Do nails need a "rest" from gel polish and how often can it be applied?
The popularity of gel polish is understandable. Thanks to him, the nail acquires a denser structure, the coating lasts for a rather long time, and the abundance of color shades is perfectly emphasized by the glossy surface. The method used to apply gel polish to nails allows you not to spend a lot of time waiting for the product to dry completely.
However, the gel coat also has its drawbacks. It is no secret that the regular use of a persistent decorative agent has an adverse effect on the condition of the nails.
Why is gel polish harmful?
Gel polish is a unique coating that combines the features of all possible types of varnishes. First of all, these features include:
- ease of use;
- rich glossy finish;
- varied color palette;
- pleasant aroma;
- resistance to various mechanical damage.
But the most important advantage of gel polish, of course, is a significant service life. The recommended wearing time for the long-lasting gel coat is 2-3 weeks. Going on vacation or travel, women prefer the gel coating. Because this way they can forget about the appearance of their pens and enjoy their vacation to their fullest.
Despite the huge number of positive aspects, there are also negative ones. So, the composition of the gel polish contains chemicals. Thanks to them, the gel composition is able to penetrate deeply into the nail plate, thereby providing better adhesion to its surface.If the correct technique for applying the gel polish is followed, as well as if it is removed correctly, the nail plate can be kept healthy. The guarantee of the protection of the healthy state of the nails is also the wearing of the gel coat only for a certain period of time. A woman who does not meet the deadline runs the risk of causing thinning or deformation of the nail plate. This is due to the fact that with every day of wearing, the gel coating penetrates deeper and deeper into the structure of the nail. Consequently, the grip on the nail becomes stronger. Removing such a coating will require the use of a very aggressive chemical agent, which inevitably leads to a deterioration in the condition of the marigold.
It is impossible to prolong the coating and do a new manicure without interruption, as this can ruin the nails and they will have to be treated. We must give the marigolds to rest. It is better to cover with gel and paint your nails a couple of days after removal. When you carry out the correction, then before applying the gel, visually check the condition of your marigolds.
Do nails need rest?
In theory, the use of a gel coat can be regular, you just need to follow a few recommendations for care. Often, women forget about caring for nails and cuticles, which, when using a long-lasting coating, need additional nutrition and moisture more than ever. To maintain an ideal state, it is necessary to use the help of special cosmetics designed to solve this problem. In the composition of such products, you can find ingredients such as: almond oil, jojoba, coconut.
Almond oil is aimed at protecting the nail plate from excessive moisture loss. It is the loss of moisture that causes the nail plate to break off and become thinner, even if it visually gives the impression of being healthy. Thanks to jojoba oil, the cuticle and the root of the nail plate itself, which is called the matrix, is nourished.
Causes of poor nail condition
First of all, the application of gel resistant coatings must be accompanied by extremely gentle processing of the nails. It is not recommended to use a hard file or a buffing buff. It is worth noting that an experienced master will never be engaged in cutting the gel coating using an apparatus or a file, since this will inevitably deform the nail plate and, sooner or later, will lead to its thinning. This also applies to a rigid metal file, which, when working with nails, forms microcracks on their surface. Subsequently, this can provoke delamination of the marigolds, which is extremely difficult to get rid of. Few people know, but in the presence of any skin diseases (for example, severe acne), it is recommended to abandon the persistent gel coating until complete recovery.
Deterioration of the condition of healthy nails can be associated with the ingress of water or dirt into the regrown areas of the nail plate. With prolonged wearing of gel polish, the nails grow back over time, as a result of which an overgrown area is formed, where the adhesion of the gel coating and the nail surface is not so strong and durable. During this period, there is a high probability of an air pocket or detachment of the gel coating from the marigold. It is worth noting that if dirt begins to accumulate in this area, then the development of pathogenic bacteria or an infectious fungus is quite possible. Also, the use (for example, for cleaning) of chemicals can extremely aggressively affect the regrown area of a natural nail. This will not affect the condition of the gel coating, but it can speed up the process of breaking the marigold.
What is the danger of non-compliance with the application technology?
The process of applying a gel manicure, if done correctly and following all the necessary recommendations, is not capable of harming the nails.But if the manicurist violates the application technology, then there is a high probability that the nails will let you know about it, starting to break and exfoliate. Many people are mistakenly convinced that a filed natural nail is much stronger and stronger holds the gel coating. However, this is a delusion. The fact is that the combination of gel and varnish, which, thanks to its own composition, made it possible to create a durable coating, has high adhesion to such a substance as keratin. It (in small quantities) is found in any nail. Consequently, there is no need for any interference with the structure of the nail, especially if it is a mechanical sawing off of the upper layer.
Do not forget that removing a persistent gel coating can also cause serious damage to a healthy nail plate. Often, women dissolve gel polish on their own at home, completely ignoring the recommended technology. But the most dangerous way to remove the gel coat is to tear it off, like a film.
How often can the coating be used?
It is not recommended for a nail technician to wear a gel coat for more than two to three weeks. This is due to the fact that each nail plate has its own stress zone. The concept is little known, but very important - thanks to it, you can determine in which part the marigold will break. When the master forms the correct nail architecture, his stress zone is located almost at the very base (next to the cuticle). Therefore, breaking off the nails on the very first day of applying the gel polish is impossible. With the growth and development of nails, the stress zone gradually begins to shift from the cuticle to the very edge. During this period, the nail increases in length, and the risk of breaking the nail plate increases. That is why many people mistakenly believe that prolonged wearing of a gel coating provokes nail breakage.
An important nuance in the renewal of the gel coating and its frequent wearing is hypochonia. It is an area of skin that is located just below the nail plate. Its function is to protect the nail from infection and virus (in case dirt accumulates underneath). Sometimes hypochonia is fixed on the lower parts of the marigold. Prolonged wearing of persistent gel polish provokes stretching of this area of the skin. It should be noted that hypochonia is an extremely sensitive skin. Therefore, when a manicure service specialist begins to reduce the length of a regrown marigold with a coarse metal file, you may experience serious discomfort and even pain. This is due to the fact that the master, together with the extra length, cuts off a section of living skin. The only recommendation that does not allow hypochonia to grow back is to engage in timely updating of the manicure. A fresh manicure will not only make your hands look well-groomed, but also save you from unpleasant consequences in the future.
For how long you can wear gel polish, see the next video.
