At the moment, gel polish has almost supplanted any other types of nail plate coating. This is a very popular tool with which you can quickly put your nails in order. And they will be beautiful and well-groomed for a long time.
Some girls worry about whether gel polish manicure is harmful. Let's try to answer this question.
Composition
Women begin to think about the negative effect of the coating on the nail plate, who practically do not take a break between application. Is gel polish bad for nails? In order to answer this question, you need to study what substances are contained in it. Gel polish must contain:
- Photoinitiators. They help the coating harden under UV rays.
- Film former. Component that forms a film on the surface of the coating.
- Thinners (acrylic additives) - responsible for the correct consistency.
- Pigments. Dyes that give the desired color.
- Chemical additives that improve the performance of gel polish.
The last point is of particular concern. The rest of the composition is the necessary base, which is in every gel polish. Whereas various improving additives can be any. And the answer to the question of whether gel polish is harmful will depend on which components are included in the composition.
How to apply
Gel nails are the most popular procedure in nail salons today. Whether gel polish is harmful or not, women still want to have beautiful well-groomed nails. The procedure is carried out as follows:
- Nice manicure with cuticle removal and polishing of irregularities.
- Remove the top layer from the nail with a soft file.
- Remove all particles from the plate and wipe the nails with an alcohol-free lint-free cloth.
- Apply base coat - one large drop in the middle, and then gently stretch it in all directions, going under the cuticle and side surfaces.
- Cover with liquid color coat.
- Dry each layer separately under UF or LED lamp.
- Apply a protective top coat.
- Remove sticky surface with alcohol wipes.
- Moisturize hands and plates with nourishing oil.
The procedure looks simple enough, but most girls prefer to go to the salon, and not do the coating on their own or at the masters at home. The thing is that the initial purchase of materials will cost a significant amount, because you have to buy bases, different types of coatings, special lampsand much more. In addition, the master in the salon hones his skills and improves daily, and if you apply the coating yourself, you can get ugly blots instead of a smooth and hard layer.
Gel Polish Benefits
Is gel polish harmful? This question worries many women, since they don’t want to refuse such a manicure. Gel polish has a lot of advantages, namely:
- Strengthening a he althy nail plate.
- No peculiar chemical smell.
- Relatively safe base composition.
- No risk of applying too thick or uneven layers.
- No need to cut the nail plate.
Manicure will stay in perfect condition for at least three weeks. It will not fade or chip.
Negative sides of gel polish
This coverage also has its downsides:
- The high cost of equipment and consumables does not allow experimenting with gel polish at home. For the same reason, the procedure in the salon will be costly.
- The gel coat is very difficult to remove, despite the fact that it should dissolve well. An experienced master with 10 fingers will need about half an hour, that is, three minutes per nail. At home, you will have to spend twice as much.
- After the coating has been removed, you can see that the nail plate is damaged or yellowed. This reduces the protective function of the nail and can lead to infection by fungus or bacteria.
- Possible allergic reactions.
- Due to changes in a woman's body during pregnancy, the gel coating on the nail plates does not hold or cracks. And in general, its use is not recommended.
- Fast-growing strong legs are the verdict for gel polish. The finish will need frequent touch-ups and will generally look unimpressive.
Harmful Substances
So is gel polish harmful? It depends on what components were used in the composition. Some of them are very harmful, and cause serious problems, so they should not be applied even once, not to mention long-term use. Gel polish may contain:
- Formaldehyde. An excellent preservative that increases the shelf life of the product. But it penetrates into the blood and accumulates in the human body. It has a strong carcinogenic effect, it can provoke severe allergies and destruction of the nail plates.
- Toluene. Negatively affects the nervous system. May cause nausea, headaches and other signs of toxic poisoning. Causes allergic reactions.
- Dibutyl phthalate. The substance has a negative effect on the nervous system and internal organs. Effects may be seen as changes in the skin.
Is gel polish harmful? If it contains any of the indicated components or substances similar in effect, then it is definitely harmful.
How they work
In fact, even if there are no particularly toxic components in the coating, it can still be dangerous. But not for human he alth in general, but only for nails. Wearing gel polish for a long time without a break can lead to the following problems:
- yellowing;
- tuberosity of the nail plate;
- bundle nails;
- dullness;
- thinning;
- appearance of large and small cracks;
- brittleness.
So is gel nail polish harmful? According to the reviews of ordinary people and specialists, this coating can cause such harm with prolonged wear. The thing is that the nail needs to rest. And the periods when the plate is covered with gel should be alternated with periods of rest, intensive nutrition and hydration.
What else can harm when using gel polish
Is it harmful to do a manicure with gel polish? Yes, if you use low-quality materials and do not give your nails a rest. However, with this procedure, it is possible to harm in other ways.
For example, a nail can suffer from careless removal of the coating. Usually it is removed by the master in the cabin with special solvents. They should also be used when removing the coating at home, and experts recommend taking a solvent of the same brand as the gel polish. However, some girls cannot remove the gel on their own, and instead of asking for help, they scrape their nails with something sharp. After such a plate look terrible.
Another example of indirect he alth harm isuse of UV lamps. They are contraindicated in certain diseases, for example, oncology. But, as a rule, when fixing the gel, this effect is minimal and does not cause any harm.
How to reduce harm
Now you know if gel polish is harmful. In order to make it more secure, you need to use the following recommendations:
- Do not use gel polish if the nail plates are affected by fungus.
- Gel polish with a specific chemical smell is a bad choice. It is best to throw it away as it may contain hazardous substances.
- Consumables should be thrown away immediately after the expiration date. For a closed vial, this is three years. For open - exactly two.
- Weak, thin, dull and exfoliating nails are better not to cover with gel polish, as their condition will deteriorate greatly. It is better to first undergo a course of treatment to strengthen and restore nails, and then apply a decorative coating.
- Always let your nails rest after gel polish.
- On the area near the nail plate, you need to constantly apply oils and creams.
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is better to avoid gel coating.
- The lamp should be checked periodically. You also need to adhere to the schedule for changing light bulbs. Otherwise, it may be harmful to he alth.
- The yellowness of the nail plate indicates that the nail was overexposed under the lamp. This indicates the inexperience of the master.
