Beauty Obsession: Gel Nails

Obviously gel nails are nothing new in the beauty world but they are new to me! As someone who owns over 80 polishes I never understood being committed to one color for two to three whole weeks. But with fashion week coming up, the events per week are increasing, and chips are not cute. I got a standard “barbie” pink with refined silver shimmer, a basic that is both fun but also classic, so I wouldn’t get sick of the shade. Many places in NY charge upwards of $45-50 for gels, plus extra for glitter, or art, or soaking the color off if you are ready for a change. In my opinion, two weeks is not a lifetime, and spending $50 is not a reality. My salon in the financial district uses the famous gel brand CND, won’t charge extra for glitter, and will soak off your shade if they’re re-doing your gels, so for $30 all in, I figured it was worth a try!

My pros: the lack of drying time post-paint, I’m the WORST at keeping still. Also, the lack of chips (duh), made my life easier when I had a work meeting scheduled and my blue nails weren’t half chipped off.

Cons: the limited color options, my salon only had about 20 options total. Having to use UV light and acetone, not the most natural method. Lastly, the way the color grows out is a little awkward, but if you re-do them regularly, it isn’t terribly noticeable.

So for those of you debating gels, do you research, find a price point that is right for you, and try them out!