Fashion does not stand still, it is constantly evolving, offering more and more new achievements in personal care. Not so long ago, many women faced the problem of brittle nails. However, this is a thing of the past. There are many tools that help you quickly strengthen your nails, making the handles irresistible. One of these magical “elixirs” is a special gel.
Advantages and disadvantages
Modern tools work wonders, allowing girls with brittle nails to wear a chic manicure. Gel polish gel is used quite often. It allows you to adjust both the thickness and length of the nails. In combination with gel polish, a high-quality manicure is obtained, which will last 2-3 weeks. The only drawback of such a strengthening is that after removing the gel, the whole effect comes to naught.
Gel for strengthening nails is both a hard and brittle coating. Most often, it is applied to natural nail plates. It is applied in a thin layer and in fact is the foundation on which you can make various patterns or glue sparkles and stickers. In its composition, the gel is a safe substance.
It does not cause thinning of the nail plates, while caring for them and cuticles.
Another tool for strengthening nails is biogel. It is durable, good elasticity, moreover, it is easily removable. Biogel is used for strengthening procedures much more often. Moreover, it is one of the few means that provides a healing effect. This is largely due to the natural composition. There are no contraindications for the biogel and it can be used even for allergy sufferers.Under the biogel, the nails actually “breathe”, ceasing to be dull with a yellowish tinge. If you use biogel often, then not only the nails will look and feel better, but also the rollers around the nails, as well as the cuticles will heal.
A significant difference between a biogel and a simple gel is a milder removal process. After hardening, the biogel does not need to be cut off, it is enough just to use a special solution. However, this type of gel has a significant drawback - it dissolves when it comes in contact with hot water, detergents, liquids containing alcohol. Therefore, most household chores will have to be done exclusively with rubber gloves.
Also used for strengthening is acrylic powder, which is actually a “cement” for nails. It differs from the gel in that it gives the nails hardness. However, they are similar to the gel in that they have absolutely no therapeutic effect, only cosmetic. In fact, the substance strengthens the varnish that is on the nails, and not themselves.
Acrylic, in addition to strength, allows the manicure to last longer in its pristine condition. Often it is used in order to smooth out not extended nails. In addition, it prevents the appearance of cracks on the nail plates. To apply acrylic powder to your nails, you need a fan brush or pusher. After application, the nail plates need to be dried under a special lamp.
In order to strengthen the nails under gel polish, you can also use the base. The main advantage of this tool is that it is easy to apply. To extend the period of wear of the varnish base must be applied in several layers.
And this applies to any kind of base, even thick.
When is it necessary?
All women taking care of themselves know that nail plate strengthening needs to be done before and after extension. Also, this procedure should be resorted to after the gel polish is removed.
Under gel polish, the nail plates are for a long time and as a result, their condition deteriorates somewhat. If you do not use strengthening agents, you will have to spend a lot of effort to maintain the nails in good condition. After all, gel polish is not a means to strengthen and does not perform protective functions. The nails on which it is applied can undergo various diseases, including bacterial, fungal, and viral. In the event that something bad happened to the nails, a recovery course is necessary using special means that strengthen and promote growth.
Strengthening is important for thinned and too brittle nails, but it is more important if the nails have deteriorated from the frequent use of gel polish. This happens often, especially with constant build-up when mechanical gel removal is used. You can repair damaged nail plates on your own at home with the help of a biogel. This substance contributes to the healing, strengthening and stimulation of the natural growth of nails. This is largely due to the fact that the substance contains vitamins A and E, keratin protein, calcium, and plant components.
Often biogel is used to strengthen the nail plates on the legs. This is especially recommended in the treatment of onychocryptosis. Getting on the nail, the gel fixes the shape, giving it strength. As a result, the free edge ceases to deform with growth, and the nails will no longer grow. However, before applying the product, it is necessary to polish the nails with a nail file, and then polish with a buff.
Thin nails are not only strengthened by the gel, but also become even with a smooth surface on which the gel polish will lie even better. On nail plates coated with gel, you can create fascinating compositions using acrylic paint, dots, needles and stencils. Flexible gel coating provides reliable protection of the manicure from various mechanical damages.
It is suitable for nails of any shape.
What is required?
Before you begin to strengthen nails and apply gel polish, you must prepare all the necessary tools and materials. To prepare the nail plates, you will need:
- a nail file or buff to give the desired shape and alignment of nails;
- a stick to move the cuticle (orange or metal);
- nippers or a remover depending on the type of manicure (classic or unedged).
In addition to this, you need to prepare everything for directly manicure:
- gel (and, if necessary, base and finish);
- primer for degreasing the nail plates (if the nails are wet, then you should use acid);
- dense brush made of synthetic fibers for applying the gel;
- UV lamp to dry each layer.
How to make?
When everything is ready, you can go directly to the process itself. Manicure at home is best done in stages - step-by-step instructions will help. If you follow it, it becomes clear that strengthening the nails with gel under gel polish is not difficult at all.
- You need to start with the treatment of nails. There are various ways to perform manicure, including a European with a remover, a classic trim and hardware. They differ only in cuticle removal options. Also, the nail plates must be given the desired shape.
- For a good gel fixation, the nails must be treated with a soft buff. However, it is important not to thin the plate too much.
- Next, apply a degreasing agent to the nails. It is also necessary for better gel fixation. After applying it, do not touch the nails. If biogel will be used, then you can do without grinding, only degreasing.
- After all these procedures, you can do the base, which is the hardener. This layer can be made biogel or just gel. The product is applied with a synthetic brush, and the layer should be very thin.
- After - the coating is dried under the lamp for 3 to 120 seconds. The exposure time depends on the lamp itself, as well as on the quality of the material.
- The following is the coating of the nail plate with gel polish. It should also be a little, and then the nails must be dried under a UV lamp. This layer is considered the main.
- Then another thin layer of shellac is applied and dried again using a lamp. It is important that the varnish coating does not fall on the cuticle and side rollers, otherwise it will quickly peel off and break off.
If the hit could not be avoided, then you need to remove the excess gel with a cotton swab and a degreaser.
- The final layer is the topcoat. Before applying the final coat, check that all previous layers are even. In case of defects, you need to use a soft buff. Apply the product with a synthetic brush, and then be sure to dry in the lamp for at least 3 minutes.
- You can complete the manicure with a pleasant procedure for applying the cuticle.
Strengthening natural nails is clearly better done with biogel. This material is safe and odorless. It can be used even by expectant or nursing mothers. Biogel can be single or three phase, like gel polish. The application technique is completely the same as using a conventional gel.
Can also be strengthened with acrylic. The powder is applied as a base coat using a special brush. Then it must be thoroughly dried with a lamp.
How to take off?
Perhaps the most difficult when using gel polish is the process of removing it from the plates. This is done by one of several methods:
- remover;
- wraps;
- mechanically.
If the first method is chosen, then it is worthwhile to carefully select the removers. In no case should you use funds from unknown brands.If the quality is all right, then the gel polish will be removed easily, while the plates and cuticles will not become overdried.
Also, beforehand, before the procedure, you should prepare cotton wool, foil, a file for grinding and preferably an orange stick. The whole procedure consists of three stages.
- Removing the protective layer by grinding with a nail file. It is necessary that the gel polish dissolves better and faster. As for the lower layers, it is better not to touch them with a nail file. However, if there is decor, it is better to remove it.
- Next, you need to wrap the nails with foil. Before this, a cotton wool moistened with a remover is applied to the plates. The treatment time is from 10 to 20 minutes. Foil is necessary in order for the remover to act faster.
- At the last stage, the foil is removed, previously scrolling in different directions. Then you need to remove the cracked gel polish. If there are leftovers, they are removed with an orange stick. In the event that everything is done carefully, the nail plates will not be injured.
Of course, the most convenient, but at the same time expensive way to remove gel polish are branded wrappers.
Their main advantage is that they are very easy to use.
First of all, the fixing layer is cut off so that the remover copes better with its task. Next, a wrapper is taken and used according to the instructions attached to it. Then the wrapper is removed. If traces of gel polish remain, then they are removed with an orange stick.
Professionals strongly do not recommend removing gel polish at home mechanically. Rough files and milling cutters in inept hands can severely harm your nails. Therefore, in this case, it is better to entrust your pens to masters with extensive experience.
Tips
The reviews showed that gel or acrylic strengthening under gel polish gives a positive result, and nails look better. However, it is important to observe all the subtleties that exist when coating the nail plates with a base and gel polish. Otherwise, the manicure will turn out poor-quality and will not last a long time. Equally important is the use of quality materials.
Before the manicure procedure, it is not recommended to use hand moisturizers. This reduces the life of the manicure using gel polish. In the event that a bath was made for the hands, then strengthening procedures should be done only the next day. To make the nail plates more even, you can use a rubber base.
Chips and cracks will not form if the end face of the plate is well sealed. And this should be monitored at every stage of manicure.
Before you strengthen the nails with a gel, you should make sure that they are not affected by the fungus, there are no large cracks and open wounds on them. It does not bother to check in advance whether there are any allergies to the drugs used. Do not resort to strengthening if the skin of the hands is constantly wet.
It happens that the gel coating lasts a short time. This may be due to a number of factors, including impaired circulation, diabetes mellitus, chemotherapy, hormonal disruptions. Also, rapid exfoliation can begin due to stress, taking antibiotics, pregnancy, breastfeeding.
In the event that you want to remove the gel polish yourself, you should familiarize yourself with all the available methods. Only by evaluating all their advantages and disadvantages, you can finally make a choice.
It is worth remembering that high-quality shellacs are sold immediately with a remover, that is, an integral set.
To eliminate small defects in manicure, you can use silk. It quickly hides cracks formed on gel polish.
When using acrylic powder, removing gel polish is somewhat easier. This is due to the fact that they need to remove the powder layer. As a result, the nail plates are not exposed to any mechanical or chemical influences.
See how to fix gel nails in the next video.