If there’s one thing that’s pretty and complicated at the same time, it’s gel nails! The ladies are always confused about how best to apply, maintain, and remove gel nails. Apart from these, the commonest question that all nail enthusiasts ask is, ‘Can you paint over gel nails without ruining them?’
Even with all of these questions, gel nails are still a cult favorite. Unlike the regular nails that start chipping after a few days, a firm gel manicure can last for up to a month! That means that you can savor the nail art for a long time and clean it off whenever you want.
Without leaving your couch, here is everything you need to know about applying and maintain your gel nails!
What are Gel Nails?
Gel nails or a gel manicure involves using a LED or UV light to cure and lock in gel-based nail polish on your nails. Unlike regular polish that chips after a few days, the gel-based polish sticks to your nails for weeks! This is because of the assistance of UV lights and the thickness of the polish.
Before your imagination runs wild, gel nails look just like regular nails, except that the former are long-lasting and stronger. You can still enjoy the usual nail art when you get gel manicures, and with proper care, they can last for a month.
If you have a lot of back to back events coming up and you can’t deal with chipped nails, or you just want something to last throughout the summer, then gel nails are worth it.
Pros and Cons of Gel Nails
Although gel nails are fabulous, like everything else in life, there are some downsides that you might have to consider. Don’t get discouraged though. The pros of gel nails completely outweigh the cons!
Pros of Gel Nails:
- Lasts Longer
The main reason why anyone will consider a gel manicure is because of its staying power. Even if you don’t show the nails any attention, they can still last for up to two weeks.
- Chip-free Nails
Regular nail polishes usually start to chip off after a few days, but the gel-based polish sticks to your nails and doesn’t remove until you want it too. Thus, you’re free from the embarrassment of chipped nails, as long as you’re not biting your nails or picking out the polish yourself!
- Fast Drying
There’s no drying time left when it comes to gel nails. The UV or LED light is used to set the gel-based polish, and so it cuts out the drying time.
- Don’t Damage Your Nails
There are a lot of ways that different nail polishes can damage your nails, but this can be avoided with gel nails. As long as you get the gel nails done properly, and you avoid aggressive or electric buffing, your nails won’t be damaged.
You can also protect your nails when you don’t pick out the nail polish or scrap your nails harshly. If you’re using UV light, then it’s best to wear sunscreen before you get your nails done.
- LED Lights are Safe
A lot of the gel-based polish brands have converted from UV to LED light curing, which is safer for your nails and skin. If you’re getting your nails done at a salon, you should ask for this option.
Cons of Gel Nails:
- Removal Process is Tricky
Unlike regular nails which can be removed with the dab of a nail polish remover, gel nails require a long removal process. You have to soak your nails in pure acetone and file the remnants of the polish on your nails.
- More Expensive than Regular Nails
If you’re getting your nails done at the salon, they are more expensive than regular nails. You can save money with an at-home kit, but you have to follow the steps perfectly.
- UV Light Exposure is a Safety Hazard
If you’re using a gel-based polish which requires UV light curing, there are adverse effects that this can have on your skin and nails.
How to Apply Gel Nails
Before getting a gel mani, you have to ensure that you have all the supplies that you need. You can purchase an at-home gel kit at once, or buy all the supplies separately. You will need gel-based nail polish, cuticle oil, and a topcoat, base coat, nail buff, and a UV or LED lamp. A visual guide on how to apply gel nails might help better than reading through the steps.
Here are the steps to follow if you want to apply gel nails:
Prep Your Nails
This involves cutting your nails and filing them to get rid of rough edges. You should do your best to ensure you cut them at equal lengths so that you don’t end up with funny-looking gel nails.
The next part of preparing your nails is applying the cuticle oil to your nail beds. They soften and loosen up your cuticles. Without the oil, you won’t be able to push back your cuticles to apply the polish.
After applying the oil, wash your hands thoroughly. If you have oil left on your fingers or nails, you can mess up your gel nails.
Buff Your Nails
Now that you have cut, filed, and oiled your nails, you need to buff them. Without buffing, your gel nails won’t last as long as they’re supposed to. Ensure you do so from the right to the left edges of the nails. Once you are done, clean your nails with an alcohol wipe to get rid of natural and leftover cuticle oil.
Coat Your Nails
This involves the use of a base coat as the foundation for your gel mani. Once you apply the coat, get your UV or LED lamp, and cure the nails for less than a minute.
Paint Your Nails
Now for the exciting part! Pick the color(s) you’ve prepared and paint your nails. Whenever you make a coat, cure it immediately with the UV or LED light. You can also design your nails however you want. At the end of this step, your nails should be opaque.
Coat Your Nails, Again
Then, you need the topcoat on your nails. After applying it, cure it under the UV or LED lamp. There you have it! You can also add a few drops of cuticle oil afterward to show your nails some care!
How to Maintain Gel Nails
Gel nails are meant to last, but they can’t do that on their own. Some steps you took while applying your gel nails, like applying cuticle oil to push back the cuticles, will help the nails last longer. Here are a few tips on how to maintain gel nails:
- Be gentle with your nails. Use scissors to open parcels, letters, or packs instead of tearing it out. Be careful not to hit your nails against a hard surface, and keep those babies out of your mouth!
- You should also avoid the use of hot water on your hands. When you have to do the dishes, use rubber gloves to protect your nails.
- Apply cuticle oil regularly. This keeps your gel nails looking new and your nail beds, moisturized. You can also apply the topcoat once a week.
- Avoid hand sanitizer and use a gentle soap instead.
- Find a way to transform your nails to something new whenever your gel nails end up chipped at the tip or your real nails grow out of the paint. You can file your tips whenever your nails are chipped.
How to Remove Gel Nails
Removing gel nails is a long and rigorous process, but something you will have to do anyway. You can always visit a salon, but you must ensure that the nail technician is being careful with your nails. If you’d rather do it at home, here are the steps you need to follow:
- You will need a glass bowl and a bottle of pure acetone or 100% acetone.
- Use a light grit file to remove the seal of the topcoat on your nails.
- Pure the acetone in the bowl and soak your nails for three minutes.
- Use a wood stick cuticle pusher to remove the nail polish residue on your fingers.
- Buff your nails and moisturize your hands.
Can You Paint Over Gel Nails Without Ruining Them?
Yes, you can! Painting over gel nails won’t ruin them and you can use regular nail polish to do this. When it’s time to remove the polish, use a non-acetone based polish remover to remove the regular nail polish so that you can be gentle on your nails (acetone remover works fine too.)
Painting over your gel nails allows you to switch to different styles and try out complex designs without going through the process of removing your gel nails. In this case, the gel is the base coat.
After doing this three or four times, you will notice that the gel nails are getting soft. This is the sign that you have to remove the nails.
FAQ About Gel Nails
Can You Paint Nail Polish Over Gel Nails?
You can apply nail polish over your nails and remove them without affecting the gel nails. The nail polish can be used to make designs on the existing gel base and can be removed with a gentle nail polish remover.
Can You Paint Over Gel Nails with Dip Powder Nails?
You can use dip powder to paint over your gel nails, and you can also do this the other way around, as long as you have a UV or LED lamp. Dip powder nails are often called the nails that last longer than gel nails!
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Conclusion
Now that you know all about the famous gel nails, you can try a hand at applying them at home! Ensure that you’re careful and you follow the instructions in this guide completely. Before you know it, your nails will be so beautiful you won’t believe it.
