How Does Cold Weather Affect Gel Application?
HOW DOES
COLD WEATHER
AFFECT GEL APPLICATION?
SEASON Gel Application Tips
Gel can be greatly affected by the seasons. In the summer, it can become so runny that you're chasing it around the nail like water and wondering what on earth to do with it! In the colder months, we can have the complete opposite problem.
Gel polishes start to feel thicker, builder gels become stiffer and those glitter polishes can suddenly feel impossible to get out of the bottle or pot. So, here are my best tips for getting the most out of your gel products as we head into the colder months.
Getting Your Gel Ready for Colder Weather
Firstly, if you work in a building that is particularly cold first thing in the morning, pop your heating on a timer so that it comes on around an hour before you start work. This will gently bring your room and your gel products up to a comfortable working temperature.
Gel products are generally tested and designed to work at normal room temperatures, so don't expect a cold bottle of gel to behave in the same way it does in the summer!
Working with Thicker Gel Products
If your gel is a little cold and stiff, gently rolling the bottle between your hands can help. Some glitter polishes can be particularly difficult to work with during the winter because they become much thicker. You can gently stir these using an orangewood stick or gel stirrer, taking care not to introduce lots of air bubbles into your product. This will help mix the gel, pigment and glitter back together.
It's also worth remembering that many professional gel formulations have thixotropic properties. This means that as we agitate or move the product, its viscosity can temporarily reduce, making it easier to work with.
Don't Forget About Your Client
And don't forget about your client! If their hands are cold and your gel is cold too, you're not giving yourself the easiest start. Make sure your client is warm and comfortable. Offer them a hot drink and give their hands a chance to warm up. Not only does this make for a nicer client experience, but it can also make your application much easier.
Please don't try to speed things up by putting your gel into boiling or very hot water, sitting it directly on a heater or using other artificial methods to make it really warm. We aren't trying to make the gel hot; we're simply trying to bring it back to a comfortable working temperature. Take it too far in the opposite direction, and you could end up with gel that's far too runny.
We are also heading into dark colour season, and thick, cold gel combined with lots of dark pigment isn't a great match.
If your gel feels thicker, there's a temptation to apply more product to try to get it to level or cover properly. This can mean your layers become too thick, particularly with those gorgeous deep autumn and winter colours. That can contribute to problems such as wrinkling, inadequate curing, peeling and other service breakdown issues.
So even though your gel polish might feel a little stiffer to work with during the colder months, the same rule still applies:
Keep those layers thin and even for optimal curing.
A little bit of preparation before your first client can make a huge difference. Warm your working environment, allow your products to naturally come up to room temperature, keep your clients comfortable and continue applying your products correctly, even when the weather outside has other ideas!