By admin@thesilverpetticoatreview.com 
Hello, everyone! Today, I’m diving into the world of gel manicures, and I’ll be sharing my personal experience with you.
Living in a small Guatemalan jungle, I rarely get manicures. On the rare occasions that I do, I usually end up feeling frustrated because my daily jungle activities quickly ruin them. Whether it’s gardening, feeding animals, or carrying stuff around, keeping a regular manicure looking perfect is nearly impossible. So, when my friends visited with impeccable gel manicures, I was really curious. They paid 25 euros (about $35) in Paris, which made me rethink my not-so-great $3 local manicure.
WHAT IS A GEL MANICURE?
A gel manicure involves a special type of nail polish that dries under a UV lamp. It sets very quickly and is robust enough to handle just about any activity without getting damaged.
ARE GEL MANICURES WORTH THE COST?
A regular manicure usually costs about $15, while a gel manicure ranges from $25 to $45. With a normal manicure, you risk ruining your nails as soon as you dig into your purse for your car keys. Gel manicures, on the other hand, allow you to use your hands normally right from the start. They last anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks, compared to the 4-5 days a regular manicure might last without chipping. So, even though they are pricier, gel manicures are well worth the extra cost because they save you from frequent trips to the salon.
However, as your nails grow, the gel can start to look unattractive unless you have a matching color at home for touch-ups. I opted for a French manicure which blends well with the natural growth of my nails. If you choose a bold color like flashy pink, the gap will become more noticeable as your nails grow.
In Guatemala, I paid $8.50 for a gel manicure at one of the fanciest salons in Guatemala City. I’ve seen offers as low as $4.50 on Facebook, and I imagine smaller salons in poorer neighborhoods might charge around $3.50 or less. A regular manicure costs me $3 in my nearest town, and $5 if I choose a lady who imports long-lasting O.P.I polish. If you’d like your nails to stay neat for longer, opting for gel polish is worth it.
REMOVING GEL NAILS COSTS EXTRA
A gel manicure needs to be soaked off at the salon, usually for a small fee. Last time, I removed it myself with a lot of acetone, but most polish removers in the US or Europe no longer contain acetone. My friends in Europe paid about 8 euros (roughly $10) for removal.
If you want to switch from a shiny pink to a French manicure, you’ll need to scrape off the gel well to ensure the pink doesn’t show through, which can be damaging to your nails.
DOING A GEL MANICURE AT HOME
You can buy a UV machine on Amazon for anywhere between $50 and $200, along with the special polish. If your local salon charges $45 or more, investing in a machine might be worth it. It may take some practice, but the process isn’t much more complicated than a regular manicure. Just be careful not to get gel on your skin, as it will peel easily when drying, and try to keep it only on your nails.
GEL NAILS AND HEALTH CONCERNS
According to the New York Post, frequent gel manicures might not be the best for your health due to exposure to UV lamps, which could increase the risk of skin cancer. I usually reserve them for special occasions like weddings. When you remove the gel manicure, your nails can feel quite dry, as though they haven’t had a chance to “breathe” for three weeks. Doctors warn that if you have a nail problem underneath, you might not notice it until it’s too late because it stays hidden under the gel.
While I enjoyed the experience, I plan to limit myself to one gel manicure every few months to keep my nails healthy.
Have you ever tried gel nails? What was your experience?