If you have gel manicures, you may have noticed your nails looking a little dull lately. A quick swipe of alcohol can bring back the shine, but is that good for your nails? Keep reading to learn whether using alcohol on gel nails to increase shine is safe and effective.<\/p>\n
If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer: Using alcohol on gel nails can make them look shiny temporarily, but it also breaks down the gel layers over time leading to peeling and damage<\/b>. It’s better to avoid alcohol and get professional gloss gel top coats or nail polishes to keep your gel manicure looking freshly done.<\/p>\nHow Alcohol Impacts Gel Nail Shine<\/h2>\n
Removes Oils and Residue<\/h3>\n
Alcohol is often used to cleanse and remove oils, dirt, and residue from surfaces. When applied to gel nails, the alcohol can strip away some of the natural oils in the nail bed. This leaves the nails feeling dry and looking dull.<\/p>\n
Frequent alcohol use can lead to peeling, cracking, and other damage over time.<\/p>\n
The ingredients in gel nail polish, like methacrylates, can be broken down by alcohol. When alcohol comes into contact with a gel manicure, it starts breaking apart the layers of product on the nails. This damage is often invisible at first but causes the shine and smoothness of the manicure to deteriorate.<\/p>\n
Since alcohol removes moisture, swiping it over gel nails can draw moisture out of the natural nails as well. The dehydrating effects of alcohol lead to dry, brittle nails under the gel polish. Dry nails reflect less light, taking away that desired glassy shine.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, dry nails are more prone to cracking, increasing the chances of damage to the gel manicure.<\/p>\n
Gel polish is an excellent way to get that ultra-glossy, salon-perfect shine on your nails without using alcohol-based products. Gel top coats create a smooth, glass-like finish and can last over a week without chipping or fading.<\/p>\n
Most gel polishes applied at nail salons use a UV or LED lamp to “cure” or harden each coat on the nails. Brands like OPI, Gelish, and Shellac make professional gel top coats<\/b> that professionals use to give you flawless shine.<\/p>\n
Some of the benefits of gel top coats over traditional nail polish are:<\/p>\n
Gel manicures have become ubiquitous at nail salons, making up around 75% of total manicure services<\/b>, according to industry surveys. Gel top coats lead to extended wear without the need for nail polish touch ups compared to traditional polishes.<\/p>\n
While sometimes more expensive than a regular manicure, many feel the longer duration and chip-free shine is worth the investment. Gel top coats can provide that special event or vacation photo-ready shine that lasts over a week when applied properly.<\/p>\n
Advances in technology have created at-home high shine nail polish top coats<\/b> that rival what you can get at the salon. Many brands now offer polishes that claim salon-quality shine, including:<\/p>\n These shiny top coat nail polishes provide salon-caliber shine using proprietary polymers and layering technology rather than UV lamps for curing. Multiple thin coats allow nail polishes today to deliver brilliant, long-lasting shine rivaling gels.<\/p>\n Shiny top coats are also gentler on nails compared to gels requiring less filing and buffing during removal. Using these polishes along with a quality base coat allows even amateur nail enthusiasts to achieve eye-catching shine.<\/p>\n\n