LIFE IS NOT PERFECT BUT YOUR NAILS CAN BE!

The craze for gel manicures among women is on the rise. The durable, shiny nails that last you for 2 or 3 weeks are every girl's dream come true as they give you the freedom from chipping nail paint immediately after they get your nails done. I too have been a fan of gel nails since they hit the salons and have not gone back to any other option for salon manicure.

I have gone to the salon countless times to get my nails done. Why not? It is easy and convenient. You get insta worthy nails done and have to put in zero effort. Am I right ladies? But in all its glamour we overlook the damage being done to our nails.

Firstly the buffering done on our nails to make the surface rough to increase the retentiveness of the gel product makes our nails thin. This weakens our natural nails. The products used to treat the nails can also cause great harm to your nails, the nail bed, and the skin surrounding your nails.

This does not end here, the UV light used to polymerize the gel nails is very harmful to your skin. And the frequent targeted exposure can result in skin conditions that worse comes to worst lead to skin cancer.

The risks are not over yet. Let's talk about the ordeal to remove these gel nails. If you think dipping your nails in acetone for a long time is not harmful to your nails you need to think again. Furthermore, stripping of the nail gels take off a layer from the top of your nail, leaving them exposed and unprotected, ultimately making them brittle and prone to break quite easily.

In short, anything that looks this attractive always comes with a catch. But there are few practices we can do to avoid the harm and still enjoy our fresh manicures, so no ladies! not everything is doomed yet!

1. Ask your professional to be vigilant with the soak-off time. Use as less of soak-off time as possible. Go for the nails that can be taken off after soaking rather than the ones that need to be filed off as they are prone to crack your nails leaving them weak, brittle, and parched.

2. Ask the nail technician to not trim the cuticle around your nail. Cuticles are the protective layer around the nail that prevents the bacteria from reaching the nail bed. Once it is trimmed, the bacteria can easily invade your nail bed and cause an infection that might tackle a long time to clear up. Furthermore, the cuticles also get damaged once you cut them, so it is better to avoid removing them.

3. wear sunblock before putting your hands under the radiation booth to protect them from getting damaged by the harmful rays. And save your hands from skin cancer or premature aging.

4. Be proactive and make sure the tools are sterilized properly. Be very insistent about cleanliness.

5. Sometimes it is better to take a break from getting nails done from a salon. Give your nails a chance to breathe and repair. Apply a moisturizer to your nail and cuticles during this time. This will minimize brittleness and keep your nails healthy.

As with anything, moderation is key. Try getting manicures on special occasions only. Be very careful about nail care and only get your nails done by a professional. If you observe any damage or a persistent problem regarding your nails, I’m always here to help!