Gel manicures: Tips for healthy nails (2024)

FAQs

Gel manicures: Tips for healthy nails? ›

Keep them short and slightly rounded

Gel polish can thin out nails over time, which makes them prone to snagging and breaking. Skip pointy tips for shorter ones to keep them strong. And since you probably won't be tending to them for a couple weeks, it's better to start off shorter so you have some leeway as they grow.

Keep them short and slightly rounded

Gel polish can thin out nails over time, which makes them prone to snagging and breaking. Skip pointy tips for shorter ones to keep them strong. And since you probably won't be tending to them for a couple weeks, it's better to start off shorter so you have some leeway as they grow.

Overall, Dip Powder Manicures are a great way to get a healthy manicure that will protect and strengthen your nails without causing any damage. Just like any nail treatment, you do have to make sure you properly remove it to keep your nails safe and healthy – Don't pick at your manicure!

Paper-thin nails after acrylics are another common issue. Gel and acrylics cause the nails to lose moisture and become brittle, flaky and peeling. This can also be caused by improperly peeling the gel and removing the nail plate.

Typically, builder gel in a bottle is a thick gel that adds strength to the nails or nail enhancements and can be soaked off with acetone. Builder gel in a bottle is a softer gel, but it creates a much stronger overlay on the nails than traditional gel nail polish so it's great for helping your natural nails grow.

Polygel nails are stronger than gel nails and more flexible than acrylic nails, which makes them less likely to chip or break. “If someone is hard on their hands, it bounces back more easily instead of cracking,” says Kandalec.

Improper removal techniques, such as picking or peeling off gel polish, can damage the nail surface. This can lead to thinning, peeling, or brittleness, giving the impression that gel polish is the culprit behind weakened nails.

Some beauty professionals also generally suggest pausing after you've had two or three gel manicures in a row. This hiatus can last a week or more, based on the health of your nails. One indicator that you need to take a break is when you start to notice symptoms like nail peeling, white patches, or splitting.

Although gel manicures can be beautiful and long-lasting, they can be tough on nails. Gel manicures can cause nail brittleness, peeling and cracking, and repeated use can increase the risk for skin cancer and premature skin aging on the hands.

Interestingly, at-home gel polish kits may pose a higher risk than professional salon manicures. The products in home kits are not tightly regulated, and people do not have the proper training to apply them safely. People using at-home nail kits often have longer periods of contact with irritants in nail products.

How to hide gel nail growth? ›

A growth gap can be harder to hide if you're a gel colour lover. If you can't get to the salon for a professional refill, a little pop of regular nail polish can hide any obvious and unsightly growth gaps. For block colours, pair your regular polish with your manicured gel polish colour and simply fill the gap.

Dr. Lipner says the best way to remove gel nail polish is to let your nails grow out. Clipping them once a week will remove the gel nail polish and help prevent the nails from catching on clothing and other objects. If you choose this option, you need to resist the urge to pick at your gel nail polish.

You should wait about two to three weeks between getting gel manicures. This time is important because the process of putting on and taking off gel polish can be hard on your nails.

Thea Green, the founder of Nails Inc agrees: “Frequent gel manicures can take a toll on the nail bed, as you're not giving the nail time to rest and recover from the removal so it's definitely a good idea to give them a mini break.

How often should you have your gel polish done? It is advised to have a gel polish every 3-4 weeks however no longer than 6 weeks. Leaving it too long can cause the nail plate to become unbalanced and can cause damage. If you want to completely remove gel nails you need to soak them off using 100% acetone.

Though dip powders are generally considered the gentlest option, both gels and dips can be used long-term without damaging your nails. Once again, choosing a high-quality product – and taking care of your nails properly – are the most important factors when it comes to nail health.

In the first week of a gel manicure, you probably won't notice much of a gap between your nail bed and the bottom of your gels, as your nail growth will be minimal (in some cases, less than a millimetre). By week two, however, it may be time to get your manicure touched up.