Isla Bennett
Gel manicures are a popular choice for those wanting long-lasting, chip-free nails with a smooth, high-gloss shine. However, there are concerns about their impact on nail health. So, are gel manicures good for your nails? Well, it's a bit of a mixed bag. While gel manicures can cause nail brittleness, peeling, and cracking, they don't necessarily ruin your nails. The risks include nail thinning, weakened nails, and skin damage, but these are often associated with improper removal. To mitigate these risks, it's important to follow proper aftercare instructions and take breaks between manicures to allow your nails to recover.
Is a gel manicure good for your nails?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Appearance | High-gloss shine with an even coverage and colour across the nails |
| Colour | More vivid and intense compared to regular nail polish |
| Durability | Long-lasting and chip-resistant |
| Safety | Can cause nail brittleness, peeling, cracking, and thinning |
| Health Risks | Repeated use can increase the risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging on the hands due to UV light exposure |
| Removal | Proper removal is critical to prevent nail damage; improper removal can weaken nails |
| Aftercare | Nails should be kept hydrated with regular moisturization using cuticle oil and hand cream |
| Application | Only applied to natural nails; no acrylic tips or extensions |
| Protection | Gel polish can protect natural nails from environmental damage |
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What You'll Learn
Gel manicures can cause nail brittleness, peeling, and cracking
While gel manicures can be beautiful and long-lasting, they can be tough on nails and cause brittleness, peeling, and cracking. This is because the removal process is hard on your nails. To remove gel nail polish, you have to soak your nails in acetone, which dries them out and makes them brittle. Filing your nails to remove the gel can also make them thinner over time.
To avoid nail damage, it is important to follow proper aftercare instructions. Dana Stern, M.D., a dermatologist and nail specialist, recommends visiting a professional for both application and removal to ensure proper care and maintenance. She also advises removing gels on time (within two weeks) and taking breaks between manicures to let your nails return to normal.
To care for your nails between gel manicures, dermatologists recommend taking a nail polish holiday and trying not to wear nail polish for one to two weeks or longer to allow your nails time to repair. You should also rehydrate your nails by applying a moisturising product, such as petroleum jelly, to your nails and cuticles several times daily to minimise brittleness and help prevent chipping.
Additionally, you can protect your skin from the ultraviolet radiation used to seal gel nail polish by applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to your hands before your nail polish is applied. Alternatively, you can wear dark, opaque gloves with the fingertips snipped off.
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The UV light used to set the gel can be harmful to your skin
While gel manicures can be beautiful and long-lasting, they can be tough on nails. The UV light used to set the gel can be harmful to your skin and can increase the risk of skin cancer and premature skin ageing on the hands.
To protect your skin from the UV light used to seal gel nail polish, you can apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to your hands before your manicure. Alternatively, you can wear dark, opaque gloves with the fingertips cut off, or UV protection gloves that only expose your fingernails.
The UV light is not the only aspect of gel manicures that can be harmful to your skin and nails. The process of removing gel nail polish can also be damaging. This is because taking off the gel is tough on nails—they have to be soaked in acetone, which makes them dry and brittle, and then filed, which can make them thinner over time. Improper removal can potentially weaken or damage your nails, so it is recommended to visit a professional to ensure proper care and maintenance.
To care for your nails after a gel manicure, dermatologists recommend taking a nail polish break for one to two weeks or longer, to allow your nails time to repair. You can also rehydrate your nails by applying a moisturising product, such as petroleum jelly, to your nails and cuticles several times a day to minimise brittleness and help prevent your nails from chipping.
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The removal process can be tough on nails
To avoid damage, it is recommended to visit a professional for removal. However, there are also at-home removal methods that can be effective. One option is to use a peel-off base coat, which allows most of the gel to be peeled off instead of soaked off. Another method is to buff or lightly file off the shiny topcoat of the gel, which helps acetone penetrate through the gel. You can then soak your nails in acetone to remove the rest of the gel. It is important to regularly check that you are not filing too close to your natural nail to avoid damage.
To care for your nails after a gel manicure, dermatologists recommend taking a nail polish break for one to two weeks or longer to allow your nails time to repair. You can also apply a moisturising product, such as petroleum jelly, to your nails and cuticles several times daily to minimise brittleness and help prevent chipping.
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Proper aftercare can prevent damage
While gel manicures can be beautiful and long-lasting, they can be tough on nails. Gel manicures can cause nail brittleness, peeling, cracking, and thinning, and repeated use can increase the risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging on the hands. However, proper aftercare can prevent damage.
To keep your nails healthy after gel manicures, dermatologists recommend taking a nail polish holiday. Try not to wear nail polish for one to two weeks or longer. This will allow your nails time to repair. In between polishes, apply a moisturising product, such as petroleum jelly, to your nails and cuticles several times daily. This will minimise brittleness and help prevent your nails from chipping.
To remove the gel, make an appointment with your manicurist to have the polish removed. Only soak your fingertips in acetone. You can also try a peel-off base coat, which allows most of the gel to peel off instead of soaking it off. However, be careful not to apply the base coat all the way to the edges, leaving 1-2 mm clear, as washing your hands may then loosen the edges.
Additionally, always follow the manufacturer's instructions for removal and avoid mixing different brands. It is also recommended to remove the gel on time, with two weeks being a good timeline, and to take breaks between manicures to let your nails return to normal.
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Gel manicures can be long-lasting and chip-resistant
To mitigate the potential damage caused by gel manicures, it is recommended to take breaks between manicures to allow nails to return to normal. This can be done by taking a nail polish holiday, where you avoid wearing any nail polish for one to two weeks or longer, giving your nails time to repair and rehydrate. Applying a moisturising product, such as petroleum jelly, to your nails and cuticles several times a day can help minimise brittleness and prevent chipping.
Additionally, it is important to follow proper aftercare instructions and visit a professional for both application and removal to ensure the health of your nails. Improper removal can weaken or damage nails, and it is recommended to not pick at the polish but to make an appointment with a manicurist to have it removed properly. Before getting a gel manicure, you can also apply sunscreen to your hands or wear UV protection gloves to protect your skin from the ultraviolet radiation used to seal the gel nail polish.
While gel manicures can provide a long-lasting and chip-resistant finish, they may not be suitable for everyone. Some people may experience nail thinning, flakiness, yellowing, or weakened nails after repeated gel manicures. It is important to be proactive with your manicurist, ensuring that tools are sterilised and disinfected after each client, and to avoid cutting or pushing the cuticles, as this can lead to inflammation and infection.
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Frequently asked questions
Gel manicures can be beautiful and long-lasting, but they can be tough on nails. The removal process can cause cracking and peeling, and repeated use can increase the risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging on the hands.
The damage that occurs with gel manicures is mainly mechanical. Roughing up the nail with files not meant for natural nails prior to application, forcefully scraping off the product during removal instead of allowing it to release, and aggressive filing after removal can all cause damage.
When the colour begins to come off, do not pick at the polish or use other nails or tools to remove it. Make an appointment with your manicurist to have the polish removed. Only soak your fingertips in acetone. Alternatively, you can use cotton balls to remove the polish. Soak the cotton balls in acetone and apply them to your nails by wrapping small pieces of aluminium foil around your fingertips.
Dermatologists recommend taking a nail polish holiday. Try not to wear nail polish for one to two weeks or longer. In between polishes, apply a moisturising product, such as petroleum jelly, to your nails and cuticles several times daily. This will minimise brittleness and help prevent your nails from chipping.
There are lots of different alternatives to gel manicures, including traditional manicures using regular nail polish, peel-off polish, gel-effect polish, and non-toxic natural nail polish.
