During lunch recently, a friend comfortably reported that her nails hurt when she is bare: “They just don’t feel right without a glossy thick on them,” he told me. “It’s like hurting.”
At first, I took it out, but then I remembered how much foreigners felt my nails after removing my builder’s gel a few weeks ago. I couldn’t wash my hair, type or use my phone without hitting. It wasn’t just that my nails were bare. They felt exposed. It made me think – have we become very dependent on the glossy thick at the point where our nails don’t feel like our nails without it?
A quick google search confirms that my friend and I are not alone experiencing this strange feeling. Tiktok user Melody Rose Miller Describes her bare nails as a “so disgusting” feeling after removing Polish Sincerely The jokes that are overturned nails make her feel “sick in her stomach”. Meanwhile, in the r/redditlacqueristas in Reddit, a user asks why their Nails feel painful without Polish – Lie down a handful of comments from people who take it completely.
Like me, countless others are struggling to give their nails a break for more than a few weeks before giving the impulse for a new set. Could this dependency on the glossy gel be seen as addiction?
Can you be addicted to gel or biab nails?
If social media is any indication, “addiction to gel glass” is a popup. But is it really addiction? Cambridge’s dictionary It defines “addiction” as “inability to stop or use something, especially something harmful”, with drugs and alcohol as examples. However, there are no gel manicure. Today, however, the word is used more comfortably, with people saying that they are addicted to anything than Matcha Lattes in Tiktok.
The gel glass contains typical ingredients such as polymers and unilaterals (which help harden under the light of ultraviolet radiation) and color pigments, but none of these ingredients are inherently harmful or will cause your nails dependent. But the creator of luxury and content creator Lois elias He is convinced that adding a gel glass is a “real thing”. He explains: “There are a lot of people who don’t like the way their hands look without gel. I recently had a new customer who had not seen their natural nails over three years.”
Metta Francis, London -based nail expert and its founder Nails from metsShares that potential customers have approached for gel nails, despite experiencing painful gel allergies or consult against them for medical reasons. “It looks crazy – and the answer is, of course, no – but I guess this happens when you have an addiction,” he says.
What exactly is the varnish in the gel?
Juanita Huber-Millet, founder and creative director at LordlyHe has not heard the issue described as “addiction” before, but notes that many mansion customers are struggling to take a break from their gels or builder in a bottle (biab). “For many of us, our nails are an important part of our identity,” says Huber Millet. “They help us to control how we present ourselves to the world. Removing this index may feel a lot of exposure and confidence.”
Huber-Millet remembers a recent discussion with chartered psychologist Dr. Louise Goddard-Crawleywho confirmed that the visual signs-especially the painted nails-are vital to confidence. “Being nails with care is a form of continuous reinforcement,” Dr. Goddard-Crawley explained, adding: ” [creates] A nourishment loop of positive self-perception. “This is before we look at the ‘nail privilege’ – the idea that people with nail nails are treated better than others.
In addition to enhancing trust, Huber-Millet says that its customers see manicure as a form of self-care, offering not only a moment of relaxation but a boost to general prosperity. Francis agrees: “Doing your nails is like care and it’s something you can enjoy for a few weeks,” he says. “Every time you look down on your nails, this perfect shade or nail art you chose can bring a smile to your face.”
It is not surprising that we continue to hunt this high, but Huber-Millet is not convinced that “addiction” is the right word for regular self-care or passion for healthy nails-except if, of course, the monthly manicure puts you in debt.
Why do nails hurt – or feel weird – no varnish?
Regardless of semantics, it remains a question: why do nails sometimes feel wound or uncomfortable without varnish – gel or otherwise?
‘This can happen after the gel glass is removed if it is [process] It was aggressive, “says Francis, but this is not the only reason.” If the nails are soaked with acetone, they become temporarily dehydrated and fragile, “he adds.
Any painful feeling should not be normalized, says Elias. “If this is the case, your nails are probably diluted over time with a drill, or the gel has been removed strongly, taking layers of natural nail with it,” he explains. Your gel lacquer should never be removed from perforation down to the natural nail, says Elias: “It should always be impregnated using acetone after removal of 80 to 90% of the gel first. This will minimize the period of time your nails are exposed to acetone and any subsequent flexibility. ”
Choosing a properly qualified nail technical is essential. However, even if your gel lacquer has been removed correctly, Francis notes that your nails may feel weird after weeks – or even months – to wear gels, as they are simply not used to be “naked”. He adds, “they may feel even weaker because they no longer have a strong, protective coating.”
Should the nails really “breathe”?
If you want to improve the health of your nails, should you take regular breaks?
“If you don’t have to take a financial break or want to check in for the health of your natural nails, there is no reason to stop the glossy thick for any time,” says Huber Millet. Francis agrees, as long as proper care is followed, including daily application of oil and does not wait long between appointments.
Unlike popular belief, nails do not “breathe”, says Elias. “Most of the nutrients come from the body,” he explains. “If your nails are in good shape, then you don’t have to take a break. However, if your nails are constantly weak or excessive, then it may be a good idea to leave them for a while and maybe consider finding a new nail technology.”
What about Biab? “Biab was designed to fill, but I remove it every three to four sessions to start fresh and control nail health,” Elias says. Nails repeatedly is a job for a specialized nail technician. “It is important to remove all the lift,” says Elias. “If not, the water can be trapped under the nail, causing a bacteria growth called Pseudomonas.” As expected, Tiktok is flooded with stories of abused fills and Infections from pseudomonasAlso referred to as “greenies” because of color. “The colored or colored builders can cover a multitude of nail sins, so choose a clean builder where possible,” Elias suggests.
What is the “naked” manicure?
The consent of experts is that it is constantly glowing gel and biab is not inherently “bad” for your nails unless you are allergic to them or applied by a highly unreserved person. But today we are seeing the rise of “naked” manicure – essentially minimalist nail treatments that enhance the natural appearance of nails. Think clear and naked polish or nail shades, which have only one color indicator.
Regarding nail health, Francis and Huber Millet constitute a professional IBX treatment, which helps to harden and protect the nail from within. “The product penetrates the nails to repair the keratin and immediately makes them feel stronger,” says Francis. For home use, Francis suggests a nail treatment or reinforcing as Essie to the Rescue, $ 12; CND RESCUE RXX, $ 20or Lavender Base Ethos Biosculpture, $ 13.60.
The jury is still out of whether our love for the glossy thick can be considered addiction, but one thing is clear: above all, our nails serve as a form of personal expression and prosperity. In the end, achieving a balance between nail health and a set you love is the key.
This story was originally published in Rifinery29 UK.
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