Friday, August 19, 2011

Gel Manicure

A while ago I used a gift certificate to treat myself to some spa time.  The nail tech talked me into a gel manicure.  I had just read about this new procedure a few days prior, and it's supposed to last a couple of weeks, so I gave it a try.

The polish itself looked kind of gummy; if it had been regular nail polish you would have thrown it out because it was too old.  The cool thing is that immediately after the polish is applied, you put your hand in a little ultraviolet thingy for a about a minute, and the the polish is completely dry!  No waiting, no tackiness, no need to have the tech get your keys out of your purse for you.


While I was getting the manicure I asked her if it removed with regular acetone remover, and she said yes...well, you have to soak it, she said.

After about six days, my manicure started getting cracks.  This could be because I so rarely polish my fingernails that I tend to mess with them when I do, and then I couldn't help but start picking at the cracks.  Regardless, it didn't last anywhere near two weeks.

So I decided to take it off.  Acetone and a lot of rubbing with a cotton ball didn't touch it.

That's when I got online and found several suggestions that you have to saturate a cotton ball for each finger, and wrap foil around that and let it sit for like 20 minutes.



After all that, it still didn't totally come off!  It kind of partially did, and I could scrape off some of it, but it didn't seem like that was too good for my nails.  I had remnants of the gel manicure on my nails for a couple weeks after I "removed" it.  Fortunately, it was a French manicure, so it was pretty much clear an unnoticeable to anyone else.

So, have you had a gel manicure?  How did you like it?  Was I doing something wrong?

12 comments:

Paula@SweetPea said...

I've never had a gel manicure but I love the look on other people. I have heard that it's difficult to remove the material. Your aluminum foil picture made me laugh, but you do what you have to do! Maybe one day there will be a long lasting solution for people like us who are hard on a manicure.

Holly said...

I've had the exact same thing happen to me. Cracks and then gel remnants on my nails for weeks. I'm not going to do it again. Looking at that last picture, I'm thinking you could have pulled a pizza out of the oven without a hot pad.

Anonymous said...

Heehee! Your last picture looks like you're ready for an alien invasion. :-) I've never had a gel manicure but I've had regular acrylic & its always left my nails messed up for weeks if not months after removing them. :-(

Danielle said...

I did the same thing! Mine was a light pink and it actually lasted almost 3 weeks but around that time I just wanted it off and had a hard time getting it off! I held the saturated cotton balls on each nail for about a half hour and then used a small wooden cuticle pusher thing to scarpe it all off. I won't be doing it again!

Tammi D said...

Was it gel or shellac?

Shug said...

I see other friends that have them and they do look great, but they're just not for me.. I am toooo busy with my hands to have to worry about the nails...So, I just give mine a polish ever now and then and go on...

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Foil fingers!!! ;) I have heard of gel manicures, but I haven't paid for a manicure in years. Aren't they fun though? I can't ever seem to keep them looking nice. And it seems like every time my nails all grow to a nice length, one of them breaks.

BabiesandBargains said...

Ive never done gel..Ive done shellac and I cleaned the tub, painted etc with that on and it lasts about 1.5-2 weeks..It was awesome I loved it.

FrouFrouBritches said...

I've never done a gel manicure. I dont do manicures very often - like once every five years. I am sooooo hard on my hands and nails. That foil picture made me laugh.

Cassy said...

I have not tried a gel manicure yet.

Cassy from Acoustic Guitar Lessons

Kritter said...

I've had shellac last over a month, but I've also had it last less than 2 weeks. BUT it ruins your nails. They're so weak and banged up underneath that it's not really worth it.

Lorie ~ Luray Lane Vintage said...

I'm a nail technician and it all really depends on the quality of gel product the salon used. I'm sure you didn't do anything wrong. Was it actually soak off gels or a gel/polish hybrid like Shellac? Also how experienced is the nail tech? So many things go into it. Unfortunately there are many "discount" nail salons calling themselves a Spa. My prices are higher than some salons in my area and it's because of the product I use. I want my clients to love their nails and to come back again. =)