All girls want their manicure to look neat and well-groomed, since the condition of the nails is always striking. To do this, more than half of modern women prefer to visit a salon to have a competent nail technician process their nails and apply a decorative coating.
When using gel polish as a decorative coating, correction is recommended every 3-4 weeks, but most people do not think about how long it is safe to wear gel polish for the condition of the nails.
What is gel polish?
Gel polish is a universal decorative gel-like product for nails that can stay on them from two weeks to a month. Initially, gel polish came to us from Europe. Every year it began to gain popularity. How often can you get a gel polish manicure? Today, most girls have forgotten about using conventional varnishes. Every month ladies give themselves a manicure using gel polish or shellac.
Composition of the product
How often can you get a gel polish manicure? Is its composition harmful? In fact, experts say that high-quality gel polish is absolutely harmless. It should usually include the following components:
- A photoinitiator is a substance that protects the nail plate from exposure to ultraviolet rays when drying gel polish. This component is considered completely non-toxic and harmless.
- A film former is a substance that creates a film on the surface of the nails and is responsible for long-lasting manicure wear. How often do corrections need to be made? Everything is very individual, but in most cases the period can reach up to a month.
- Various pigments that determine the color and saturation of the varnish. The more there are, the better.
- Thinners are substances responsible for good adhesion of gel polish to the nail plate.
- Additional fillers - for example, glitter of different sizes and so on.
Gel polish - benefit or harm, history of occurrence
Manicure has been around for a long time. Even during the times of ancient civilizations, special importance was attached to hand care, since by their appearance it was possible to determine to what class their owner belonged. The first trimming manicure procedure occurred in France in 1830. King Louis Philippe is considered the founder of hygienic manicure, and since then the nail business has developed rapidly and successfully.
We can observe the success ourselves, as new varnishes and technologies appear every year. We want to try everything on ourselves, but isn’t modern gel polish harmful for nails and the health of the body as a whole? Let's get back to history.
Problems with nails arise if the master does not follow the technology
The first simple nail polishes appeared at the beginning of the twentieth century, and in 1932 a formula for a durable color coating was developed. Women all over the world liked the fashionable novelty, but the safety and dangers of varnishes were not even mentioned: no one thought about it. But if you study the composition of those varnishes, you can only be horrified.
In the eighties, ordinary varnish was replaced by acrylic, with which it was possible to grow long nails. Over time, acrylic was replaced by gel, which hardened under the light of an ultraviolet lamp, and this became the beginning of a revolution in the nail industry - gel varnishes of various colors and shades appeared.
It was headed by the American company CND (Creative Nail Design), whose founder, Stuart Nordstrom, created the famous schellak. Shellac is an absolute hit: you no longer need to repaint your nails every few days, the coating does not fade or chip for a long time.
Schellak, Kodi, OPI, Komilfo, FOX and many others. Nowadays, many companies produce gel polish, but still sometimes all gel polish is called shellac, which is fundamentally wrong.
The nail industry is developing rapidly: gel manicure is the easiest way to have well-groomed hands for a long time, but is such varnish safe? Professionals say that modern types are much safer than the first industrial designs.
The benefits of such a manicure. How often should I do it?
Some doubt whether gel polish is a completely harmless substance. How often can you get a manicure with it? Today we will talk about its benefits and learn in more detail about the beneficial substances that may be included in its composition. Pros of use:
- A huge advantage is that the gel can remain on the nail plate for a long time. Depending on its quality and brand, it can last up to a month.
- The second important advantage is that gel polish is very practical and easy to apply.
- Thirdly, this manicure looks very beautiful and neat on your nails. In addition, it is not destroyed by chemical elements.
- There are also medicinal varnishes, which may contain useful and nutritious components. For example, various vitamins, calcium, phosphorus and so on.
What harm is possible?
How often should you get a gel polish manicure? Experts recommend taking breaks at intervals of two weeks to a month. In fact, the gel can become harmful only if the master is careless about his work and neglects the rules.
- If you apply gel polish frequently, the nail plate may dry out and begin to peel.
- A low-quality gel may adhere poorly to the nail, which will lead to its rapid destruction.
- In addition, gel polish can cause allergies, so it is better to do a test first.
How often do you get a gel polish manicure?
Modern girls find it difficult to imagine their image without a complete and beautiful manicure. However, doctors assure that often doing a manicure with gel polish is very harmful, since its use can lead to the destruction of the natural top layer of the nail plate. In addition, some experts say that fungus or other diseases may even occur. For example, gel polish contains a component called formaldehyde. If it enters the body, it can have a negative impact on the functioning of some organs and systems. Scientists say that most modern varnishes contain a minimal amount of harmful components and are considered safe.
Much depends on the quality of the gel and the work of the manicurist. If the specialist does everything correctly, the nail plate will receive minimal damage. In addition, toxic substances will not enter the body. However, doctors still recommend taking breaks of several weeks before the next manicure.
How can this affect your health?
The main parameter that girls follow when wearing gel polish is the visual condition of the manicure. When the pigment grows, it gradually moves away from the cuticle area, freeing up a clean surface, which looks quite sloppy. Then the work is usually corrected.
However, there is also a risk of damage to the natural nail; prolonged wearing of the coating without rest can lead to side effects:
- Formation of numerous detachments.
- Thinning of the nail surface.
- The occurrence of a longitudinal or transverse crack.
- Nail breaking.
- Formation of yellowness on the surface.
- The appearance of dark or light spots.
- The occurrence of hyponychia (internal growth of skin on the free edge, which complicates further processing).
Also, first consider the quality of consumables used in the salon, since low quality pigments can lead to an allergic reaction, which will also affect the health of the matrix (root system).
Sometimes, while wearing a manicure, if the nails are handled carelessly, the decorative layer moves away from the bed and an air cavity appears between them, which may not be noticed by the girl. If moisture gets into this area, there is a high risk of developing a fungal infection, which can only be noticed when removing the varnish.
Keep in mind that the fungus is quite dangerous for the health of natural nails, since it can lead to their complete destruction when a doctor prescribes mechanical removal of the process.
In addition, if you wear the work for a long time, there is a risk of cracked nails, which will have to be repaired during correction, and this increases the price of the cosmetic procedure by 150-200 rubles and increases its duration.
How to choose high-quality gel polish?
Today there is a huge variety of varnishes on the market. The price of some is loyal, while the cost of other gel polishes reaches almost a thousand rubles. Does quality depend on price? Experts say yes. More expensive varnishes are of high quality. For example, Kodi gel polish. Its cost varies from 300 to 700 rubles. This brand has gained trust in the market, so the following rule follows - it is best to purchase varnishes from trusted manufacturers.
In addition, you should pay attention to the composition of the product. A high-quality gel should contain the most harmless substances. The presence of a sufficient amount of oligomer indicates that the product will adhere well to the nail plate and be worn for a long time. A plasticizer is considered an essential component of varnish. It is responsible for cold and heat resistance. A quality product should contain a minimum amount of acids, which can lead to nail peeling.
Recommendations from experts
If you go to a manicurist, there are several tips that will help you keep your manicure looking beautiful and neat for a longer period of time.
- First of all, in order for your manicure to last longer, you must avoid contact with very hot water. This may cause the gel to peel off from the nail plate.
- Be sure to wear rubber gloves before coming into contact with chemicals, as they can corrode the manicure coating.
- It is advisable not to file your nails, as this can lead to chipping of the gel polish.
- It is necessary to properly care for the gel. Special means should be used. For example, oils, hand cream. If you have a small UV lamp, then you can purchase a top product and cover your manicure with it once a week. This way it will last longer.
Protect your nail from damage
When working with gel polishes, it is very important to comply with all the requirements for their application in order to prevent yellowing, overdrying and other problems with nails, due to which you will have to abandon this coating for a long time:
— Carefully follow the recommendations for the polymerization time of shellac and the selection of a lamp of appropriate power, so that there is no situation of sealing an insufficiently hardened layer between the base and top.
— Under dark gel polish, apply the base in a not too thin layer so that the nail does not turn yellow.
— Remove shellac, observing the time requirements and using a product of the same brand as the decorative coating. Avoid removers containing acetone - they dry out the nail too much.
— Use gel polish from trusted companies: poor-quality coatings can cause clouding, yellowing and drying of the nail plate.
— If possible, opt for gel polishes of those brands that, when applying and removing gel polish, do not require washing down the surface of the nail plate: as it becomes thinner, it becomes weak and soft.
The difference between gel polish and shellac
There are two types of long-term coating - gel polish and shellac. What are their differences or are they completely identical? Gel polish is a gel-like product that must be dried using a special lamp. Shellac has more properties of a varnish than a gel. There is not much difference between them. They differ only in properties and price category. Shellac is a little more expensive than regular gel. Which one is better to choose? Gel polish is better applied to the nail plate. Plus it lasts longer. Before applying the gel, you must apply a primer. It will be a little more difficult to remove such varnish, because it dissolves only with the help of a special product. Also, when using shellac, you do not need to sand the nail, which preserves its integrity.
How often should you change gel polish? MediaAz interview with nail service master Ksenia Kukova
Media.Az interview with nail service master and entrepreneur Ksenia Kukova .
— Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get into this field, how long have you been working?
— I was born and raised in Russia, graduated from a university in Moscow - Faculty of Management. In 2006, she opened her first business - Interior Decor Design Studio. In 2008, a friend and I discussed the business of a beauty salon, and this topic became very interesting to me. But, as an entrepreneur, I understood that if you don’t know the product “from the inside” and create it without love, then you shouldn’t do it. I decided to take a course in manicure and nail extensions to understand for myself whether I should do this business. Since those very courses, I have not stopped working and continue to develop in my profession. After completing instructor courses and receiving certification as an instructor-teacher in manicure, pedicure, and nail extensions, I began teaching professionally.
I moved to Baku due to marriage. In 2021, she organized and opened a representative office of Ekaterina Miroshnichenko’s company in Baku under the Emi brand. In 2021, I left the company and opened a nail salon, Love Me Manicure Boutique.
— By what criteria should you choose a master, what should you pay attention to?
— Many clients, when choosing a manicurist, first of all look at his portfolio and, accordingly, at the price. Also, many clients do not understand why some prices are more expensive and others are cheaper. It should be noted that prices for nail products are very diverse, as there are cheap, medium and expensive products. You also need to take into account the level of the room (interior, cleanliness, sterilization).
Regarding responsibility for the health of clients, I would like to emphasize that many professionals in beauty salons are very irresponsible about the cleanliness of their workplace, as well as about the disinfection and sterilization of instruments. Files, buffs, brushes must be individual. Metal instruments must undergo liquid disinfection and temperature sterilization in an autoclave or in a dry heater.
— How to distinguish a specialist from a novice master?
— Many novice professionals do not know the operating regulations of beauty salons, and directors do not pay attention to details. A novice master begins to understand certain subtleties of this profession after working on average for a year.
— How often should a master undergo trainings and courses to improve his work?
— If a master loves his job, he will strive for perfection, and be sure to attend various courses to improve his skills at least once every six months or a year.
— What should you look for when choosing a nail modeling method?
- A universal manicurist (this is a master who knows how to do manicures, pedicures, nail extensions, design), always has more clients and more income. Subsequently, the master pays attention to which procedure is in higher demand, focusing on this, and improves his skills.
— What is fashionable now?
- Nowadays, a natural, natural look is relevant both in appearance and on short natural nails. And the manicure procedure with gel polish (shellac) coating is now more popular than extending long nails. But there are also problematic nails, for which nail extensions or strengthening become necessary.
— There is so much controversy around: acrylic or gel, shellac or biogel? Which do you prefer and why?
— Clients often find it difficult to choose nail materials. As an instructor-technologist, I would like to give an example from a family: let’s call all these systems children, and their mother is acrylates. In fact, they are all derivatives from the same group and in terms of harmfulness they are all the same. Previously, there was no gel, there were only acrylic systems, but because of the bad smell it was inconvenient to work in salons. And when gel appeared (due to the lack of odor in it), it became more popular among craftsmen than acrylic. On wet nails, gel wears better than acrylic. Next, a soluble gel was developed - biogel.
But since its chemical formula differs from gel, biogel is applied to natural nails for only one to two weeks instead of varnish, as a long-term coating. Subsequently, one well-known brand developed a convenient biogel format, gel polish called “Shellac” from the CND company, after which there was an active demand for gel polishes. Therefore, before choosing the right nail care, you need to know which material is best for your nails.
— How often should you visit a specialist?
— Don’t forget that an uncoated manicure is done once a week, a coated manicure — gel polish — needs to be changed every two weeks, and a more durable coating — gel or acrylic — every three weeks. I understand that some women's manicures last three to five weeks. Nail growth depends on the body and time of year, as well as on the client’s life activity. Therefore, everything is very individual.
— What do you think many nail service professionals lack? And what would you like to change?
— I would like the craftsmen to more competently explain to their clients what materials they work with, and that this is not iron, but a material that ages and its molecular component begins to deteriorate after two weeks. But, unfortunately, not all masters attend professional courses, and they won’t talk about it on YouTube.
— What would you wish for women?
- I wish every woman to love herself. If you don’t love yourself, no one will love you - that’s the law. I wish you to be loved and do what you love! Only then will the woman be happy, and therefore everyone around her will be happy too!
Khanum Gadirli
