How Often Should You Get a Pedicure – A Step by Step Guide [Video]

How Often Should You Get a Pedicure?! Like most people, your feet are probably the most utilized yet least appreciated part of your body.

Feet take us everywhere whenever we are up and about and still have to stay grounded and provide balance when we are seated.

We usually do all these without paying much mind to it. But this doesn’t have to be so, and you can always treat those feet to some good leisure such as a pedicure.

This popular cosmetic spa treatment is usually focused on the feet to bring several therapeutic benefits to both the skin and nails of the feet.

The activities that make up a typical pedicure includes soaking then cleaning the feet, moisturizing and exfoliating the skin, cutting the cuticles and trimming the nails, and thoroughly massaging each foot.

Preferably, you can also have the nails painted to give you a pristine and new look. Not only does this treatment add beauty to our feet, but it also helps to heal them and make them more durable.

But, how often should you get this treatment? Is the treatment safe? And how should you carry your feet right after a pedicure? These are some of the questions we wish to address in this article.

How Often Should You Get a Pedicure?

Most people generally can’t decide upon the duration between one pedicure session and the next. They are unsure how often to get a pedicure and what too often means.

Generally, if you are trying to maintain happy and healthy feet, experts recommend that you go for a pedicure every 4 to 6 weeks.

This implies that you are not trying to improve any foot conditions and are only doing it for the basic nail trimming, foot soaking and cleaning, cuticle clipping and foot massage.

However, if you have an underlying condition you wish to improve or get rid of, you will need to get a pedicure every 3 to 4 weeks.

This will allow the technician to apply the appropriate treatment often and monitor the progress of the condition. The spacing is also crucial to ensure you don’t over-exfoliate and risk getting an injury.

Conditions that need more specific treatments may require you to get a pedicure every 2 weeks. This is called intermediate treatment and is scheduled so that you can get a pedicure in week 0, followed by a complete therapeutic session in week 2 and another pedicure in the fourth week.

Are Pedicures Bad For Your Feet?

A regular pedicure will allow you to feel pampered and confident at all times. However, people still often wonder if pedicures are bad for the feet.

In itself, pedicure poses no health threat to your feet. However, certain misdeeds can result in the development of foot fungus or ingrown toenails.

One of these misdeeds includes negligence or failure of the salon to sterilize their equipment. This is often a recipe for the spread of viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

Others may include things you do wrong yourself, such as shaving right before getting a pedicure or constantly trimming your toenails too short.

Some of the signs that you have an infection include:

  • Redness or swelling in some parts of the foot
  • Red and swollen toe that may indicate an ingrown toenail
  • Thicken nail with an apparent change in color (black or yellow) indicating a nail fungus infection

These conditions are not widespread and do not frequently occur as long as you pick the right salon and follow the rules. To save yourself from the risk of an infection, be sure to do the following:

  • Please choose the right salon which has a license and sterilize their instruments always
  • Never shave right before a pedicure, as this could leave you with cuts that can facilitate and establish an infection much quicker.
  • Never trim your nails too short.  Always cut them straight across to avoid injury and ingrown toenails.
  • Exfoliate only when necessary and stick to the rough spots
  • Always keep your feet moisturized with a thick moisturizer

When Should You Not Get a Pedicure?

Getting a pedicure is both healthy and beautiful. It leaves your feet looking beautiful and keeps them happy and healthy.

However, there are times when it will be unwise to get a pedicure. Getting a pedicure under certain conditions can pose a significant risk to your health as well as a danger to others.

You need to avoid getting a pedicure if you have an injury, a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection, or some diabetic foot issues.

While these conditions are things that would make you avoid a spa session, you might still need to discuss with your physician in case of other underlying issues.

When You Have an Infection

One of the worst times to get a pedicure is when you have an infection. Infections caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi are highly contagious and can easily pass from you to others.

Fungal infections, for instance, are predicated by a thick, yellow, and swollen appearance on the foot. If you see these signs, you should suspect a fungal infection and avoid going to the spa altogether.

When You Have Diabetic Foot Complications

Diabetes and neuropathy can affect the feet and make it risky to get a pedicure treatment. Most spa treatments generally involve filling calluses and corn, and when these are done to a foot with diabetic issues, it can result in infections and ulcerations.

When You Have An Injury And The Nails Are Falling Off

This is usually very common with athletes and runners, where they get injuries on their toes, thereby removing a nail or two.

However, it can also happen to just about anyone through an accident. If you get a damaged nail bed where the nail looks to be falling off, then you need to reconsider getting a pedicure.

The nails, in this case, are usually too sensitive and can cause severe discomfort and lead to possible infection.

You can wait for the wound to heal and for the nail to begin to regrow before going in for a spa treatment.

What Should I Avoid After a Pedicure?

How Often Should You Get a PedicureStep by Step Guide ” class=”wp-image-274″ width=”837″ height=”837″ />
How Often Should You Get a Pedicure – A Step by Step Guide

What you get during a spa treatment generally depends on the length of your appointment. So that naturally, you would expect more quality pampering the longer your pedicure last.

However, there are things you must avoid doing immediately after your pedicure. Avoiding these things partly will result in better results and somewhat keep your feet looking pristine for much longer.

Some of the things you need to avoid after a pedicure include getting your feet wet and walking about in covered shoes.

The steps below should help you understand what to expect during a regular pedicure session:

Step 1: Cleansing and soaking

Most spa treatments generally begin with this – with your feet soaked in warm water and then cleansed. This helps to soften the skin and prepare it for the next step.

Step 2: Cutting and Filing

During this step, one foot is taken out of the footbath, dried off and the nails are trimmed and filed into a very uniform and attractive shape. All these happen while the other foot remains inside the warm water.

Step 3: Cuticle treatment

Once the nails have been properly shaped, the technician will apply a cuticle cream to all your toenails and then gently push back the cuticles giving the nails a much appealing appearance.

Step 4: Exfoliating and foot filing

Here, the nail technician will first apply an exfoliate cream all over the foot before using a foot file to carefully and gently remove dead cells under your foot.

Step 5: Moisturizing and massaging

Once the exfoliation is done, the next stage is often very pleasurable – including the use of rich moisturizing creams and aromatherapy oils and massage.

The skin around your feet and the bottom of your feet will receive acupressure or a reflexology-based massage to refresh and relax you.

Step 6: Polishing

Nail polishing is optional but generally, give the best pedicure appearance. Once the massage is complete, a base coat and a top coat polish will be applied to each toenail. The goal of using both polishes is to boost durability and provide extra protection for the nails.

Once these are done, the nails are allowed to dry, preferably under a UV lamp, to hasten the drying process.

How Soon Can You Shower After Pedicure?

Soon after the polish has been applied, your nails might appear dry after one or two hours. They may even feel dry when you touch them.

Yet, the saying “looks can be deceiving” is very accurate in this case. That the nails feel dry doesn’t mean they are dried and can be allowed near the water.

Hence, you will require about 12 – 24 hours before you can shower after a pedicure. And anything short of this can ruin the pristine look.

In the same vein, you will need to wait an entire week if you intend to go and swim in a pool filled with chlorine, as the chemical is widely known for removing nail polishes.

Conclusion

In a world where we all are constantly on the move, our feet serve a critical role in our day to day life.

And because we use them so often, getting a pedicure is not only a luxury but a necessity. Not only does it help to give you a delicate appearance, but it also brings the necessary therapy and healing that your feet so badly needs.

However, you will need to carefully follow the instructions provided above to ensure this helpful and beautiful experience does not become detrimental to your health.     

How to Remove Spray Tan from Hands: 5 Easiest Methods [Video]

Every regular user of spray tan has, at one point or the other, asked for help on how to remove spray tan from hands. This is because while your hands are what you would typically use to apply a spray tan on your body, orange palms and patchy knuckles are not exactly a great look.

So, even though for the past 20 years, humans have been enjoying using fake tans that match each person’s skin tone, no one wants their hands to give it away, literally. Hence the forever quests on how to get a spray tan off.

Below, we consider the best and easiest methods to achieve this and other concerns you may have when you use a spray tan.

How to Remove Spray Tan from Hands

How to Remove Spray Tan from Hands: 5 of the Easiest Methods
How to Remove Spray Tan from Hands: 5 of the Easiest Methods

The regular spray tan contains a chemical known as dihydroxyacetone (DHA), whose primary responsibility is to make your skin surface darker. But there is a catch; the dryer the skin area, the darker this chemical will make it.

This is what makes your hands and knuckles darker than the rest of your body when you use spray tan.

Basically, to get spray tan off, you need to dilute and remove this chemical from those areas using simple techniques such as a soak in a tub, skin exfoliation, or taking a swim.

Below are the steps on how to remove spray tan from hands:

Using Bath Oil

Step 1: Get a bowl or basin. Be sure it is deep enough to immerse your hands entirely.

Step 2: Get a pot, pour in some water and place over some heat until it starts to get warm.

Step 3: Pour the warm water into the bowl or basin and add a few drops of bath oil to the warm water.

Step 4: Dip your hands into the bowl of water and oil and allow standing for 10 minutes.

Step 5: Remove your hands after 10 minutes and gently scrub immediately with a loofah or clean towel. You should notice the tan begin to clear instantly.

Using Lemon Juice

Step 1: Get a big bowl or small basin deep enough to contain your hands

Step 2: Heat some water until slightly warm

Step 3: Pour the water into the basin and squeeze some lemon juice into it

Step 4: Dip the hand into the bowl of water and lemon juice and allow soaking for 30 to 60 minutes

Step 5: Withdraw the hand from the water and scrub gently with a warm, damp towel. Doing this immediately will help lift the spay tan from your hands

Using Glycolic Acid

Step 1: Get a face pad or a clean towel if you don’t have a face pad at home

Step 2: Pour some Glycolic acid onto the face pad or towel

Step 3: Use the part soaked with the acid to gently scrub the areas on your hands with the tan stains

Step 4: Continue to wash until you see the skin becomes clean. The acid is famous for separating chemicals like DHA from the skin

Using Sugar Scrubs

Step 1: Get a bowl or basin and mix one cup of refined sugar or baking powder with a half cup of sweet almond oil and about 10 drops of any essential oil like Lavender.

Step 2: Dip your hands in warm water to soak and steam them up

Step 3: Get an exfoliating towel or mitt and dip a part into your homemade scrub

Step 4: Use the soaked portion of the towel to gently rub the stained part of your hands in a circular motion

Step 5: Continue to hone until you see the tan plus dead cells come off

Step 6: Rinse the hands in clean water, dry off with a towel, and moisturize with your favourite lotion

Going Swimming

Step 1: Jump into a swimming pool. The chlorine in the water is good for removing the DHA. However, it may also clean your tan from the rest of your body. So you want to try this method when you don’t mind cleaning the tan from all your skin.

Step 2: Take a shower once you leave the pool to wash off the chlorinated water

Step 3: Moisturize your body to avoid having a dry skin

Why Are My Hands Orange After Spray Tanning?

How to Remove Spray Tan from Hands: 5 of the Easiest Methods
How to Remove Spray Tan from Hands: 5 of the Easiest Methods

The reason your hands look orange after applying a spray tan is that your hands, just like your feet, elbows, and knees, happen to be one of the driest and thinnest parts of your body and retain more coloration than the rest of your body.

For a better understanding of why this happens, let us break it down like this:

  • The skin surrounding your hand is dehydrated and thin, making the oxidation process of tanning occur faster in that area
  • Because on its own, the hand is already dry, applying a spray tan without moisturizing the hands first makes the situation even worst.

So what can you do to avoid these orange patches the next time you want to tan your skin?

  • Exfoliate for at least 4 hours before applying the tan. Exfoliation helps remove dead cells, responsible for holding on to the coloration and giving you that unwanted look.
  • Always remember to take a shower several hours before your next spray tan appointment. Moisturizing your skin this way will prevent the skin from being dry during the process and eliminate the intense coloration that may follow.
  • Never use more tan than is absolutely necessary. While using tan may cause patches, using too much tan can quickly become overwhelming.
  • Take care never to apply the tan in a rush. Rushing the process means you will likely not give too much thought to use it correctly.
  • As much as possible, try to use the proper tools such as a tanning mitt or brush. If you are applying the spray tan yourself, you may not hit perfection, but they will help to avoid patchy palms.

What Do You Do If Your Spray Tan Is Too Dark?

How to Remove Spray Tan from Hands: 5 of the Easiest Methods
How to Remove Spray Tan from Hands: 5 of the Easiest Methods

Getting a tan can protect you from the harsh UV rays; however, there are instances where your spray tan can become too dark.

If your tan ever gets too dark, the best solution to lighten it is to apply some baby or coconut oil, allow sitting for about 10 minutes before taking a shower and exfoliating.

The oil will help lift the spray tan off the top layer of the skin and make the exfoliation process easier. Together this can help lighten the tan, making it appear more natural.

Alternatively (and if only certain areas of the skin appear darker than usual), you can make a baking soda bath and use it to lighten the skin area.

The procedure involves pouring 2 or 3 cups of baking soda into the bathwater, then soaking the skin in the mixture for about 30 minutes before using a washcloth to scrub the area gently.

How Long Does It Take For Spray Tan to Fade?

How to Remove Spray Tan from Hands: 5 of the Easiest Methods
How to Remove Spray Tan from Hands: 5 of the Easiest Methods

On average, a spray tan takes about 10 days before it begins to fade. However, this depends mainly on the skin texture and tone as much as on the quality of tan used.

For instance, lighter skin tones may have their spray tans last for at least 5 days before it starts to wear off. A medium skin tone could last for about 7 -8 days, while darker shades can last as long as 10 or 12 days.

Generally, other factors could also affect how long a tan job lasts, including what you do before the tanning, what you do during the tanning and what you do afterwards.

Things to Do Before a Spray Tan

  • Pedicure, massages, and facials have to do done before a tanning session
  • Wax your skin at least a day before your tanning appointment. It could be more challenging for the spray tan to hold and stick to your skin if you haven’t waxed
  • Shower and exfoliate with an oil-free exfoliator at least 4 hours before you get your tan on. Showering and exfoliating will make it easier for the tanning to stick, and doing it earlier will ensure no discoloration will occur as the skin pores must have closed after 4 hours
  • You could also shave before you shower and exfoliate. It is recommended that you shave at least 4 hours before the tanning to allow your skin to heal
  • Clean off all makeup and lotion before you begin the tanning

Things to Do During a Spray Tan

  • Wear loosely fitting clothing such as a T-shirt or dress with flip flops to prevent the tan from rubbing off on your clothes
  • Avoid bras, if you can, as they often tend to mess up a tan job with their straps. And if you can’t do without them, wear a strapless or bandeau bra.
  • Avoid yoga pants or denim. These are well known for ruining a perfectly done tan job and wiping your skin clean, as they can get clingy.
  • If you suspect it will rain or are tanning during a rainy season, go out with an umbrella. A freshly done spray tan and raindrops are not a good fit.

Things to Do After a Spray Tan

  • Wait for at least 4 to 8 hours (but not more than 24 hours) before going near the shower.
  • It would be best to avoid whatever would cause your skin to touch some moisture within that period. This includes workouts, liquid foundation, cleaning, and applying lotions.
  • During your first shower after the job, you will need to exercise extra care while scrubbing your body. Cleaning too hard can strip the skin of the fake tan, and this is considered one of the quickest methods on how to get a spray tan off.
  • During your first shower and subsequent showers, you may want only to use a natural body wash free from any oils. When washing your palms, you can use oils if you are looking for how to remove spray tan from hands.
  • Also, avoid taking a hot shower as this is one of the ways to reduce the duration of a spray tan.
  • After the shower, pat yourself with your palms and allow yourself to sit and air dry rather than using a towel to wipe clean your body. Cleaning with a towel can also clean off some tan color.
  • Moisturizing properly with an oil-free moisturizer can also help to make your tan last longer. It is recommended that you moisturize every morning and evening.
  • You can begin to use a tan extender 3 days after you get your tanning done. It will help the tan stay on much longer before fading.
  • Avoid swimming in a pool while you still have your tan on. Chlorine is well known for decolorizing a good tan. Other things to avoid include long showers, steam baths, saunas, massages, bandages, products that contain acids, and fashion tapes. Any of these things will most likely strip off some tan.
  • If possible, avoid any skin to skin contact, including crossing those lovely legs of yours while you sit. Rubbing your skin together could undo the job faster than you want
  • You can use tinted moisturizers to “top off” your tan subsequently. Using a tinted moisturizer that is the same color as the tan you got will not only look more natural but will help to extend the glow you get
  • Avoid exfoliating until you decide it is time to remove the spray tan. If you are looking for how to get spray tan off hands, you can focus on exfoliating only the hands.

The list may look long and overwhelming, but they are essential for your good. You can even call it the Do and Don’ts of Spray Tan, as they will not only help you get the best tan job but also help elongate your glowing period.

What’s the Best Tan Remover?

How to Remove Spray Tan from Hands: 5 of the Easiest Methods
How to Remove Spray Tan from Hands: 5 of the Easiest Methods

Once your beautifully bronzed skin begins to appear darker, drier, and less attractive, you will know it is time to search for how to get a spray tan off.

The good thing is getting off a tan is often easier than applying or maintaining one. A good tan remover will help you get the spray off in one quick sweep, but how do you know which tan remover to use?

Some of the best tan removers are Sienna X Eraser Self Tan Remover and Mitt, St Tropez Prep & Maintain Tan Remover Mousse, Isle of Paradise Over It Magic Self Tan Eraser, and so many others.

These products usually include oils that can easily break down DHA, one of the active ingredients found in all tanning solutions.

Some of these products also include glycolic acid as an ingredient. This acid is excellent for removing dead cells and tissues to reveal a cleaner and fresher skin layer underneath after every tanning session.

Lastly, some of the best products also come with an exfoliating mitt to make the job easier when removing the spray tan.

The trick is to pick one that provides all these bonuses without costing more than necessary.

Conclusion

How to apply a spray tan may be complicated and require the services of a professional, but how to remove spray tan from hands doesn’t have to be mainly because it is something you may need to do at home and in a hurry.

Using any of the 5 techniques described above should help you get the job done quickly and conveniently. And to finally get a spray tan off, you can try any of the tan removers listed above.

How to Use Olaplex No. 3: A Step by Step Guide [Video]

For those who take great pleasure in their hair, staying healthy also implies have healthy hair thick, soft, and full of luster and vitality. Are you interested in learning How to Use Olaplex No. 3? continue read to learn more

This could mean undergoing routine keratin heat treatments, molecular cauterization, or using moisturizing masks occasionally.

While this will result in more hydrated and frizz-free hair, it could also mean every initial hair dye color will be completely stripped off. So that the hair dye is sacrificed at the altar of maintaining robust hair.

Alternatively, one could use Olaplex 3 – a hair product specially designed to restructure hair fiber from the core, rebuild the bonds between keratin and hair fiber, and restore hair quality without undoing that stylish hair color you have on.

This works perfectly for everyone including those who frequently dye their hair as Olaplex 3 functions without interfering with hair dye pigment. So that you can confidently apply Olaplex 3 to damaged color-treated hair and have the damage repaired shortly without any risks to the hair dye.

Today, we will look at how to use this product as well as answer a few common questions including whether or not this product can damage your hair.

How to Use Olaplex 3

How to Use Olaplex No 3 A Step by Step Guide
How to Use Olaplex No 3 A Step by Step Guide

As a bond perfector, Olaplex 3 can be correctly used to smooth, fortify, and protect hair locks. It also works for just about any hair type whether it is a virgin or visibly damaged hair. The product is so simple to use that anybody can use it by themselves at home.

So, whether you are using it on colored, textured, or regular hair, here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Prepare the hair

You need to first prepare the hair by washing with a light shampoo and drying with a towel thoroughly. This will ensure you remove any oils, silicones, or excess of other products present in the hair.

Step 2: Apply the product

Once the hair has been tried properly with a towel, open the product and apply it directly to the hair. Apply generously so that it reaches the root of the hair follicle.

Then comb the hair properly to allow the product to spread all over each hair.

Step 3: Leave to stand

Allowing the product to remain on the hair is important to let the rebuilding process properly occur. And usually, the more the damage, the longer you are to allow it to stand.

For instance, if your hair has suffered no damage and you are only using it for perfection, you can allow it to stand for at least 10 minutes. The manufacturers recommend leaving it on for 20 minutes.

The product reaches maximum efficacy after 45 minutes. However, you will need to leave it on for about 30 -90 minutes if you are trying to repair severe damage.

You can even allow it to remain on the hair overnight. Just make sure the hair remains damp by wearing a shower cap. The product works only on moist hair.

Step 4: Rinse with shampoo and water

Once the treatment has sat on the hair for long enough, the next step is to rinse with shampoo and water. Washing helps to get remove the product from your hair for best results.

You should use slightly warm water for this as helps to make the washing both easier and much faster.

Using your regular conditioning regimen to wash the hair after the treatment leaves you with incredible results rather than subtract anything from the product.

Can you use Olaplex 3 Alone?

Olaplex 3 is not a conditioner but a concentrated treatment that contains the same active ingredients as Olaplex 1 and 2 and can therefore be used as a stand-alone product at home.

While the first two Olaplex products are professional products used only by professionals in the salons, Olaplex 3 can be easily used by the everyday person at home and guarantees results nonetheless.

This take-home treatment is engineered to dramatically improve any type of hair condition and on any type of hair. It also offers the following benefits:

  • It helps to improve and maintain the strength and integrity of your hair
  • Olaplex 3 strengthens and resuscitate dry hair fixing the structure from the root to the tip
  • It restores the natural health and texture of the hair follicles
  • Olaplex 3 is also very useful for reducing breakage to the barest minimum
  • It guarantees an amazing and strong feel for even the most damaged or delicately fine hair
  • It helps to ensure that hair dye last much longer and appear more vibrant
  • Olaplex 3 also helps to maintain curly hair making it shinier, stronger, bouncier, and softer
  • Lastly, this product is free of sulfate, silicone, oils, paraben, gluten, nut, and vegan

We can then agree that this is an amazing product fit for use alone with its many benefits.  However, hair experts have recommended that you consider combining it with other take-home products such as 4 and 5 for a more comprehensive result.

Olaplex 4 is a bond maintenance shampoo that functions in restoring internal strength and increasing hair moisture levels thereby adding an incredible shine and manageability to even the most damaged type of hair.

While Olaplex 5 is a bond maintenance conditioner used for hydrating, restoring, and repairing the hair without adding excess weight to it. It cures frizz and damages as well giving you stronger, healthier, and shinier hair.

Do You Use Olaplex 3 Before or After Shampoo?

How to Use Olaplex No 3 A Step by Step Guide
How to Use Olaplex No 3 A Step by Step Guide

Olaplex 3 is best used before shampooing as it is not a conditioner that requires prior shampooing. The shampooing comes after the product has remained on your hair long enough and is used to properly wash it off the hair.

However, you may need to apply a light shampoo before using Olaplex 3 if you notice that there are build-ups in your hair.

These build-ups include the excesses of other products, oils, silicones, chlorine, or mineral – all the things that may prevent Olaplex 3 from properly penetrating each hair strand.

Conversely, if you are not a heavy styling product user and do not stand the chance of having any of the above build-ups, a little dampening of the hair is enough to get your hair ready for application of Olaplex 3.

Can Olaplex Ruin Your Hair?

How to Use Olaplex No 3 A Step by Step Guide
How to Use Olaplex No 3 A Step by Step Guide

On the contrary, this product was specifically engineered to prevent and repair ruined hair. The patented ingredients have shown no evidence of causing any damage to the hair.

Instead, it multiples the disulfide bonds present in the hair fiber and cross-links broken bonds thereby quickly repairing any form of damage and restoring hair health and vitality.

The things that ruin your hair include heat, keratin treatments, perming and bleaching,  and excessive styling products stuffed with so many oils and silicones – all the things that are absent in Olaplex 3.

Olaplex is recommended to be used as a weekly treatment. But those with severe hair damage can use it twice or three times weekly for the best and quickest results.

The amount of time it spends on your hair cannot also cause damage. Olaplex 3 will reach its maximum efficacy at 45 minutes yet you can keep it on for as long as the hair is moist without risking any damages.

The company has emphasized that not even overuse can cause ruin to your hair and leaving it for a longer duration doesn’t affect the integrity of your hair, rather it gives even better results.

The other question is whether or not Olaplex 3 has any negative effect on dyed hair. The ingredient in Olaplex 3 does not interfere with those in coloring products. This, as well as the fact that they fix the different hair problems, means your hair will remain healthy while the color stays longer with more vibrancy.

Can I Mix Olaplex 3 With Hair Dye?

How to Use Olaplex No 3 A Step by Step Guide
How to Use Olaplex No 3 A Step by Step Guide

Mixing Olaplex with a hair dye is not a great idea as both are chemically compatible. It may not alter the results but it wouldn’t add any positive effects either.

Also, Olaplex functions as a reparative treatment, so it is best used after using the hair dye chemicals. The product will fix the damage caused by the dye on the hair but since it doesn’t act on the surface, there is no way for Olaplex to remove the dye color.

Interestingly, it is also possible to use just Olaplex 3 alone without Olaplex 1 and 2 to see a significant difference in colored hair.

A cheaper alternative to Olaplex 3 treatment is a keratin treatment. However, unlike Olaplex 3, keratin treatment strips any dye off the hair when applied can be very limited in the amount of damage it repairs.

Hence, hair dye enthusiasts should use Olaplex 3 instead of a keratin treatment as it is more likely to repair the hair and keep it healthy without undoing the dye.

You can use Olaplex 3 immediately after applying hair dye, or after a few days, or even after months without it causing the dye pigments to fade. But you don’t have to mix it with hair dye to use.

Conclusion

The Olaplex 3 hair perfector is a hair treatment product that has been scientifically proven to repair hair, make it healthier and stronger, and restore the shine and vitality of the hair.

It is also a take-home product which means you can purchase it and use it without the supervision of a professional. You simply need to wet your hair first or wash with a little shampoo if it contains excesses of products that can reduce the efficacy of Olaplex 3.

Lastly, the product offers immediate results when used on just about any type and texture of hair whether it is virgin hair or critically damaged hair.

How to Fix Matted Hair: A Step by Step Video Guide

How to Fix Matted Hair : There are lists of things that can leave you with a very confusing appearance, and matted hair happens to be on top of that list.

Matted hair is a situation that occurs when some of the loose hairs twist around other hair strands repeatedly. Very often, the body shed some hair as part of a natural cycle, but sometimes (especially times when your hair is not smooth and straight), these loose hair do not fall off entirely.

Instead, they hang on to other hair strands, get intertwined with those strands and form knots. More falling strands continue to wrap around different strands in damaged or textured hair.

The result is usually this severe tangling that becomes too difficult or painful to unravel. You can think of hair mats as intensified everyday tangles and knots that are impossible to remove with just a comb or brush alone.

Matted hair can occur for several reasons, including terrible detangling techniques used over time, refraining from trimming hair ends for an extended period, and refusing to protect the hair at night as you sleep.

Also, those with textures such as coils and curls or with drier hairs may be more predisposed to hair mats.

When it occurs, most people quickly grab a pair of scissors, cut the hair short, run to the professional hairstylist for chemical-bound solutions, or demand a short hairstyle.

Some of the above solutions are expensive, while others can cause you to lose a large chunk of precious hair.

Alternatively, you can learn how to fix matted hair by yourself and in the comfort of your house. This is what we intend to teach in this short post and answers to some general questions about matted hair.

How to Fix Matted Hair

Equipped with some patience, information, and the right tools, anybody can easily detangle matted hair. Following the steps described below, you too should be able to fix matted hair without spending anything at the salon and with a bit damage to your hair as possible.

Step 1: Comb the dry hair

It might sound tempting to try to untangle the hair right after you take a shower. But detangling wet hair can quickly turn into a bad idea, as we will explain shortly.

Instead, comb the hair while it is dry but not too dry. Use a wide-toothed comb if you have one of those. Combing it while it is not all dry will make it less painful and difficult.

Step 2: Start at the ends.

The combing needs to start from the hair ends. Comb a few times near the ends and then raise the comb a little higher and repeat the strokes a few times.

Continue to repeat this until you reach the root of the hair. The longer or thicker the hair, the more severe the mats will be. And the more severe the mats, the longer the time you might spend detangling them.

Step 3: Raise the hair

Slightly raise a handful of the hair about the thickness of a marker and then twist it halfway before combing the portion under your hand. Then move your grip higher and continue to comb beneath the grab.

Raising it this way prevents pain, and combing it only a portion at a time makes it easier to remove the mats.

Step 4: Apply some conditioner.

If you are having trouble removing mats after step 3 above, try to apply a drop of conditioner or oil on the tough knot and massage it in. this helps to lubricate the intricate strands causing them to lose quickly.

Step 5: Thin out more rigid mats

The above steps may still prove futile with some mats. In that case, you will need to thin them out using scissors. Hold the strands of hair housing the knot higher up, open a pair of scissors and insert the edge of one side of the scissors into the knotted area, then tug gently until the strands loosen apart.

Some knots, especially those formed over several weeks or months of hair neglect, may still refuse to come apart after this. In this case, cutting the mats out would be intelligent as detangling may take too long with no results.

Step 6: Comb with a fine-toothed comb.

Once the mats have all been eased out, you need to run a fine-toothed comb several times over the hair to straighten all the tangles out.

Step 7: Wash the hair

Now that the mats are removed and straightened out, you will need to rinse the hair. You may also consider parting your hair into several portions and rinsing them one at a time if you have tightly curled hair.

Otherwise, you can stand under the shower and rinse the hair just before you bathe.

Why Is My Hair So Matted?

Generally, several known factors can cause your hair to form severe tangles and mats. While the reasons can be separated into chemically-induced and natural causes, they are mostly under your control.

Some of the reasons your hair could be so matted include over-processing the hair, avoiding combing the hair for a long time, failure to trim or cut split ends, and letting the hair hang loosely while you sleep.

Failure to Protect Your Hair While You Sleep

Many people believe that they should only protect their hair whenever they make a new style and try to preserve the new hairstyle until it looks older.

But this is not so. Your hair needs to be protected while you sleep, especially when you are yet to braid it.

 You can try to make your curls into a pineapple at night or braid it just before bed if you have a twist out/braid out.

Also, cover the hair with a satin scarf or bonnet before you lay down. And lastly, choose a satin pillowcase instead of a cotton one as the latter is known for removing every bit of moisture from your hair as you rub against it, causing the hair to mat.

Not Combing the Hair Often or Not Detangling Properly

Combing the hair every day might seem like too much work, but it is necessary if you don’t want the hair to get tangled up.

Also, not detangling correctly can often cause the hair to mat and allow more minor knots to develop into severe hair mats.

Hence you must comb often and detangle as you go, using the detangling steps described above.

Over Processing/ Over Styling the Hair

Processing your hair with various styles is good as it gives you an attractive look and gives you a break from worrying about what to do with the hair for some weeks. It also helps you retain your hair length for that period.

However, over-processing the hair and carrying it that way for too long often result in mats. To prevent this from happening, only install protective styles on wet hair and only leave the style on for 4 – 6 weeks.

Lastly, when getting rid of the style, follow up immediately with a session of careful washing and detangling.

The following reasons may also cause some hairs to be more prone to forming hair mats than others:

  • When the hair is always too dry
  • When the hair is naturally curly
  • When the hair becomes longer than shoulder length
  • When the hair is damaged by heat, sun, or chemicals such as bleach
  • When the hair breaks off easily
  • When you vigorously scratch or comb the hair
  • When the hair is constantly exposed to hot styling tools
  • When you use hair products that contain alcohol too often

What Home Remedy Gets Rid of Knots?

Having matted hair is nobody’s favorite moment – it leaves you with damaged hair, and that is beside the pain and grief that comes with trying to comb and detangle the hair.

It can also cause money to detangle mats if you wish to take them to the stylists. It is almost impossible that the people at the salon will help you get rid of mats for free.

Therefore, it will make so much sense if remedies are lying around in your house that you can quickly and efficiently use to remove knots, and luckily there are a ton of them.

A few great home remedies that can help you get rid of knots include apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, peanut butter, mayonnaise, baby oil, and many other everyday items.

Apple Cider Vinegar

This household item has helped many get rid of even the worst knots. Apple cider vinegar can act as a natural conditioner, making knot removal effortless and painless.

To use, mix half a teaspoon of this item in 2 cups of water, then rinse your hair with the solution. Try to focus more on the areas with the knots. Lastly, use slightly warm water to rinse the entire hair.

Coconut Oil

This simple ingredient can be quite effective and is readily available. If you have some at home, then your hair woes won’t last longer than they should.

To use, pass some coconut oil to warm it slightly, then pour some into one palm and, with the other hand, smear the oil all over the knot.

Once you are satisfied with the smearing, go ahead and use a wide-toothed comb to comb the area, starting from near the ends and going higher gradually. You will feel the knot loosen easily without causing you any discomfort.

Peanut Butter

If you are like most people who love to consume peanut butter, then chances are you will have some lying around even right now.

If you don’t already know this, people have found peanut butter to be a perfect softening gent and have been using it on hair locks for ages.

To use on hair mats, take a little scoop of this item and apply directly on the knots, then allow sitting for a few minutes before rinsing with slightly warm water.

Allow the hair to dry correctly, and then use a wide-toothed comb to comb gently, starting from the ends and making your way up.

Mayonnaise

This is another very common household consumable. It is also very effective in helping you detangle knots.

Start by smearing some mayonnaise over the areas with knots, then allow sitting for a few minutes. After that, brush the hair using a wide-toothed comb. The result is usually an easy detangling that causes neither pain to you or damage to your hair.

Baby Oil

Baby oils can also come in handy in fixing many hair related issues, including mats. They can make detangling matted hair easy and prevent breakage at the same time.

Find out where all the mats are located, then apply some baby oil directly to the knots. Allow standing for a minute, then brush gently using a wide-toothed comb.

Conclusion

Hair mats are painful to detangle and cause severe damage to your hair, yet they are so common that everyone experiences them now and then.

The cause could be something you did or failed to do, but that never stops it from becoming problematic and causing you valuable time, money, and some hair.

Therefore, learning how to fix matted hair effectively, efficiently, and with minimal damage is an essential life hack.

How to Cover a Hickey with Makeup – A Step by Step Guide [Video]

How to Cover a Hickey with Makeup: Anybody can get a hickey. However, hickeys are most commonly found on lovers. Personally, I think a hickey is something that a person gives to their partner to declare to the rest of the world that their partner is theirs and theirs alone.

A hickey, also popularly called a love bite or kiss bite, is a bruise that forms on the skin due to bleeding under the skin surface. A minor injury can cause bleeding to the blood capillaries.

And this injury, in turn, can be due to someone biting or sucking too hard and for too long on the spot on your skin.

The result is usually a small red, purple, or blue mark on the skin. While this can be found anywhere on the skin, it is mainly found around the neck, as this is usually an area of focus during passionate kissing or lovemaking.

Hickeys are generally harmless and tend to resolve after a few days or two weeks, depending on the size of the hickey and the sensitivity of the skin.

However, while they linger, they can quickly become a source of embarrassment for the recipient, especially during a public appearance.

This has prompted us to write a post that teaches you how to cover a hickey with makeup. You can follow the steps and instructions below to quickly cover that hickey on your neck before you go for that essential public outing.

How to Cover a Hickey with Makeup

How to Cover a Hickey with Makeup – A Step by Step Guide
How to Cover a Hickey with Makeup – A Step by Step Guide

Hickeys are generally not dangerous and pose no significant threat to your health, but they can easily embarrass you in public. Learn how to cover them with makeup below quickly:

Step 1: Get the needed materials

As crucial as covering that hickey may seem, getting suitable materials is even more critical. You need to have everything you need if you want to get it right.

Some of the most important items include primer, corrector, foundation, concealer, a makeup brush, and powder.

Step 2: Apply the primer.

If the hickey is large enough and requires a lot of makeup, you want to make sure you have primer acting as the first layer for anything else.

Primers make the surface even and help reduce the greasiness and shininess commonly associated with makeup. They also make it easier to apply foundation and powder.

Be sure to use a primer that is both oil-free and contains at least 50% water. This type of primer minimizes the chances of ending up with runny, slippery, or greasy makeup.

Step 3: Apply the first corrector.

The first corrector you would need to apply should be on the inside of the hickey. Use a color opposite the color of the hickey on the color wheel. This will help to neutralize the outlook of the hickey.

For the best results, follow these simple tricks:

  • Use a corrector with a green undertone for the inside of a hickey that has a purple-red color
  • Use a corrector with purple undertones for a green-yellow inside
  • If the hickey is black-blue, then a corrector with red or orange undertones is best

Step 4: Apply a second corrector to the rest of the hickey

Once the inside of the hickey has been entirely and adequately covered, you will move to attend to the rest.

First, clean the brush to get rid of the color from the above step, touch it on the corresponding color and apply it to the remaining red part of the hickey.

Step 5: Blend the area.

Once you have finished applying the corrector to the hickey, the next step is to blend the area to match your skin. You can do this using a foundation and a concealer.

First, decide how much area you want the foundation and concealer to cover. If the hickey is on your neck, then the foundation and concealer only need to cover a small range from the hickey. However, if the hickey is on your face (rare but not impossible), you will need to blend the entire face to not look conspicuous.

Aim to use dry and opaque products as they usually get the job done without getting slippery.  You can use a rounded sponge for the application or the pad of your thumb if you don’t have the sponge.

Apply the foundation first before the concealer. Pour some of the foundations into the sponge or your thumb and press it against the surface. Once this is in place, repeat the process for the concealer.

It is recommended to apply it this way as using a brush only moves the products around, leaving the hickey exposed.

Step 6: Apply some powder.

After applying the foundation and concealer, you will need to put your makeup in place by using powder.

Finishing off with a powder also prevent you from quickly sweating the makeup off or staining your shirt with it.

Step 7: Check your work in the mirror

The final step is to view the hickey using a mirror. See if it is well covered and if it is still showing, apply some more foundation, concealer and powder as done above.

Why Do Hickeys Feel Good?

Hickeys do not feel good to everyone, but it is always because of two significant reasons when they do feel good. One reason is the lowered sensitivity of the recipient. The other reason could be the emotional attachment the recipient has for the giver.

A hickey is a bruise, and while it might have been given from a place of love, it is a bruise nonetheless. And for very, very sensitive skin, this can hurt for some time.

And even though hickeys hurt capillaries by breaking them, they are still generally painless in most cases. And if it feels good to you, it could likely be due to the emotional response and attraction you have towards the one who gave you.

How Do You Hide Hickeys With Toothpaste?

How to Cover a Hickey with Makeup – A Step by Step Guide
How to Cover a Hickey with Makeup – A Step by Step Guide

You may have a hickey but no makeup kit available. But will that stop you from attending that important event?

Using peppermint-based toothpaste is one unorthodox method through which people get rid of hickeys in the absence of makeup.

Step 1: Brush the hickey gently.

Use a stiff-bristled toothbrush to gently and lightly brush the hickey and the area surrounding it. This will allow for better circulation around that area. This will, in turn, help the hickey heal faster.

But be careful not to press or brush too hard as that could worsen the hickey. Also, only use a new toothbrush to avoid other complications.

Step 2: Apply the toothpaste.

Gently spread peppermint-based toothpaste over the hickey. Spread until the paste covers the entire area.

You will get a tingling feeling upon application. This is an indication that healing has commenced.

Step 3: Allow standing for a few minutes.

Allowing the toothpaste to sit for a few minutes will let the healing go on long enough for the mark to subside.

Step 4: Gently rub it off

The tingling feeling will pass after the paste has achieved maximum efficacy. And once you stop feeling it, dip a washcloth into some warm water and gently wipe off the paste.

Then wait for 24 hours for the hickey to start to look less noticeable. If the hickey doesn’t seem to be subsiding after 24 hours, repeat the above steps.

How Do You Get Rid of A Hickey in Seconds?

How to Cover a Hickey with Makeup – A Step by Step Guide
How to Cover a Hickey with Makeup – A Step by Step Guide

Depending on the size and severity of the underlying injury causing the hickey, a hickey can last from anywhere between a few days to 2 weeks. Hence, it is impractical to attempt to get rid of a hickey within seconds.

What you can do, however, is help it heal faster or cover it with makeup if you have an important event coming up.

And since we have already discussed how to cover a hickey with makeup, let us now see some easy ways to help a hickey heal and disappear faster.

Using Cold Packs or Compressors

This is used for a hickey immediately after it is given or within 12 hours of its formation. Adopting this remedy within this period is essential for the best result.

The aim is to control the bleeding beneath the skin and consequently reduce inflammation. To treat, wrap some ice cubes in a clean cloth and apply directly on the hickey.

Alternatively, you can place a metallic object such as a metal spoon or bowl inside a freezer and allow several hours. Then bring it out and gently use it to massage the hickey.

Using Hot Packs

This remedy is usually used if you have not attempted to remove the hickey in the last 48 hours. That is, if 2 days have passed since you got the hickey, you can use this remedy to get rid of the hickey.

To use this remedy, soak a clean cloth or towel in hot water and massage the hickey. Alternatively, you can use a heating pad or hot water bottle. Place it on the hickey and massage.

The massaging is done from the center of the hickey outwardly. This helps to move the clotted blood away from the middle of the bruise.

You can repeat this process several times per day to speed up healing and recovery.

Using Vitamins or Aloe Vera Gel

Vitamin C or K can be topically applied to the hickey to help get rid of it. Both Vitamins have been widely acclaimed to have healing abilities and help you clear up the bruise faster.

You can also apply Aloe Vera gel to the hickey to heal it faster. This natural plant is well known for its healing properties.

Then lastly, in the case where you don’t have these Vitamins or Aloe Vera gel lying around and are feeling uninspired to run the hot pack remedy, yet 12 hours have passed (hence the cold treatment could be ineffective),, you can massage the area with a banana peel.

Rubbing the insides of a banana peel on a hickey for about 15 – 20 minutes a day can help speed up healing. Luckily, this treatment is not time-bound and can release special enzymes and compounds that help lighten skin and fade marks at any point.

Finally, remember to rest. We all know how the body naturally heals itself and faster too when given enough rest. Try not to touch the affected area often except when you are applying treatment so that the bruise can heal more quickly.

However, if you start to feel some severe pain on/around the hickey or notice that the hickey doesn’t seem to be healing after a week, it may be wise to consult your doctor.

Conclusion

For many, a hickey is a love symbol. It holds different emotional and sexual appeals to different people. It is done mostly in private and retains this attractiveness while kept in secret.

However, when it is brought to the public, a hickey can suddenly turn into an object of embarrassment. This is why many people try to cover it or get rid of it before an important event.

Learning how to cover a hickey with makeup or get rid of it entirely is a life hack that everyone should know. After all, you never know when you will be getting some love bite.

How to Remove Dip Powder Nails Without Acetone – A Step by Step Guide [Video]

How to Remove Dip Powder Nails Without Acetone: There are the highly durable acrylic nails, and then there are the natural-looking gel nail polishes. And somewhere in-between these are the dip powder nails.

Therefore, dip powder nails offer both durability and natural beauty. They may not be as durable as acrylics, but they perform better than gels.

Also, while they are not as natural-looking as gels, they offer more beautiful colors than acrylics. They also have been around for a long time, and even though they are no longer a raving trend, they are still prevalent.

Additionally, dip powder nails can either be fixed by a professional nail technician or done by yourself at home. After carrying them for 3 – 4 weeks, they can also be removed at home if you don’t have the luxury of running to the salon.

However, you will need to exercise caution when trying to remove these nails. Biting, picking, peeling, and pulling them may sound appealing, but any of these will ruin your healthy nail layers and strip the nail’s natural color away with it.

Chemicals such as acetone make the job easier and help you remove dip powder nails without damaging your nails.

But even these chemicals are not the most readily available commodities in many households, so what if you can lay hands on a bottle of acetone just when you need to remove those dip powder nails?

Not to worry much, as there are still several alternative ways to remove dip nails. We will now explore how to remove dip powder nails without acetone and answer other common questions you might have been asking.

How to Remove Dip Powder Nails Without Acetone

How to Remove Dip Powder Nails Without Acetone – A Step by Step Guide
How to Remove Dip Powder Nails Without Acetone – A Step by Step Guide

Acetone is widely known as a corrosive chemical that is used in many types of industrial manufacturing. And while it can help get your nails off, it can also damage your nails and cuticles at the same time.

It is, therefore, helpful to find other ways of effectively removing dip powder nails. Some of the safest and less painful products to use instead of acetone include alcohol, white vinegar, or nail polish remover.

Using Alcohol

You will need alcohol, a nail file, a towel, cotton balls and foil/ small bowl, nail buffer, and cuticle oil for this met

hod.

Step 1: Place one hand on the towel and file the top layer

To avoid making a mess, spread the towel and place one hand on it. Then using a nail file, rub the top layer of the nail back and forth until the shininess disappears.

You should be left with a white and powdery appearance on each nail before you move to the next step.

Step 2: Pour some alcohol into the bowl.

Pour a generous amount of your alcohol into the small bowl. You don’t have to empty the entire bottle in but pour enough to cover the nails when inserted.

Step 3: Soak the nails in the alcohol

Now dip your fingernails into the bowl containing the alcohol and allow remaining until you see the nail polish start to get soft and melt off.

When you see the polish coming off, use a cotton ball to see if you can gently nudge the nails to come off. They should come off without force, but if they do not, you will need to soak the nails much longer.

Repeat the above until the nails come off with no force. Generally, it takes 10 minutes of soaking for the nails to remove without effort.

Step 4: Wash your hands.

You will need to wash the alcohol off your hands for the next step. Wash properly with soap and water.

Step 5: Buff the nails

Once the nails are dried, use a nail buffer to smoothen your natural nails and give them any desired shape. Remember to buff as carefully as possible to prevent any damage to the now delicate nails.

Step 6: Rub some cuticle oil.

As soon as you finish buffering the nails, you will need to follow up with cuticle oil. Apply the oil on each nail thoroughly. This is important in ensuring that you don’t end up with nails that become too dry too quickly.

Be aware that inhaling the alcohol product for too long could leave you feeling sick. If you can’t stand the smell of alcohol for that long, you may choose to use white vinegar.

You can follow all the above steps but with white vinegar instead.

Using Nail Polish Remover

To use this technique, you will need a preferred nail polish remover, a small bowl, a paper towel, nail file, cuticle pusher, cotton ball, nail buffer, and cuticle oil.

Step 1: File the nails

Spread the paper across the working surface, place one hand on it, and file the nails. You will need to keep filing until all of the shininess has been removed.

Step 2: Pour in the nail polish remover.

Pour the nail polish remover into the small bowl. Most nail polish removers generally contain acetone; hence you should use a glass bowl for this process.

However, polish removers only contain a particular percentage of acetone while also featuring oil, perfume and other chemicals. This makes them less harmful yet equally as effective.

Step 3: Soak the nails.

Dunk your nails into the bowl of polish remover and allow standing for some minutes. Generally, the amount of time you will need to leave your fingernails in the bowl depends on the thickness of the dip nail powder layer.

A thin layer would require 15 minutes of soaking, while thicker layers would take longer. However, you must never leave your nails in the bowl for more than 15 minutes at a time, as the acetone contained in the product can still cause some damage.

Step 4: Remove the nails

Use the cotton ball to try to pull the dip powder nail off gently. However, if it proves hard to dislodge, use the cuticle pusher to remove it carefully.

Be sure not to apply too much force, and if you notice it is not coming off quickly, even with the pusher, you may need to soak the nails for a few more minutes. Exerting a minor force, in this case, is necessary to avoid damaging your natural nails by reinserting them into the polish remover.

Step 5: Clean up with a buffer

Once the dip nails have been successfully removed, use a nail buffer to file and smoothen the nail. This will help correct every crack, remove any remaining dips particle, and give the nail a desired shape and length.

Step 6: Finish up with cuticle oil

Apply cuticle oil to your natural nails to prevent them from cracking afterwards. The cuticle oil will do this by keeping the fingernails moisturized.

Do Dip Nails Ruin Your Nails?

How to Remove Dip Powder Nails Without Acetone – A Step by Step Guide
How to Remove Dip Powder Nails Without Acetone – A Step by Step Guide

Dip nails do not necessarily ruin your natural nails, but they can dehydrate your nails and cause the sealing layer to break temporarily.

And while the application of this type of manicure may not pose any permanent damage to your nails, removing it the wrong way can ruin the roots and cuticle of the nail as well as the surrounding skin.

Hence, you must take caution while removing them. Other measures that you can also take to avoid damage to your nails include:

  • Thoroughly wash your hands with mild soap and water after removing dip powder nails
  • Practice regular moisturizing. Apply a generous amount of cuticle oil, Aloe Vera, or Vitamin E at all times on the entire nails and cuticles
  • Don’t only remove the dips; buff the nails to make them smooth and give them shape.
  • As much as you can, avoid using acetone to remove dips. They often weaken your natural nails and escalate any existing nail problems.
  • Give the nails time to rest after removing dips. A few days or an entire week will help the nails recover enough not to sustain permanent damage.
  • Always apply a strengthening coat during those few days or one week of rest.

Which is better for Nails Gel or Dips?

How to Remove Dip Powder Nails Without Acetone – A Step by Step Guide
How to Remove Dip Powder Nails Without Acetone – A Step by Step Guide

Gels and dips are two trendy manicures, and though they are classified under the acrylic family, they are both distinct and different nail products.

It would then make sense to define which of these manicures is better so that you can easily decide which to lean towards.

When stacked against each other using the parameters defined below, it is safe to say gel nails are better than dip nails.

Application

Gel nails are usually painted the same way regular nail polishes are done. The fluid is painted on the nails and dry for about 45 minutes under UV or LED light.

This nail polish only dries under these two kinds of light and will remain wet when not exposed to either. You may then having trouble doing it yourself if you have neither of these lights at home.

On the other hand, dips are applied using colored powder acrylic mixed with a glue-type resin called cyanoacrylate. As the name implies, the application process involves dipping each finger into a pot containing the acrylic powder repeatedly until the desired thickness is achieved.

An activator polish is used to paint a top coat on top before it can cure in the air. This intricate application may also mean it is practically impossible to install these nail types yourself at home.

Durability

A gel manicure generally lasts for about 2 – 3 weeks, while dip nails last for as long as 4 weeks. This makes dip better than gel nails in this regard.

Sanitation

Dip nails are generally disadvantaged in this regard for two reasons. First, the application process requires dipping fingers into a pot of powder. In many cases, this pot is shared by many other customers. This makes it easy to pass nail infections around.

Secondly, dip nails are thicker than gel nails, making it very easy for them to pick dirt and germs during everyday activities.

Potential Damage to the Nails

Like all enhancements, both nail types can leave the nails feeling brittle and dehydrated for some time. All nails share this shortcoming, and there is no way to decide which is better in this aspect.

However, this effect is only temporary, and the nails recover once they are allowed to rest and given some good aftercare following removal of the enhancements.

Removal

Aside from the intricate method of installations, dips are also usually very thick. This makes them more complex and more challenging to remove than gel nails.

You generally need to spend more time and resources trying to remove dip nails than you would gel nails.

Cost

Fixing dips usually cost more than gel nail. This could be primarily due to the tools and expertise required to fix dip powder nails.

So that whether you are going to the salon to have it done or trying to do it yourself, you end up spending more getting dips than gel nails.

Conclusion

Dip powder nails are almost as durable as acrylics and nearly as natural and beautiful as gel nails. They hang somewhere in between, providing you with the best of both worlds.

And while removing them can be a little tricky, it is possible to do so without acetone. And we have written this article to do just exactly that – teach you how to remove dip powder nails without acetone.