With perfectly manicured nails, I feel like I can take on the world. Unfortunately, my nails stay “perfectly manicured” for about five minutes before I accidentally smudge them while I’m waiting for them to dry.
I get impatient and check my phone or read a magazine or accidentally knock my nails against something, and it’s all over. So I get a solid five minutes of feeling invincible before my nail mishap brings me back down to earth. But what if those five minutes of nail perfection could last for weeks?
Well ladies, miracles do happen. Let me introduce you to the latest nail obsession, gel manicures.
Promised to last at least two weeks with no chipping, gel manicures are a godsend for those of us who can’t seem to make a manicure last, or need our nails looking flawless for a vacation, job interview, date, etc. These manicures keep their shine too, unlike the normal manicures that tend to dull even after a few days. With this magic also comes a different manicure process. After each coat is applied, your nails dry under a UV light, and they dry INSTANTLY leaving you with no time to mess them up by accidentally hitting something.
It sounds too good to be true right? Well, it’s not. It’s pretty awesome. But before you dive into the obsession there are some basic things you should know about gel manicures. Because they last longer, they cost more—anywhere from $30-$40 in my experience. It also takes a bit longer since you have to dry the nails after every coat instead of just at the end.
The most important thing to keep in mind about gel manicures is the potential for damage. Getting a gel manicure every now and then before a big event or vacation is completely fine and definitely a good idea, but getting them too often can cause a lot of damage to your nails because your nails are constantly covered and have no room to breath.
Photo Sources:
http://threegirlsandamic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/chipped-nail-polish-manicure1_01-495×250.jpg
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