Ask The Expert is a monthly column to answer your questions on topics related to fashion and beauty. Posh Nail Spa founder Sereen Eng provides answers to your questions this month.
Are products such as lotion and cuticle oil necessary for post-manicure care? – Sara, KL
Yes, I recommend applying both products. Lotion helps to keep our hands moisturised, prevents dryness and maintains the health of our skin. Cuticle oil nourishes the cuticles, which promotes healthy nail growth and prevents them from becoming dry or brittle.
These products can also extend the longevity of the manicure and improve overall appearance of our hands and nails.
What are the best ways to prevent damaged nails after acrylics? – Dhanya, Taman Megah
Start by choosing a reputable and experienced nail salon that prioritise proper nail care and application techniques. Next, opt for high quality nail extensions and products because cheap or low-quality materials can cause damage to your nails.
Also, follow a recommend schedule to maintain your extensions to prevent overgrowth which can cause your nails to bend or break.
Give your nails time to recover between extensions as constant extensions can weaken your natural nails over time, and make sure you keep your nails and cuticles healthy by applying nail cream and cuticle oil.
Read more: Ask The Expert: Keeping your scalp healthy, and other haircare doubts clarified
How do I make my manicure last? – KC, PJ
1. It is important to prep the nails properly before applying the polish. Observe thorough cleaning of the nail surface to remove any residue of old polishes or oils so that the polish adheres better and hence lasts longer.
2. Remember not to use your nails as tools to open packages, picking or peeling stuff with your nails that could lead to chipping or breaking.
3. When doing household chores that involve water or chemical detergent, wear gloves to protect your manicure.
4. Lastly, moisturise your cuticles and nails regularly with oil or cream to maintain healthy nails to allow your manicure to last longer.
How do I prepare my nails for nail art? – Desiree, Cheras
The steps to prepare your nails for nail art are similar to preparing for a regular manicure.
Trim and shape your nails to the desired length and shape, push back cuticles and buff nails to prepare the “canvas” for your nail art. Decide on the choice of colour and nail design you want to create.
Depending on your design, we need to prepare nail art brushes, decals, tools and accessories to achieve your design.
For more intricate designs, we prefer that you send in the ideas or reference photos in advance so we can sketch and draft the design to meet your expectations.
What is the difference between gel polish and regular nail polish? – Marie, Penang
Nowadays, you might have noticed it is becoming more difficult to find normal polish in some nail salons.
The popularity of gel polish has increased, leading many salons and consumers to opt for the longer-lasting option. As a result, some salons only carry gel polish and do not offer the service for regular nail polish applications.
Application of regular nail polish requires a certain level of skill and technique because it dries through air evaporation.
This means it needs to be applied in thin coats and proper layering to avoid streaks and smudges. It also requires precision and steady hands to create clean lines and edges, otherwise it can look very messy.
Gel polish, on the other hand, is more pigmented so achieving full coverage requires fewer layers compared to regular polish.
Also, the gel stays wet until it is cured under the LED lamp which means it can be cleaned up and layered to perfection.
Regular nail polish tends to chip or wear off faster, while gel polish is longer-lasting and durable for up to four or five weeks.
However, we still get many clients who love regular nail polish because it can be easily applied and removed, and you can change the colour as often as you like without damaging your nails.
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Is UV light harmful for nails? – Valerie, Seremban
Studies show that the level of UVA exposure every three to four weeks probably isn’t high enough to cause any significant damage to our body.
UV light was commonly used in salons for curing gel polishes but in recent years, many salons have shifted towards the use of the LED lamp as the curing time is shorter and it generates less heat.
UV light in the nail salon has little to no risk to the nail or skin at such low exposure and LED has even less.
How important is infection control like fungus and bacteria when choosing a manicurist? What do we need to look out for? – Dipta, Bangsar
Infection control is crucial when choosing a manicurist or a nail salon. At Posh, we adhere to hygiene standard procedures to sanitise (removing the visible debris or pollutants by washing or wiping the surface or object), disinfect (using disinfectant solutions to remove germs and bacterial contaminants) and sterilise (using a steriliser machine to eliminate all living organism).
We carry out these steps after every customer to prevent spread of fungal and bacterial infections and to maintain a clean environment.
Do you have any questions on fashion and beauty? Email us with the subject heading Ask The Expert to lifestyle@thestar.com.my. Please include your name, address, contact number and if you prefer, a pseudonym.
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