All about gel polish manicure

Any woman wants to be attractive and sophisticated, which is why it is so important that the appearance is flawless. This applies not only to makeup, hair and wardrobe, but also to manicure. In recent years, more and more fashionistas have resorted to covering their nails with gel polish.

A few years ago, many of the fairer sex dreamed of having long extended nails, and they took on the most different shapes - round, square or pointed. As for the colors, here, too, fantasy was not limited to absolutely nothing - floral ornaments, geometric symbols, and a jacket are in trend. However, the era of acrylic extended nails is rapidly leaving - the latest trends have made a powerful tilt in favor of femininity and naturalness, and today long artificial nails are often considered a sign of vulgarity and a complete lack of taste. Yes, and it is inconvenient with them - they tear tights, interfere with typing on a computer and typing letters on a smartphone screen, and most importantly, native marigolds under a layer of artificial ones become thinner and more brittle.

Already from the name of the composition it becomes clear that the gel polish combines the features of a modeling gel and a decorative varnish. In everyday life, it is often called shellac - according to the brand of Shellac CND, the first coating that appeared on the domestic market.Less commonly, but you can hear the definitions "gel polish" and sometimes "shea polish". Despite the fact that the manufacturer Shellac positions its products as an independent product, these two concepts are popularly identical.

It is believed that shellac differs from gel polish by the presence of a polymer with the same name. This is not true - there is no mention of the use of shellac resin either on the coated bottle or on the manufacturer's website.

The main components of the gel polish.

• Film former - a special substance that, under the influence of UV radiation, creates a strong film on the coating, thanks to which it becomes resistant to abrasion, cracking and splitting.
• Photoinitiator - a substance that absorbs ultraviolet radiation and promotes a more active reaction of active ingredients with each other.
• Active diluents - components that help to give gel polishes the required consistency, due to which the composition acquires the optimal viscosity for applying the composition.

• Pigment - This is a coloring matter of organic or inorganic origin, which is used to ensure that the coating takes on a particular shade and can be used to decorate the nail plates. Pigments do not dissolve in gel polish and do not interfere with UV absorption in any way, although some types of components can reduce the rate of photopolymerization of the coating.
• Additives - these are ingredients that are added in order for the coating to acquire some additional characteristics, for example, plasticity, as well as gloss or viscosity. Typically, they vary in formulations from different manufacturers.

Gel polish has become the number one choice for women all over the world, and this is understandable, taking into account the amount of its positive characteristics.

• Fast solidification - gel polish dries under a special ultraviolet lamp in a matter of minutes. This is quite convenient and practical, especially if you remember how long you have to wait for a regular varnish to dry and how often you have to renew the coating if you accidentally touch such a manicure while drying.
• Strengthening - the nails covered with shellac become stronger and grow back rather quickly. This is a big plus in comparison with nail extensions, since strips and acrylic make the coating heavier, and the structure of the nail becomes thinner and friable.

• Persistence - with the correct technique and no contact with hot water for 2 days after application, the coating lasts from 14 to 21 days. Sometimes even after this time, the varnish looks neat, but it is better not to overexpose it - in this case, the health of the native nail may suffer.
• Versatility - gel polish can be applied on short and long legs, and on wide and narrow legs, in any case, the coating will always look natural, and your hands will be neat and graceful. This effect cannot be achieved during the extension procedure - acrylic nails are always striking and it is obvious to everyone around that the nail plates are not real.
• Affordable price. Of course, coating with gel polish is more expensive than applying the most common varnish, but given that you get a lasting effect and can forget about updating your manicure for a couple of weeks, in the end, using shellac is cheaper.

Thanks to the gel polish, nails always look fresh, rich and aesthetically pleasing. Such a coating hides any defects on the nails, evens out the surface and, at the same time, does not irritate with its chemical odor.

Gel polish has the ability to shine under any type of lighting, which is why a manicure always looks flawless.Thanks to the existing variety of techniques, you can decorate nails of any length and shape with shellac - it looks great on round, oval, almond-shaped and even square nails.

• Gel polish is applied only in salon conditions. Of course, you can purchase all the necessary tools and supplies and try to make the coating at home, but it will not cost you cheap - the UV device is very expensive, and the accuracy of applying the composition at home often leaves much to be desired, especially on the right hand.
• Shellac cannot be removed the usual washings for nails, here you need special products designed to dissolve the coating and destroy the adhesion of the varnish to the nail plate. Of course, if you wish, you can resort to pure acetone and remove the coating with it - but, I think, it is not worth saying that such procedures significantly worsen the condition of the nails, make them dry and brittle.

• Shellac should not be worn all the time. After every 3-4 applications, it is worth taking a short break and letting the marigold recover, doing therapeutic baths and masks that promote tissue regeneration.
• Do not forget about the risk of individual intolerance. In some cases, there is an allergy to one of the components of the varnish-gel, so carefully study the composition of the drug before use.

Some claim that the UV lamp is harmful, especially for women - it provokes cancer in them. However, this opinion does not have any scientific confirmation, although girls who have a genetic predisposition to cancer and at the same time often visit a solarium and take sun baths, there is always a risk of the disease. Although it is quite difficult to say with certainty that the UV lamp will be the culprit of the disease, it is rather difficult - after all, in the summer on the beach and in the tanning studio, we receive much higher doses of ultraviolet radiation than with the point effect of a manicure lamp.

Gel polish allows you to implement a variety of ideas and techniques for the original coating on nails: mosaic, veil or newspaper technique.

For adherents of the timeless classics, a monochromatic coating, as well as gentle options for moon manicure and service jacket, will be optimal. Similar designs can be used for evening outings and daily decor.

Over the years, manicure with drawings, openwork patterns and pictures has remained invariably popular, which is equally good for both short and long nails. These coatings are usually made using stamping.

Painting on wet shellac is considered a very stylish and effective technique. Such a blurry pattern stands out for its style and non-trivial design.

Matte manicure is very popular, and usually they use gel polishes of various shades and combine such a coating with other techniques. Matte color looks great on dark shades, and also harmonious on nude and light beige.

Ombre is always a fashionable technique in which a smooth transition from one shade to another is carried out. Most often, light and dark shades of the same color are used, but in recent years, they increasingly stretch the gradient from contrasting ones.

The popular cat-eye technique is optimal on shellac, especially in this case black, green and dark blue shades are used.

The latest novelty is the chameleon manicure, which involves a change in shade under different lighting conditions.

Another popular technique is craquelure. This is a rather peculiar and original textured varnish that makes marigolds truly unique and stylish.

Decorating techniques are very common, which make the coating extraordinary and always attract attention. In this case, stones, beads or rhinestones are applied to one or two nails.

Modern girls from an early age try to look fashionable and stylish, so they often do manicure, especially on special occasions - birthday, New Year, September 1, school holidays. Schoolgirls from 10-12 years old try to be like their mothers in every way and ask them to cover their marigolds with shellac. However, the question of the feasibility and, most importantly, the safety of such a coating for children does not yet have an unambiguous answer.

Traditionally, it is believed that gel polish is a tool for already grown girls, at least high school students. Such a coating on adolescents looks too defiant and rude, moreover, shellac cannot be called a completely safe product. With frequent use, the structure of its nail plates is destroyed. They become thin and brittle, quite often the use of such a composition forces one to resort to all kinds of medicinal preparations - oils and rubbing that restore the marigolds.

It should be borne in mind that gel polishes are very sensitive to changes in the hormonal background in the human body, and it is no secret that the concentration of certain hormones in the blood of adolescents is sometimes overestimated, and all this leads to the fact that the coating simply does not stick to the nails and falls off. therefore, there is simply no point in such an application.

Most stylists are sure that a girl should be taught to take good care of herself from an early age, they argue that only with this approach they will grow into stylish and completely confident women, at the same time there are quite a few alternative techniques that are more suitable for kids.

In the current season, several trends have emerged in the application of gel polish.

Manicure with rhinestones is very popular. Pebbles, rhinestones or beads go well with varnish. Such a design is most often done on one nail, but in some cases, several or even all are involved - the idea of ​​\ u200b \ u200bdecoration here depends on the dimensions of the shining elements, their number and the concept of the original composition.

A novelty in the nail industry is the manicure with kamifubuki. In fact, these are the same sequins, only rather large. Visually, they look like confetti, although they don't have to be round at all. With the help of kamifubuki, they create a shellac manicure that is incomparable in originality, stylish beautiful compositions are formed from them, laying them on the nails in an interesting sequence, they decorate the tips of the nails or decorate only a few fingers.

The use of a velvet coating on gel polish has become a fashionable trend. To do this, the nails are covered with acrylic powder, forming interesting patterns with a velvety texture. Such new items are especially relevant in autumn and winter - in the cool season, they create a feeling of warmth and comfort.

As for the color palette, peach and terracotta shades are in fashion this season, as well as autumn decors in Marsala and Bordeaux.Striped and rainbow designs are very popular, as well as space and fruity styles.

Gel polish stays on nails for 2-3 weeks. This is an undoubted advantage of the composition, but at the same time it is also a certain drawback that makes it difficult to choose a suitable decor.

If a simple varnish can be changed to match the color of clothes and accessories, as well as from the planned pastime, then the gel varnish should be chosen so as to perfectly match various outfits, and in addition, it should look harmonious both in the office and at an evening social reception.

Agree, red varnish with rhinestones will not be entirely appropriate in a company where a strict dress code is dictated, and a nude color coating will look too simple at a disco or party.

The leader on the list is a French manicure, better known as a French manicure., in which the nail plate is covered with a light shade, and the smile line (the regrown part of the nail) is drawn in a different color. In the classic version, these are white tones, but fashion does not stand still and today the decor can be made in other shades, but certainly light ones.

Such a coating always looks elegant and sophisticated, gives women a sophisticated and well-groomed look and makes it perfect both in the study, and at a children's matinee, and at a party with friends.

The reverse jacket is also a universal technique in which the lunula is varnished - the lower part of the nail plate. This varnish looks good on both long and short nails. Lunar manicure makes the look stylish, expensive and carefully thought out.

Restrained conciseness is always in fashion and always in place, therefore, a universal coating can be made using a technique in which the nails are covered with one color, usually nude or black, and in order to give the manicure a light twist, one of the nails is decorated with a pattern or rhinestone. Thanks to this addition, the coating will be appropriate at special events, but at the same time the decor is minimal, therefore it will not seem superfluous in a strict setting.

In order to apply a high-quality gel polish coating, you need to prepare quite a few tools that are used at different stages of work.

You will need:

• scissors - used to adjust the shape of the free edge of the marigold;
• pusher - removes the grown cuticle;
• buff - polishes the nail plate and removes the sticky keratin layer;
• file - required to align and smooth the edges of the nail;
• nippers - required to handle the hardened skin near the nail;
• wooden sticks - used to push back overgrown cuticles.

For the very application of shellac, the set of basic tools is slightly different:

• primers, various dehydrators and bonds - they degrease and dehydrate the nails, thereby promoting maximum adhesion of the nail with synthetic materials;
• disinfector - used for prophylactic nail treatment, which prevents the development of fungal diseases;
• base - this component prevents the varnish from penetrating into the nail, evens the surface and improves the adhesion of the coating, in addition, the use of the base allows you to avoid unaesthetic stripes when applying the shellac itself directly;

• multi-colored varnish - usually professionals use two types of varnishes: three-phase - which require the use of a top, base and finish, as well as single-phase - which do without the listed components;
• top is a final coating that is applied over the gel polish and protects the coating from ugly chips and cracking in case of mechanical damage.

And, finally, a UV lamp becomes an indispensable condition for using gel polish.

Today the cosmetic industry offers three types of devices.

• Ultraviolet lamp. The main advantage of such a device is its low cost, such lamps are affordable for most of our compatriots. The power of such a device is 9-54 watts, while the lower this parameter, the slower the polymerization of the coating. In some cases, such a lamp is additionally equipped with a motion sensor, fan and timer. If you are just taking the first steps in nail design, then it will be enough to get a 36W device. Such a gadget is optimal for home manicure, since it polymerizes shellac of any density well.

• Led lamps. These are more professional devices that are necessary for high-speed and highly efficient drying of the base. In this lamp, polymerization takes place in 30-90 seconds, however, and the cost of such a gadget is an order of magnitude higher than UV lamps.
• Hybrid lamps. These are versatile devices that are used not only for the polymerization of gels, but also for shellac, permanent formulations and biogels. The principle of operation of such devices is based on a combined technology, due to which the polymerization proceeds quickly and efficiently. These lamps are commonly used in beauty salons.

If we talk about the manufacturers of these devices, then it is worth giving preference to such brands as Bluesky, Jessnail, as well as Kodi professional or TNL Professional. If you need a lamp for home use, then you can dwell on budget brands that are not inferior in effect to their more expensive counterparts.

And, of course, if you are determined to master the application of shellac, then you should prepare a place to store all consumables and used tools.

A special box or container is best suited for this purpose, the entire contents of which are protected from direct sunlight and dust. Stock up on lint-free wipes to wipe the neck of the bottle after work and regular hand sanitizers.

Please note that traditional edged manicure has long been considered an outdated procedure, which is completely incompatible with building acrylic nails or applying gel polish. The fact is that before such a manicure, hands should be thoroughly steamed in a hot bath so that the nails absorb moisture - when using shellac, this leads to detachment of the coating.

Hardware manicure is a procedure in which nails are treated without the use of cutting tools. This process is performed using specialized equipment, without damaging the skin at all.

Such processing is performed using a tool that outwardly resembles a thickened marker or felt-tip pen. On one end it is attached to the device, and on the other there is a hole where suitable cutters of various diameters, sizes, shapes and degrees of abrasiveness are attached.

The rotation speed is set by the master. Usually it varies from 5 to 35 thousand rotations per minute. The minimum speed is set for delicate skin areas.

Before processing, you need to prepare the nails and fingers for manipulation. To begin with, the cuticle should be treated with a special softener, this is important for the procedure to be as painless as possible. The roller near the nail is removed with a diamond attachment, while you should listen to your own feelings.If you feel a burning sensation or even the slightest pain, you should immediately turn off the device and choose another cutter. The appearance of pain when touching the treated area is not allowed - this is a signal that the rotation speed or the cutter itself was selected incorrectly, in this case, the treatment is stopped and returned to it after a couple of days, when young cells of the epidermis grow.

After the excess dermis is removed, the nails should be given the correct shape, then they are polished with a special attachment. It is recommended to move it along the plate so that it remains at each point for no more than 0.5 seconds.

After the entire nail plate has been processed, it must be lubricated with oil to soften the cuticle and wait a little until the composition is completely absorbed. After that, hands and fingers are wiped with a grease remover and proceed to the staining itself. Keep in mind that at least a quarter of an hour should elapse between applying the oily product and covering with shellac.

Combination manicure combines several techniques. It is believed that it is much more effective than hardware and edging, while the specialist uses instrumental and hardware methods for correcting nails so that even very neglected and complex nail plates become well-groomed and graceful.

Hardware manicure involves the combined use of cutters, nippers and scissors. Usually the cuticle is lifted with a small cutter, and then cut off, after which it is the turn of the apparatus for polishing and grinding the surface again.

So, after preparing the nails, you can start applying the decorative coating. The procedure consists of several stages.

• Base application. The base is applied in a thin layer over the entire surface so as not to leave a single piece of the plate unpainted. Pay the most attention to the end areas. It is very important to carefully monitor so that the tone does not leak onto the lateral ridges and cuticle fragments. If this happens, it is imperative to fix it.
• Color application. The varnish is painted in two layers. The first one should be quite subtle, and don't be upset if it comes out uneven. This will all be corrected with the second layer. It should be applied just as thinly, and if it turns out to be uneven, then it is worth applying a third layer. As a rule, first of all, 4 middle fingers of the right hand are coated with gel polish, in addition to the thumb, and then the varnish is dried in an ultraviolet lamp. Do the same with your left hand. Thumbs must be stained and cured separately.

• Decor application. It all depends on your own imagination. Usually they use sequins, various sliders, as well as rhinestones or acrylic dust, and then dry again in a lamp.
• Removing the sticky layer. At the last stage, use a special concealer to remove the sticky layer. Keep in mind that this should be done only after the completion of all work, since it is this layer that determines the effective adhesion of each next coating to the previous one.
• Anchoring. At the finishing stage, a top layer is applied, and it should be applied quite tightly, since it largely determines the fixation of the entire coating.

Women who use gel polish give only the most positive reviews about it.Such a coating allows you to forget about the need to update your manicure for a long time and allows you to implement any design ideas and solutions on your nails.

The undoubted leader in the gel polish market are brands from the United States.such as Gelish, as well as Jessica Geleration and Kodi. For many years, the palm has been owned by the CND brand, whose "brainchild" is well known to every Russian woman. The main difference between the products of these manufacturers is innovative formulas, a harmless composition and a wide color palette, however, and the price of such coatings is correspondingly high.

The products of German and Japanese manufacturers such as OPI and Masura are slightly behind them in popularity.

Varnishes made in China are very popular in our country. - they are represented by the Cristina lines, as well as Bluesky and the relatively new Canni. They are not as comfortable as their American or European counterparts, and have a pungent odor, but the finish quality of the coating is quite high.

Domestic samples, for example, "Aurelia", are just entering the market, and it is not possible to make a complete picture of the reviews about them. However, consumers have already appreciated their good wear and low cost.

See the next video for the technology for applying gel polish.