QuestionI currently have gel and powder fillins every two weeks. I am trying to cut down costs. My nail salon said the newest concept which now comes in colors should have fillins every month which wouldn't cut the cost but the time spent in the salon. Can you have fillins once monthly or was this just a comeon?
AnswerWell first, I'm confused by "gel and powder fillins." I'm not sure why they are using powder with the gel? Gel is typically a stand-alone product that does not require the addition of a powder. However, I am aware of the extremely common scam where salons do a traditional acrylic service using liquid and powder with a gel topcoat and call them "gel"-- along with charging more for them. This makes me (and many of my colleagues) crazy. Gel is NEVER a powder. It's a gel. So if you are getting gel with powder, you may want to ask some questions about that.
Yes, it's perfectly acceptable to go 4 weeks between fills. As long as the product on your nails can last that long without cracking or lifting. You want to take care to have your fills done BEFORE the product starts lifting, cracking, etc because A-- there's no point in getting your nails done if they aren't going to look good. B-- lifting and cracking is a sign of product breakdown that means that you are opening up microscopic entrance points where moisture can get in between the product and your natural nails. Trapping moisture under the product makes a great place to grow bacteria and that's when those nasty green spots show up.
So, as long as you are comfortable wearing your nails for a whole month in between fills and the product is holding up that long-- go ahead! There's no reason for it to have to be the color gel either, any product can wait 4 weeks if it's holding up that long.
Mind you, many salons charge extra for waiting that long between fills though! The longer you wait between fills, the more product it takes to fill them and the more work it takes to properly rebalance the rest of the nail.
