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Everyone love’s to paint their nails to perfection. The issue is finding the time amid our busy daily routines to really give our nails the attention they deserve. Luckily, gel nail polish has become one of our greatest allies, as it can help to maintain color for an extended period.
Gel nail polish, also known as semi-permanent nail polish, has an acrylic base that makes color last much longer than usual. With this type of nail polish, you can maintain a perfect manicure for about three weeks. Keep reading if you’d like to know more about this amazing kind of nail polish!
Contents
- 1 Key facts
- 2 The best gel nail polish on the US market
- 3 Shopping Guide: Everything you need to know about gel nail polish
- 3.1 What is gel nail polish and what are its benefits?
- 3.2 Does gel nail polish harm the nail?
- 3.3 How are gel nail polish and traditional polish different?
- 3.4 Should nails have time to rest between one permanent manicure and the next?
- 3.5 Why don’t all gel nail polishes last the same amount of time?
- 3.6 How should I remove gel polish?
- 3.7 What type of care does a permanent manicure need?
- 3.8 What should I know before using gel polish at home?
- 4 Shopping criteria
- 5 Summary
Key facts
- Gel nail polish is made out of acrylic, a material that’s guaranteed to last longer. This kind of nail polish lasts for an average of three weeks, although the exact duration will depend on your lifestyle and the natural growth of your nails. Nonetheless, this is definitely the most durable polish you can find.
- Gel polish can be hard on nails, so it’s especially important to take care of your nails and keep them healthy. In order to get the best results with a gel nail polish, it is critical to use both a base coatand a top coat, which helps the polish keep for a longer period.
- One potential issue with gel nail polish use is removal. If you use products specifically design for removal, you can easily avoid damaging your nails. It is also important to take into account nail type, polish quality, composition and drying lamp compatibility.
The best gel nail polish on the US market
The increasing demand for gel nail polish means there’s an increasing number of brands to choose from. Below you’ll find a list of the five best gel nail polish products and all the important details necessary to make an informed purchase.
- Beetles Neon Gel Nail Polish Set
- Modelones Gel Nail Polish Set
- Perfect Summer Gel Polish
- Sexy Mix Nude Pink Gel Kit
- Modelones Soak Off 6-Piece Color Collection
Beetles Neon Gel Nail Polish Set
This beloved gel polish set from Beetles comes with six elegant shades including the most popular and fashionable colors for every season like hot pink and neon orange. If neon isn’t your thing, choose from a wide variety of color assortments from the same brand.
Beetles nail polish has a minimal odor and consists of nine toxin-free ingredients to keep your nails healthy. With proper application, this affordable gel polish should last you for at least three weeks. Be sure to cure it under an LED/UV light for 90-120 seconds for best results and shine.
Modelones Gel Nail Polish Set
This well-packaged, 18-piece set from Modelones makes a great gift for any nail-polish lover. It comes with 16 mini gel shades (6ml each) as well as a base and no-wipe top coat (10ml each). The shades include pure color, glitter color and color changing gels, so that you can try a range of styles.
The Modelones set is ideal for professional use in a salon or polishing right at home. The gel polish is primarily made from natural resin, keeping it nontoxic and healthy, and it’s easy to apply with a very smooth finish. Use two coats to get the desired color and it should last at least two weeks if you apply it properly.
Perfect Summer Gel Polish
Don’t miss out on these great summer colors from Perfect Summer. The package includes six neon colors (8ml each) that will last two weeks or more when applied correctly. These gels are no-harm, nontoxic and have no harsh smell.
Be sure to cure your nails under a UV/LED lamp and use Perfect Summer’s base and top coats for best results. This product is suitable for natural nails, UV gel nails, acrylic nails, false nails and nail tips.
Sexy Mix Nude Pink Gel Kit
If you like pink, this kit from Sexy Mix is for you! It comes with a series of pink shades ranging from light to deep, so you can try out different pinks every time you do your nails. Each bottle contains 7ml of polish made from natural resin.
This gel polish is low smell and nontoxic. You’ll need to apply three layers to get the full color and be sure to also apply the base and top coat before curing under a UV/LED nail lamp.
Modelones Soak Off 6-Piece Color Collection
This six-piece set from Modelones comes with a unique batch of fun colors with mirror-shine finish. Choose from options like rainbow glitter, diamond glitter and 3D cat eye. All are made from natural resin, and are nontoxic and odorless.
If applied properly with UV/LED nail lamp, these gels should last you two weeks or more. Be sure to follow instructions for special colors including cat eye and phantom chameleon. Have lots of fun with this exciting set.
Shopping Guide: Everything you need to know about gel nail polish
(Source: Marina Kirezhencova: 47346228/ 123rf.com)
What is gel nail polish and what are its benefits?
Still, as with many great products, gel nail polish has some advantages and some disadvantages. Although the pros far outweigh the cons, you may still have doubts, which is totally understandable. Take a look at our table of pros and cons and judge for yourself.
The primary obstacles people see with gel polish are cost, maintenance and removal. But with regards to the price, the increasing demand for this kind of nail polish means there’s been an emergence of brands suitable for all budgets. And with regards to maintenance and removal, you really just need to find the right brands and it won’t be an issue!
Does gel nail polish harm the nail?
If you carefully follow the instructions, you shouldn’t have any issues and your nails won’t be negatively impacted by gel nail polish. Even though you might expect that the results from a good and bad quality nail polish are similar, over time you’ll see that using a high quality gel nail polish makes a huge difference.
How are gel nail polish and traditional polish different?
You should also be aware that there are what are known as “long-lasting polishes.” To do away with all doubts, it’s best to compare the three types of polish and know each one’s most important features.
| Permanent | Traditional | Long-lasting | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 3 weeks | 5-7 days | 7-10 days |
| Composition | Acrylic | Lacquer | Lacquer |
| Drying | UV Lamp or LED | Air | Air |
| Finish | +++ | + | ++ |
| Layers | Base coat+ nail polish + top coat | Nail polish | Nail polish + top coat |
Should nails have time to rest between one permanent manicure and the next?
These concerns are normal. Having polish on nails for an extended period blocks them from sunlight. The nails also can’t breathe normally. However, there are products that supplement vitamins and nutrients so that you don’t need to let your nails rest.
Why don’t all gel nail polishes last the same amount of time?
Gel nail polish is actually designed to stay attached to nails longer. But what happens is that when the nail grows, the base also moves and polish can become detached from the sides. The nail growth can also be seen in the upper part, attached to the cuticle.
(Source: Dmytro Titov: 39880763/ 123rf.com)
How should I remove gel polish?
- You can pour acetone into a bowl and dip your nails in.Bit by bit, you’ll see how the polish comes off until it falls completely.
- You can also put nail polish remover on pieces of cotton wool which are then placed on each nail.As you wait, you can cover the nail with aluminum foil or buy specific cap clips designed for the task.
What type of care does a permanent manicure need?
After you’ve applied nail polish, we recommended that you use a moisturizer to keep your hands and nails hydrated and looking great. You can also treat your nails with keratin, which is an essential protein for nail care. Additionally, there are products meant to strengthen nails and prevent damage.
What should I know before using gel polish at home?
When you have all the proper tools, you can get to work. Bear in mind that it’s critical you’ve removed all the previous polish before starting a new coat. You’ll also need to have a nail polish remover.
Shopping criteria
We’ve gone through the most important questions and concerns about gel nail polish, so now let’s look at what you should keep in mind when purchasing your own. Below, we’ve put together a list of the main purchasing criteria so you can buy with confidence.
Fingernail type
Everyone’s nails are different, and it’s important that you know yours before choosing whether or not to use gel nail polish, and which brand to select. Firstly, if you have weak, peeling or brittle nails, try to restore them before you think about using gel nail polish, since that could damage them even more.
Once you have healthy nails, there won’t be a problem. But there may be a problem if you have oily nails. Oily nails often have a bad result with nail polish, since they prevent proper adherence. If your nails are oily, it’s best to get products that eliminate grease and use them before the polish.
(Source: Marina Kirezhencova: 26585462/ 123rf.com)
Quality
Quality is another crucial purchasing criteria. This isn’t the case just for gel nail polish but for any product that you use on your skin. Nails are an especially sensitive area and require special care. So the higher quality the product, the better.
As we mentioned earlier, gel polish, when misused, can cause harm to your nails. For this reason, quality is particularly important. Try to pick well-known brands that have good expert valuations or are commonly used by professionals.
Composition
The composition of most gel nail polishes is similar and all contain plastic ingredients like acrylic. Still, it’s important to check the ingredients of the polishes for other reasons. For example, you may want to look for “Cruelty-Free” polishes, which have not been tested on animals.
Another thing to look out for is polishes that don’t have ingredients harmful to our nails and skin. One of these is hydroquinone monomethyl ether (MeHQ), which must have less than 200 ppm (parts per million). Look closely at the labels to check on this.
This video provides a step-by-step guide for applying gel nail polish:
Features
We can also talk about features or format. The fact of the matter is that this is another factor you need to consider. There are polishes that come in different formats, like brush or pen. You should choose whatever is most comfortable for you.
The amount of polish in the bottle is also something to consider. The ideal bottle size for many is 15 mL because larger contains have some risk of drying out. Some other features to think about are the finish (gloss or matte) and opacity, which will impact how many layers of polish are needed.
Compatibility
Compatibility in gel nail polish is crucial. Firstly, you need a lamp (either LED or UV) compatible with the polish you’re using. If you don’t, the polish won’t dry properly and bubbles or wrinkles can appear. So be sure to check that the polish is compatible with your lamp.
But that’s not the only matter to consider. The polish should also be compatible with your nail polish remover. Even though you may find “universal” nail polish removers, you should ideally use the same brand for both products. This will make ensure that the polish is easily removed and that you don’t cause nail damage. Most polish brands sell their own polish remover.
(Source: Kzenon: 17324711/ 123rf.com)
Summary
Gel nail polish may be the key to an always-perfect manicure. Its acrylic-based composition, when dried with UV or LED lamps, results in flawless polish that lasts an average of two to three weeks. That is quite the achievement!
You can join in this trend right from home, since the best brands offer all you need to do your own manicure using gel nail polish. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and any recommendations in order to easily achieve a professional look that will last longer.
If you found this guide about gel nail polish helpful, please share it on social media or leave us a comment with your thoughts.
(Source of the featured image: belchonock: 97473085/ 123rf.com)
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