You've bought your own gel manicure kit, but now what? With so many bottles and tools contained within, it can be overwhelming figuring out where to start. Here a few pro tricks and tips to ensure your manicure stays long-lasting, featuring the Gelish Basix Kit ($50). On Kirbie: Forever 21 necklace and Cameo shirt.
The Skin Cancer Foundation has officially deemed UV nail lamps as low in cancer risk but not altogether safe. "The risk, according to anecdotal research, is greatest for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the second-most common skin cancer. SCC is mainly caused by chronic UV exposure and is very common on the hands and around the fingernails," the foundation recently stated on its website.
The lesson? Use a sunscreen to protect yourself prior to a gel manicure that uses UV light as a curing agent. But there is another alternative: fast-acting LED lamps, which do not carry the same skin-cancer risk. Review our roundup of the some of the top kits available that will help you achieve a long-lasting manicure without the hazard warning.
