Gel Nail Polish

Gel Vs Regular Nail Polish

The main difference lies in the longevity, application and drying technique. Traditional nail polishes are frequently used at homes or salons on clean and dry nails and can be dried in the open air. Gel nail colours require a UV or LED lamp to cure and dry. If applied correctly and following the right guidelines, gel nail colours can last up to 3 weeks without chipping. Regular nail polish can chip within days.

Gel Nail Polish Brands

Leading brands that manufacture high-quality gel nail colours are OPI, Essence, UMA Cosmetics, Shellac, Gellen, DND, Gelish etc. Look for products with that do not contain the harmful 7 ingredients; toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, phthalates (DBP), formaldehyde resin, xylene, and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK).

Gel Nail Polish Kit

The kit comes with all the necessary stuff you would require for a gel manicure. You will need to cure the nail polish in an LED lamp for 30 seconds or as directed by the manufacturer of the gel nail colour or LED lamp.  

Gel Nail Polish Removal

Acetone is the key product in removing gel polish from the nails. The right way is to dip your fingertips in acetone filled in a small finger bowl. To tone down the acetone add a few drops of cuticle oil to it to soften the nails. You can also use cotton balls dipped in acetone and wrap them around each fingernail for some time. 

Comments

While the durability and longevity of a gel nail polish sound tempting, the frequent use of UV lamps can result in premature ageing of the hands and in some cases, cancer. Though you might want to skip the UV lamp to prevent premature ageing or harmful diseases, using gel nail colours without a lamp is not practical. It will take ages to dry on its own and even if it does it won't give the same long-lasting result as it would with a lamp. Also, the gel process can be a bit hard on the nails and can cause your nails to become brittle and dry over time with frequent usage.