‘Tis the season for many Holiday gatherings!!! If you plan on getting your nails done for the occasion, follow these tips to keep your nails looking great!
The American Academy of Dermatology gives tips to keep your nails healthy before, during and after gel manicures, dermatologists recommend the following tips:
- Be proactive with your manicurist: Ask if tools are sterilized, and look around to make sure he or she is cleaning and disinfecting tools after every client. In addition, never let your manicurist push or cut your cuticle, as this could lead to inflammation and infection.
- Consider traditional nail polish instead of gel polish: This is especially important if you experience recurring nail problems or are allergic to acetone, as acetone is required to remove gel polish.
- Wear sunscreen: Before getting a gel manicure, apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to your hands to prevent skin cancer and premature skin aging. This will help protect your skin from the ultraviolet radiation used to seal gel nail polish to the nail. Another option is to put on dark, opaque gloves with the fingertips snipped off before your nail polish is applied.
- Don’t pick gel nail polish: When the color begins to come off, don’t pick at the polish or use other nails or tools to remove it. Instead, make an appointment with your manicurist to have the polish removed.
- Only soak your fingertips in acetone: When having the nail polish removed, only soak your fingertips in acetone instead of your whole hands or fingers to protect the surrounding skin. Another option is to use cotton balls to remove the polish. Soak the cotton balls in acetone and apply them to you nails by wrapping small pieces of aluminum foil around your fingertips. This will ensure that only your nails come into contact with the acetone. After about 15 minutes, the nail polish should come right off.
