This Is How Long You Can Actually Expect Your Gel Nails to Last

When you get a manicure, you want it to last. Carving out an hour of your day where you can't use your hands is a major commitment! This is the primary reason why so many people love durable, long-lasting gel nail polish.

"Gel polish lasts between 10 and 14 days, while regular polish is more prone to chipping within the first week of wear," says Mabelyn Alva, creative director at Paintbox. "Customers love the staying power of gel polishes as they are more resistant to chipping or smudging. Gel color stays as bright and shiny as it was on day one."

With proper care and removal, gel nail polish can give you a long-lasting manicure that won't chip, peel, or damage your nails. Keep reading to learn more about how gel nail polish works, how long it lasts, and best practices for keeping it fresh.

What Is Gel Nail Polish?

"Gel polish is a light-cured chemical composition that effectively adheres to the nail plate until the product is professionally removed," says Lia Smith, an OPI North America brand education manager. "It is applied like traditional nail lacquer, but requires an LED or UV light to cure — in other words, dry — the product."

Curing is the result of a chemical reaction, explains Eunice Park, research and development manager at Aprés Nail. "Gel polish formulas include a chemical component called photoinitiators that react against UV light," says Park. "When they react, the formula hardens and provides a more durable finish than regular polish."

And because the polish is cured, you don't have to worry about accidentally smudging your manicure. "It allows you to leave your appointment with immediately dry nails, no additional drying time needed," says Alva.

Does Gel Polish Damage Your Nails?

Nope — as long as you take the time to remove gel polish properly, your nails will be fine.

"When using gel polish, the secret to maintaining the integrity of the natural nail is proper removal," says Smith. "Taking the time to soak them off properly or allowing a trained professional to use an e-file provides the most effective and best removal. These products do not damage the natural nail; improper removal will. Peeling off the gel or powder product, prying it off, incorrect use of an e-file, and not maintaining regular nail care are all ways that the nail plate could sustain damage."

It's no secret when your nails are damaged. "Improper removal can cause pits/gouges, cracks, and scrapes on the nail plate," says Smith. "This damage often appears as small white spots on the nails. When the product is picked off, that will remove layers of nail keratin resulting in thin and sometimes uncomfortable nails."

And if your plan is to cover the damage with another coat of gel, you might find that the polish doesn't adhere as well as it usually does. "When you rip off your nails or your nail tech aggressively files them, you are removing layers of your nail plate," says Park. "The thinner and more damaged your nail plate becomes, the more sensitive it will become to the LED/UV light and the less hold it'll have for the gel product. Thin and damaged nails often experience faster lifting."

How to Make a Gel Manicure Last Longer

Although gel polish is much more durable than traditional polish, you still need to take proper care of your gel manicure.

1. Be Gentle With Your Nails

"Nails are like jewels, not tools," says Park. "If you've got your nails done, don't use them to open your soda can or rip open boxes. You paid good money for your nails, so make sure to make them last!"

2. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

"You cannot go wrong with a quality cuticle oil," says Smith. "Staying hydrated will help your hands and nails look good while helping preserve a gel mani." She's a big fan of the OPI ProSpa Cuticle Oil ($11). Additionally, she recommends the Cuticle Oil to Go ($10). "Keep it in your purse, briefcase, or backpack and use it often," says Smith.

Alva recommends the Paintbox Cuticle Oil ($28). "Our silky formula has a subtle fragrance and is dermatologist-tested, silicone-free, paraben-free, vegan, and cruelty-free," she says. Personally, my go-to is Chillhouse On the Mend ($25), a dual-ended pen with a cuticle pusher on one side and a brush-applicator cuticle oil on the other.

3. Protect Nails from Chemicals and Water

"Wear gloves when using cleaning supplies," says Smith. "Water, cleansers, and other household chemicals cause some wear and tear on your nails so protect them."

When to Remove Gel Nail Polish

The most obvious signal it's time to remove your polish is when you're seeing signs of wear and tear. "If you have experienced any chipping or lifting, you can address that," says Park. If your manicure has held up well, another sign is when your nails have grown out to the point that you have a noticeable gap between your cuticles and the start of your polish. Lastly, you may want to remove your gel polish because you're ready for a change. "At Paintbox, we find that most clients come in for a polish change when they're ready for a new look," says Alva.

How to Remove Gel Nail Polish the Right Way

The key to proper gel removal is time and patience. If you predict that being tricky for you, get an appointment on the books for a few weeks after application so a pro can handle it. But if you're down to remove the polish carefully, the pros have a few pointers.

1. File Off the Top Coat

"While using a hand file, file off all of the topcoat and most of the color, making sure not to break through the basecoat layer," says Park.

2. Apply Cuticle Oil

The step after this involves acetone, which can be drying. To protect your cuticles, Smith recommends applying cuticle oil to your skin to serve as a barrier between it and the acetone.

3. Soak with Acetone

 "Pad each nail with an acetone-soaked cotton pad and wrap with foil," says Alva. "Pro trick: Place your hands in kitchen or rubber gloves to speed up the process."

4. Scrape Off the Remaining Polish

"Wait 10 minutes, then gently push off the lifted gel with an orangewood stick," says Park. "If there is gel that hasn't completely lifted after 10 minutes, do not force it off. Instead, re-wrap and wait an additional five minutes."

Keep in mind that the acetone dries out fast once the foil is removed, so Alva adds to "remove each foil wrap one by one; otherwise, the acetone will evaporate, making the gel re-harden as you’re removing the gel polish."