Why are My Gel Nails Sticky? (2 Ways To Clean)
If you or your loved one recently had a gel manicure but you are now wondering why are gel nails sticky, then this article will guide you on how to clean them.
Gels are among the leading manicure technologies available today that gives the nails beautiful striking looks.
This doesn’t mean gels don’t have challenges, they do and this guide will help you understand everything about gel nail manicure and how to make them last longer.
Why Are My Gel Nails Sticky?
Gel nails will be sticky if the inhibition layer or the top coat is not cure properly hence oxygen will prevent it from completely drying up.
In gel nails, the color layer on top is made of chemicals that bonds the layers below or holds them together and if not cleaned well after manicure, your gel nails will be sticky.
The cleaning, however should be done carefully to avoid touching the other layers as this will make them not to cure well enough as required.
What Should I Use To Clean The Stickiness Off My Gel Nails?
Gel cleanser is one of the two specific cleansers created for cleaning gel nails that are sticky. It can also be used to clean nails before a gel manicure.
One drawback of gel cleanser is that they are very expensive making it not the best budget choice for people who love doing their nails while at home. You can join or subscribe to beauty care membership if you want to get discount on your purchase.
Since you cannot afford gel cleanser, the best place to remove sickness is at a nail salon who are able to afford them. Alcohol is another cleanser that is cheap although you will use more of alcohol when cleaning stickiness in gel nails as compared to using gel cleanser.
Apart from alcohol, acetone free nail polish removers will also work well.
These nail polish removers are however expensive more than alcohol but if you buy or order it from a beauty store; you will get them at a favorable price.
To ensure it doesn’t have acetone, check the back label. Nail polish removers come in two types, those with acetone and those without.
The latter is made for people who change their acrylics or polish at home using removers that do not want their nail base to be weakened.
When using acetone free nail polish removers, protect your eyes from any splashing using a peace of cotton ball when applying them on your sticky gel nails.
This is also done when using alcohol or gel cleansers. To protect yourself from these chemicals, wear gloves and also clothes that you will not mind if they get ruined.
If you are cleaning your sticky gel nails at home, avoid sitting or doing the cleaning on or near your beautiful furniture.
Patio or kitchen table will be ideal but you must remember to lay a paper towel down and also keep it far away from your body and food.
Other Chemicals to Use in an Emergency
Almost everything has appoint or a condition of emergency. When you find yourself at a nail emergency in place where you can’t get the above mentioned chemicals for cleaning sticky gel nails, it is advised you use any other chemicals but with a lot of care and caution by following the precautions given here and those listed by the brand manufacturer.
Do this knowing that you will not get similar results as using gel cleanser, alcohol or acetone free nail polish removers. For better cleaning, apply and wipe it layer after layer and if possible take more time doing it.
The chemicals you can use during a gel nail emergency are handy wipes, perfumes with high percentage of alcohol, and hand sanitizers.
Another option for your emergency is the no-wipe topcoat which is expensive and can be found in online or physical beauty shops. This top coat has the three components mentioned above
When it comes to gel nail manicure, it is better doing them at a nail salon since doing them at home will cost you more or even much more than the nail salon.
This is because; gels need additional equipment and chemicals to treat them. It is better that you get professional manicure and later maintain them at home.
Why Are Gel Nails Sticky And Too Thick On One End?
During manicure, gel is malleable and that means they easily pool when the hands do not rest or stay steady while the gel is being cured using the UV.
Nail techs always monitor and may ask you to turn your hands while curling your fingers for up to five minutes.
Once the five minutes are over, your hands will now be placed in the normal position until the gel has cured properly. Another way to avoid the issue is by applying the gel on the nails beginning a line down to the center of the nail and then brushing them evenly from the middle to the other nail parts.
What Are The Benefits Of Gel Nails?
Gel nails are strong and dry quick enough. This makes them the best artificial nail manicure that is durable. In fact, with gel nails you will be able to drive or do anything with your hands right from the moment you step out of the salon without worrying that they will smudge or chip.
Gel nails are also ideal for any event whether an interview or wedding. Unlike acrylics they do not invade the natural nails.
If you have nails that always peel, split or chip, then choose gel nails to give you more than two weeks of a protective coat that is hard and thick.
Gel nails are also versatile and can enable you to create many designs of different colors as much as you like. Thanks to the powder available in various colors that can be applied on each layer and completely cured.
Another reason why gel nails are so popular is because the designs looks original and are sometimes hard to distinguish between gel nails and natural nails.
The layers combine to form a protective coating that prevents the natural nails from shattering or cracking.
What’s The Difference Between Gels And Acrylic Nails?
Gels
Gel nails appear more natural as compared to acrylic and are also very easy to maintain and remove without visiting a nail salon.
To get gel nails, three layers of coating are applied on the natural nails starting with a coating of gel base followed by a color gel and a topcoat.
Each of the layer coating must be cured under a LED lamp or UV to avoid stickiness. Nails with gels are flexible and the natural nail is protected. You can have more than one designs and colors in gel nails than with acrylics
When you want to remove gel nails, it is a very simple procedure that can be done even at home. You simply soak your gel nails in a solution of acetone and then wipe them off and you are done.
Acrylics
Acrylic nails manicure is one of the challenging and messy process. First, acrylic powder used to create shapes and designs is moisturized in a solution of acetone. During shaping, the biggest challenge is smoothening out the clumps.
After the wet powder has been shaped and smoothened, the next step is to grind by running an electric nail drill or file vertically and horizontally to remove the excess powder on the sides and the top of the nail.
After that, oil is then applied on the nails to trap the powder from grinding that has settled on your hands and nails. When it’s done, use a nail brush, water and soap to clean your hands.
Once your hands are clean, nail technician will now paint your nails using standard nail polish followed by application of the normal top coat. Acrylic nail manicure has more procedures that are messy.
The only thing that is common between gels and acrylic nails is the paint or polish which prevents nail smudging or chipping. That is the only advantage of the paint, nothing much.
Just as acrylic nail application is a messy process, so to their filling and removal. For gels, it’s only a matter of soaking and wiping off but for acrylics, clipping must be done to reduce their length.
After clipping, the mixture of acrylic powder and acetone is applied in the same process as that of a new set.
After drilling is complete, the layers of base coat, two coats of color and the topcoat are applied and dried under a fan or spray.
This means they will not dry completely like gels which only take a few minutes. You will not be able to shake hands with anyone or drive for up to an hour.
Because acrylic nails are not flexible, they break up easily and invade the natural nails making them weak and thin.
Now you have a clear picture of the manicure differences between gel and acrylic nails. Acrylics will take a lot of time to apply and also break easily while gels are convenient because of how easy it is to apply and quick in drying.
What’s Cheaper: Acrylics Or Gel Nails?
Anything that is convenient and of high quality will cost more hence the reason why gel nails are more expensive that acrylics.
In Gel nail application, fewer steps are followed while acrylic application demands a lot of steps.
Another reason apart from high quality why gel nail are expensive is because the supply for gel products is on high demand and when the nail salon buys them, they will share the expenses with their clients through their prices.
The stores or shops that sell gel products cannot also supply them in same prices as those of acrylic products therefore keeping the prices for gel nails high.
What you have to do is always be on the lookout and ensure the nail salon or techs are honest and transparent in their advertisements.
Some have grafted ingenious ways of luring clients who want acrylic nails to get gel nails saying their gel is a hybrid of acrylics. Note that Acrylic powder and gel have no hybrid of the other.
How Do I Choose Between Gel And Acrylic Nails?
Choosing between acrylic and gel nails is a big dilemma for many people even though it shouldn’t be that way. This is because selection of the two depends on a person’s preference and lifestyle.
For example a person who wants grow their nails by getting nail manicure that only maintains them will need gel nail manicure and not acrylics.
Another way to choose them is looking at their benefits and disadvantages and then go with the one with more benefits that suits your needs.
Acrylic nails are not flexible and even invades the natural nails. If you want an artificial nail that will not harm the natural nails, then do not get acrylic nails.
Gel nails do not invade the natural nails and they are easy to apply or fill them because of the few procedures to follow.
They also take a few minutes to cure and you will be ready for any task that involves your hands the moment you step out of the nail salon.
Since gels provide a protective layer, they last longer than acrylic nails which chip and break easily. So if you need artificial nail manicure that will keep you away from a nail salon for quite some time even up to a month or more, then choose gel nails.
What Are Polygel Nails?
This is a gel nail product that is an alternative to standard gel and can be used instead of gel during manicure.
It is however extra soft than the normal gel but still has all the benefits and qualities of gel. Polygel can also last for more than a week of the regular nails.
Bottom Line
Gel nails appear more natural as compared to acrylic and are also very easy to maintain and remove without visiting a nail salon.
During gel nail manicure, three layers of coating are applied that is a base coat on the natural nails, color gel coat on the base coat and lastly a top coat.
The only way to avoid stickiness in gel nails is to understand that each of the three layer coats must be dried completely before applying another.
Always ensure to cure the coats under LED or UV lamps. After curing the base layer you will see that it bonds completely to the nail, the next step is to apply the next coating which is a color gel and curing the same way as the first base coat.
Gel cleanser, alcohol, and acetone free nail polishers are the best chemicals or solutions you can use to clean sticky gel nails.
During gel nail emergency situations and you can’t find those three, you can use handy wipes, perfumes with high percentage of alcohol, and hand sanitizers.
When using these chemicals you must protect your eyes from any splashing and remember to wear hand gloves and also clothes that you will not mind if they get ruined.
For cleaning being done at home, avoid sitting or doing the cleaning on or near your beautiful furniture. Patio or kitchen table will be ideal but you must remember to lay a paper towel
During manicure, gel is malleable and will easily pool if your hands are not steady. In order to avoid this, turn your hands while curling your fingers when curing the first base and top coats for up to five minutes.
When you are done, place your hands in the normal position until the gel has cured properly. Another way you can avoid this is applying the gel on the nails beginning with a line down to the center of the nail and then brushing them evenly from the middle to the other parts of the nail.