The Pros and Cons of a Gel Manicure

The gel nail polish craze has taken over for several different reasons. These manicures have some serious staying power! Most nail polish can start to chip just hours after being applied. Thanks to a UV light, gel nails can provide you with up to 4 weeks of chip-free, nice, and shiny nails. Pretty impressive, right?

However, as with all beautiful things, there is a downside. While this manicure is relatively chip-proof and long lasting, it can cause some serious damage to your nails.

Before we go any further, let me explain the process:

1. First, your nails and cuticles will be trimmed and filed.

2. Next, a base coat will be applied. After this base coat, you will be asked to place your hands under a UV light for a couple of minutes so that the coat can "cure." This is just another term for drying.

3. Your gel color will now be applied followed by placing your hands under the UV light once more.

4. A top coat will be applied and cured with the UV light.

Now, let's talk about the positives aspects:

1. It lasts longer. While this may be more expensive initially, its staying power will have you visiting the nail salon much less. In the end, this will actually save you money and time because who really has the time to go to the nail salon every week? I know this momma doesn't!

2. Gel Nails do not have the harmful chemical smell that Acrylic nails do making them much less harmful and more eco friendly.

3. As soon as you leave the salon, your manicure will be completely dry. No more "lobster clawing" to avoid messing up your nails!

And the negative aspects:

1. Frequent use of gel nail polish can cause damage to your nail bed by making them thinner and brittle.

2. In order to remove the gel, you must soak your fingertips in pure acetone. Acetone can irritate the skin around your nail and cause severe dryness to both the skin and nail. This can also leave your nail bed more susceptible to a fungal infection.

3. If not done properly, it can lift and peel at the edges after just a few days of wear. This is why it is oh-so-important to do your research on the salon you choose before hand.

4. The use of the UV light does increase your chances of skin cancer. While this risk is VERY minimal, it is in fact still a possibility.

At the end of the day, you have to decide what is most important to you. Gel nails can be a beautiful thing if done properly and in moderation!

Thanks for reading!

XOXO - Megan