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I gave up wearing nail polish years ago because it always chips off within 48 hours, or even just falls off. I hate how it looks once it's chipped or rubbed off. I made peace several years ago with the redness of my hands,
When I heard about gel polish, I tried it, and it stays on. It stays on too well, though, because getting it off was really hard, took HOURS, and my nails were always damaged. I bought my own led lamp last year so I could experiment with making it last (because really I don't love getting manicures, I just like having polish on. So I would rather save money and do it at home.) Here is what I do to get a gel manicure that lasts more than a week, but comes off without damage:
IBX: IBX is a penetrative nail treatment that cures with an LED light. It's expensive but you basically get a 2-year supply in the 2-bottle set. It really, really works. it makes my nails much much stronger, and when used with the other two interventions, it prevents damage. The IBX Repair portion actually repaired a crack in one of my nails, which is impressive.
No more buffing or primer: buffing and primer are supposed to make gel polish adhere to the nail and not come off. I decided they weren't necessary for me, because my problem is getting the gel off, not keeping it on. I have stopped using buffer and primer, I still get great adhesion, but no more shredding my nail when it comes off.
Peel-off base coat: this is a gel coat, but it comes loose after a soak in hot water, and you can peel it off. I tried using it with primer/buffing but still had a really hard time removing, although I think I was also not soaking in hot-enough water. Without buffing and priming, the polish lasts more than a week. I easily removed it after soaking in hot water, and my nails are in good shape.
This week they are neon green :) It makes me happy to see them every day.
When I heard about gel polish, I tried it, and it stays on. It stays on too well, though, because getting it off was really hard, took HOURS, and my nails were always damaged. I bought my own led lamp last year so I could experiment with making it last (because really I don't love getting manicures, I just like having polish on. So I would rather save money and do it at home.) Here is what I do to get a gel manicure that lasts more than a week, but comes off without damage:
IBX: IBX is a penetrative nail treatment that cures with an LED light. It's expensive but you basically get a 2-year supply in the 2-bottle set. It really, really works. it makes my nails much much stronger, and when used with the other two interventions, it prevents damage. The IBX Repair portion actually repaired a crack in one of my nails, which is impressive.
No more buffing or primer: buffing and primer are supposed to make gel polish adhere to the nail and not come off. I decided they weren't necessary for me, because my problem is getting the gel off, not keeping it on. I have stopped using buffer and primer, I still get great adhesion, but no more shredding my nail when it comes off.
Peel-off base coat: this is a gel coat, but it comes loose after a soak in hot water, and you can peel it off. I tried using it with primer/buffing but still had a really hard time removing, although I think I was also not soaking in hot-enough water. Without buffing and priming, the polish lasts more than a week. I easily removed it after soaking in hot water, and my nails are in good shape.
This week they are neon green :) It makes me happy to see them every day.