Gel manicures may be the hottest trend of the moment, with pro nails pros hailing them as the most natural — and aesthetically pleasing — manicure in the game. While I like to indulge my girly sides on occasion and bare my tootsies to do so, I’ve found that more often than not, gel manicures (or manicures with any kind of primer on them) leave me looking a little too manicured to be alive. And what really helps me out is to know how to properly maintain my nails, which I know can be a serious challenge for many of us.
In fact, an almost catastrophic nail infection that I developed over the summer in particular nearly ruined my life. Luckily, I found exactly the expert advice I needed to revive my health and professional nail-care experience. I scoured the internet for information that would help me best avoid those natural-looking gel-manticles, and though I did a lot of research on my own, here are six of the most important nail-health tips for me.
Keep Your Nails Clean
One of the first things you’re going to want to do with your gel manicure is to make sure you’ve kept your nails pretty clean. Let’s be honest, your nails are one of the most likely surfaces you’ll touch before you leave the house. So, if you can, really clean up your nails before you polish. In my opinion, the best place to start is at the end of the day, when they’re dry and a little dull. So lay them on a towel, rinsing off any excess oils and rubbing in fresh sand from your beach vacation (one of my go-to products that I’ve always used to refresh my skin and nail care is Liberty Oils Nail Polish Brush Sand).
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If you’re obsessing over your mitts and you can’t wait until they’re clean again, consider investing in some biodegradable blotting papers, like this one that dissolves quickly to avoid your hands looking super old and gross after 10 minutes.
Go Gels With Gels
If you’re worried that your new gel manicure is going to dry out your tootsies (along with your skin), don’t. The gel technology allows the polish to breath when dried, so that it leaves your skin and nails soft and moisturized and will last longer than it would if you’d simply had your nails painted. After you’ve completely dried off your tootsies, carefully dip your polish brush in mineral oil (before you choose a new gel nail) to ensure that any unused gel won’t just evaporate.
Don’t Spread Oil All Over Your Toes
Many gel manicures can be a little oily. It’s important to keep your nails from getting too oily once you’ve polished your nails, so follow the acronym A to Z when it comes to your gel manicure: first, apply a base coat, then a top coat (if you didn’t get a second base coat initially), and then apply gel.
While some people do like to spread extra nail oil on their digits, make sure to apply only what you need to the entire nail to be happy with your results. If you don’t follow the tips above, you may be spreading your gel all over your feet, which will make them much stickier and will just ruin your manicure.
Make Sure You’re Using the Right Formulas
I may have unknowingly cracked my acrylic bottom set once, but the big rub was that I left it two weeks after it healed. If you’re planning on going with a formula that lasts forever, make sure you nail care professionals stay savvy. If you’re a DIY nail pro, it’s best to stick with one formula that is inherently safe. Plus, it really helps if you have a good product on hand at all times, whether it’s something high-quality lotion or hand lotion. Most nail enamels (nail polish enamel) are formulated to be water soluble, so you won’t need a lot of top coat on them — so avoid that, if you’re going for the fun gel manicure style.
Look Good in the Dark
Because gel is a formula that’s smooth, it will also naturally look a little better in low light. This is a really important tip to remember. This simple trick can make your gel manicure seem realer and sexier than it probably is.
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