Gel nails, who doesn’t love them? Gone are the days of regular nail polish (if you still wear it, good for you for fighting that peer pressure). Gel nails came in to save all of us too lazy to reapply nail polish regularly.
Gel manicures last longer than regular nail polish and don’t begin chipping off five minutes after you finish applying it. But really, how long are we talking, and how long should we keep them on?
What Are Gel Manicures?
Gel manicures are done by coating nails with a coloured gel which is then dried with a UV LED lamp. Unlike regular nail polish, you don’t have to worry about waiting for it to dry. The UV light dries it immediately, and voila!
You’re done! Yes, it’s that simple.
How long do gel manicures last?
No one can seem to agree on how long a gel manicure is supposed to last. Can you keep them on for three weeks, four weeks, live on the edge, and commit to five weeks?
According to experts and our own experience, the longest you should be keeping on a gel manicure is somewhere around 2 to 2.5 weeks. Since gel polish hardens with UV light, it gets harder and harder the more sun it gets. And if it gets too hard, it can be pretty painful to remove! So for your safety, let’s say two weeks.
When you’re ready to get them removed, go to a professional at a nail salon in NW Calgary. Within those two weeks, if you’re looking to extend the life of gel nails, you came to the right place.
Five Tips to Extend the Life of Gel Nails
Here are five tips to extend the precious life of your gel manicure!
Keep Them Dry
Avoid getting your nails wet! Wear rubber gloves while doing chores around the house that involve water, like doing the dishes. If you take hot showers, well, don’t! Or wear protective gloves. Hot water is your gel manicures’ nemesis; keep them apart.
Maintain by Filing
In case you do get tiny chips, file them away quickly to maintain the look of your gel manicure. If you’re scared of the tool or feel artistic, use a gel pen to cover the chip up!
Top Coats Are Your Friends
Curing isn’t enough. To be safe, apply an additional topcoat on your gel manicure to keep it intact for as long as you have it.
Nail Oils!
Apply nail and cuticle oils regularly. Dry gels chip early, keep your nails hydrated, so the gels don’t get crackly and begin to chip. Nail care is essential all year round, but especially here. For more tips on nail care in Calgary, we recommend asking a professional.
Just Be Careful
This is more of a general suggestion, but be careful! We tend to use our nails as scrapers, which doesn’t bode well for the long life of your gel manicure.
Go easy on your nails, protect the, and your gel manicures will thank you. Your manicurist will be waiting for you at a nail salon in SW Calgary. So make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to make an appointment and make the most of your gel nails!