Gel polish
Also called: Gel colour and Soak-off gel
A nail colour that stays soft until it is cured under a UV or LED lamp, then sets hard and glossy for two to three weeks on the hands.
Gel polish is a nail colour that does not dry in the air. Each thin layer is placed under a small UV or LED lamp for a short cure, so by the time the top coat is on, the nails are fully hard and you can use your hands straight away. There is no smudging and the shine stays high.
On the hands gel usually lasts two to three weeks before it lifts at the edges or your own nail shows at the base; on the toes it often lasts a month or more. It should be removed by soaking, not peeled, because peeling takes layers of nail with it.
A small number of people develop an allergy to the acrylates in gel, which shows as itching or soreness around the nail; if that happens, stop using gel and ask your doctor. Lamp exposure is brief; if you prefer, apply sunscreen to your hands first. This is general information, not medical advice. Hamd Beauty uses gel polish in its gel manicure and gel pedicure.
