When it comes to getting a gel manicure, I have been doing the “should I or shouldn’t I?” dance for a year now. I’ve been torn! Fans love the convenience of getting to hold out three weeks between trips to the salon. Haters can’t stand the gaps at the cuticles when your nails starts to grow, and personally, I’ve never liked the visible thickness – sometimes it looks like you’re wearing acrylics. Once I was inspired by a clear option on someone else, with a fun, subtle sparkle design at the tips that reminded me of a scattered glitter French manicure, I was finally motivated to dive into gel.
My nails are looking sweet and sparkly (for now), but am I still on the fence? Allow me to mull over the pros and cons of the gel manicure.
Pros:
- Glitter gives the job an even longer life – as sparkles chip away it’s not nearly as obvious as total opaque. Plus, a clear coat is thinner, so no hump over my nails.
- As a mom and a constant hand-washer, I don’t have the time to get a manicure once a week. So I have nice nails one week, semi-chipped nails the next, and if I’m really busy, another whole week lapses, when I have removed the polish alogether and have chewed up cuticles and shabby-looking hands. Not an ideal cycle.
- It is totally dry as soon as your manicure is done, since the UV light bakes it right in so no waiting under the fans! You can go ahead and rifle through your bag, go to the bathroom (yes, even with tight jeans on), and buckle your seat belt in your car without worrying about ruining your new manicure.
- While it’s more expensive at the onset (on average it is $15 more than a regular manicure), take into consideration that it lasts three times longer, so it’s actually cheaper.
Cons:
- The gel formula does not account for cuticles, so I’ll still have to maintain those myself (OPI cuticle oil will be on hand at all times).
- You cannot remove the gel yourself. It requires a soak in a chemical, which doesn’t sound good to me. Then again, acetone is not all that gentle either
- If the gel isn’t applied properly, it will start to lift up at the edges and if you’re like me and like to pick at loose cuticles and such, then you have another enticement for a bad nervous habit.
- If it’s done really wrong, you can get nerve damage. Obviously, this is on the extreme end. GMA reported on a woman who had “fake” gel done – gel is more expensive to do and requires special products, and the procedure requires the nails to be filed using an electric file (gel adheres better to a rough surface) – and the technician doing the gel manicure nicked her skin in the process, and proceeded to soak her hand in a powder chemical solution, which is not a part of a real gel manicure.
My verdict: The pros outweigh the cons. I am going to convert. And by the way, the actual procedure is: electric file, clear gel coat, color coat and a sealant, and in between each step you put your nails under a UV light to dry.