Gel manicure allows for beautiful and well-groomed hands, but it can also make nails dry and brittle. If you decide to do it, you must therefore make sure that you protect them from damage. After the procedure, treat them with moisturizing products. Strengthen them by adopting good habits (like eating healthy) and avoiding bad ones (like peeling nail polish and cutting cuticles).
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Nail Care Products
Step 1. Moisturize your nails to help them regenerate after applying the gel, which dries them out
You can buy a moisturizer at a perfumery or another store that sells beauty products. Apply it daily to your nails and surrounding skin.
- Look for a strengthening cream for nails and cuticles based on peptides, which moisturize and regenerate.
- Since washing your hands dries your nails, apply it after each wash.
Step 2. Soak your nails in warm milk once a week
It will make them whiter, eliminating any residual color. In addition, the nails will strengthen by absorbing the nutrients from the milk.
- Heat the milk in a bowl. Use enough to dip your fingers into. You can reheat it in the microwave or on the stove.
- Soak your nails for 5 minutes, then rinse them off.
- Moisturize your nails after treatment.
Step 3. Smooth your nails
Gel manicure can leave grooves and other uneven edges. It is important to use a file to smooth them, especially focusing on the grooves. Repeat the procedure every other day until the situation improves.
Smoothing your nails also promotes blood circulation, which helps to strengthen them
Step 4. Use keratin gloves, which are available at shops selling beauty products or on the internet
They are great for strengthening nails after doing a gel manicure. Leave them on for the time recommended on the package. They can be worn in your spare time - for example, while reading or watching television.
Part 2 of 3: Keeping Nails Strong
Step 1. Use clear polish to strengthen your nails
If you don't have a particular fondness for colored nail polishes or want to let your nails breathe without applying more gel, use a strengthening product after your manicure. You can find different types in the supermarket and in shops that sell beauty items. Look for a product aimed at weak nails.
Step 2. Keep your nails short
If you let them grow right after you have a gel manicure, they will be more prone to cracking or snagging. Keep them short while they regenerate.
Also round them, as this is the best way to have them strong. Do not move the file as if you were sawing it, pass it gently by moving it in one direction
Step 3. Protect your nails
If they are not regenerating at the desired rate, do another manicure. Tell the manicurist that you want to protect them from damage, so that she recommends the right treatment to keep them strong during the recovery phase.
Step 4. Eat a healthy diet
Eating habits can affect nail health, so proper nutrition is key. Make sure you are getting sufficient amounts of protein, biotin, and calcium.
- Milk and lean derivatives are an excellent source of calcium and protein.
- If you are concerned about nail health, you can also take supplements; talk to your doctor first.
- Eat foods rich in vitamins, minerals, zinc, antioxidants, and omega-3s.
Part 3 of 3: Avoid Bad Habits
Step 1. Do not peel the enamel
When it starts to peel, it is normal to be tempted to peel it off, but this can cause further damage to your nails. To remove it, make another appointment at the salon or call the manicurist to ask her to explain how to remove it.
Step 2. Take a break from the gel from time to time
The effect of the gel is nice, but in excessive quantities it can seriously affect the health of the nails. Take a break from time to time to allow your nails to regenerate.
You could get a keratin manicure in between gel treatments
Step 3. Don't cut your cuticles
After the manicure, it is preferable to push them back. The cuticles protect the nails as they grow, so they are vital for them to regenerate following a gel treatment.
You should also apply cuticle creams and gels to it during the healing phase
Step 4. Remove gel properly to keep nails strong
Before removing it, sand them with a file to remove the shiny surface film, so as to begin to glimpse the actual nail. Then, soak a cotton ball with acetone-based nail polish remover and tape it to the nail. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Repeat on each nail.
