Why do you feel a "burn" with bio gel?
If you have ever got a full set of bio gel or currently keep up with bio gel, you know exactly what I am talking about. Sometimes, I’ve even had to count myself down to go into the lamp because of the nerves. It is a quick spike of heat but it makes sure you don’t forget. The price we pay for beauty…so why does this happen?
A heat spike is a chemical reaction that emits heat. It is a short lived intense pop of heat that sometimes happens when gel or gel polish is being cured under a UV or LED lamp. These chemicals react when it meets light wavelengths, once activated it triggers a quick chain reaction that hardens or “cures” the gel which often times will emit heat. It is a normal part of the curing process but there are many ways to control the intensity and duration of it.
For example;
Thin nail beds - Thin nail beds have less keratin layers to absorb and distribute the curing heat so the Gel will stimulate the nerve endings under your nail bed more. Whereas thicker nail beds have more keratin layers which will absorb and evenly distribute reducing the impact on the nerve endings. It is important to not overly file nails to further thin your nail plate and weaken the heat barrier function.
Gel Application - The thicker the application the more gel molecules available to bond and the more heat that will be generated during curing. Applying the gel in thinner layers means less molecules bonding which means less heat generating at once. Your nail technician can make the application thinner to minimize discomfort.
The art of nail care is more than just “looking pretty” it is a balance of techniques, good quality products, and an understanding of the science behind it all. Although there are ways to make your gel appointments more seamless and less painful, a heat spike here and there is completely normal.