Benefits & Disadvantages of Gel Nails - Are They Worth it

Gel nails are amazing, they have a ton of advantages but they also have a few drawbacks. So they are not for everyone.

Now in this article, I am going to highlight the benefits of gel nails and the drawbacks to help you decide if they are right for you.

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Types of Gel Nails

When people refer to gel nails they are usually referring to either:

Gel Polish – these are polishes that need a UV lamp to cure and harden.
Gel Extension – is an alternative to acrylic nails and is used to build nail extensions to make your nails longer.

Now, this article will be divided into two parts; in the first part, we will share with you the benefits and drawbacks of a gel polish manicure.

And in the second part, we will discuss the pros and cons of gel nail extensions. Or you can click here to read Gel Vs Acrylic where I also cover in-depth the pros and cons of Gel Extensions.

Benefits of Gel Polish Manicures

Gel polish manicures are the most common type of gel manicures and are usually what people mean when they refer to gel nails.

They are basically a manicure that uses gel polish instead of regular nail polishes. The benefits of them are:

1- Looks Amazing

Gel nail polishes give you an amazing finish, much better than regular nail polishes.

They tend to be more pigmented. So they require fewer coats to create a solid color, though this will vary with the brand that you use.

Gel Polishes tend to have a nice natural glossy effect – but they are available in matte colors as well. Citation.

2- Long-lasting & Very Durable

Now the main advantage that gel polishes have is that they last much longer when compared to regular nail polishes.

Gel Polishes can last for 2-3 weeks once applied and cared for correctly. Whilst regular nail polishes usually just go for 5-7 days before starting to peel and fade.

You can click here to learn more about how long gel nails last and how you can make them last longer.

Gel manicures are also much more durable than manicures made from regular nail polishes. Gel nails are less like to peel, lift, or chip. And they are better suited if your nails are exposed to harsh environments such as heat and strong chemicals.

Bonus Tip

You can make your regular nail polish last a lot stronger by applying a UV gel top coat over them – click here to learn more.

3- Faster Application

Gel Polishes use a UV-Led Lamp to cure and harden rather than air-drying like regular nail polishes.

Gel polishes cure within 30-60 seconds. Whilst regular nail polishes take 10-14 minutes, depending on the brand, to dry.

This allows gel polishes to be applied much faster than regular nail polishes.

You can check out the video below to see how you can apply gel polishes at Home.

How to Apply Gel Polishes

Recommended Gel Products

You can click here to see a combo set of really affordable gel polishes on Amazon.

And for a great UV Led Lamp, you can click here.

4- Easier to Fix Mistakes

Gel polishes only harden when they are exposed to a UV lamp and would stay liquid until then.

So if you are making nail art or doing basic designing and you make a mistake. You can easily wipe away the gel polish and start over again once you have not cured it yet.

Whilst with regular nail polish you might need to use acetone to fix your mistakes.

Disadvantages Of Gel Polish

1- Harder to Remove

Now because gel polishes are so durable and long-lasting also makes them more difficult to remove when compared to regular nail polishes.

Removing gel polishes takes longer and most salons would soak your nails in pure acetone which is the fastest method

But I have a great article where I guide you through How you can remove gel polishes without acetone, click here to check it out.

2- Harsher on Your Nails

Gel polishes are more likely to damage your natural nails. This is because they are more tedious and difficult to remove and thus mistakes are more possible.

Most salons would soak your nails in pure acetone. And some salons might even use an electric nail file to speed up the removal process.

Both acetone and an electric nail file can potentially damage your natural nails especially if used incorrectly.

5 Alternatives to Gel Nails: Safe, Healthy & Durable

3- More Costly

Gel Polishes will cost more than regular nail polishes both at a salon and when buying them to DIY at home. And in some cases, you might actually have to pay to remove them.

But Gel Polishes will give you better value since they are more long-lasting. So you can end up saving money and time with gel polishes once you keep them on for atleast the full 2 weeks.

I have an entire article that will guide you through what you can expect to pay for gel manicures. You can click here to read it – How much does gel nails cost & How much to remove Them.

4- Exposure to UV Light

Gel Polishes will require you to have your hands under a UV-led Lamp. So if you are trying to avoid too much exposure to UV radiation, then you might want to avoid gel nails. Citation.

Or at least take some precautions like applying sunscreen on your hands and fingers or wearing manicure gloves. You can click here to learn more about manicure gloves.

Or check out the 6 Ways to Protect your Hands from UV Lamps- Safer Gel Manicures

5- Less Variety of Colors to Choose From

Gel polishes don’t have so many shades of color to choose from when compared to regular nail polishes.

This is because regular nail polishes have been around a lot longer and is more popular.

Benefits of Gel Extension

Gel Extensions are used to extend the length of your nails. They are used as an alternative to acrylic nails.

The benefits of gel extension are:

Naturally glossy.
Tend to be less damaging to your nails compared to acrylic
Lighter and feels more natural

Disadvantages of Gel Extension

The disadvantages of gel extensions are:

Not as durable and long-lasting like acrylic
Most Costly
Requires exposure to UV light

We cover the pros and cons of Gel extensions more in detail in my article Gel Nails Vs Acrylic Nails you can click here to read it.

Hard Gel Extensions: How to Apply, Benefits & Risks

2 Ways to Remove Hard Gel at Home (With & Without Drill)

Are BIAB Gel Nail Extensions any Good: Pros, Cons & How to DIY

Hard Gel vs Gel X- Differences & Which is Better

Sources

Gel manicures: Tips for healthy nails

Gel Manicures: A Complete Guide to Gel Nails

Can Ultraviolet Nail Salon Lamps Give You Skin Cancer