I've worn acrylics for decades, but after the pandemic imposed a nearly two-year break from having a full set, my manicurist and I were perplexed that the nail powder and tips were not adhering to my nails for longer than a few days. In an attempt to give me the same look as the acrylics, we decided to try using gel nail polish with the acrylics to see if the full set would adhere longer. The good news is that it worked. My acrylics lasted longer and didn't start lifting just days after service.

The next problem was to find a brand of polish that was safe to use. I'd tried a few brands of 7-free and 10-free polish, and while I liked them, they took forever to dry and didn't last very long.I saw a dermatologist and learned that I was severely allergic to two chemicals used in gel nail polish. So we removed the polish and the acrylics and I went natural while my fingers and nails healed.