lkRapid sea, blue pool and white sandy beach – summer vacation is just around the corner. Well-groomed nails on hands and feet are an absolute must-have during this time. Attractive nail colors with tanned skin offer the ultimate holiday feeling, which puts you in a good mood not only in your free time but also at work. This time of year places special demands on your nails - which is why good care is so important. Strong sunlight, high temperatures in the office, on the beach or in the nail salon as well as the water from the pool or sea require special handling of products and nails. Peeling, creaming and caring for your skin counteracts dehydration in summer and should therefore not be neglected, advises nail designer Stefanie.

5 tips: Store nail polish, gel and acrylic properly in hot weather ☀️

Above 25° C it becomes difficult for the nail polish - quick-drying polishes in particular can leave unsightly streaks or bubbles when applied at high temperatures. Classic nail polish should be stored cool in hot temperatures, even in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator if necessary, and should also be applied cool. You should store gels and acrylics in a dark place - under no circumstances should they be left in direct sunlight or exposed to excessive heat - the color, consistency, application behavior and durability can then change. This also applies to Shellac. During the hot season, nail designers should pay even more attention than usual to ensuring that gel and acrylic jars and nail polish bottles are only opened for as long as necessary and that they are closed again as quickly as possible. Nail expert Stefanie recommends checking gels, acrylics and nail polish before each use: Does everything look the same as usual or have the individual components separated? Does everything smell the same as always? Can it be applied as usual?

☼ Store nail polish in a cool place
☼ Avoid direct sunlight
☼ Store gels & acrylics in a dark and cool place
☼ Only open jars and bottles briefly
☼ Check products before use

Does salt water or chlorinated pool water damage artificial nails? 🏊‍♀️

Salty sea water and chlorinated pool water generally do not harm professionally made artificial nails, says nail designer Stefanie. High-quality tip glue usually holds up even under the classic stresses of a summer vacation. However, gels or varnishes of lower quality can acquire a yellow tinge over time due to the influences of the sun; here you should go for quality, recommends the expert. However, if you have already noticed lifting or injuries to your nail, you should avoid sea and pool water on your nails. Bacteria from the water can penetrate through the wounds and detachments and cause inflammation. Do your nails seem to have lost their shine after a beach holiday and look a bit dull? Both nail polish and gel or acrylic can easily lose their flawless surface if you spend a long time on the beach, because the fine grains of sand act like gentle sandpaper. You can simply apply quick-drying clear polish over artificial and painted natural nails to refresh the shine.

Nail modeling in the heat: Interview with nail designer Stefanie

Sunscreen, sweaty customer hands and gels that harden in the sun - summer, with its sunlight and high temperatures, creates particular stumbling blocks when it comes to nail modeling. Nail designer Stefanie explains to you how you can still make durable nails in the heat and how you can protect yourself and your customers.

ND24: How does nail modeling change in hot temperatures?
Nail designer Stefanie: Gels and varnishes can be much more liquid than usual due to heat. Poor results and reduced durability can be the result. Especially if the gel runs too close to the cuticle, this can lead to unpleasant feelings of tension on the nail.

ND24: What influence does heat have on nail modeling products?
Nail designer Stefanie: If the products have become too hot, color changes and unwanted bubbles can form. For example, in direct sunlight and heat, gels can harden completely. This once happened to me when I was applying it with a gel brush that I had just put aside for a moment, unfortunately directly into a ray of sunlight - the brush was completely dry within a few seconds and was no longer usable.

ND24: Does the work on the customer change in the heat?
Nail designer Stefanie: The heat actually has a direct influence on the work on the customer. Before nail modeling, in summer weather, your hands should be thoroughly washed and degreased so that there are no more sunscreen residues on the nails. If the customer's hands sweat a lot during the treatment, the nails should be cleaned again and again with cleaner during the modeling, otherwise the durability of the artificial nails may suffer. The general rule is: Of course, neither the nail designer nor the products nor the customer should suffer from the sun's rays - which is why appropriate shading is recommended.