I recently had the opportunity to try a gel polish manicure and I have to tell you I'm thrilled with the results! I don't know about you, but being a busy mom manicures were one of the first things to go. Since I've been doing videos and noticing my hands more and more on screen, I started thinking that it would be a public service if I paid a little attention to my digits! I thought about doing my nails myself, but honestly, I'd have to give myself a manicure immediately before shooting because I'd have chips and/or smudges within the hour. And really, I could get a regular manicure, but that would require more planning and scheduling and I'd still have my smudgy/chippy problems.
Enter Jessica Weidenfeld.
Jessica made an offer to EncinoMom to try her gel manicure for free and extended an offer of 20% off to ANYONE who mentioned EncinoMom when booking an appointment with her (first timers only, please - Jessica needs to make a living, too)! I knew I'd be a fool to leave Jessica's extremely generous offer on the table, so with curiosity and an open mind I ventured in to Trinity Salon and made up my own mind.
I had never heard of gel polish before. Well, I had actually heard a salon owner mention gel polish - one day while chasing my daughter away from a local toy store, but I really thought he was slightly out of his right mind and flat out didn't believe his claims - even if I'd had time to indulge him!
So here's the skinny. It really goes on just like regular polish. It's a little thicker and you put your hands in a little - lighted fingernail garage thingy (you may quote me) to cure the polish. Your nails are DRY when you're done. Dig in your purse dry - AND hard and strong, impossible to smudge, ding, chip or rip!
My manicure lasted for 2 weeks without the slightest indication of the passage of time! Picture perfect nails for 2 weeks - not 2 days or 2 hours - 2 weeks! In case you don't know, I wash my own dishes, I don't use gloves, I'm an avid gardener, I type (obviously), play piano and participate in a any number of other manicure adverse activities on a daily basis. I worked hard to find the limitations of my gel polished nails, including using them to open tab-topped cans and scrape spilled candle wax from the floor!
On the 15th day, I had the slightest imperfection in the very tip of the ring finger of my right hand. Eventually, after 18 days, enough water had saturated the nail to cause a piece of the polish to peel off. This picture was taken just before I went in to have the original manicure removed. I'm pretty sure you won't be able to tell from the picture that there was even the slightest imperfection, even after 18 days.
I'm now on my second manicure. As busy as I may be, I can find an hour (or less) every three weeks to keep me looking like a hand model! Pick a color you love, because you will be wearing it with everything for a long time! Oh, and a bonus for me; my nails are slightly ridged and fairly soft. The gel smooths the surface of my nail nicely, adds a little strength and has that freshly polished shine until you have it taken off.
Here are the cons: it costs more. It's nearly double what a regular manicure would cost, but it lasts more than twice as long so it's more upfront, but less costly if replacing a regular manicure routine. Removal is best left to your manicurist. It does not come off with simple acetone.
Book your manicure today, you will LOVE it!
photos by: Lisa Keating
Most of the ingredients used in nail products are not tested for safety by the Food and Drug Administration. In fact, some of the acrylics used with gels during gel manicurecan be associated with fingernail damage and deformity.
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