How to Make At-Home Gel Manicure Last

For any fashionista, a gel manicure that lasts for a long time is a dream come true. Ideally, at-home gel manicure should last for two weeks or longer. But till that point of time, if you see something weird, check out the following tips and tricks to help your gel manicure last.

Before and During Gel Application

1. Keep nails clean

Before you apply the gel color, it'ѕ essential tо wash your hand with soap and clean your nails thoroughly (including the free edges) with isopropyl alcohol. It is important that the nail plate is free of dust and oils and is dehydrated to ensure proper adhesion of the gel to the nails. You can either wipe them with alcohol pads or cotton pads soaked in alcohol. Thе nail surface should bе dry before the gel application.

2. Apply thin coat

Traditional nail polishes are air dried but gel polishes are cured by UV or LED light. Therefore, it is crucial that the gel is applied with thin coats to be cured properly. If gel is applied too thick, the top layers of the gel are cured but the gel beneath remains uncured, resulting in wrinkling or rippling of the gel.

3. Don’t paint over cuticle or skin

Make sure to Push back your cuticles before applying the gel. It may require a little practice, but the goal is to paint as close to the cuticle and skin as possible without touching it. If necessary, use the manicure stick to clean the excess gel from cuticle and skin before curing. If the gel goes over the cuticle or skin, as the nail grows it creates a gap between the gel and the nail, and eventually causes lifting.

4. Apply top coat

Although Murron gel colors are shinny once they are cured even without the top coat, we recommend to complete your gel application with a layer of top coat to extend the life of your gel manicure.

After Gel Application

5. Be gentle with your nails

Use nails as tools like pulling tape off boxes or opening cans can cause wear on the tips of nails. Try use actual tools instead of nails can prevent nail damage and help your gel manicure last longer.

6. Wear gloves to avoid contacting with household chemicals

Household chemicals like detergent or dish soap can reduce the shine and weaken the gel. Use gloves when doing housework can protect your gel manicure from chipping or lifting.

7. Stay away from hot water

Hot water softens the gel and makes it easy to come off. Avoid taking long bath or shower or at least keep it short. Once you're done, don't forget to wipe off water droplets gently and give the gel time to harden again. Wash your hair with the pads of your fingers, not your nails.

8. Don’t pick

We have come to realize that it’s so tempting for some people to pick and peel Murron peel-off gel nail polish before it's time to remove it because…well…it’s kind of fun. It’s like stickers! Although it won’t damage your nails the way soak-off nail polish does, you will need to reapply the gel afterwards.

9. Avoid cutting or filing

Avoid trimming or filing your nails because it will break the seal of the gel polish which may result in lifting and peeling. In case your nail edges are rubbed or chipped away, you can file them gently and apply another coat over the free edge. With Murron at-home gel nail polish, you also have the option of quickly peeling the chipped gel from nails and reapply new gel without a salon visit.