If you ask your friends, “how long do gel nails last?” you will get different answers due to their different experiences. For some people it may last just a week. For others, it may be even longer. Regular nail polish chips way quicker than gel nail polish. However, there is no one answer to this question. In this blog post, we will help you determine who long will gel nails last if you have them done (and take care of them properly).
Before writing down this post, I sat down with a nail manicurist to answer the most frequently asked questions about gel nails, so you finally get to know it all.
How Long Do Gel Nails Last?
The longest gel nails last before they start damaging your nails is two weeks, as per expert nail manicurist. Even though after two weeks your manicure may look just fine, you may risk damaging your nail bed if you leave them on for a period longer than that.
The applied gel on your nails traps the ultraviolet rays in direct sunlight. When you keep your nail polish for a long time, these trapped toxic rays make it even more difficult to remove. This is why, after every two weeks, you should see your manicurist and they will then remove your nail polish gently without chipping your nails.
What Can I Do To Make My Gel Nails Last A Long Time?
There are three things you can do to make sure your gel nails stay put for a longer period than they would otherwise:
1) Make Cuticle Oil A Part of Your Gel Nails Care Regimen
The more religious you get with its use, the better it will be. While you should not keep your gel nails beyond two weeks, you can still do certain things to keep them looking neat and pretty through that time. One of these is investing in a good cuticle oil, which will not just hydrate the cuticle but also condition and strengthen your nails. This will avoid them from becoming brittle, breaking, or chipping. You should ideally use cuticle oil at least once or twice a day.
2) Apply Nail Polish Top Coat and File Your Nails Regularly
Think of your as a new pair of tights. A minor nick can easily turn into a big run if you don’t nip it in the bud. This means that any snag on the nail needs to be buffed or filed to be smoothed out. Otherwise, it will cause your nail to tear, split or chip.
We would suggest you keep a small nail file in your purse for quick touch ups on the go. A clear top coat would also help. It doesn’t really make your manicure last longer like you would think, but a shiny top layer gives it a nice, refreshing and spruced up look and feel.
3) Make Sure Your Nails Remain Dry
While you don’t have to keep worrying about your gel nails chipping off after a classic manicure, you can try to minimize the damage by wearing rubber gloves to protect your hands when doing the dishes. The more your nails get soaked in water, the more they expand, and when they dry back up that causes contraction. This causes nails to chip further.
Some salons have now started offering dry manicures just due to this reason. This does not have the soak fingers in water step. They rather work with nails in their natural state so that the polish stays a comparatively longer time. If you want to get a dry manicure, don’t wet your nails at least 30 minutes before your appointment.
Can Gel Nail polish Ruin My Nails?
Not really. So long as you take proper care of your nails, starting with the application and removal. If you don’t apply it right, or remove it irresponsibly, then you could damage them. Peeling off your gel is damaging to your nail health. Because healthy nails grow an average of one millimeter per week, peeling off gel nail polish will require you to wait for at least three months before the damage grows out completely.
How Long Must I Wait Before Getting My Gel Nails Redone?
You can get gel nails done back-to-back if you are applying and removing them properly. However, this depends on the type of nails you have. If they are not strong, but instead weak and brittle, it would be best to give them a breather before getting gel nails again.
The Bottom Line
Sure, gel nails can last you beyond two weeks. However, if your nail health matters to you, see the manicurists at Sapron Beauty Spa after 14 days to remove your nail polish for you. During these two weeks, care for your nails by applying a top coat, file them, and apply cuticle oil religiously. This will keep your nails neat and fresh throughout these two weeks.
