Professional gel nail polish. Which firm is better, how to use, durability

Gel polish has been an innovative and most popular nail polish product for the past few years. It can be used to create a strong and long-lasting coating that is completely safe and looks beautiful.

Many companies are now engaged in the production of this material, so figuring out which one is better is not easy. A good varnish should be non-liquid, dense and dry quickly. Only with such a product can you create the perfect coverage.

Properties of gel polish

Gel polish for nails (it is better to look for firms after looking through the pricing information) has many distinctive properties.

The main ones are:

1. Medium-liquid consistency. Gel polish is similar in texture to jelly, viscous and dense.
2. The top for gel polish glows blue in the lamp.
3. Does not spread instantly over the nail. Regular varnish penetrates much faster under the cuticle and lateral ridges. When applying gel polish, there is enough time for it to spread.
4. 90% of gel polishes do not have an unpleasant odor.
5. Gel polish does not lose shine and saturation even after 3 weeks of use.
6. Gel polish perfectly holds rubs and sliders.
7. This material has a more pigmented color than classic varnish.
8. The product combines all the advantages of varnish and gel at the same time.
9. Gel polish is resistant to water and high temperatures. With him you can swim in the sea, go to the bathhouse.
10. Not felt on the nails. The coating does not bring discomfort.
11. Huge palette of colors and effects.
12. Has a specific removal and application process.
13. If used incorrectly, it splits in layers.
14. The lamp sometimes gets too hot and painful. This is due to the rapid heating of the material, the skin does not have time to adapt to the temperature and the nerves send signals to the brain that cause pain.

What is gel polish, its features and differences from ordinary nail polish

Gel polish for nails (it is better to choose firms after studying the information on durability) is a coating that combines the properties of ordinary varnish and gel.

This material is an innovative product that appeared on the Russian market about 10 years ago.

From a scientific point of view, gel polish is an easily soluble plastic compound that contains coloring pigments. Some women call it "shellac", making a mistake. This was the name of the product from the first foreign company that was engaged in the production of this material.

Gel polish has 7 differences from regular polish:

1. Composition. The main difference from a simple varnish.
   • Regular varnish. It is based on a solvent that forms the right environment for homogeneous mixing of the remaining components. The solvent evaporates during the drying process. In addition, formaldehyde resin and nitrocellulose are present, which are responsible for the gloss and durability of the coating. All other components depend on the specific category, for example, bismuth oxychloride is added to pearlescent varnishes.
   • Gel polish. The main substance is a film former. It is he who is responsible for resistance to household chemicals, durability and hardness. In addition to it, there is a photoinitiator, it depends on which lamp the material will dry in.All other components are similar to those found in regular varnish.
2. Three-phase application. In order for the coating to last for a long time, it is necessary to apply three products: base, color gel polish and top.
3. Drying lamp. This material does not dry out outdoors. It should cure when exposed to ultraviolet light. This is the name of the process of formation of a high-molecular compound (polymer) by repeated attachment of molecules of a low-molecular substance (monomer) to active centers in a growing molecule. There are 3 types of lamp:
   • UV / LED. The most versatile and powerful lamp capable of curing 85% of gel polishes. They contain LEDs that produce ultraviolet light with a length of 350-400 nanometers. In such lamps, 1 layer of material is dried for no more than 1 minute.
   • These lamps use short and medium wavelengths of ultraviolet light for drying. Their length does not exceed 350 nanometers. Such lamps were used several years ago and significantly increased the coating time. Each layer must be dried for more than 1.5 minutes.
   • In such lamps, formulations created specifically for rapid polymerization are dried. Gel polishes intended only for such lamps, there are approximately 10-12% of the total.
4. Withdrawal. Compared to classic polish, gel polish is more difficult to remove. To remove the material, it is necessary either to split the bonds between the molecules, or simply to cut the material. In the first case, a liquid is used. In the second, a special apparatus is used.
5. Promotes proper nail growth. Recently, it has become more common for toenails or hand nails to grow incorrectly. They can be helped by modern modeling, which will give the nails a good framework for growth. This method of correction is based on a gel, which is then hidden with colored gel polish.

Varieties of gel polish

All gel polishes can be roughly divided into several groups.

By price

The cost of varnish can vary greatly. You can find products for both 80-100 rubles and 1000-1500.

Exists:

1. Budgetary. There are enough good items in this category. The low price is due to the unpopularity of the company and the cheaper components in the composition. It is important to know that such gel polishes are also safe and used by professionals.
2. Medium price segment. Materials from this category cost from 300 rubles. They contain components of average quality, most often they are used because of their good pigmentation and a large palette of colors.
3. Lux class. CND is one of the most expensive and well-known brands in the world. It was her products that first appeared in Russia, thanks to this company, the name "shellac" began to be personified with all gel polishes. The safest ingredients and the best pigments are used in premium materials. However, they also have bad colors that don't dry well.

By effect

Gel polishes can differ not only in colors, but also in texture and effect. Most often, unusual types are used for designs on some nails.

The following are distinguished:

1. Watercolor. These gel polishes are most often used for painting flowers. This is a relatively new species that has become especially popular in 2019.
2. "Cat's Eye". Such a popular option that all 10 fingers are painted with it. Products in this category contain the smallest metal particles. When exposed to a magnet, they always create a different and unusual design.
3. Craquelure. To make this design, you need 2 varnishes, they are usually sold together. The first product will be the base, most often it has a neutral color, the second varnish has a bright shade, when applied it cracks, creating an unusual pattern.
4. Chameleon. Under different lighting conditions, gel varnishes in this category have a different color.
5. With sparkles. They allow you to instantly thin the classic solid color. As part of such gel polishes, there can be both purchased sparkles and very small ones.
6. Thermo.Materials in this category change color depending on the ambient temperature.

By finish coating

This applies not to color gel polish, but to the top:

1. Glossy. These varnishes give a beautiful finish that reflects the light. This is the most common top.
2. Matt. Materials in this category remove shine and make the coating velvety. Most often, the design is made matte so that the drawing is better viewed.

By the presence of a dispersion layer

The dispersion layer or oxygen, oxide layer is the residual stickiness of the UV material after polymerization in the lamp. Gel polishes are available with and without a sticky layer.

Products of the first category must be covered with a top, if this is not done, they will fall off.

Materials of the second category do not need a finishing layer. This property is often used in gel varnishes created for drawing voluminous monograms and flowers.

Advantages and disadvantages of gel polish

Gel polish for nails (it is better to choose a company after studying information about the compositions and components), like any other product, has its advantages and disadvantages.

Benefits:

1. Lasts a long time. With the correct application technique, the coating can last more than 2 months. Unfortunately, wearing it for so long is not recommended. All masters say that the optimal time is 3.4 weeks. Further, the nail plate grows so much that the arch and the highest point move out of their place, increasing the risk of breaking the nail at the root or pulling it out. In addition, the coating can chip. Bacteria and germs sometimes appear in these voids, causing diseases.
2. Large palette of colors. Now gel polishes are available in all shades that you can think of.
3. Large selection of designs. The texture of the material is denser than that of ordinary varnish, so you can create absolutely any patterns on it, for example, a gradient, monograms, flowers.
4. Helps grow the nail. There are opinions that gel polish harms the structure of the nail. In practice, it helps small nails grow significantly. This result can only be achieved by following all the steps correctly.
5. With him, your hands look well-groomed and beautiful. Manicure nails are always clean, there are no wounds or burrs on the cuticle.
6. Hides the imperfections of the nail plate. In some girls, the nail grows bumps. It looks ugly. Coating with gel polish will help hide irregularities and straighten the nail plate.

Disadvantages:

1. Applying gel polish requires knowledge of certain rules. At home, without special courses, you can rarely make a beautiful and durable coating yourself.
2. You need to go to the salon. Only masters who have passed special training can make a high-quality coating.
3. Harmful to nails if misused. If the nail is cut too far before applying, it will become thin and will not be able to hold the coating. In addition, during the manicure process, you can severely spoil the plate with a cutter or cutting tools.
4. Difficult to shoot. Gel polish cannot be peeled off from the nail by yourself, as it can become very thin. It is better to go to the salon, where the master will do it with the help of an apparatus or soaking.
5. Long time to do. Usually the whole process: removal, manicure, coating, takes 2 hours.
6. Price. In large cities, prices for high-quality coverage start at 1,500 rubles. If you do it at home, you also need to spend a lot of money. The minimum set with the necessary funds costs from 5000 rubles.
7. May cause allergies. After applying some gel polishes, itching appears, the skin around the nail becomes inflamed. In addition, often an allergic reaction on the skin appears due to a degreaser, so many masters replace it with alcohol.

The best manufacturers of gel polishes

There are 6 of the most popular companies that produce high quality and safe gel polishes.

Grattol

The products of this brand have become insanely in demand among many craftsmen.

Advantages:

1. Comfortable consistency. Many masters have compared it to honey. Varnishes are dense and fit well in 1 layer.
2. Self-leveling.Due to its thick texture, the varnish itself is well distributed over the nail.
3. Average cost. The price of colored gel polishes does not exceed 400 rubles.
4. Large and varied palette.
5. May cause allergies.
6. Some colors take longer to dry.

Masura

This Russian company has won the hearts of many craftsmen and girls who prefer to work at home.

Advantages:

1. High durability. Gel polishes last more than 2 weeks without chips.
2. Diverse palette.
3. Safe composition. Gel polish can be suitable for girls with allergies.
4. A wide variety of volumes. The miniature has only 3.5 ml. The largest varnishes that are suitable for salon use are 35 ml.
5. Low cost. The average cost is about 250 rubles.

Disadvantages:

1. Some shades may lie unevenly when applied.

CND

The most famous and popular American company, which was one of the first to start producing gel polishes.

Benefits:

1. Suitable for people with allergies. The formula is marked "7 free".
2. Huge palette of colors and effects. The company's collection includes more than 400 shades.
3. Optimally thick consistency. It prevents the varnish from spreading during long application, so the product is well suited for beginners.
4. Different volumes. There are 3.5ml options that allow you to try the product before purchasing a standard jar.

Disadvantages:

1. High price.

In'Garden

The delirium gained its popularity after the release of the X-Gel collection. It is the products of this line that are considered the most successful and high-quality.

Pros:

1. Cost is below average. The price for most gel polishes does not exceed 300 rubles.
2. High durability. The varnish does not lose its properties even after 6 weeks of use.
3. It is removed by soaking.
4. Highly pigmented. Gel polishes look beautiful in 1 and 2 layers, all colors are bright and juicy.

Minuses:

1. May cause allergies. This gel polish is not suitable for people who are sensitive to certain chemical components.
2. The best products are only available in 1 collection. Other lines have beautiful and pigmented shades, but they don't really stand out in quality from other brands.

LUXIO

This company is relatively young, their products became in demand at the beginning of 2018. The main plant is located in Canada.

Pros:

1. Huge palette of shades. There are over 200 colors in their collection.
2. Large volumes. The standard package contains 15 ml of varnish.
3. Economical consumption. Gel polish can be beautifully laid in 1 layer.
4. Convenient application. Most flowers lay evenly without bald spots.

Minuses:

1. May cause allergies.
2. High price. 1 jar of varnish costs about 1300 rubles.

TNL Professional

This company appeared in Korea, now most of their factories are located in their homeland and in Russia. Their gel polishes are of medium consistency (neither too runny nor too thick), which makes the materials quick and easy to apply.

Pros:

1. High durability. They do not chip, do not lose their saturation for more than 3 weeks.
2. Economical consumption. Varnishes are quite pigmented, most colors look beautiful in 2 layers, some can be stacked in 1.
3. Low cost. Colored gel polishes cost up to 250 rubles.
4. Convenient brush. It is not too big, the hairs are even and densely packed.

Minuses:

1. May cause allergies. They are not marked as suitable for sensitive people.
2. Some light shades are uneven when applied.

Tips for choosing a gel polish

Gel polish for nails (it is better to choose firms after studying information about the types and properties of the material) can cost differently.

In Chinese stores, absolutely safe material can be bought for 100 rubles, but the risk of buying a product with hazardous components remains high.

To buy a high-quality gel polish for sure, you must adhere to 7 rules:

1. Filters in stores.If you buy material in special online stores, which is more profitable, you can set a filter by rating when searching. This will highlight the products with the highest ratings.
2. You should always read reviews. Gel polishes are common products; you can find reviews for almost every company where people will tell you in detail about the consistency, brush and sock.
3. It is important to fill in the shade you like in the search. All manufacturing companies have unsuccessful colors that apply and dry less well. In order not to buy this color, you need to look for pictures on the Internet with this particular shade.
4. It is necessary to choose materials with only hydroxyethyl methacrylate or HEMA. This component proves that the varnish is professional and completely safe. It does not affect the brightness and long-term gloss, the quality of the pigment.
5. You should always look at the brush. The pile should be tightly packed and the hairs should be the same length.
6. It is important to pay attention to pigmentation. You always need to open cans in a store. If the varnish is homogeneous, without sediment, you can buy it. It happens that when opened, the varnish is divided into several layers. If, after shaking, the problem persists, it is better not to buy such a product.
7. Price. Key factor. There are good and bad products in all price segments. Before buying, it is better to decide in advance on the highest permissible cost and look at goods below this price.

Master class on applying gel polish

Gel polish for nails has a certain application technique, if you break it, the material will quickly break off.

Step-by-step application of gel polish:

1. Training. If there is an old gel polish or regular polish, it must be removed. The first material is removed in 2 ways.
2. Maceration. A special liquid is taken, poured onto a cotton pad. It is better to choose trusted companies so that the risk of allergies is minimal. The disc is applied to the nail and fixed with foil. The holding time is 15-20 minutes. After that, the gel polish is removed with an orange stick or a medium-hard file.
3. Hardware manicure. The safest way, therefore it is better for people with hypersensitivity or allergies. The gel polish is removed with a carbide or ceramic cutter in smooth movements from the base to the end of the nail. Regular varnish is removed with liquid and a cotton pad.
4. Sawdust form. This requires a medium hard file.
   • Oval shape. First, the ends are sawn at equal angles from the vertical axis. Then the free edge is rounded off. The larger the angle, the sharper the shape.
   • Square shape. Here, the ends should be parallel to each other. The loose fit is perpendicular. If you need a soft square, the corners are slightly rounded with a file. After that, the nails need to be made matte by removing the top layer with a buff.
5. Manicure. There are 3 ways to get a manicure.
   • Classical. First you need to put your hands in the water for 10 minutes. Next, the cuticle is pushed back with an orange stick, the space under it is cleaned, and it is cut off.
   • Hardware. This technique requires a manicure apparatus and 2 cutters. The cuticle flame is moved upward with the cutter, the space under it is cleared. The "skirt" of the cuticle is cut with a round nozzle. Movements should be smooth but fast. You can't stop at 1 place.
   • Combined. Here 2 techniques are combined at once. The cuticle rises with the flame cutter, the space under it is cleaned out. Next, the skin is cut off with sharp scissors.
6. Base. After the manicure, the nails are degreased. The first step is to apply the base. First, the nail is covered with a thin layer of varnish, then a drop of material is placed without drying and distributed to the free edge. The main task is to form the correct arch, which will be the frame. There should be a minimum amount to the free edge of the base. The correctness can be checked by shining a round lamp on the nail. Its highlight should be perfectly even. Now the hand goes into the lamp for 30-45 seconds.
7. Colour. It is best to paint the color in 2 layers. The first should be subtle and serve as the basis for the second. You do not need to come close to the cuticle, the varnish can leak. On layer 2, a thin brush is painted over the place at the base so that it is as even and neat as possible. Next, the entire nail is painted over. If there are bald spots, they need to be hidden by adding a little varnish with a thin brush. Each layer is dried for 30-45 seconds.

   

8. Top. It dyes in 1 layer. If there are irregularities, the alignment is repeated, as with the base, for a perfect highlight. Dries for 30-45 s.
9. Final drying. To make sure everything is dry. Put the pens in the lamp for 1 min.

Gel nail polish is ideal for girls who don't like to spend a lot of time in the salon. This material allows you to visit the master only every 3-4 weeks. The rest of the time, the nails look well-groomed, beautiful and healthy.

Materials from a good firm are completely safe and do not harm the plate. In addition, the gel polish formula is constantly improving and getting better. All small flaws will soon be completely eliminated.

Video with an overview of gel varnishes from different companies

How to choose a gel polish: