A while ago I spoke to you on how I tried out gel nails for the first time and listed all the advantages and disadvantages of gel nails. Below is what my first arty gel nails looked like shortly after application.

nail art

Now after a few months and still going strong with my second application of gel nails, I have a good idea how they really work and how easy / difficult it is to remove or maintain them.

how long do gel nails last

Have  a look at the gel nails above. They are now more than 5 weeks old and still going strong. No tears, no splits and no sign of the gel loosening at all. What is appearent of course, is the regrowth of my old nails. Still from a distance my nails look long and good and I still get daily pleasure of looking at the nail art. Considering that these nails traveled several countries, rummaged through suitcases and shopped in many shops, it’s amazing that none of them have broken yet or shown any sign of wear (apart from the visible regrowth of course).

Here is what they looked like at the 3.5 weeks point in Berlin.

arty nails

Gel on your toe nails

There is also a big difference between the gel on my nails and my toes, with my toe nails showing significantly less outgrowth. These will easily last a month.

gel polish for your toes

Removal of gel nails

As I was going to replace my gel nails with some new arty ones I went to the nail salon to get the gel removed. There it is not such a cumbersome process as they have special nail baths which they fill with acetone and I only had to hold my fingers in there for a few minutes.  The remainder of the polish was removed by file.

As I got many comments that your nails weaken a lot from the gel, I made sure to test my nails and see how they felt. I did not notiice a huge dfference in strength at all, so I guess that your nails can cope after just one application. This may be different after multiple applications though and may be different for your nails.

Conclusion

My experiment with gel nails has been a huge success. I’m thrilled with how well they look even after a few weeks and how strong your nails become when the gel is on. I love the fact that they look good for multiple weeks and that they are super low maintenance.

Even though the initial expense is higher, you will need far fewer new applications so it works out quite economical. The added benefit is of course that you can opt for bright colors or arty nails without having to worry that they will chip quickly. Although I may give my nails a little vacation, I am certain I will use gel again!

gelnails-2

I’m always curious about your experiences so feel free to share below!

Sylvia

Sylvia is 40+style’s editor-in-chief and has been helping women find their unique style since 2011. An alumni of the School of Color and Design, she is devoted to empowering women of any age to look and feel their best. Read more about Sylvia and 40+style on this page.

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