Are‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ Manicures Safe? Honest Thoughts

If you wonder if manicures are safe, I will tell you that you are not the only one to think this. Many times, I have questioned it myself, especially when I find myself in a salon chair and I really want to look at the instruments that they are going to use but I try not to do that. So, let me reveal the truth in a pretty common and straightforward manner.

So… are manicures safe or not?

Most of the times, to a great extent, yes. A simple manicure using disinfected instruments shouldn’t hurt you much. It is when the salon decides to lower its hygienic standards and when we continuously do heavy nail treatments (like gel and acrylics) without letting our nails rest, that issues arise.

I didn't get this point straight away but I had to figure it out through my own experience. The place looks nice, or at least that is what I thought, and then the nail file that has obviously been very well used was right there in front of me. Not wanting to sound overly critical, I decided not to say a thing. It was my mistake. After two days, I experienced the area around my nail becoming red and somewhat swollen. Since that time, I have been more attentive and I have also become more vocal.

Really Matter Things for Safety

The things that really matter are these — very basic things that we sometimes forget:

• Preparing and sterilizing the instruments correctly
  
  
• Not over-cutting the parts of the nail that surround and protect it
  
  
• Not constantly having gel or acrylic on the nails
  
  
• Applying oil or cream to the cuticles, particularly after removal
  
  
• Putting some sunscreen on your hands prior to exposure with a UV lamp (if you're getting gel)
  
  

Each of these is only a small one. These are just tiny habits through which we keep afflictions distantly.

Real Quick Story

My cousin is almost monthly at the salon to have her nails done. During the preparation for her wedding, she got only gel manicures, and as a result, her nails became thin and flaky. After that, she stopped using gel for about a month and only applied regular polish during that time. Honestly, her nails looked like they had gained vitality. So it is sometimes the case that nails require a breathing pause only — absolutely no dramatics here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do manicures damage nails?

Not usually. The damage mostly comes from rough filing or too many strong treatments back-to-back.

Are gel manicures unsafe?

Not unsafe just a bit tougher on the nails. Taking breaks helps a lot.

Should I avoid cutting cuticles?

If your skin is sensitive, yes. Gentle trimming is okay, but don’t let anyone remove too much.