Talk to me about Gel Manicures

What do you pay for a manicure? For those of you that are "rough" with your hands, how long does it last?

I've had silk wraps on my nails for as long as I can remember. I have long nail beds so I keep my nails themselves very short. People continuously are suggesting gel for my nails. I've heard "gel" and "UV gel". Is there a difference? Do either weaken your nails like silk does? I can't seem to get a straight answer when I ask about this in the salon and I just started going to a new place so I'm not sure on what I'm being told. I don't think if I switched salons that I'd even consider this because my old nail place insisted silk is/was the best. But it's too far for me to travel there now.

Thanks Ladies!

Talk to me about Gel Manicures

I do shellac. It's 30 for regular and 35 French.

I haven't noticed any damage really. My nails sometimes feel a bit roughed up after the shellac is done and I go back to regular, but not much.

I do it once in a blue moon. Too expensive for me to keep up with. But I love how it doesn't chip! I do a lot of housework and my nails look great for weeks.

Talk to me about Gel Manicures

Thanks! Hmmm...I don't think this new salon does shellac. I'll have to ask. But I hear you on the cost though. I pay less than that for the silk refill. I may just be better off leaving it alone.

Talk to me about Gel Manicures

I did shellac a couple of days before my cruise last month. When I stepped out of the shower the morning after getting it done, I had a chip. $30 mani and it chipped in less than 18 hours. I went back and they fixed it. Went on the cruise and wasn't too rough on them except for going in salt water and chlorine. They started peeling on Day 6. My nails became brittle and weak. NEVER AGAIN. It's been almost a month and they're still not back to normal.

Re: Talk to me about Gel Manicures

I pay $30 to $35 for CND Sheallc.
Very rough on my nails and it lasts 2-3 weeks.
I actually find I have to remove it to do grow out more than chipping.
LOVE it.

Re: Talk to me about Gel Manicures

I have done it only a couple of times (out of town wedding, and for a few vacations). It honestly ruins my nails and takes months for my nails to heal. I love that it lasts 2 weeks (not for chips but for grow out), but the damage to my nails is just not worth it. In order for the place I went to to do the gel they use a really rough file on top of your nails. That plus the way the gel sits on my nails causes them to get bumps. I get my nails done in the summer and for special events, but other than that I let my nails go without polish and just shape them.

Message edited 9/24/2013 11:42:04 PM.

Re: Talk to me about Gel Manicures

Re: Talk to me about Gel Manicures

Re: Talk to me about Gel Manicures

Talk to me about Gel Manicures

There are two types of Gels. Gel Polish (soft gel) (Shellac (although its a hybrid), Gelish, OPI Gel Color etc.) and Hard Gel (CND Brisa, Gelish Hard Gel) These normally come in little pots. Soft Gel is used in place of polish. Hard gel would be used in place of acrylic or silk wrap because you want strength or length. I'm a nail technician and use Shellac. No roughing of the nails, but the use of Solar Oil daily will keep the nail bed hydrated. The nails look week after removal because they are dehydrated. Each system has its own regiment that should be followed.

That being said, unless you were using the silk to create strength, the gel polish is probably a good choice, its more durable then regular polish and will protect the nail bed since its a bit thicker. I use it all the time since I'm around acetone and nail polish remover.

Also whatever you do, NEVER peel or pick off gel! (i want to bold and make it 100 pt type! that sentence is very important!)

Message edited 9/25/2013 10:43:46 AM.

Re: Talk to me about Gel Manicures

I do the shellac gel every now and then. I never saw a damage but be sure they soak it off rather than a light soak and filing off. That's when I noticed damage. You can also soak off yourself in pure acetone.

I used to have this gel and play 6 softball games in 2 weeks and not have any breakage issues.

Talk to me about Gel Manicures

Wow! Thank you all so much. But here's the really stupid question...what exactly is shellac? All the girl in this nail salon said to me was that there was gel, UV gel, or color gel and they were all different prices? SO confused!

Re: Talk to me about Gel Manicures

Shellac is like gel in that it lasts a while, but I find for me personally that it is not damaging to my nails like the gel is. It also dries fast under that UV light so you don't have to wait for it to dry.

Personally, I only do Shellac and Gel when I have a special occasion as I feel that it can damage nails over time if you keep doing it. I have no proof of this, but I just noticed it on my own nails.

Re: Talk to me about Gel Manicures

Re: Talk to me about Gel Manicures

Message edited 9/26/2013 9:53:13 AM.

Re: Talk to me about Gel Manicures

Basically, as the nail tech. above said, you have to decide whether you want to have a regular manicure but use a polish that lasts longer because it's "gel" or have "gel nails" which are thicker like wearing wraps. The one that's like a polish gets soaked off completely each time and with the other one you get fill-ins like you used to. When you go, make sure they understand which one you want and don't assume that 2 salons use the same terminology.