Gel Manicure Blues: Why Nails Turn Blue (2025)

Gel manicures are a popular choice for those seeking a long-lasting, chip-free manicure with a smooth, high-gloss finish. However, one potential drawback of gel manicures is their impact on nail health. The process of removing gel polish, which typically involves soaking nails in acetone, can lead to dry, brittle, and weak nails over time. Additionally, the UV light used to set the gel can be harmful to the skin, and the gel formula itself may contain anti-yellowing ingredients that can cause certain shades to appear bluish. While gel manicures offer durability and a vibrant, intense colour, it is important to consider their potential effects on nail and skin health.

Gel manicures can turn nails blue

Gel manicures can indeed turn nails blue, and there are several reasons why this might happen. Firstly, it is important to understand the process of a gel manicure. Unlike regular nail polish, which dries via evaporation, gel nail polish is cured and hardened under LED or UV light. This creates a long-lasting, chip-resistant manicure with a high-gloss shine and even colour coverage.

However, one possible explanation for gel nails turning blue is the presence of anti-yellowing ingredients in the top coat. These ingredients are often blue or purple, and they can cause certain shades, especially darker colours, to appear bluish, particularly when exposed to sunlight. This issue has been noted by several people who have experienced their black gel manicures turning blue.

Another factor to consider is the potential impact of UV light used to cure the gel polish. While it helps to harden the polish, creating a durable manicure, UV light can also be harmful to the skin and nails. Prolonged exposure to UV radiation can cause skin ageing and increase the risk of skin cancer. Therefore, it is recommended to apply sunscreen to the hands before a gel manicure to protect the skin.

Additionally, the process of removing gel nail polish can be tough on nails. It typically involves soaking the nails in acetone, which can lead to dryness and brittleness. Filing the nails to remove the gel can also make them thinner over time. As such, it is important to take proper care of the nails between gel manicures, including moisturising the nails and cuticles and taking breaks from wearing nail polish.

In summary, gel manicures can turn nails blue due to the anti-yellowing ingredients in the top coat, especially when combined with certain shades and sunlight exposure. Additionally, the UV light curing process and nail polish removal techniques can have negative effects on nail health, so it is crucial to take appropriate precautions and practice moderation when it comes to gel manicures.

Gel manicures are tough on nails

To keep your nails healthy, dermatologists recommend taking a nail polish holiday for one to two weeks or longer between gel manicures. You can also rehydrate your nails by applying a moisturising product, such as petroleum jelly, to your nails and cuticles several times a day to minimise brittleness and prevent chipping.

It's important to be proactive with your manicurist and ask if their tools are sterilised and cleaned after every client. Additionally, you should never let your manicurist push or cut your cuticles, as this can lead to inflammation and infection. If you experience recurring nail problems or are allergic to acetone, consider traditional nail polish instead of gel polish, as acetone is required to remove gel polish.

When removing gel nail polish, avoid picking at the polish or using tools, and instead, make an appointment with your manicurist. You can also use cotton balls soaked in acetone and wrapped in aluminium foil to protect the surrounding skin. After about 15 minutes, the nail polish should come right off.

Gel manicures and UV radiation

Gel manicures can be tough on nails. The process of removing gel polish can make nails dry, brittle, and thin. However, it is the UV light used to set the gel that has raised concerns about the safety of gel manicures.

Gel nail polish requires exposure to ultraviolet light to cure and harden the polish, creating a long-lasting, chip-resistant manicure. The UV light emitted by nail lamps is known to play a role in the pathogenesis of skin cancer, and health experts agree that it causes damage to skin cells. A 2023 study in Nature Communications found that radiation emitted by UV nail polish dryers can cause cell death, damage, and DNA mutations in human cells, even after a single 20-minute session. This adds to a growing body of research suggesting that regular use of UV nail lamps could accelerate aging and increase the risk of cancer.

Despite these findings, the literature is controversial, and there is limited research on the potential carcinogenic effects of UV nail lamps. A study focusing on young adults with a history of chronic gel manicures found little to no increase in the risk of skin cancer on the hands and nails. While the full extent of the risks may not be clear for some time, it is recommended that individuals take precautions, such as applying sunscreen or using UV-protective gloves, to protect their hands from UV exposure during gel manicures.

It is worth noting that not all gel manicures require UV light. LED lamps, which emit visible light instead of UV radiation, can also be used to cure gel nail polish.

Gel manicure removal

Gel manicures can be tough on nails, and the removal process can be harsh. The best way to remove gel nail polish is to let your nails grow out. Clipping them once a week will help prevent the nails from catching on clothing and other objects. If you choose this option, you need to resist the urge to pick at your gel nail polish. Picking and scraping off the polish can damage your nails.

If you want to remove gel nail polish faster, acetone is the most effective way. You can use acetone-soaked cotton balls on your nails, wrap them in tin foil, wait for 10 minutes, and then wipe off the polish. You can then scrape off what's left with a nail file or buffer.

Another method is to use a plastic food wrap instead of foil. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to each cuticle and then wrap your nails in the plastic wrap. Leave it on for 10 minutes. When you remove the wrap, most or all of the gel nail polish should be gone. Remove any remaining gel nail polish with a washcloth that you've run under warm water.

To care for your nails in between gel manicures, dermatologists recommend taking a nail polish break for one to two weeks or longer. You can also apply a moisturising product, such as petroleum jelly, to your nails and cuticles several times daily to minimise brittleness and help prevent chipping.

Gel manicure alternatives

Gel manicures can be tough on nails, potentially making them weak, thin, dry, and brittle. The UV light used to set the gel can also be harmful to the skin. So, what are some alternatives to gel manicures?

One option is to use traditional nail polish instead of gel polish. Traditional nail polish does not require exposure to UV or LED light to harden and can be removed without soaking nails in acetone, which can be damaging to nails. Essie's swivel polish bottles, for example, create long-lasting manicures with just two products: two coats of the colour of your choice and a single layer of the platinum-grade finish topcoat.

Another alternative to gel manicures is a dip powder manicure. This involves dipping your nails into coloured powder and then shaping and polishing them. Dip powder nails do not require the use of UV or LED light and can be a good option for those looking for a long-lasting manicure.

If you are looking for a UV-free manicure option, Manucurist's Green Flash system is a recent Parisian import that applies like a traditional gel system but is cured under an LED light. When it's time to remove the manicure, you place a cotton pad soaked in the Green Flash Nail Polish Remover on each nail, and keep it in place with the brand's nail clips.

For those who want to avoid polish altogether, press-on nails can be a good alternative. Press-on nails have come a long way, and many beauty editors now applaud them for their budge-proof design. Options like Glamnetic and BTArtBoxNails offer glue-free, stick-on nails that can last for a week or more.

Finally, there are 2-step systems like Gel Lab Pro, which can be used to transform your favourite regular polishes into long-lasting manicures. With green tea to nourish, biotin to stimulate growth, and Aucoumea klaineana extract to fortify nails, this polish offers high shine and extended wear without the need for UV lamps or tools to remove it.

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