Gel polish vs. regular polish
SKIN DEEP
When I started my career in esthetics 15 years ago, gel polish wasn’t an option for clients. It was regular polish on the shelves. The problem with regular nail polish was the short life it had on nails before it started to chip, especially on the hands we use so frequently. It was also a bit of a chore to wait for your nails to completely dry before going about your regular business.
A number of years ago gel polish was introduced to the market. This is also commonly known as Shellac, which is actually a brand name – kind of like how we call tissue paper Kleenex. There are now dozens of brands of gel polish on the market to choose from and they are sometimes called “permanent polish.” The main point of difference is that gel polish is cured under a UV or LED lamp so it instantly dries to a hard polymer, shiny finish. The polish is also very hard to chip and usually lasts about two weeks before it needs to come off. Some women I’ve encountered who are very careful with their nails can get almost three weeks out of one polish application. Others (such as myself) who are hard on their nails may only get about one week, but it’s still much better than the 24 hours I can usually get out of regular polish.
Gel polish usually comes with an additional cost with a manicure, or it can be done on its own as a simple polish change without all of the nail and cuticle work. Gel polish has a slightly thicker appearance than regular polish, almost puffy, so it’s good at hiding imperfections on the nail. The shiny visual effect is also a big seller for gel polish, as it holds a fresh shiny look for much longer.
I’ve been asked in the past if gel polish is bad for your nails and the short answer is, no.
With a “but.” You need to have the polish removed properly in order not to damage the nail. If the polish begins to lift at one corner after a while and you peel the whole layer off, fibres of the nail will come with it, effectively weakening the nail, leaving it thinner. Having your gel polish removed by a professional is the best way to keep the health of your nail. To dissolve the polish properly you need to soak the polish in pure acetone until it softens
Having your gel polish removed properly takes about 20 minutes. The top coat is gently buffed with a nail file and then cotton pads soaked in acetone are applied to the nail for about 10 minutes. The polish starts to soften and the nail technician can gently scrape off the soft polish, ensuring no nail fibres come off with the polish.
If you are a regular gel polish consumer, give your nails a short break now and then to apply cuticle oils and creams to rehydrate the nail. If the nail is covered in gel polish for long periods of time it can lose moisture due to the hard cover. If you haven’t been able to resist the urge to peel the polish off, use a nail strengthener for a few weeks after (Nail Envy by OPI is a good choice) to apply protein to the nail along with cuticle oils and creams.
If you have any questions, ideas or comments, be sure to email me or send me a direct message on Instagram @ skindeepsurette.
Denise Surette is a journalist, master esthetician and part-time instructor at the
Hair Design Centre’s school of esthetics. She lives in Lawrencetown with her family and two cats.