Regular Nail Polish Vs Gel Nail Polish: Which Is a Better Product?

Whether you are dressing up for a party or a social gathering, you can always color your nails with a nail polish. Since a long time, there's has always been a difference between gel polish and regular nail polish. While both forms help you give a presentable look to your nails, the polish differs in its composition and the way it is used.

Composition

Known as varnish, regular nail polish is nothing but a colored liquid which is a little bit viscous. As far as the composition is concerned, these are made up of nitrocellulose dissolved in solvents like ethyl acetate or butyl acetate. Additionally, the polish includes silver halides, solvents, resins, plasticizers and coloring pigments. On the other hand, gel nail polish is composed of a base gel and is highly viscous in nature. It's a semisolid colloidal suspension in which the solid is mixed in the liquid. Once a coat is applied with a brush, the gel is dried or cured under a UV lamp.

Purpose

If you simply need to beautify your nails the way you desire, then it's worth investing in a regular nail polish. But, on the contrary, gel polish not only adds color but also shine and glow to your nails. Moreover, you can always think differently in case you prefer adorning fingers with nail-art. As you visit the marketplace, a gel polish kit is quite expensive when compared to a regular nail polish.

Usage

With a regular nail polish, it's not necessary to apply coats one after the other. The varnish dries up immediately once it's exposed to air or when the fingernails are kept under a fan. But, when you try a gel nail polish, you first have to apply a coat and then dry it under ultra-violet light. After some time, once the polish sets in, you need to apply another coat and repeat the drying process. This needs to be done to maintain the consistency and protect the nails from dust particles. While nail varnish can take 20 minutes to dry up, the drying time for a gel-based polish is as much as one minute.

Removal

In comparison to regular nail varnish, you may need to put in more efforts to remove gel nail polish. Once you have soaked your nails for 15 minutes inside a bowl full of acetone, you need to wrap the nails with an aluminum foil. Afterwards, you then have to lift the foil gently and check whether the polish has been removed. At the end, you need to rub your nails with the help of a lint-free nail pad. You would also have to re-hydrate cuticles and nails by applying a few drops of apricot cuticle oil.

Benefits

Regular nail lacquer actually prevents flaking and cracking of nails. This is not the case with a gel polish because the beauty care product protects nails from damages due to heavy lifting. Once the gel polish stays for a period of 2 or 3 weeks, the nails start growing naturally. Even if they get chipped off, the nail would not be prone to damages because the extreme end gets affected. Eventually, this aspect enhances the look of the nail bed as the polish offers complete protection. With nails protruding from the edge, you can always think about a different color and amaze everyone at a social event.

Nail Art

Finally, you can always create a marble nail effect once you apply a regular nail polish of your choice. As you seek the best way to paint your nails, acquaintances would certainly appreciate your creative idea. However, with a gel polish, you can think about a fine line nail art set in different colors.