Gel Manicure

Parent Cafe
1

<p>as an addendum to the “empty nest” thread.</p>

<p>One of my little indulgences (now that I have the time AND no more college tuition bills) is a weekly manicure. Well…yesterday I got my first Gel Manicure, and my nails look FABULOUS. They claim it will last at least two weeks…no chipping or smudging. If it lasts for 2 1/2 weeks it will be the same cost just about as getting a regular manicure. I was also able to find a great color that is almost identical to the OPI regular polish.</p>

<p>Anyone else have experience with these?</p>

2

<p>Have it done every two weeks…lasts about that (2.5 weeks is pushing it though)…</p>

<p>I love it…the OPI is a little hard to soak off but don’t let the manicurist rush it and scrape it off; it can ruin your nails…</p>

<p>Otherwise, it is great…</p>

3

<p>I’m so glad you posted this as I just made an appointment for my first gel manicure to coincide with my next haircut appt. I will be thrilled if I can get 2-2 1/2 weeks out of it. I did acrylics for years and then endured the awful growing out process. Never again! The manicurist told me the new OPI Gel-color line (not the OPI Axxium line) is easy on the natural nail. I sure hope so!</p>

4

<p>The nice thing…they didn’t smudge at all. They are “dried” under a UV light. I’m one who usually smudges my nails on the way OUT of the manicure place. We’ll see how it goes in two weeks. I will say…for something like a wedding or other event…this is really a good idea.</p>

5

<p>^^i started doing it for a vacation and never looked back…</p>

<p>I used to chip my nails day 1 on vacation…of course</p>

6

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<p>This is what they used. The color I have is OPI Red which is exactly the same as OPI Dutch Tulip…my regular polish.</p>

7

<p>I’m waiting for a special occasion to get this kind of manicure because I do think they look terrific. however, I will be bringing sunscreen with me. For those of you as pale as I am (so very, very pale), this might be worth a read, <a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/gel-manicures-raise-questions-about-safety-of-the-uv-lamps-used-to-dry-the-polish/2012/02/06/gIQAQvVgeR_story.html[/url]”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/gel-manicures-raise-questions-about-safety-of-the-uv-lamps-used-to-dry-the-polish/2012/02/06/gIQAQvVgeR_story.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>I use a hand cream with sunscreen anyway; the article discusses 10 minutes of UV? I think the gel is more like 5 …</p>

9

<p>Love, love the gel manicure! Mine typically lasts for 2.5 weeks, even 3 weeks with a pale color so the new nail growth isn’t so noticeable. And I think each hand is under the UV light for a total of about 5 minutes.</p>

10

<p>Well…I have VERY sensitive skin and sunburn VERY easily even with sunscreen. My hands did not get even a tad red…thank goodness.</p>

11

<p>Have been doing gel manicures for well over ten years. The one thing that I like best about them and why I’ll never give them up, is that the little ‘extra’ added layer of gel, creates just enough thickness on the nail that I never have cuticle issues anymore at the base of the nail bed. If for some reason a nail breaks off and I can’t get in to get it fixed, I notice a huge difference in the sensitivity of the cuticle at the nail base to get little pieces of skin hanging off.</p>

12

<p>Are they a good idea for pedicures? If so, I might get that for D as a gift since she lives in sandals.</p>

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<p>I loved mine done for vacation, but didn’t want to go back for fills or whatever it is called. I had a light color to begin with so I just smoothed out the bottom and added color till it grew out-2 months I think. Just too hard to fit in time for regular appointments.</p>

14

<p>I had gels done for several months last year, and the first few applications looked great, however, after a while my nails became thin and weak. My esthetician had a difficult time removing the old gel, so she had to file the tops of my nails to remove the gel - which was the latest OPI product. I prefer a “wet” manicure - my cuticles need most of the attention, and I like a good exfoliation and soak. The gels require that everything stays dry, so that is a big compromise. Overall, I do think that gels can be hard on the nails, so for women who have a regular manicure, I’m not sure it will work for everyone long term.</p>

15

<p>I just read an article in Good Housekeeping that said that the safety of gel manicures was questionable, to say the least. Apparently some of the substances involved are carcinogens, and can have a negative effect on one’s nail in the not-so-long term.</p>

16

<p>Teri- this is a different kind of gel. Has only been around a year or two. </p>

<p>I’ve done it, but am bad about picking at it at the end of the 2-3 weeks and peel it off. Yes, bad for the nails. I’m back to the pink and white acrylics.</p>

17

<p>Oh bummer…so can I do them every so often?</p>

18

<p>No- the peeling it off yourself is bad. I think the gel is fine. It’s my own fault with the peeling.</p>

19

<p>I had an OPI Gel manicure about 6 months ago. I normally just get a ‘cut and buff’ manicure because I don’t like to have to fool with nail polish. I was talked into it by my regular manicurist who assured me this was low maintenance, would last for weeks and very healthy for your nails. </p>

<p>After about a week the nail polish started to chip. Not realizing what gel meant, I attempted to remove the polish myself. Bad idea. I ended up having to soak my nails in pure acetone for a long time and then peel the gel off. It did leave my nail beds in a weakened state (though not as bad as acrylics). Never again. I do go in every 3-4 weeks for a spa pedicure and natural manicure but I do not have the patience to go in every 2 weeks for maintenance. </p>

<p>Having said that I don’t think gels are necessarily bad but other than not having to file the nail bed like you do with acrylics, I don’t see a major difference. It still requires going into the salon to have them applied, touched-up and removed. Too high maintenance for me but they did look great while they lasted.</p>

20

<p>I’ve gotten a few french manicures with the opi gel. I also read that good housekeeping article. The french manicure looked fine for about 3 weeks. I needed one again for another event. After the second in a row my nails needed a break. I hate getting that stuff off. They soaked my fingers while I got a pedicure and the acetone is harsh on my fingers, then the scraping and filing to get the polish off made my nails a bit brittle.</p>

<p>I won’t say I won’t do it again, but I’ll give myself time between.</p>