Should you go for gel nail polish, or is classic nail polish the way to go?
For the fans of nail polish, the range of options has increased dramatically in recent years. Alongside traditional lacquer paints, acrylics or fake nails have also come into existence, and gel nail polish is a new contender. So what is the difference between classic or regular nail polish and gel nail polish? Both types are applied to the natural nail — unlike acrylics — but there are striking differences that are worth informing yourself off before visiting the nail salon.
Gel polish is thicker than regular nail polish. The main distinguishing feature of gel nail polish from a classic lacquer is the curing application process, as the former does not dry naturally.
Curing refers to the drying process that involves placing your nails under a UV or LED light to activate the chemical process that dries the polish.
Almost every nail polish user is aware of the drawbacks. Classic nail paints take impressively long to dry. After application, you let the paint dry for at least 20 minutes, then daintily pick out your phone from the pocket, forget that your nail paint is drying, and the paint chips off. Even if you wait for your nails to dry perfectly, the paint can still chip off within days.
Gel nail paints have a durable and quick-drying formula that hardly chips. Gel manicure is very resistant to smudging or chipping, and the colour stays as shiny and bright as it was on day one.
Even if you wait long enough for your nails to completely dry, your regular and fresh nail paint can chip in just about a week. If you hate wearing nail paints that smudge just an hour after application or chips off before your special event, gel polish may be your ultimate saviour.
Your gel nail polish may last as long as one month — in other words, it lasts as long as you want to keep it. But the only long-term downside of wearing gel nail paints for a while is that your nail will eventually grow out.
Unlike acrylic or fake nails that are glued over your nails, gel polish is applied to your natural nails and does not cause any permanent damage. Just be careful while removing your gel nails, and with adequate maintenance, your natural nails will not be harmed.
If long-lasting nail paints sound good to you, it is about time to give gel nail polish a try.
