Why are my gel nails turning yellow?
First of all you would really only notice this if your gel manicure is clear or a french style with a very sheer pink as your base color.
Generally colored gel polish won’t turn yellow. Unless, you’re using turmeric when cooking!!! This turns everything yellow!!
Tanning Beds:
Not so common in warmer parts of the world. But, up here in Canada, they are still legal and tanning beds are used quite regularly. They give off a little of that much-needed vitamin D that we are so deprived of here with our long winters. No pun intended 😉
If you or your client have noticed a yellowing of your nails…..and you are a tanning bed user, this is definitely the culprit.
A couple options to fix this would be, switching to a colored gel polish. The color will still fade if you are always tanning. But it won’t be as “yellow”.
If you apply a nail polish top coat that has a purple under tone, this will cut the yellow significantly and act as a protection from the UV rays.
So in this same category, I would also put sunshine. If you live in a sunny climate or have just recently been on a vacation and notice a discoloration of your nails, I’m sure this is the issue.
Lotions:
Especially in the summer and winter months, we tend to be dryer and need to apply moisturizer more often. But alas, they are not all created equal. Many lotions will contain dyes or alcohol. These effect the top coat of your gel polish. Almost eating away at the polish, allowing for any colored influence to ruin your mani.
Check your ingredients. As with most products the more organic or natural, the less damaging it will be in the long run. The more fragrance or dyes that are in the lotion will definitely determine the quality.
I.E. less is more!
Smoking:
Whether it’s weed or the dreaded cigarette, they will cause discoloration. This will be pretty obvious to spot because the discoloration will be on your dominate hand, or you’re smoking hand.
Unfortunately there is really no way to avoid this. Lol, gloves maybe an option.
Disclaimer:
Gel nails and acrylic nails are not created equal. Acrylic has a tendency to yellow faster than gel and also acrylic nails (clear or french) will yellow over time.
The longer the enhancement is on, the more yellow it will become.
What are your nail struggles? Ask away! Comment below or tag a friend! I am always here to help any way that I can.
We all deserve great nails*
Cheyanne – The Nail Lamp Tramp
