For those of us who love a gel nail manicure, we all know how it feels. You have spent your hard-earned cash at your favourite nail salon but after a few days, they start to tarnish. So how can you clean your gel nails without ruining your gel nail manicure? Keep reading to find out!
Method 1. Isopropyl alcohol and Nail polish remover
To remove a stain or mark from your gel nail polish, moisten a cotton ball with either nail polish remover or Isopropyl alcohol. Gently dab the affected area until the blemish fades away. Don't scrub too hard though! It's best to use this method immediately after noticing the discolouration; otherwise, it may not be as effective. Here's another top tip for you: If you find that light dabbing isn't enough to remove the stain on your gel polish, consider spraying it with hairspray instead of applying nail polish remover or Isopropyl alcohol. This will help prevent excessive use which can be damaging to fabrics and skin.
Method 2. The hairspray method
That's right - hairspray. Those of you with longer hair probably have a can of this lying around and using it can be a great cleaning hack for your gel nails. Here's how you do it: Begin by laying a towel on an even surface and placing the hand you want to work on it. Spray the hairspray generously over the stained nail until you can see that it is wet. Quickly grab a cotton swab to clean off the hairspray, which should effectively remove any stain residue as well. And lastly, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water in order to eliminate all of the leftover hairspray from your skin.
Method 3. Tea Tree Oil and Water
The natural method. For a shining, stain-free gel manicure, fill a bowl with lukewarm water and add 3-4 drops of tea tree oil. Allow the affected nail to rest in the mixture for at least 5 minutes before removing it - but make sure to wash your hands afterwards! If any stains remain after completing this process once, repeat daily until they're gone.
Method 4. Another visit to the nail bar might be in order...
When DIY solutions fail to remove a mark or blemish on your gel nails, it's best to turn to the professionals. See if you can negotiate with your nail salon and they may be willing redo just one damaged nail - free of charge or for a nominal fee. It never hurts to ask, so enquire beforehand and don't just rock up. In no time at all, you'll have beautiful nails that look as good as new.
Finally, prevention is always better than cure. So how can you stop getting your nails dirty in the first place? Here are three of top tips that you can follow to keep your gel nails looking their best:
1) Wear gloves when cleaning – it’s just a simple way of keeping household chemicals away from your nails.
2) Avoid contact with harsh detergents and soaps – these will do more harm than good in the long run.
3) Keep your nails covered when out in the sun – UV rays can cause fading, discolouration and damage to your Gel Nails.
We hope that this article was useful and gave you a few ideas on how to keep your Gel Nails looking their best! Now go forth and enjoy your Gel nails for longer with these top tips.