How long does gel polish last and how do you care for it?
Gel polish usually stays neat for about 3–4 weeks. How long depends on your own nails, how fast they grow and what you do with your hands. It lasts longest when the nails are prepared carefully, the cuticles are kept oiled and maintenance is done on time. At Salonki №1 maintenance costs €75 and includes removal of the old gel and a fresh application. All nail work has a 7-day guarantee.
Why does gel polish sometimes come off?
The most common causes are water, chemicals and using your nails as tools. The nail absorbs water and swells slightly, then shrinks back as it dries. Repeated swelling can lift the edges of the polish. That is why all our manicures are dry manicures, without soaking: gel adheres better to a dry nail.
7 tips to make your gel polish last longer
- Wear gloves when washing up or cleaning. Detergents and hot water are gel polish's worst enemies.
- Oil your cuticles daily. Cuticle oil keeps the skin and nail flexible, so the edge of the polish is less likely to crack.
- Don't use your nails as tools: don't open cans or scrape off stickers with them.
- Don't peel off lifting polish. A thin layer of your own nail comes off with it, and the nail becomes thinner.
- File carefully when needed, only the tip of the nail and never the surface.
- Protect your hands with hand cream in cold and dry weather, because dry skin around the nail shows at the edge of the polish.
- Book maintenance on time, every 3–4 weeks, before the gap at the base starts to show or the edges lift.
When is maintenance due?
When a visible gap has grown at the base of the nail or the edge of the polish starts to lift, it is time to book maintenance. During maintenance the old gel is removed, the nails are reshaped, the cuticles are tended and a fresh application is made. Maintenance costs €75 and takes about 120 min. You can find prices and available appointments on the gel nails in Helsinki page. If you want a break, gel polish removal costs €45, and removal and a manicure together are €63.
If your nails are thin or split, ask about an IBX treatment: it strengthens the nail and can be added to gel polish for €25.
When something goes wrong
If the polish chips or lifts within the first week, it is covered by our guarantee: all nail work has a 7-day guarantee. Send a photo on WhatsApp and we will arrange a time for the repair. You can find the terms on the guarantee and hygiene page.