How to Use Nutra Nail UV-free Gel-Color
The company provides a how-to online video to help with the application process, though I thought this stuff turned out to be surprisingly quick and easy to use. The package contains three small bottles: activator, brush cleaner, and gel color. Loosen the caps of all three products and place them on a paper towel (the color may thicken and the color applicator brush will need to be soaked in cleaner and then wiped off on the towel). Use in a very well-ventilated area: The acrylates in this product are powerful, and inhalation should definitely be avoided. Note that the activator in particular positively reeks; work fast or you may end up feeling a bit queasy. Make sure to keep the product away from the eyes as well.
Never use this product if cuticles or skin around nails are broken, inflamed, or irritated.
The activator is applied first in a thin coat, then a thin coat of color must be applied over the still-wet activator. Use a small amount of pressure when applying the color. Another coat of activator, then an immediate second coat of color; and you're done. The first time the Nutra Nail product is used, it is extremely important to only apply it to only one nail. Wait 24-48 hours (to really make sure you're not going to have an allergic reaction, wait 72 hours) before applying the gel manicure to the rest of the nails. If problems develop (see below), remove the polish immediately.
For subsequent applications, in order to prevent the activator from drying, perform each step on all 5 nails of one hand; then go on to the other. Alternatively, you may just polish the nails one at time using the activator, color, activator, color sequence.
Every 5 nails, soak the color brush in the cleaner. If the brush stiffens or the gel color gets difficult to apply, soak the color brush in the cleaner for a few minutes. If the color thickens with time, a few drops of the cleaner may be added to the color bottle in order to thin it out again.
If any of the activator gets on the skin, use 100% acetone nail polish remover on a cotton swab to remove it. Do not try to pull it off without using acetone; the skin may come off with it.
I tested Orchid, a very bright rose, and Torena, an iridescent purple; both lasted a full seven days without any peeling, fading, or other signs of wear-and-tear. The only time the product chipped slightly was when I accidentally scraped a nail against the edge of a metal box. The nail did not chip off with the product, although that's probably possible since the color is cured right onto it. As the company claims, Gel Perfect also retains its brilliant shine as long as it stays on.
How to Remove Nutra Nail Gel Perfect
Only 100% acetone nail polish remover or Nutra Nail No-Mess Express Gel Perfect Remover will remove this product. Other, gentler types of removers only fade it a bit; but it still sticks to the nail like glue. The Nutra Nail No-Mess Express (about $6) consists of 5 remover-soaked pads packaged individually in packets. Tear one open, place nails inside package, press them onto the pad, and wait two minutes. Rub the pad slightly across the nails, and the gel color should be gone. Note that the pad will dry out after the package is opened, so each pad is really only good for one removal session.
The No-Mess Express contains lanolin and aloe to try to counteract acetone's extremely drying effects. This worked on the skin surrounding the nail, but not on the nail itself, which promptly turned white in patches and stayed that way for hours. Luckily, since the gel color stays on so long, it won't be necessary to expose the nails to this harsh solvent very often. The package insert says users can change their color every time they change their outfit. This is accurate only if they want the driest nails in town; keep in mind that overuse of acetone can lead to cracking and peeling of the nails.
If using 100% acetone instead of No-Mess Express, the company recommends soaking cotton with the acetone, placing it over each nail and wrapping with foil. Remove after 2 minutes. This sounded al bit too annoying and way too drying and irritating to bother with, so I've no idea if it works as well as the No-Mess Express method.
Possible Allergic Response to Gel Perfect
The activator used in Gel Perfect contains 2 substances that are "esters" of acrylic and methacrylic acid: ethyl cyanoacrylate and a polymer of methyl methacrylate. The gel color contains another acrylic polymer. Acrylates can be irritating; some people cannot use products containing them at all. Acrylic resins are used in certain types of artificial nail glue, and a certain proportion of users are allergic to them. Methacrylates and cyanoacrylates in fake nails have caused trauma to and infection of the nail bed. Polymethyl methacrylate is used as a bone cement in surgery, and some patients develop problems from its use; previous exposure to acrylics in nail products may exacerbate these issues. Such allergies are actually fairly rare; but it is nonetheless necessary to discuss them, as their symptoms can be quite distressing.
If a user is allergic, the skin around the nail to which this product is applied may develop a burning sensation, turn red, and/or swell up; itchy pink or red patches may appear on other areas of the body, such as the forearms or around the eyes; and symptoms of contact dermatitis may also occur on areas touched by the painted nail, including earlobes, face, or neck. Continued use may very well result in worsening symptoms. Because of this, the "one-nail" 48- to 72-hour test outlined above is extremely important. If symptoms of allergic response develop, remove the product immediately, return it, and do not try this type of product again. See a physician if problems persist.
Possible difficulties with acrylates also necessitate the use of good ventilation when applying Gel Perfect; during application and before the nails dry, accidental inhalation of acrylates in liquid form can cause irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes. Make sure to put the brush and cap back in the bottle after each layer of product, to avoid the vapors as much as possible.
Lastly, it is probably unwise to use any gel nail product constantly: There have been reports of nail thinning, discoloration, brittleness, and other types of temporary nail damage associated with these long-wearing manicures.
If you're not allergic to this product's ingredients, and don't yearn to constantly change the color of your manicure, Nutra Nail Gel Perfect is a terrific, relatively quick and easy way to occasionally obtain almost chip-proof coverage and positively brilliant high-gloss shine without engaging in a complicated series of steps or having to employ an ultraviolet light source. By way of contrast, the at-home Red Carpet LED Gel Manicure offers quite a few more colors, but costs more and requires purchase and use of a Prep Coat plus a Structure color that must be cured using an ultraviolet light source, a Brilliant Top Coat, and removal of any uncured residue with an alcohol/acetone solution. Gel Perfect is less complicated and cheaper, so it's pretty much a no-brainer to choose it over more time-consuming options.
Sources Begoun, Paula, The Original Beauty Bible, 3rd ed., Renton, WA: Beginning Press, 2009. Chase, Deborah, The New Medically-based No-Nonsence Beauty Book, New York: Avon Books, 1989. Erpenbach, Dr. Jonathan and Hofmeister, Dr. Eric, "Hypersensitivity to Polymethylmethacrylate Following Shoulder Hemiarthroplasty," Orthopedics, July 2008; 31(7): 708, orthosupersite.com. Nutra Nail Gel Perfect Product Insert, 2011. Romanowski, Perry and The Creators of TheBeautyBrains.com, Can You Get Hooked on Lip Balm?, Ontario, Canada: Brains Publishing, 2011. Sainani, Kristin, "Body News: Manicure Trouble," Allure, August 2012. Winter, Ruth, A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, New York: Three Rivers Press, 2009.
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