Gel nails

How a gel manicure goes on

Two or three thin coats go on, and each is cured under the lamp before the next. Cleveland Clinic puts each cure at 60 to 90 seconds. Because nothing is left to dry, you can leave without smudging it.

How long gel nails last

Two to three weeks, according to Cleveland Clinic. Brands claim more for their own gels: Gelish calls itself the original 21-day gel, and DND says its gel lasts 21 days. Those are the companies’ own figures, not independent tests.

How to remove gel polish

Roughen the shiny top, then soak in acetone for about 10 to 15 minutes with cotton held on by foil or plastic wrap. A dermatologist writing for the AAD prefers plastic food wrap to foil, and says the gentlest removal of all is to let the gel grow out; a fingernail takes about six months to grow out fully.

Never peel it. Cleveland Clinic ranks peeling gel among the worst things you can do to your nails, and says damage from removal can take months to grow out.

The trade-offs

• The good: no smudges on the way home and no chips for weeks, Cleveland Clinic says.
• Brittle nails: the AAD warns gel manicures can cause brittleness, peeling and cracking.
• Allergy: gel contains acrylates and methacrylates, which can cause allergic rashes.
• UV: the AAD says repeated use can raise the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging on the hands.
• What dermatologists suggest: sunscreen or fingertip-less gloves under the lamp, leaving cuticles alone, and breaks between sets.

Shellac, Gelish and OPI GelColor

All three are gel polish sold under a brand name. Shellac is CND’s, and its name became shorthand for gel manicures in general; Gelish and OPI GelColor are other pro gels. Polishpedia’s guides to each are below.

At home or in a salon

Both work. OPI sells a DIY at-home gel polish and its own gel lamp, Beetles and Modelones sell home gel kits, and Olive & June’s Gel Mani System is pictured with a UV lamp.

TPO-free and HEMA-free

TPO is a chemical that helps gel harden under the lamp. The European Union banned it in cosmetics from September 1, 2025, a UK ban was expected in 2026, and it is still allowed in the US. Brands now advertise HEMA-free and TPO-free lines, Gelish, Kiara Sky, Beetles and DND among them.

Before you book

Try a gel color and some nail art on a drawn hand, then look up the nail salons in your town.

✦ Try a look on a hand

Find a nail salon near you