Aftercare

You’ve invested in getting your nails done, so here’s what you can do to help prolong the life of your gel manicure. Remember I’ve done my part, now it’s your turn!

No picking labels off, no opening cans with your nails, no scratching muck off the kitchen counter, you get it. Get in the habit of using your knuckle instead of your fingertips for things like flushing the loo! You could also consider purchasing a Keysie Nail Saver, these are great little gadgets to help with day to day tasks that you’d usually use your nails for!

Like it or not our lifestyle does play a role in determining how long our nails last. Hobbies like Gardening (with no gloves on), pottery classes, rock climbing etc will undoubtedly put your new nails to the test. Remember your gel manicure isn’t indestructible.

Harsh cleaning products and even hand sanitizers react with our gel nails. Over use of them will damage your gels and cause them to lift sooner than expected so handle with care! For best practice always use gloves when cleaning!

It’s been proven that regular use of cuticle oil can increase the life of your gel nails. It works by locking in the moisture around the nail whilst also penetrating the nail bed. Think how brittle a dry brown leaf is compared to a supple green leaf! 🍃 Ideally we want to use a moisturising serum first to hydrate then follow up with oil to seal that moisture in. Or oil straight after your hands have been exposed to water ie- out the shower. Don’t forget, You can purchase cuticle oils at your next appointment, as well as useful items like nail files and Keysies.

Fake tans can stain nails, more noticeably on lighter colour nails. If you want to avoid this it’s a great idea to smother your nails in cuticle oil or something like Vaseline prior to tanning. Certain foods like curry’s are likely to stain your nails. You should be wearing gloves anyway but be cautious if using hair dyes. Smokers may notice staining on the fingers they use to hold the cigarette, more noticeable with light coloured nails.

Now it is possible your nails can be too moist! Constant exposure to water, either cleaning, swimming, your job. These can cause too much moisture to build up and cause the gel to separate from your nails. You should always keep your hands out of the bath!! 🛁 Not only do you not want your nails soaking in water, you especially don’t want them soaking in hot water! The heat can actually soften the gels causing them to temporarily become bendy and loose its strength. Remember always use cuticle oil after water exposure!