Health & beauty
Health & beauty
7 Semi-Permanent Beauty Treatments Worth Paying For
Some semi-permanent treatments are so good they're recession-proof -- and others don't live up to the hype. Find out which ones can change your beauty routine for the better
Gel manicures
Cost: $50+
Lasts: 2 to 3 weeks
Who should do it: Anyone with a vacation or special event coming up, like a wedding.
Why you should get it: I got a gel manicure before a two-week vacation, and my nails looked just as great on day 13 as they did on day 1. Gel manicures can also be great for women with weak, brittle nails. Samira Asemanfar, founder of Bellacures nail salon in Los Angeles, says, "A gel manicure will give the nails a layer of protection from daily wear and tear, which allows the natural nails to grow underneath."
What you won't like: Removing the gel requires soaking your nails in 100 percent acetone, which is very drying, says Asemanfar. Plus, "some people peel the gel off, which is even worse than the acetone since a layer of your nail bed comes off with it." I admit, I peeled off my gel mani once, and my usually sturdy nails were brittle for months. Then there's the fact that you have to cure the manicure under UV light, which some experts say may cause wrinkles and sun damage on your hands. I recommend reserving the gel manicure as a special treat -- and when you do get one, use a hand cream with SPF.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Semi-permanent hair dye
Lasts: 2 to 3 weeks
Who should do it: Anyone with a vacation or special event coming up, like a wedding.
Why you should get it: I got a gel manicure before a two-week vacation, and my nails looked just as great on day 13 as they did on day 1. Gel manicures can also be great for women with weak, brittle nails. Samira Asemanfar, founder of Bellacures nail salon in Los Angeles, says, "A gel manicure will give the nails a layer of protection from daily wear and tear, which allows the natural nails to grow underneath."
What you won't like: Removing the gel requires soaking your nails in 100 percent acetone, which is very drying, says Asemanfar. Plus, "some people peel the gel off, which is even worse than the acetone since a layer of your nail bed comes off with it." I admit, I peeled off my gel mani once, and my usually sturdy nails were brittle for months. Then there's the fact that you have to cure the manicure under UV light, which some experts say may cause wrinkles and sun damage on your hands. I recommend reserving the gel manicure as a special treat -- and when you do get one, use a hand cream with SPF.
SEE NEXT PAGE: Semi-permanent hair dye
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