Beauty

[SnowOwl79]

@El_Lay have you tried a matte top coat?

[Shanus]

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@SnowOwl79 wrote:

@Shanus , the difficult removal is only for the cured gel polish. Any polish that is "gel-like" removes the same as any regular polish. 

As beautiful as they are, the reason I don't wear gel is because of the removal. There's a scraper tool you can use to help with removal. 

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@SnowOwl79   The scraping sounds like a turn off to me. I wouldn't want to damage my real nails. Thanks, though.

[SnowOwl79]

@Shanus , the gel removal is damaging with or without the scraper. As was mentioned, the gel has to soak in very strong remover for 10-15 minutes (or whatever it is), and a tool of some sort will be used to scrape it off. That one just makes the process easier. It isn't any more damaging than whatever else they use.

[We rescue cats]

The salon I go to has a huge selection of OPI polish, many of them are available in both gel and standard polish colors. You might check to see if your salon has them available.

[monicakm]

@Shanus 

I had gel nails one time since I've been back in the nail scene.  It was my first time as well.  I didn't like the process to remove it.  Unless I'm going on a 2-3 week cruise again (doubt it) and need extra lasting power, I don't think I'll do it again.  Wait, I might.  That would be a good idea right before my knee surgery.  Yes, I think I'll do it then.

[El_Lay]

I have not. Thank you SO much. I will pick up one the next time I am in Ulta or CVS.

[Shanus]

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@monicakm wrote:

@Shanus 

I had gel nails one time since I've been back in the nail scene.  It was my first time as well.  I didn't like the process to remove it.  Unless I'm going on a 2-3 week cruise again (doubt it) and need extra lasting power, I don't think I'll do it again.  Wait, I might.  That would be a good idea right before my knee surgery.  Yes, I think I'll do it then.

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@monicakm   Thanks for the info, but the few surgeries I had, my instructions were to REMOVE nail polish...I guess they need to check blood flow/oxygen by looking at color of nail beds. Things may have changed though in last 20 yrs.

[SnowOwl79]

FYI - Nail polish dries faster in cold than hot. When I was 13 y/o, I accidentally found out that putting my hand under cold water dried them quickly. 

Warm polish is much easier to apply than room temperature or cold polish. Dark colors are easier to work with, lighter colors are easier to clean up.

[JoyFilled Warrior]

@SnowOwl79 

Ohhh.  Aside from using Nail Polish Thinner

  (*note:  *NOT* Polish Remover to thin polish), 

so, when polished nails are merely tacky, I also run my painted fingernails under cold water to speed up the hardening too.   Doesnt take long.

i didnt realize anyone else did that!  

High 5s!!   @SnowOwl79  

[monicakm]

@JoyFilled Warrior 

Before I stopped painting my nails 3+ years ago, I used cold water to harden them.  It just made sense to me.  But now I'm using my blow dryer between coats to speed up the process.  Seems to work but I like the idea of cold vs hot to dry.