Nail salons have sprung up all over the place. They are now cheaper, more accessible and are booming. Everyone loves a mani. They especially love a gel mani.
No-one bothers with a normal manicure anymore
In fact, I’m one of the few people I know who much prefers one. When I go into a salon and say I just want a shape and polish, they always presume I mean gels.
I can see why people love gels. They can last for 3 weeks with no chipping and then the only problem is nail growth and a gap at the nail bed. Regular polish can chip within 24 hours and that’s not good when you’re busy and want your nails to look good.
But still……..I find there are many down sides to gels. And that’s before I even get onto the safety issue.
Let’s be honest, having the gels put on is time consuming! As is taking them off. All that soaking and going under the UV lamp.
Gels ruin your nails
I found this out when I was in Hollyoaks for over 2 years and had to wear dark nail polish. I just didn’t have the time to get my nails done every week, so I opted for gels. I knew they weren’t great for nails so I went for bio gels as I was assured they were much better and healthier for your nails. Wrong.
Eighteen months after removing my gels my nails are still thin and fragile
My nails were so dry after removing the gels that I had white patches all over them. They were also extremely thin, soft and broke constantly. After a full eighteen months they still haven’t fully recovered.
I looked for products to help hydrate my nails and found Margaret Dabbs brilliant Pure Repairing Nail and Cuticle Treatment Pen. Within a week the white patches had disappeared.
I then used her Nail Strengthening Treatment . It’s made a big difference to the peeling and breaking, but my nails still feel thin which no ointment is going to change. After all this time, I can’t help wondering if they’ll ever be the same again.
There’s also the very important issue of safety.
Ever wondered why gels are removed on admission to hospital?
It’s because they can harbour bacteria and can contaminate sterile fields. It’s about infection control.
Gel nail polish is a hive of many toxic chemicals, some of which are now being banned in the EU. One of these is TPO (trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide), which is what hardens the gels when put under the UV lamp and makes them so durable. It’s now been classified as a CMR (carcinogen, mutagen or reprotoxic) in the EU. The UK may well follow suit. They also contain acrylate and methacrylate which can cause allergic reactions like a rash or hives.
Then there’s the UV lamps
To harden the gels, hands are placed under a lamp. This can be UV or LED or a combo of both in the modern versions, which can work with different types of gel polishes. The UV component releases low levels of UV radiation called UVA. This can cause ageing of the skin and also plays a role in skin cancer risk. LED lamps pose a similar risk.
Use SPF on your hands
If you do continue to get gel manicures, protect your hands with sunscreen. You might also wear gloves with the finger tips cut off.
For myself, I have decided to never get a gel manicure again. Besides the fact that I don’t think my nails could take it, I don’t want the toxic load or the unnecessary UV exposure. I’ll continue to get my nails painted but I won’t be putting my hand under the lamp to speed up drying. At the end of the day, nice as it is having a long lasting set of colourful nails, is it worth risking your health for?
