AppiSToS

Gel manicures: caring for nails before and after colour

Clean tools, hand protection and removal without peeling the polish off.

Gel offers lasting colour, but repeated application and removal can stress nails. The AAD recommends practical precautions.

At the salon and at home

Ask about tool disinfection and avoid cutting cuticles. Before curing, the Academy recommends broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen on hands, or suitable opaque gloves with exposed fingertips.

Do not peel gel off when it starts lifting. Breaks between applications and moisturising can help. Recurrent brittleness, pain or inflammation merit a dermatologist’s assessment.

English translation of the Greek edition · Read in Greek