Are Semicured Gel Nail Polish Strips Actually Harming Your Nails?

Are gel strips bad for your nails?

That’s a totally fair question - after using dips, polygels, press on nails, uv gel nail polish, or acrylic a lot of people are left with weak natural nails that make daily tasks painful. 

Thankfully, gel nail strips are not bad for your nails - however it’s super important to remove them properly. 

So what makes semicured gel nail polish strips different from other at home nail manicure kits? Well, semicured nail strips are made from real gel nail polish - and they are 60% cured in the box. That’s why they’re still flexible - but still slightly cured so that it’s easy to apply. 

So why is the removal process so important? 

The semicured gel nail strips has nothing that is inherently toxic to your nails. However just like any liquid, dip, or polygel taking it off might harm your natural nail if you don’t do it properly. If you force the cured gel nail strips off without using a remover you can damage your nails. 

So what is the best way to prevent this? 

We recommend using a cured gel nail wraps remover and be patient with the process. Depending on the gel nail polish strips formulation the removal process might take only a few minutes up to 20-30 minutes. 

It also depends on the overall adhesion to your nail bed. Some people find that specific formulas just adhere to their nail bed better than others - which means the removal process might take a little longer. 

It also depends on if you use a type of base coat before applying your semi-cured gel nails. If you use any type of base coat to improve adhesion - then you’ll need to remove that as well after you take off the semi-cured gel nail wrap. Depending on the base coat formulation the removal process might be as easy as using a gel nail polish remover to simply buffing the layer off. Jelcie gellies do not require any type of base coat in the application process - so you can still get that beautiful 2 week at home manicure without the added step. Regardless, you’ll be able to get an ultra glossy manicure AND be free to pick from solid colors, premium art designs and other unique designs which include goil foil, marble designs and more.

Some wonder if using a uv lamp (also known as a curing lamp, or nail lamp) is harmful. However, it is the same type of lamp that is used at nail salons and most have a much lower wattage so it is really no different from simply exposing your hands to sunlight. This is another reason why when storing your semicured gel nail stickers - it’s super important to keep them in their UV resistant packaging.

So TLDR: No, semi cured gel nail polish strips are not bad for your nails. 

Jelcie designed a remover that is vegan, acetone free (goodbye harsh chemicals!) and uses natural ingredients. Our customers rave that it’s the “best smelling remover…ever!” and we are happy to agree. If you want to try a natural remover that won’t harm your nails - check out our remover here.