Weekly manicure appointments are slowly being replaced by new 14 day nail polish systems which not only last, but dry immediately. Commonly known as gel manicures, these systems last for two weeks after application and won’t chip or peel with daily wear and tear. These polishes are specially designed to make your nails harder, it takes less time then getting acrylic or silk nails, and requires no drying time. Popular nail polish brands like Essie, OPI, CND, and Dashing Diva all have their own take the gel nail polish craze. This service can be done at your local nail salon, spa, or even at home.
The way most 14 day nail polish systems work is that is they start of with a traditional manicure. The nails are trimmed, filed, and buffed which preps them for the gel manicure. If desired you can cut or push back your cuticles. Next a primer polish is applied to the nails, then a gel polish color, and last a top coat. After each polish coat you cure the polish under a UV light or LED light. The average price of a gel manicure done by a professional cost $30 to $50. At home kits cost from $70 to $200. Some have concerns about whether or not gel manicures are bad for you, however recent studies have prove they do not cause cancer and have the same risk of infection as regular manicures. Two of the most popular brands of 14 day nail polish systems are CND Shellac and Haute Polish.
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CND Shellac is the most popular 14 day nail polish system on the market used by professionals. This is not a traditional gel manicure and does not use formaldehyde, toluene, or DBP (Dibutyl Phthalate). Shellac manicures have been known to last 3 weeks and if removed in the proper way ( in the guidelines given by the company) they will leave your natural nail undamaged. This system even has its own nail oil that was created to moisturized nail before and after the service. CND Shellac manicures use a UV lamp to cure the polish, which is the most controversial type of lamp. There are 57 different shades of color polishes with this system and it has been featured in InStyle, Oprah, and Family Circle Magazine. Before you find your local CND Shellac certified professionals, let’s review some of the pros and cons of this nail polish system.
Pros
- Last up to 3 weeks
- Available in 57 shades
- Doesn’t damage nails
Cons
- Uses at least three layers of product
- Can be hard to find a nail salon certified in CND Shellac
- Has a slight odor
- Is 50 percent more expensive than a traditional manicure
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Haute Polish is a one step gel nail system that combines a gel base coat, color polish, and shiny top coat all in one self leveling 14 day nail polish system. It uses an LED lamp to set the polish in 15 to 60 seconds, not the standard two minutes. There are 96 different shades and the Haute Polish LED lamps tells you the step by step instructions for a flawless gel manicure. This system is solvent free and it does not smell during any step of the process. Haute polish is an at home system that cost $80 for the starter kit and $12 per polish. On Amazon.com the system has received poor reviews when compared to salon versions. Before you try the Gel Haute Polish System read the pros and cons below.
Pros
- Has 96 shades
- Can be done yourself
- Has less chemicals
- Drys faster then most gel systems
Cons
- Has an expensive upfront cost
- Received bad reviews on Amazon.com
- Some shades aren’t true to color
The Verdict: Since CND Shellac is applied by a professional, it is more likely that you will get a beautiful result than if you do it yourself. If this is your first experience with gel, you many not want to fork over $80 for something that may not work. Over time all gel manicures can cause damage to nails, so you may want to give your nails a break every four applications.
What’s your favorite gel manicure system?
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Despite the claims that gel manicures don’t damage your nails, every time I’ve gotten one they’ve left my nails thinner, more fragile, and more brittle than before.
I’m constantly cooking and washing dishes so I stick to regular nail polish for special occasions, and a strengthening pearly color from Juliet (done at home) for everyday wear.