To enjoy a flawless manicure without redoing it every week, many of us turn to Gel Polish. But how long can you keep this kind of polish on, and is there a risk if you wear it for too long? Here's our take on the topic and our little secrets for a long-lasting, ultra-resistant manicure.
How long does Gel Polish last?
Recommended average wear time
On average, Gel Polish lasts between 10 and 21 days, depending on the type of polish used, your application method and, most importantly, how well you prep your nails beforehand. A Gel Polish manicure can start to chip after just a few days for several reasons, including:
- if the cuticles haven't been pushed back properly,
- if the polish has been applied in thick layers,
- or if the drying time under the LED lamp wasn’t followed.
To maximize the staying power of your Gel Polish, it's crucial to follow each step of the routine carefully and ensure you’re using high-quality polish.
Why you shouldn’t exceed the recommended wear time
Even if your Gel Polish still looks perfect, wearing it for too long can weaken the nail plate. Moisture can seep in, and as your nails grow, the natural base is left exposed, increasing the risk of discoloration or distortion. A maximum of 2 to 3 weeks is ideal to maintain healthy, beautiful nails. This also helps prevent soft nails, split nails or brittle nails.
Dreaming of a glossy, long-wearing manicure that won’t damage your nails? We've got something new for you. Stay tuned!
Gel Polish vs Green Flash™: The choice is yours
Traditional Gel Polish: Long wear, but not without risk
While traditional Gel Polish is praised for its long-lasting wear, it does require some caution. Beyond formulas that aren’t always clean (especially if manufactured outside the EU), it’s mainly the aggressive removal methods (filing, sanding, soaking in acetone) that risk damaging the keratin layers and weakening your nails.
When manicures are done back to back without giving your nails a break, the nail becomes more porous and holds polish less effectively. So yes, traditional Gel Polish lasts, but it can take a toll on the long-term health of your nails.
Green Flash™, the gentle alternative that lasts up to 21 days
With Green Flash™ Gel Polish by Manucurist, you get a gentle alternative that doesn’t compromise the health of your nails. Formulated without controversial ingredients, vegan and up to 84% bio-sourced, Green Flash™ is a LED polish with a gel effect that delivers long-lasting wear, high shine and respects the natural nail. Easy to apply at home, it strengthens the nail underneath, dries quickly under an LED lamp, lasts up to 21 days and removes by peeling off with a gentle, acetone-free remover, no filing required. Discover this innovative, high-performance manicure with the Green Flash™ Starter Kit.
With Xtrem Flash™, enjoy all the benefits of Green Flash™ with extended wear for up to 21 days.
Our tips for making your Green Flash™ Gel Polish last longer
The staying power of your polish also depends on how well you care for your natural nails and how closely you follow your application routine. Here are our go-to tips to make your Green Flash™ manicure last as long as possible.
Nail preparation
Proper nail prep is the foundation of a flawless, long-wearing Green Flash™ manicure. Each step plays a key role:
- Start by filing your nails into a neat, even shape using a natural nail file 100/180.
- Apply a little Cuticle Softener to soften the cuticles, then gently push them back with a Steel cuticle pusher for a clean nail contour.
- Lightly buff the surface of your nails using the nail priming buffer sponge to lift the keratin scales and boost polish adhesion.
- Finally, wipe away any oily residue from the nail and surrounding skin using a cotton pad soaked in Green Flash™ Gentle Remover.
Your nails are now perfectly clean and prepped, ready for their Green Flash™ color. You can find all these essentials in our Nail Prep Set.
Proper nail prep is an absolute must for a long-lasting Green Flash™ manicure.
The Green Flash™ routine step by step
To get a pro-level manicure at home, we recommend following the four thin coats rule. Each layer must be cured under the LED lamp for the full pre-set time to ensure lasting results. Here’s how to apply your Green Flash™ manicure step by step:
Step #1: The protective base coat
Apply a thin layer of Green Flash™ Base Coat. Thanks to its exclusive KeraHCE+ technology, this base coat nourishes and strengthens your nails over time, helping your manicure last even longer.
Steps #2 & #3: Applying the Green Flash™ color
Apply two thin coats of color using three brushstrokes: one down the center, then one on each side. Cure each layer under the LED lamp for the recommended time depending on your lamp’s wattage.
One coat of nourishing Base Coat, two coats of color, and you're on your way to a perfect manicure!
Step #4: The top coat
To finish, Manucurist offers two options:
Green Flash™ Top Coat for a natural finish, mirror-like shine and up to 12 days of wear.
Xtrem Flash™ Top Coat for intense shine, a gel-like finish and wear for up to 21 days.
⚠️ Important: Xtrem Flash™ has a thicker texture, so the application technique is slightly different. Here’s what we recommend:
- 👉 Apply Xtrem Flash™ in a thin layer. Wipe your brush on the bottle neck to avoid picking up too much product and prevent it from flooding the cuticles.
- 👉 If any product touches the cuticles, clean it off with an orangewood stick before curing under the LED lamp.
- 👉 Cure each hand for 1 minute under the LED lamp, with the thumb cured separately. Keep your thumb flat to stop the polish from sliding to the sides.
💡Top tip: Xtrem Flash™ Top Coat suits all nail types, even fragile or flake-prone ones. It can be peeled off using Green Flash™ Gentle Remover in 10 minutes, with no filing or acetone, and won’t harm the nail plate.
Follow the Xtrem Flash™ routine in video with @mani.minimalist.
Nail care after application
Your manicure is fully dry, incredibly strong and gorgeously glossy? Well done. To keep your nails looking beautiful for as long as possible, it’s essential to hydrate and nourish your nails and cuticles. Here are the treatments we recommend:
- Finish your manicure by applying a cuticle oil like the Nourishing Cuticle Oil, massaging it into the nail and surrounding area until fully absorbed.
- Then, apply a few drops of the Complete Serum daily to each nail, massaging it in to deeply hydrate. Top it off with a quick and easy treatment using the Nourishing Nail Pen. Its pen-style format makes application both fun and precise.
💡Good to know: If your nails have been weakened by harsh past manicures, we recommend completing an online nail diagnosis to identify the right care routine for your nails.
Hydrating and strengthening treatments to prolong the pleasure of a beautiful manicure.
Does Gel Polish damage your nails?
It's a common belief that Gel Polish damages your nails. But the truth is a bit more nuanced, depending on several factors. It's important to consider:
- the chemical composition of the products you use,
- the application technique (whether or not nails are prepped, number and thickness of coats, curing method, drying time, etc.) and how often you apply it,
- the removal process (whether you use a nail drill or an acetone-based remover).
When using gel or acrylic nails, frequent applications and aggressive removals with acetone or filing can gradually dry out and permanently damage the nail matrix. But with Green Flash™ and Xtrem Flash™, your nails stay protected and strengthened.
Can you wear Gel Polish back to back?
If you’re a die-hard nail lover, we get it, the temptation to wear Gel Polish all the time is real. But it's important to follow a nail care routine between applications to replenish lipids and preserve your nail health in the long run. Start with a 24 to 48 hour break and apply Complete Serum every morning by massaging it into the nail. You can brighten your nails with one or two coats of Active Glow™. This treatment polish, enriched with fruit extracts and sweet almond oil, deeply nourishes the nail. A perfect way to start fresh.
Take a break between applications with Active™ care polishes.
With Green Flash™, Gel Polish only has upsides. No more damaged nails from harsh removals, just long-lasting wear and nails that are nourished and protected throughout your manicure. Green Flash™ now suits every kind of manicure need. Love changing your Gel Polish weekly? The Green Flash™ routine is made for you. Want a high-performance solution that lasts up to 3 weeks with no risk to your nails? Go for Xtrem Flash™ Top Coat. Here's to long-wearing color, total freedom and happy nails.💃✌️
