How to Make Gel Nails Last Longer?

Gel nail polish is a great option to obtain a shiny, durable manicure or pedicure. If you just got gel nails done at the salon, there are things you can do at home to make the polish last as long as possible, such as conditioning your nails, adding clear polish, and protecting your nails from hot water. If you’re doing your own manicure, take a few steps both before you begin and while applying the gel polish to preserve your polish. If you follow these steps, you can enjoy a gel manicure that lasts up to 2 weeks or longer!

1. Use cuticle oil daily to condition your nails. Prepping your nails and cuticles before applying the gel polish makes them very dry, so you’ll need to put the moisture back in them once your manicure is complete. Dry nails will become flaky, causing the polish to come off prematurely. To keep your nails moisturized apply cuticle oil every day by brushing it on your cuticles and your skin around it.

For extra softness and conditioning, apply the cuticle oil right before bed and follow up with moisturizing hand lotion.

2. Add a thin layer of clear polish over your nails after one week. A great way to prevent chipping gel polish is to reapply a topcoat about a week after the gel manicure. You can use a gel topcoat and cure it with the light. Or, you can use regular clear nail polish and let it air dry. To seal the tips of your nails, run the brush along the top edge first before covering the entire nail with the top coat.

Continue to reapply a top coat every few days to minimize your manicure or pedicure from chipping.

3. Be gentle with your nails. When you have a fresh new gel manicure, be mindful of everything you're doing with your hands and fingers. Even the slightest chip on the edge of the nail can get bigger and lift from the nail bed. So avoid doing things that can damage the edge of the polish, such as tearing open packages or scraping sticky labels off of surfaces.

4. Avoid using hot water or cleaning products. If you want your gel manicure to last at least 2 weeks without chipping or lifting, try your best to avoid prolonged exposure to hot water. This means if you plan on washing the dishes or cleaning, wear gloves to protect your nails. Hot water and chemicals from cleaning products can seep into the polish and cause it to breakdown, resulting in chipping and peeling.

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