A nail technician has revealed a list of “red flags” to look out for when it comes to gel nail polish – and some of them could make you completely change your manicure.
The information was shared in a new video posted on TikTok this week by Kara Crevier, from Portland, Oregon, who uses the username @karanailedit on social media.
She has over 86,700 followers on the platform, where she shares her wisdom on the safety and proper use of nails and nail polish.
This time was no different, as he highlighted What you should keep in mind When it comes to choosing a gel polish to use on your nails, it is best to avoid “dubious” brands that can cause sensitivities and allergies.
Gel polish, which is cured under a UV lamp and is meant to last much longer on nails than regular polish, has come under fire in recent years for its potentially dangerous side effects, including a recent study that found gel manicures could contain cancer-causing mutations.
Kara Crevier from Portland, Oregon, highlighted what to look for when choosing a gel polish to use on your nails to avoid “questionable” brands that can cause sensitivities and allergies.
But according to the American Academy of Dermatology AssociationGel manicures are fine in moderation and Kara’s tips can help you achieve a healthy and safe manicure.
The first tip Kara offered was to avoid any gel polish that says it’s made for DIY or at-home use.
“Many of these brands are simply not made with high-quality ingredients and do not take into account the safety and health of the end user,” Kara said.
And, if the kit is sold with a flash curing light, or even a kit in general, that’s something she would avoid.
The expert then said she would avoid buying any gel polish made in China by a “generic, white label beauty product manufacturing company.”
Kara explained that when you search a website to purchase gel polish, it will usually show you where it was made.
“Gel polishes that are made in China have some pretty shady reviews and a bad reputation for falsifying their safety data sheets (SDS) and the formulas and ingredients they use in their bottles,” the nail technician said.
And, if you can’t even find the brand’s safety data sheet in the first place, or if it’s difficult to figure out exactly what ingredients are in the polish, it’s worth skipping it altogether.
The first tip Kara offered was to avoid any gel polish that says it’s made for home use or DIY.
The expert then said she would avoid purchasing any gel polish made in China by a “generic, white label beauty manufacturing company.”
The safety data sheet (SDS) will provide a list of all the ingredients used in the brand’s gel nail polish.
“It’s an immediate red flag for me if they don’t tell me what’s in their products,” Kara said.
She then warned viewers to be on the lookout for any reviews from people who have experienced allergies or irritations after using the nail polish.
“I recommend doing more research and not just looking at reviews on the company’s website,” the nail expert admitted.
She suggested typing the brand name into Google along with the word “allergies” and seeing what comes up.
“The next problem is if the information on the website doesn’t make much sense,” Kara continued.
“I think it’s just a matter of being an informed consumer and understanding the process of using the gel,” she said.
The nail influencer went on to explain that she’s seen tons of FAQ sections on various nail polish brands’ websites and that the information isn’t always written by an expert.
“To me it’s an immediate red flag if they don’t tell you what’s in their products,” Kara said.
She also warned viewers to be on the lookout for reviews from people who have experienced allergies or irritations after using the nail polish.
Lastly, she warned viewers to stay away from any gel nail polish brand that uses something called HEMA free.
HEMA, also known as hydroxyethyl methacrylate, can damage nails if a nail polish brand uses too much of it in its formula, causing allergies, Glamour Magazine.
“HEMA itself is a very small molecule and it’s important for the brand to use it safely because it’s the most allergenic ingredient,” Kara said.
“And again, that’s why it’s so important to be able to get the safety data sheet (SDS) and be able to identify the ingredients so you can understand how they deal with HEMA and monomers in their products,” the expert concluded.
So, if your gel nail polish is giving you any of these warning signs, don’t hesitate to speak up next time you go in for a manicure.