Gel polish: pros and cons. Choose wisely!

Beautiful and well-groomed hands can be called a woman's calling card. Delicate fingers with a neat manicure attract attention first of all. Looking at them, it will immediately become clear how the girl takes care of herself. Popular until recently, nails, which were extended by many, are now already losing their position in manicure fashion. The championship, among the majority of women and girls, was firmly won by gel polish. Due to its qualities, this particular type is chosen by a large number of women and girls all over the world. Are all the benefits of this varnish so good? What are the pros and cons of this long-term manicure?

Your opinion is also very important. Tell us, do you do manicures with gel polish, how long does it last, do you like it? Do you do your own manicure and polish, or do you prefer to visit beauty salons?

What is gel polish (shellac) - what is it?

Gel polish is a nail coating that combines the properties of manicure varnishes and gels. This new type of coating for women's nails is to some extent similar to regular varnish. It is created on the basis of a gel and the technique of applying it is slightly different. But the essence remains the same. Only this procedure differs only in the large number of stages. For example, gel coating requires careful preparation of each nail. It is from this stage and its correctness that the time that the varnish will last without any chipping or peeling. To dry such a coating you will need a special lamp. In it, under the influence of rays, the varnish polymerizes (hardens).

Positive aspects of gel polish - pros

Strengthening effect. This coating not only looks beautiful, but it protects and strengthens even the thinnest and weakest nails. Compared to extensions, which weigh down the nail plates, gel coloring does not have this effect. And the wearing time is shorter; after 3 weeks, thinning does not occur.
Durable coating. This manicure is not afraid of light mechanical influences. It cannot be smeared, as is always the case with simple varnish.
Duration of wearing a manicure using this coating. You can admire beautifully manicured nails for three weeks.
Simple, quick drying of gel polish manicure. Drying your manicure is not at all difficult. For this, a powerful lamp and 10 seconds of time for each layer will be enough.
You don't have to have long nails to cover them this way. This type of manicure at any length will look neat and beautiful. The same cannot be said about extended nails, which sometimes have a completely unnatural appearance.
A visit to a manicurist is not at all necessary. Having studied all the technology for preparing nails and applying varnish, you can do it no worse than a specialist.

You can do your manicure and polish yourself, or choose a specialist. Here everything depends on skills, ability, free time and desire to learn. In some cases, it is much easier to go to a beauty salon to have everything done by a professional.

Cons of gel polish

For all its positive qualities, this coating also has negative sides. You will need quite a large number of necessary tools to cover your nails in this way. Purchasing varnishes and lamps if you decide to do the coating yourself. Constant wearing of gel polish is not recommended. It is advisable to apply gel polish no more than 4 times in a row. After this, the nails need time to rest and recover.

This period takes approximately 7 days. At this time, you need to use nourishing oil to apply to the cuticle and cover your nails with restorative varnish. Sensitive hand skin may not always respond well to gel polish. If, after application, irritation or other allergic reactions occur, you will have to abandon this manicure.

As it became clear, gel polish has several more advantages than disadvantages. But, for the first time, it should still be done with caution. And don’t forget to give your nails a rest from the manicure, this is very important. Under all conditions, such a coating will last a long time and delight not only its owner, but also those around her.

Tags: varnish, manicure, nail care, shellac

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Protection for your nails

Of course, gel polishes do not have healing or restorative properties, but they will still help you grow your nails. Thanks to substances called “film former” and “photoinitiator”, the coating becomes hard when exposed to UV waves. It protects the nail plate from cracks and delamination.

Everyone knows that in order for gel polish to dry, special manicure lamps are used. But you won’t be able to dry it under the sun: despite the fact that the rays also contain UV waves, they polymerize shellac unevenly and for a long time. But the product in the jar can completely spoil - that’s why they are produced in opaque packaging.

Relatively safe composition

Manufacturers of gel polishes assure that hybrids do not harm the nail plate. Some products are even produced with the “7free” mark: this means that the composition does not contain toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde and other harmful components that are often present in both gels and ordinary varnishes. Some of them not only damage the nail plate, but can also affect the functioning of the liver and kidneys, cause unwanted skin reactions or even chemical burns.

Pregnant women and allergy sufferers should find out about the presence of this particular mark, or even better, consult a doctor and find out whether it’s worth applying gel polish at all.

Harmful components of nail polish

First you need to know that any nail polish is a complex chemical compound of several components, including:

Solvents, which are the basis for all other components. They ensure uniform distribution of the varnish over the nail plate and affect the drying speed;
Polymers responsible for the adhesion of the varnish to the surface of the nail;
Plasticizers are what give the varnish elasticity and durability;
Pigments with which the varnish acquires shades.

Nail polish cannot be a completely natural, organic product. Which of the substances included in its composition can harm our health? The most dangerous are:

Formaldehyde is a carcinogen that, when accumulated, affects the reproductive and nervous systems;
Toluene (a volatile solvent), a toxin whose long-term exposure causes kidney and liver dysfunction and causes eye and skin irritation;
Dibutyl phthalate, even small doses of which lead to general hormonal imbalance in the body.

In Europe, regulations have been adopted according to which the use of these components in cosmetics is prohibited. Look carefully at the packaging so as not to purchase a varnish that contains these components.

Camphor, often used as a plasticizer, although a product of natural origin, is a very strong allergen. Many global manufacturers refuse to use camphor and camphor oil in the production of their products precisely for this reason.

It is worth noting for the sake of fairness that the above substances are more harmful when inhaling their vapors than when exposed to the nail plate itself.

Space for imagination

If you like a manicure with a design, then gel polish is your option. All kinds of glitter, rubbing powder, stickers and 3D elements go well with the hybrid coating due to its plasticity and reliability after drying. An additional plus is a rich palette of shades and the ability to mix them (for this it is better to use gel polishes of the same brand).

So, about the benefits

Main advantages: durability of the coating, instant drying, maintaining the integrity of the natural nail plate. Durability of the coating. Despite the high cost, a manicure using gel polish, when applied correctly, is worth three times the cost of applying regular nail polish. The beautiful and well-groomed appearance of nails lasts for about one month. Or, as many girls put it, “until you get bored.”

Instant drying. The gel polish dries using a specially designed UV or LED lamp. This takes from ten seconds to two minutes maximum. During this time, it has time to dry completely, and you can, without fear, do your usual household chores, for example, washing dishes or other work where contact with water is expected. This is a big plus of gel polish. After all, if you compare it with regular polish, when applying it, girls have to dry their nails for up to 15 minutes or even more.

Natural nails grow quickly and do not peel off. Since the gel polish coating is quite durable, natural nails are not exposed to the negative effects of chemicals, such as powder when cleaning stoves or plumbing fixtures. Due to this, girls temporarily forget about such a problem as delamination of the nail plate. And since the integrity of the nail is not compromised, the intensity of its growth increases accordingly.

Difficult to use at home

Of course, you can buy a lamp, degreaser, buff (if you don’t know what this is, take our quiz), liquid for removing the sticky layer and other tools, but not everyone will be able to do a high-quality manicure at home.

In addition, the need to remove gel polish with liquid or a device forces you to visit a beauty salon more often. Although professional removal is what all shellac manufacturers recommend - to avoid damage to the nail plate.

Shellac is not for everyone

If your nails are too thin or brittle, shellac coating will not save them. On the contrary, its durability will be worse - a manicure can last less than a week. In addition, this coating is contraindicated for those who have nail fungus or diseases that require antibiotics. In this case, the body will reject everything foreign and artificial, and the shellac may begin to peel off.

The coating can harm the nail plate

Firstly, all gel polishes dry out your nails a little. The fact is that before coating, the master always applies a degreaser to improve the adhesion of the product to the nail plate. But at the same time, the natural fatty film that protects the nails is also erased.

Secondly, poor-quality shellac removal can also cause harm: everything will depend on the qualifications of the master, the type of nails and the product itself. Unlike gel, which is most often removed only with a device, shellac is easily removed from the nail plate with a special liquid. And you shouldn’t wear the coating for too long: your nails grow and begin to curl, which also has a bad effect on the durability of shellac.

The effect of nail polish on nails: harm and benefit

The life of a modern woman consists of little things. And such a detail, insignificant at first glance, like a manicure, can actually sometimes dictate the entire look and set the mood for the whole day. Once again, when drawing fancy patterns on their nails or covering them with bright colors, girls think about the influence of varnish. What are the benefits of nail polish, and what are its harms?

Varnish differs from varnish

Do your eyes also run wild when you look at bottles of colorful liquid in a cosmetic store? It’s difficult not to get lost in such an assortment, but we will help you figure it out. All nail polishes can be divided into three main groups:

Base coats. Typically, this varnish has no color and is applied directly under a bright manicure. Its main purpose: to protect the nail plate from the harmful effects of the decorative coating. Also on sale are varnishes containing vitamin complexes. They are ideal for thin and weakened nails, smoothing their surface.
Decorative varnishes. In this case, the variety of colors and shades is striking. You can choose a polish for any occasion, matching your shoes or handbag, or simply uplifting your mood. If we talk about the dangers of nail polish, then this applies specifically to the colored coating. We will dwell on this issue in more detail below.
Fixing coating. It is applied over the finished manicure and is designed to preserve your masterpiece for a long time.

Don't forget about hypoallergenic nail polishes, which will protect your nails from allergic reactions.

Benefits of nail polish

Oddly enough, varnish can even be useful. We have already discussed medicinal nail coatings above, now we will talk in more detail. If your nails are peeling, cracking, breaking or have an unsightly color, then you simply need a healing varnish. A good product, unfortunately, costs a lot, but you will not regret your purchase. The vitamins, minerals and oils that make up this varnish can transform your nails in a month and significantly improve their condition. This product is also convenient to use under a decorative coating. It evens out the surface of the nail, which makes the manicure more neat. The benefit of nail polish with medicinal components is that it prevents the color coating from coming into contact with the nails, which significantly reduces the negative impact.

Science is moving forward by leaps and bounds, which also makes it possible to create a useful color coating for nails. We bring to your attention a new product on the nail cosmetics market. Shellac gel polish has undeniable advantages that make it quite popular among fashionistas.

This polish stays on your nails for quite a long time. For a week you may definitely not remember the need to get a manicure.
Gel polish practically does not harm the nails. It contains a minimum of harmful chemicals, so its use is acceptable even for people with allergies.
Thanks to its dense structure, Shellac strengthens the nail plate and prevents it from becoming brittle.

Damage to nail polish

The main danger of varnish is its toxicity. Modern nail cosmetics contain the following ingredients that may be hazardous to your health.

Toluene. It is an industrial solvent that is also used in the production of paints, varnishes and glues. This chemical compound can not only cause severe burns and allergic reactions, but also affect the condition of the body as a whole. Its effect on the central nervous system is especially noticeable. Headaches, weakness, fainting, nausea - these are not all the consequences of using low-quality varnish. The heart, kidneys and musculoskeletal system are also affected. Please note that the use of toluene is prohibited in Europe. To reduce the harm of nail polish, purchase cosmetics from well-known European brands.
Formaldehyde. It is used in a large number of decorative cosmetics and household chemicals. It is a colorless gas and promotes long-term storage of varnish. Allergy sufferers may experience dermatitis and chemical burns upon contact with formaldehyde. In more severe cases, heart rhythm disturbances, breath holding, and convulsions occur.
Dibutyl phthalate is used as a flavoring agent. This is the most dangerous component, which leads to the development of endocrine disorders, gynecological diseases, and respiratory tract diseases.

In addition to toxic effects, the use of low-quality nail polishes can lead to brittleness of the nail plate and its thinning. Also, often after prolonged use of colored varnishes, nails become yellow, which is difficult to deal with.

The benefits of nail polish are relative, but the harm is quite specific. To reduce the negative impact of the product on your body, purchase only high-quality products from trusted manufacturers. Do not buy varnishes in transitions, dubious retail outlets and markets. Any store must provide you with a quality certificate and a hygienic certificate. If the seller refuses or there are no documents, we advise you to refrain from purchasing.