Before applying a decorative coating in the form of gel polish, many girls prefer to extend their nails to make the manicure look more impressive. Then questions arise about how long the extended nails last and whether they affect the overall durability of the result.
However, it is worth considering that performing the procedure at home does not always provide a positive outcome; moreover, a large number of factors - external and internal - can affect the resistance. If you want the effect to last longer, they need to be given attention during and after the technology.
Is it dangerous to get a manicure?
At first glance, the procedure for applying gel polish looks quite harmless. But there is some harm from salon and home nail treatments.
Why is nail dust dangerous during manicure?
Before applying fresh gel polish to your nails, you must remove the old coating. If the procedure is performed using hardware or a file, tiny dust inevitably rises into the air. It consists of particles of the nail itself and a frozen substance. When you inhale, a certain amount of suspended matter enters the bronchi and lungs. Over time, this leads to the development of chronic diseases.
The harm of nail dust is that it causes allergies, bronchitis and asthma.
Advice! You can protect yourself from nail dust using a medical mask. In good nail salons, the technician has a special vacuum cleaner on his desk.
Is the smell of nail polish harmful?
Any gel polish has a sharp and not very pleasant aroma, which is emitted by the chemicals included in its composition. Prolonged inhalation of this odor causes poisoning and provokes nausea, headache, increased heart rate and a feeling of lack of air. The harm is that the toxic vapors of the varnish dry out the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and can lead to allergic rhinitis.
Doing a manicure at home or in a salon should be done with good ventilation. To reduce the health hazards of gel polish, you should choose products with a minimum content of toxic substances when treating your nails.
Is a lamp harmful for manicure and drying gel polish?
When applying gel polish in a salon, ultraviolet lamps are used to quickly dry it. Their health safety remains a controversial issue.
On the one hand, ultraviolet treatment lasts a matter of seconds, and the radiation does not have time to cause serious harm to the skin. If there are modern lamps in the salon, regular annual procedures in terms of the degree of danger can be equated to one ten-minute walk in the sun.
However, the negative health consequences of gel polish and drying become more significant in the presence of moles on the hands, especially those that have a risk of malignant degeneration. In such cases, it is better to refuse this type of manicure due to the potential harm. Even minor additional UV radiation increases the likelihood of moles becoming malignant.
Harm of hardware manicure
Correction of the nail plate before applying gel polish can be done not only manually, but also using hardware. In this case, the procedure takes place without preliminary steaming of the cuticle, which is more useful for dry skin types.
In inexperienced hands, a manicure device can leave burns on the nail.
But at the same time, manicure using a special device should only be performed by a very experienced master. Reviews claim that unqualified specialists can cause serious harm. Cuts and abrasions remain on the skin, ridges appear on the nails, the plates begin to peel and crack, and the condition of the cuticle deteriorates.
Harm from chemical fumes for manicurists
Chemical fumes from harmful components of gel polish are dangerous for the artist in the same way as for the client. The specialist suffers even more from inhaling toxic compounds, since he is forced to come into contact with them throughout the whole day.
If there is no ventilation in the cabin, constant poisoning with chemical vapors can lead not only to the development of allergies in the technician. The risk of severe diseases of the heart, central nervous system and respiratory organs increases.
Is it dangerous to get a manicure in a salon?
The undoubted advantage of salon procedures is the speed and quality of nail treatment. But along with this, there are several dangers of manicure for clients:
- Infection. If the instruments are not properly disinfected, you can catch any infection or fungus in the salon, as well as very dangerous diseases - from HPV to hepatitis and HIV. Such cases occur infrequently, but are still recorded by statistics.
- Injuries. If the technician is poorly qualified or simply made a mistake, a painful and difficult to heal cut or burn may remain on the finger.
Attention! To get a high-quality and safe manicure with gel polish, it is important to choose not only a good salon, but also a specific specialist with a diploma and positive reviews.
Operating rules
There are a number of simple rules on how to maximize the life of your manicure. However, they apply not only to extensions, but also to gel polish and even simple polish. Regardless? Whether your nails are natural, extended or strengthened with gel, these simple rules should be followed to maintain their health and attractive appearance.
- Do not expose your nails to heavy mechanical stress (do not knock them, do not click against each other, type carefully, avoiding getting your nails stuck in the keyboard);
- Do not forget to take care of your nails and hands in the same way that you used before extensions, then new nails will grow beautiful and healthy;
- In the first days after extensions, be especially careful - reduce the amount of work on the computer, since printing is very harmful to nails, and in the first days they are especially weak and vulnerable;
- Dress and use your nails carefully, avoiding scratching the plate, which can occur even as a result of simply running a jeans zipper over them;
- Humidity is detrimental to manicure - cancel saunas, wash dishes using rubber gloves;
- High temperatures may cause the gel to crack;
- However, low temperatures will also lead to the same thing, and therefore, if you got your nails done when the outside temperature is below zero, wear mittens;
- Exposure to harsh chemicals in cleaning products also significantly affects how your nail extensions will look and how long they can be worn, so wear rubber gloves when doing all housework;
- If you have extended nails under varnish, then do not use acetone-containing liquids to remove them, they will cause tarnishing of both gel and acrylic.
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These simple rules will help extend the life of the coating from three weeks to four. Some of them are quite applicable for natural nails. Thus, if you follow them, your natural nails will become strong and strong and will hold extensions well if you need them.
There are different opinions about how long you can wear extended nails until they begin to harm your own. This period is extremely short. Extended plates harm the nails immediately, as they deprive them of oxygen and also do not allow them to produce a natural protective layer.
Is it harmful to paint your nails with nail polish?
It is not only the dyeing procedure and its individual stages that can cause harm to health. Decorative coatings themselves pose a certain danger to nails.
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Is regular nail polish harmful?
When choosing a nail polish, you need to carefully study its composition. Many budget substances contain toluene and formaldehyde, which cause harm. The first causes oxygen deficiency in tissues, and the second negatively affects immune and nerve cells.
Although there is little contact with nail polish when painting nails, chemical fumes are still harmful to health. In addition, cheap products with frequent use can cause delamination of the hard plate and deterioration of its structure.
Is a manicure with gel polish harmful to health, how does it affect nails?
How harmful gel polish is depends on its composition. In any case, the product contains toxic chemical components, the difference is only in the proportions. The dye contains the following dangers:
- formaldehyde, which can lead to dermatitis, chemical burns and heart rhythm disturbances;
- toluene, which causes nausea, weakness and fainting;
- dibutyl phthalate - the danger of this flavoring is that it can lead to the development of endocrine disorders.
To reduce damage from harmful substances in gel polishes, it is recommended to choose formulations from well-known European brands. They pay great attention to the environmental friendliness of their cosmetics.
If the evaporation of gel polish is dangerous to health in general, then the nail plates receive contact damage even from the highest quality product. Due to constant wearing of manicure, they become thinner and brittle, sometimes acquiring a yellowish color.
Gel polish forms a very dense coating that does not allow oxygen to reach the nail.
Is gel polish harmful during pregnancy?
Despite the certain harm of gel polish for human health, pregnancy is not a strict contraindication for performing a manicure. However, a pregnant woman must take into account that vapors of dyes have a negative effect not only on her body, but also on the fetus. The poisonous effect is very weak, most often does not cause serious harm, and yet it is advisable to avoid it. In addition, in the early stages, the smell of gel polish can provoke increased toxicosis.
Shortly before giving birth, doctors also recommend avoiding manicures. First of all, to monitor a woman’s condition, doctors need to see the real color of her nails; it changes as her health worsens. And directly during childbirth, pulse sensors can be attached to the fingers. Their accuracy will be maximum if there is no coating on the nails.
In case of hepatitis B, harm from gel polish for a child can be avoided if the manicure is performed with good ventilation. In this case, toxic volatile substances will not be able to pass through the respiratory system into the bloodstream, and from it into the mother's milk.
Is it harmful to apply gel polish to your nails all the time?
Proof of the harm of gel nail polish is that with continuous use it dries out the plates and makes them thinner. This leads to the appearance of microcracks in which fungus can form. Most often, the problem is faced by women who have naturally weak, brittle nails.
If after the next removal of gel polish the plates seem painful and look bad, you need to temporarily abandon the manicure. Nails are allowed to be coated only with medicinal compounds until complete recovery.
Is it harmful to remove gel polish?
When removing the coating, damage to the nails can occur, especially if the plates are weak or the procedure is carried out by an inexperienced nail technician. When sawing, there is a risk of injuring or burning the tissues themselves. To carry out the procedure, you need to choose a qualified specialist. Many good nail technicians, when removing a manicure, prefer not to touch the base coat if it is well adhered to the nail, and only polish it before applying a new layer of gel polish.
Harm from removing gel polish can manifest itself in unsightly white stripes and spots
Is it harmful to remove gel polish with liquid?
In addition to sawing, soaking in a special solution is used to remove the coating. The technology shows good effectiveness, but is harmful to nails and cuticles. Most solvents are made based on acetone, which dries out the skin and plates, worsens their appearance and provokes the development of diseases.
Is nail polish, gel polish harmful to children?
There are no strict age restrictions for getting a manicure. But using gel polish is still not recommended for children under 14 years of age. The plates at a young age still continue to form; they are thinner, weaker and softer than those of adults. During this period, covering your nails with gel polish is harmful. They can be damaged by treatment before painting, by the decorative composition itself with toxic chemicals, and by its subsequent removal.
Doctors and cosmetologists advise using only water-based products for children's nails. They do not cause harm and are also very easy to remove from the plates.
Attention! Before performing any children's manicure, you should consult with a pediatrician and find out if the child has any contraindications.
Duration of wearing extended nails
Experts give different times for how long nail extensions last. This is due to the fact that they depend on many factors, including the particular state of the natural nail bed. However, most often the guarantee for the effect in salons is indicated - at least 2 weeks.
One of the main factors that determines the longevity of the work is the type of base used to create the artificial free edge. Typically, one of two options is used - acrylic powder or gel.
Gel
The gel composition is used most often in salons, since it is quite difficult to work with, as well as to remove. But it has increased strength and wear resistance. This effect lies in the strong adhesion of the base to the nail plate after polymerization.
The gel is quite difficult to level due to the fact that it has a thick consistency. To distribute it evenly, the master most often spends up to 2-3 minutes on one finger. But this provides a smooth, uniform coating, due to which the result looks as natural as possible, merging with the client’s natural nails.
The job retention period is quite high:
- 3-3.5 weeks after visiting the salon, the first chips and detachments of the decorative coating from the plate may appear;
- After 4-5 weeks it is recommended to remove the work; this is the main period of its wear.
Despite the fact that the result lasts a long time, it is not recommended to wear it for more than five weeks, as this may affect the condition of the nail bed. The gel has a porous structure, similar to natural nails, however, strong growth if present increases the risk zone in which the surface can break. This is due to the mechanical pressure of the base on the regrown free edge.
Most often, the gel has a hypoallergenic composition, so it is absolutely safe even if it accidentally comes into contact with the periungual area, and does not cause an allergic reaction.
Acrylic
Acrylic powder is now also becoming widespread, since quite often manufacturers produce improved compositions that provide increased shelf life.
Acrylic is a fairly aggressive substance that can cause irritation if it accidentally comes into contact with sensitive skin, so before using it you need to do an allergy test.
The composition has a fairly liquid consistency, it is convenient to distribute it over the surface, so girls often use it at home. Because of this, it is possible to remove it at home; for this, foil (or manicure fingertips) and a special remover liquid for removing gel polish are used.
The wear life of work made with acrylic is shorter:
- After 2-3 weeks, the first defects, chips, and detachments appear;
- After 3.5-4 weeks the work needs to be removed; most often by this time serious defects appear.
You cannot keep the composition on your nails for a long time, since it completely clogs the nail bed, which is why it gradually begins to deteriorate.
Is it harmful to have nail extensions?
Extension is a popular procedure that allows you to get nails with an ideal shape and smoothness, regardless of the type and condition of the natural plates. In general, the technology is considered safe, but it can still cause some harm.
Is gel nail extension harmful or not?
Nail extensions can lead to the following problems:
- delamination after removal of the coating, especially often such damage is noted by women with naturally weak plates;
- deformation of tissues - before extensions, nails are filed, and subsequently they can become distorted if the artist makes a mistake.
After removing the coating, the plates always look weakened and brittle. Gel nail extensions are harmful because they disrupt the oxygen supply. The coating does not allow the fabrics to breathe; as a result, they require long-term recovery and careful care.
After extensions, noticeable vertical “waves” may appear on the nails
Is it dangerous to do acrylic nail extensions?
Acrylic, like gel, allows you to form beautiful artificial nails, but is harmful to natural plates. The coating does not allow air to pass through and also exerts a certain physical pressure on natural tissues. After removing the extended nails, you must go through a recovery period, which can take up to six months.
Important! Extensions for fungal diseases are strictly contraindicated - the condition of the plates will only worsen.
Is it harmful to have nail extensions at 12, 13, 14 years old?
It is recommended to carry out extensions for teenagers no earlier than 16 years of age. Gel and acrylic coatings cause damage even to hard plates in adults, but girls’ nails are still quite soft and are in the process of development. After removing the manicure, particularly long and careful care will be required for recovery. Small mistakes made by the master during the process of building up or removing the coating can lead to serious damage to the plate and deformations that will be difficult to get rid of.
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Modern types of extensions.
Professional types of extensions are becoming more and more available. Therefore, many women try to choose the method of nail extension that is most suitable and least harmful to the nail plate. Today there are two ways of nail extension: using forms and tips. Nail extensions on tips are somewhat reminiscent of false nails, but there is a significant difference between them. For this type of extension, acrylic or gel is used. But for nail extensions, where forms are used, glue is not used, but only forms are used, which can be disposable paper or iron.
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How long can you wear gel polish without harm?
In any case, there is some harm from gel polish, but much depends on the duration of contact between the nail plate and the coating. You can usually wear a manicure for no longer than two weeks. Under the influence of daylight or natural ultraviolet rays, the coating gradually becomes more dense.
It will be more difficult to remove when visiting the salon. The longer gel polish is left on the nails, the more damage it causes and the greater the risk of injury when removed.
You can’t wait for chips to appear before removing gel polish; it can remain flawless for many weeks.
The benefits of manicure for women
Although manicure can be harmful, it is necessary to note the beneficial properties of gel polish. In some cases, coloring and augmentation procedures improve the health of the plates.
What are the benefits of gel nail polish?
The effect of gel polish on the body is not always negative. Some manicure compositions belong to the medicinal category; they contain oils, mineral components and vitamins that strengthen nails. Using this type of gel polish is useful for brittle and cracking plates. The product transforms nails, restores their structure and smoothes the surface. Therapeutic gel polish can be used as a base for a decorative coating. In this case, it will prevent direct contact of the toxic composition with the plate and reduce potential harm.
Many women, even with weak nails, prefer gel polish to a regular manicure or lack thereof. The coating gives your hands a very beautiful and neat appearance; problems do not go away, but they cease to be noticeable.
The benefits of nail extensions
Gel or acrylic nail extensions can also provide benefits. In particular, they:
- remain neat for a long time and help to avoid the need for constant updating of a regular manicure, which in one way or another harms the plates;
- allow you to adjust the outline of the hand - extensions are especially useful for those with short fingers and wide nails, since visually the palm becomes longer and more graceful;
- help get rid of bad habits - not only children, but also many adults continue to chew their own fingers, whereas this is impossible to do with extended plates.
Artificial nails require careful handling and are quite easy to break. But this is precisely why a woman begins to carefully monitor and care for her hands.
The benefits of Japanese manicure
Japanese manicure is a set of useful restorative procedures that are especially recommended after nail extensions. The technology does not cause any harm and consists of several stages:
- softening and removing cuticles;
- plate polishing;
- treating skin and nails with special restorative powder and serum with natural extracts;
- applying a base coat with ceramides;
- hand massage using hot bags of herbs;
- applying a nourishing mask and cream.
The positive effects of therapeutic manicure using Japanese technology help strengthen nails, stop their delamination and eliminate brittleness.
Japanese manicure is a nail SPA
Attention! To obtain noticeable results, you need to undergo at least eight procedures. A single session of Japanese manicure will not bring a significant effect.
Extensions using acrylic.
In modern salons, acrylic, gel, and silk compositions are now used for nail extensions. Sometimes resin is added to the extension composition. Acrylic nail extensions are considered to be the most durable. This is due to the fact that the material has reliable and durable properties. But many masters do not undertake to work with acrylic. It is believed that it harms not only the nails, but also the body itself. However, to create decorative modeling you cannot do without acrylic. Modeling gives volume to extended nails, embodies any fantasy, and also decorates the manicure. Often modeling is used for wedding manicure.
Acrylic or gel? What is better / worse for nails? What is the difference?
