it yourself. Now you can find various nail polish colours, UV lamps and suitable tools that will help you remove the gel nail polish.
Be sure to give your nails a break between applications.
UV light or LED Light
Both lights are good. Which one you will choose depends mostly on the type of gel nail polish you choose. Gel nail polish can be made in two ways - UV-cured or LED-cured. LED lights are less harmful to your skin since they don't use UV rays. If you want to use gel nail polish regularly, then purchase a LED light and LED-cured gel nail polishes. What's worthy of remembering is that whenever you do your nails with a gel nail polish and use either of the lamps make sure to always protect your hand skin with lots of SPF.
Is Gel Nail Polish the Same as Fake Nails?
No, gel nail polish is just nail polish. Sure, your nails will look smooth and perfect and the colour will be shiny and fresh, but this doesn't mean that you have fake nails on. Acrylics are fake nails, and they go onto the tip of your natural nails (with glue or adhesive); they can damage your nails easily. However, gel nail polish is not harmful; there are no glues involved in the process and the only thing you should be careful in how you remove it.
Removing Gel Nail Polish at Home or the Salon?
Even though you can do both options, if you're new to the whole gel nail polish thing, maybe you should head to the nail salon a few times. This way you can see how the nail technician does the job, so later you can do the same thing at home. If you choose to remove the polish at home, make sure to soak your nails in acetone. You can pour the liquid in a small bowl where you will put your nails, or you can soak cotton balls and place each of them on every nail and secure them with foil.
Your nails should remain in the acetone (bowl or cotton balls) for at least ten minutes. Then remove the foil and cotton balls (or take your nails out of the bowl) and with a cuticle pusher or similar tool, push the gel gently. The gel should slide easily off. If you have the challenge to do this, the nails should soak in acetone a little longer. Don't worry if there are traces of polish on your nails. You can remove it with a nail file or buffer. In the end, hydrate your nails by applying cuticle oil.
