Gel nail polish is the way to go if you want to rock longer-lasting, chip-free nails. But even gel nails can fall off before their time. Use these tips to ensure your gel nail polish will stay on as long as possible.
Cure Longer:
Most people don’t know that the way to keep your gel mani from chipping is to cure it longer than the nail techs tell you to. The gel takes a full two minutes under a UV light to cure and harden. If you only do it for one minute or less, you’re just setting the stage for chipping, peeling, and smudging later on.
Clean Your Nails Before Mani and Pedi:
Make sure you really clean your nails with alcohol or acetone before doing your manicure or pedicure. This will remove any excess oils from your fingers and toes that could make your gel polish peel faster than normal.
Use a Topcoat:
Even though most gel polishes already have a shiny topcoat built-in, use an extra layer of topcoat once your polish has cured. The extra layer will help extend the life of your manicure, especially if you are constantly typing on a computer.
Polish in Thin Layers:
It’s tempting to glob on polish in one thick layer, but that will only lead to chipping and peeling. It’s more about multiple thin layers than fewer thicker ones.
Always Cure Using UV/LED Lamp:
The Gel manicure consists of applying a base coat, two color coats of polish, and a top coat, all of which are cured in a UV/LED lamp. If you purchased your own kit at home, then you’ll want to make sure you have the right supplies on hand before you begin.
If you do not use a UV/LED lamp, then the gel polish cannot be cured properly, and the manicure will not last as long as it should.