My Experience with Powder Coated Gel Nails

I've always had nails that were weak. Didn't matter what vitamins I took or how good I took care of them they've always broken. On top of that, regular nail polish doesn't stick to them after two days. After trying several options from acrylic coatings to gel manicures I decided to just give up for a while and go with a basic manicure while changing polish every three days or so. About a month ago I came across Brighton's Instastory and she talked about how she just gets a powder coat over her regular nails. About a week and a half ago I decided to take the plunge before vacation. I was going to be out of town for eight days and didn't want to worry about reapply polish or dealing with getting another manicure. Here's a little about my experience.

The Process

I recommend getting manicures regularly (every two weeks to a month) regardless of whether or not you decide to continue getting a powder gel manicure. I had been at the same salon two weeks prior so my cuticles were in good condition. They start by filing, buffing and making sure the surface of your nail is prepped. They used a dremel tool on my nails for the buffing process.

Then they follow by adding a clear coating similar to a regular gel manicure. Once that is complete they follow by adding two layers of the powder gel with a brush. Although they used my regular length (I don't like tips), they did shape them into a square on the ends. From there they have you wash your hands and then use the dremel to smooth the face of the nail and remove any excess both on top and underneath.

Once that was complete they added a clear coat since the powder is more of a matte color. Finally, they have you put it under a UV light for 60 seconds. The entire process takes about 30-45 minutes and once completed you do not have any more drying time.

The Aftermath

For the first 24 hours my nails were sensitive. They weren't incredibly painful, but they did feel tight and a little sore. Once that first 24 hours was complete, I awoke the next morning and no longer noticed the tightness or pain. From there I went to the pool, did housework to include cooking and dishes, and worried very little about messing them up. A week and a half later they still do not have a single chip or blemish. The coating is much harder than a regular gel manicure and for myself lasted double the time. To give you a better idea of the durability take a look at this:

Regular manicure with polish: 2-3 days maximum
Gel manicure: 5-7 days
Powder gel mancure: Currently sitting at 10 days without any problems or chips

The Final Verdict

Although I have not gone through the removal process I would highly recommend getting this treatment if you are going to be traveling or in need of something durable. I also think this is a better option than the others if you are looking to go swimming or the beach for a few days. It was great to not look down and see a chip or worry about changing out my color. I opted for something more neutral like this soft white sparkle since I'd be wearing it for an extended amount of time. My goal is to go back next week and change it out for a new color (which I'll share those results with you guys then!)

I hope you found this helpful! I love writing reviews about experiences and this one is so far a winner! If you have questions or would like to share your own experience please comment below! I love hearing from you guys.