Gel Nail Polish
Gel nail polish is one of the hottest nail products on the market today. In Europe, most salons have all but abandoned traditional acrylic nail polish in favor of gel nail polish. In other parts of the world, gel nail polish is fast taking over as well. Why is gel nail polish taking off so quickly? How did it happen? What does gel nail polish offer that acrylic doesn’t? Let’s explore some of these questions.
A Brief History of Gel Nail Polish
It all began with Axxium by OPI. OPI was founded by a former dental equipment manufacturer who realized that a lot of the techniques used to produce dental supplies could be used to produce cosmetic nail products.
Once this initial concept was turned into a real product, it took off like wildfire. Axxium changed the game by introducing the concept of gel nails.
Since Axxium’s release, many other competitors have jumped into the space. Today, the gel nail polish industry is a diverse and thriving industry with many players, though OPI is still one of the largest and most recognized.
What Exactly Is It?
Gel nail polish is a gel like substance that’s applied to the surface of the nails. Once exposed to oxygen and set using UV light, it becomes hard – But not too hard.
After application, the gel feels a lot like a natural fingertip. It doesn’t feel hard and brittle like acrylic nails. Instead, it feels hard yet pliable like a real fingernail.
It lasts for two to three weeks, even if you use your hands a lot. A lot of women find that acrylic nails chip easily, as quickly as in just a few days. With gel nail polish, this just doesn’t happen.
Why Has it Taken Off in Europe?
Europe is the fashion capital of the world. As trend setting as Madison Avenue is, it simply doesn’t compare to Paris, Milan and the overall fashion scene in Europe.
As a result of this high level of artistic consciousness, salons all over Europe were willing to try out gel nail polish while their American counterparts waited to see how the world reacted.
And the world sure did react. In Europe, salons that tried gel nail polish were quickly rewarded. Their customers loved it and kept coming back. They sent their friends. The nail polish industry started to take off.
Today, anyone who wants to have long lasting nail polish that doesn’t chip and looks completely natural knows that gel nail polish is the answer. It’s taking over the European continent and fast rising in the United States because of its superior quality and longevity.
Should you try it? If you’ve tried acrylic before and haven’t been satisfied, give gel nail polish a shot. It’ll most likely exceed your expectations.