The first time I got a manicure, somewhere back in high school; every girl was getting acrylic tips. Then we moved on to gel tips and most recently gel polish. Now since I have naturally strong and long nails I never really indulged in the nail tips…but this gel polish trend, yes ma’am. As someone who does their hair often and uses their hands a lot, no matter the brand of nail polish (I’m an OPI girl, btw) my nail polish always chipped off within 3 days. And I absolutely abhor sitting still for longer than 5 minutes and then not being able to use my hands for an hour. The promises of gel polish lasting for upwards of 2+ weeks and drying in 5 minutes seemed like the ultimate answer to my need for having polished nails and working with my hands. So I jumped on the gel polish train.

The first time I got gel polish, I realized that the process is a lot like the gel tip process and I had always stayed away from that because tips weigh down and weaken your nail bed. For gel polish, they add a coat of shellac, which is baked under a UV light, and then the paint, which is again backed under the UV light. 2-3 weeks later you’re back at the nail salon to remove the gel polish and possibly reapply. In order to remove gel polish you have to soak your nails in acetone for 10+ minutes and then you’re back at it all over again. It’s a relatively simple and quick process. But that simple and quick process can do some damage to the nails.

Baking under UV lights is like exposing yourself to direct sunlight, which causes skin cancer. According to Dr. Susan Taylor at HuffPo: “If you are exposed to ultraviolet light for four to eight minutes every two weeks when you have a gel manicure, that can add up to significant exposure.” You can counter that by adding sunscreen after the nail salon has you wash your hands. If you’re brazen and super health focused, you can also wear gloves with the fingertips cut off. Alternatively, LED light is much safer option for any of the gel processes.

Now the acetone soak to remove the gel polish was the most harrowing for me. Acetone dries out your hands and can cause your nails to peel. I like my real nails and would like to keep it that way. Making your nails brittle by soaking them in acetone can make them more susceptible to breaking. To offset this, take Vitamin E and moisturize your hands regularly.

Do you have to stay away from gel polish if you want healthy nails? Not entirely, but don’t be so eager to get them done on the regular. Your nails need time to breath, so try to extend the time period between gel polish application. Applying light colors will also help extend the length of wear. Just remember that every trend isn’t best for you. Do your research and weigh how much the health risks mean to you.

Jouelzy offers tutorials on all aspects of Black hair care via her YouTube channel, focusing on women with tight budgets. You can also find her daily hair tips and inspirations on Facebook.

More on Madame Noire!

• Komon Ou Ye? 9 Of Our Favorite Celebs of Haitian Descent (And A Few Surprises Of Course!)
• Breaking Down the Point of a Protective Hairstyle: What Exactly Should You Be Protecting?
• When Famous Stars Play Famous People: Who Killed It On-Screen And Who Was A Mess?
• If It’s Broke, Fix It: Why Some Friendships Are Worth Sticking Out
• Consider This: Put The Odds In Your Favor And Date The Next Guy You Meet
• Shoe Shine: Must-Have Metallic Sandals and Pumps

Source: Madame Noire

Want to look good for your next date, but not looking to splurge for your look? Looking the part for a date should be effortlessly chic, but not rob your pockets. Looking good for your next date night doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Do your research, prepare ahead of time and save some money to look just as good on a budget!

Here is how you can do it!

Read the rest of this entry »

Like most trends, over-the-top designed nails have hit the beauty market hard but the experts predict the fad to be in its last days. Nude nails were all the rage on the Fall 2012 runways (as you already know) but we can’t deny those audacious StyleBlazers who ignore the rules of fashion, the right to have their fancy nails spark conversation whenever they’re in tow.

While there was definitely a decrease of designed nails on the runway during NYFW, we did find some designers who wouldn’t have had a complete collection without  bold tips. Check out StyleBlazer’s favorite nails in the gallery here…

Just when you thought Tom Ford Nail Lacquer was a grip at $30 a pop, get ready to wrap your mind around this: Red Carpet Manicure has a golden at-home LED Manicure that retails…wait for it…wait for it…$5,000

Find out why this nail lacquer is so steep at StyleBlazer.com.

If you could afford such luxuries, do you think you’d pay $5,000 for a manicure?

More on Madame Noire!

• Single Setbacks: Distractions That Keep Us From Dating
• Keep It Short! Ladies Who Look Better With Short Hair Cuts
• Chris Brown: Can We Forgive and Forget?
• Love & Life Lessons I Learned From “Love & Basketball”
• 6 Ratchet Behaviors Ig’nant People Should Give Up for Lent
• My BFF: The Non-Celebrity Besties of The Famous
• Pregnant Teen Paralyzed in Shooting Dies Months After Giving Birth to Baby Girl
• Show Off Your Shape! Style Tips To Flatter Your Body

It seems like everywhere we look from our favorite celebrities to the girl next door, we are noticing a slew of standout, must-try nail trends for fall. Check out six of our top picks and lets us know what your faves are!

By Starrene Rhett

The creators of Minx have realized that not everyone can fork up $55 to get that tin foil look on their nails that celebs and fashionistas rave about. They’ve teamed up with OPI for a $15 solution — Chic Prints. Chic Prints provides the look and feel of Minx for a fraction of the price and you can do-it-yourself.

Read the rest of this entry »