How Does Nail Gel Work

Gel manicures are arguably one of the most exciting beauty innovations of the final few years--a mani that lasts for two solid weeks without chipping and doesn't require any dry out fourth dimension seems downright miraculous. The applied science is even popping up in do-it-yourself versions now--at-habitation gel mani kits are 1 of the reasons the nail care sector is having double digit growth this year co-ordinate to WWD. Just later on we personally had some disastrous experiences with both the salon and at-home versions of gel manicures, nosotros had to investigate further.

Not to be Debbie Downers hither, just let's forget the stunning, shiny long-lasting finish of these manis for a 2nd (I hateful, Michelle Obama's trendsetting bluish grey gel mani at the DNC looked fantastic) and talk about the night--and horribly dried out--underbelly of gels. While these manicures look undeniably astonishing, the UV exposure needed to fix the gel and the potential damage to your boom beds are two big factors that can't be ignored. We chatted with a nail expert and a dermatologist for their take.

UPDATE: Interested in the subject of gel manicure safety? Things have changed over the past few years since this commodity first appeared on Fashionista. For an updated take on what you lot demand to know about the risks associated with (and alternatives to) gel polish — equally well as the advances in technology in the field — read our more contempo investigation hither.

First up: What about the UV exposure?

Is the UV Exposure an Issue?

The way gel manicures piece of work is that the colour is painted on and then "cured" underneath a UV low-cal. This process is repeated several times per paw--it'south what makes the polish ultimately so hard and long-lasting. So is it bad for your skin to accept your hands under a UV light?

Well, maybe. If we know anything from years of experience with commercial tanning beds, it'south that UV light exposure is definitely non good for you. And in that location's some direct bear witness that the UV light exposure you get from nail procedures is potentially dangerous. Dr. Heidi Waldorf, Director of Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, told us, "There are two reported cases of peel cancers of the hand that were associated with regular UV nail dryer utilize." A study deputed by CND (yes, the nail polish company that makes the gel shine, Shellac) refuted the results of that study, simply Dr. Waldorf nonetheless recommends taking precautions. "The problem is that UV damage is cumulative. So if you lot use the UV dryers now and over again, it may not add up to much," she said. "However, if you beginning with them on a regular ground in your 20's or 30'due south and proceed, the adventure will be college."

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To avoid any unnecessary exposure, Dr. Waldorf recommends you lot apply a h2o resistant sunscreen before you go for a treatment. "However, retrieve that information technology volition not exist fully effective--part of the gel manicure process is cleaning the nails and therefore the skin around the nails and the fingers with acetone," she told us. "If they take to remove the prior gel manicure, fingers are soaked in acetone for at least x minutes. No sun protective product will concluding through it."

Which brings us to our next result--what your nails look like when the gel polish comes off.

Dry & Brittle & Cracked, Oh My!

Getting the gel off is a real bowwow--it requires x+ minutes of soaking in 100% acetone, either in a bowl or individually wrapped with foil. The gel is and then scraped off after it softens. The condition of your nails afterwards is nothing brusk of horrifying. (And so is the toll--in NYC a lot of boom salons charge you a whopping $10 just to remove gel polish.) Dhani, Nora and I accept all failed at gel removal--Nora once tried an calm gel system that even a smash salon couldn't soak off. They had to resort to filing it off, which led to weakened nails that kept breaking for weeks. Mine are even so peeling weeks after I got a gel mani before going to London for fashion calendar week last month. Our intern, Zanele, actually bled afterwards her gel started peeling, snagged on something and ripped her nails. She so had to stick her sore, bloody stumps (exaggeration by me) into pure acetone to become the gel off. Owwww.

Dry, brittle nails post gel is non an uncommon complaint patently. Jin Soon Choi, an expert manicurist and designer fave who just launched her own line of nail polishes, isn't a huge fan of gels. "I don't like the fact that they dry out the blast bed tremendously which, over fourth dimension, makes your nails very brittle which makes them pause off hands," she told us.

However, she acknowledges that the durability is definitely a plus. Both she and Dr. Waldorf recommend saving gels for vacations or special occasions. And to prevent your nails from becoming a full mess, Choi told us, "Be sure to moisturize your nails and cuticles with Vitamin E oil constantly while yous have gel on your nail." To protect from the harsh, stripping effect of the pure acetone, use cuticle oil first to protect pare, then soak your tips later on in a bowl of vitamin E oil or coconut oil for some quick rehydration.

Whatsoever gel manicure horror stories or are you their biggest fan?

Source: https://fashionista.com/2012/10/the-dark-side-of-gel-manicures-the-experts-weigh-in#:~:text=The%20way%20gel%20manicures%20work,so%20hard%20and%20long%2Dlasting.

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