A gel manicure is one of the most popular preferred choices for gaining a long-lasting, chip-resistant polish. Although this treatment can help attain beautiful nails for a longer period of time, there are proper practices that you have to learn for an effective gel manicure care.
In this blog, we’ll share to you some of the most effective gel manicure tips starting from prep to proper after care for gel nails to make sure your nails stay strong and beautiful.
How to Prep Your Nails Before Your Gel Manicure
Take your time prepping your nails properly because this can extend the life of your gel manicure. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get your nails ready so they will be in perfect shape before applying your gel polish:
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Clean and Shape Your Nails :
Remove any old polish using acetone free remover, wash your hands to get rid of oils and debris to have a clean base. Trimming of the nails to the length desired using a file by shaping them in one direction in order to avoid breakage.
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Push Back Cuticles Gently:
Soak your nails in warm, soapy water for some minutes. Using the cuticle pusher, gently push back the cuticles to expose the nail bed. Do not forcefully remove or hurt the cuticles because this can cause infection or slow down nail growth.
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Buff Your Nail Surface:
Gently buff the surface of each nail with a fine-grit buffer. This removes what’s left of that super-fine shine and gives your nails a somewhat roughened texture that will assist in the adhesion of the gel polish. Don’t over buff, it can thin and weaken your nails.
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Cleansing your nails:
After buffing, you have to clean your nails with a lint-free cloth saturated in isopropyl alcohol or a nail cleanser to remove dust and oils, to create a clean surface to apply the gel.
How to Make Your Gel Manicure Last Longer?
To extend the life of your gel manicure, we recommend these aftercare tips for gel nails to help maintain the appearance and health of your nails:
1. Limit exposure to hot water since excessive contact with hot water can weaken the adhesion between your gel polish and your natural nails, causing them to wear out early or chip. Make sure to limit the submersion time you spend washing dishes or bathing in the shower.
2. Seal the free edge. If your nail technician uses gel polish to carefully seal the free edge of your nails, it may help to create a barrier that keeps water and other substances from penetrating and causing chipping or peeling.
3. To keep the cuticles hydrated, apply cuticle oil on a regular basis. This helps the gel polish retain its flexibility and keeps the surrounding skin soft, extending the manicure.
4. To preserve the fresh appearance of your gel manicure, always wear protective gloves when performing tasks that require contact with strong chemicals, such as cleaning or dishwashing.
5 Avoid picking at or peeling off your gel polish to adjust minor imperfections, shrink loose ends, or remove ridges and loose edges, as this is going to cause quite a lot of damage to the natural nails and potentially worsen the state of your manicure.
How to Prevent Nail Damage Post Gel Manicure Removal
Preventing nail damage from happening after a manicure is key to keeping healthy, strong nails. After removing gel polish, nails can feel dry and brittle because of chemicals like acetone that they have been exposed to. To prevent this, you should rejuvenate the nails with nourishing treatments like cuticle oil or deep conditioning nail serum to give strength to the nail. Knowing what to put on nails after removing gel is key to getting back their strength.
It is recommended that you moisturize often to promote healthy nail growth and prevent cuticle and surrounding skin cracking. Refrain from excessively buffing or filing your nails as this may cause the nail bed to wear thin and cause more damage. It’s important to give your nails a break between gel manicures so they can repair and strengthen.
Conclusion
With these tips and proper gel manicure care, you can enjoy long-lasting, chip-free gel manicures while maintaining beautiful, healthy nails.
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FAQs
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How do I take care of my gel nails?
Moisturize your cuticles daily, if necessary wear gloves while performing other household chores, and never pick or peel off the gel.
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What should you not do after gel nails?
Avoid extremely hot water, harsh chemicals, and do not wash your hands too much, especially not within the first 24 hours.
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How to treat gel nails after manicure?
Apply cuticle oil regularly, use hand cream, and be gentle to keep your nails healthy and looking nice.
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How do you keep your manicure last longer?
Apply a top coat every few days or so. Don’t expose the nails to too much water as it could make it become soft. And, of course, don’t engage in activities that may chip off the nails.
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How long should we wait before applying gel again after removal?
It is fine to wait for at least 2-3 weeks to allow your natural nails to breathe out and recover.
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How long is it safe to leave gel nails on?
Most professionals would recommend that gel nails be taken off and replaced every 2 or 3 weeks to prevent damaging or harming the nails.
References:
1.https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/gel-manicure
2.https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/pedicures/gel-manicures
3.https://www.newbeauty.com/expert-tips-for-a-safer-gel-manicure/
4.https://karanailedit.com/blogs/news/the-ultimate-guide-to-making-your-gel-manicure-last