Getting a perfect manicure at the salon is usually a matter of strict rules: wipe your fingers after each stroke, maybe use some talcum powder or a hint of alcohol, and don’t let the polish touch the nail bed. And just like in your go-to manicure, those guidelines can get a little monotonous. So what’s an extreme manicure lover to do? Give your nail polish a taste of the natural world, and you’ll be convinced that nails shouldn’t be so regimented in their beauty. Luckily, there are all sorts of new ways to keep nails looking fantastic. To get you started, we’ve rounded up six tips for maintaining healthy nails with gel manicures.
1. Neutralize Fishtail and Pleats
Fishtail manicures are a popular look at the moment, thanks to Rihanna’s coquettish Aquanet. Gel molars like theirs allow the manicure to develop in different directions and leave your fingers looking like your own artistic, dolphin-inspired masterpiece. But if you want to recreate the look at home without a trip to a salon, you can try smoothing down a bit of a product containing silicones, which can allow for a more subtle design.
The same can be said for pleats, a style that also called for a new twist on your gel manicure. Going this route can cause chips and discoloration on some manicures, but it can also help achieve cool-cure wear on nails. Remember that less is more, so save most of the gel for more sophisticated and subtle colors.
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2. Think Formulas: Yes, They’re Kind of a Big Deal
If you’re concerned about your gel nails passing a pimple test, the biggest way to keep them healthy is by choosing the right product. From Sonicare to Emergen-C, there are plenty of products to choose from, so you can make sure you’re getting everything your nails need. Gel conditioners and exfoliators can help with nails that are chapped, and dryer air can also lead to swelling and bumps. Just make sure to use these products sparingly, as excess conditioning can make your nails more susceptible to being damaged.
After your nails have suffered some substantial burn, there’s nothing quite like taking your fingers off the gel, peeling them off and treating them with lots of moisturizer, and applying some crunchy, dark gel sugar solution to break up the fats and keep the gel tight in the nail bed. If you’ve spent half an hour trying to get a manicure that looks like the one in the salon without taking off the substance, a relief comes with its replacement.
3. Attitude Matters
Nails can be so powerful for shaping a look and creating a dramatic look that it’s easy to think that black or white powder has to go in each dip. Thankfully, if you’ve worked with cuticle oils in the past, you know that they’re not just there to ruin your manicure: instead, they act as a natural conditioner for your nail bed, which has an excellent ability to keep nails healthy.
Hailing from natural planet Earth, natural oils work to mimic the inside of your nail bed to create a tight, even surface that helps your gel manicure last longer. Cuticle oils can also help prevent ring mold and cutsicles from growing and also protect your nails from hot-spot damage.
4. You Just Need Some Water
It’s no secret that applying your gel colors tends to dull your nails. Water can help to speed up the drying process by combining with the resin in a gel coat and limiting the absorption of the oils to wash away. A fall of salts in the salt water can also make your nails look brittle, so if you’re worried about the effect your gel manicure has on your cuticles, choose a shade that’s not based on talc.
5. Bathe Every Minute
It may sound kind of gross, but high-powered polishes can dehydrate your nails, so in addition to applying a hydrating oil or moisturizer after each coat, you should get into the habit of bathing. Even just 15 to 20 minutes can do wonders for your nails, especially if you’re using a gel manicure that has a natural gingery hue, as this will help prevent cuticles from shriveling up. By touching up your polish once a day with a cuticle oil, you’ll be able to avoid more drastic treatments that take more time and energy.
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