Gel manicures
Gel manicures in Winter Park that last
Gel colour cured under an LED lamp, dry the moment you leave and usually glossy for two to three weeks. And when it is time, soaked off properly, never peeled or scraped.
- LED curing lamp
- Soak-off removal, never scraping
- About 45 minutes
What you get
Shine that outlasts a busy month
Gel is a polish that stays soft until it is cured under a lamp. Each coat goes on thin and goes under the light for about a minute, so when you leave, it is already hard and will not smudge in your bag.
On most guests it holds two to three weeks before it grows out or starts to lift at the edge. Very thin or bendy nails often do better with dip, and we will tell you if we think so.
Step by step
How a gel manicure goes
- Prep. Shape, cuticle care and a light buff so the gel grips.
- Base coat and cure. A thin base, under the lamp for a minute.
- Two coats of colour. Each thin, each cured, so it stays even and hard.
- Top coat and oil. A glossy top coat, cured, then cuticle oil to finish.
After you leave
When it is time, soak it off
The only way gel damages a nail is when it is pulled off. Peeling it takes the top layers of your nail with it.
- Come back in two to three weeks and we will soak it off gently.
- If an edge lifts, don’t pick it; come in for a repair.
- Cuticle oil every evening keeps gel flexible and the skin soft.
- Gel removal before a new set is $8.
Choosing
Gel, dip or acrylic?
All three look lovely on the day. The difference shows in week two.
You are here
Gel
- Feels
- Thin and flexible, most like your own nail
- Lasts
- Usually two to three weeks
- Best for
- Healthy nails, short to medium
- Removal
- Soaked off, about fifteen minutes
Compare
Dip powder
- Feels
- Harder and a little thicker
- Lasts
- Often three weeks or more
- Best for
- Nails that bend, peel or chip
- Removal
- Soaked off, about twenty minutes
Compare
Acrylic
- Feels
- Strongest, with real length
- Lasts
- Until your fill, two to three weeks
- Best for
- Length and shape: coffin, almond, stiletto
- Removal
- Soaked and lifted, about thirty minutes
Questions
Gel manicures: what guests ask
How long does gel last?
Usually two to three weeks. It depends on your nails and what you do with your hands: gardening, typing and hand sanitiser all shorten it a little.
Is the LED lamp safe?
Each cure is about a minute and the whole manicure is a few minutes under the lamp. If you would like, you are welcome to bring fingerless gloves, or ask for a broad-spectrum sunscreen on your hands first.
Can I have gel removed from another salon?
Yes. Mention it when you ask for a time, because a removal adds about fifteen minutes.
Gel or dip: which should I choose?
Gel feels thinner and more natural. Dip is harder and often lasts longer, especially on nails that bend or peel. Tell us about your nails and we will suggest one.
More from the menu
Other services
Winter Park · open seven days
Two weeks of shine, starting today
Ask for a time and we’ll text you back to agree one. Or walk in: a gel manicure takes about forty-five minutes.