Magpie Nails refers to Magpie Beauty, a professional brand offering a full range of high-quality, UK/EU manufactured nail products, including highly pigmented, 100% gel polishes, builder gels (like "Give Me Strength"), press-on tips, and nail art supplies (glitters, inks), known for their focus on nail health, innovation, and long-lasting wear, often requiring professional application and curing.
Magpie is a family-run professional nail care brand leading the way in nail health. With their professional range of nail care products, manufactured in the UK and Europe, they are renowned for pushing the boundaries in innovation, creativity, education and efficacy.
With a massive choice of colours, Magpie Gel is a 3-week wear, highly pigmented soak-off gel polish. It has been designed to offer excellent coverage without any shrinkage or wrinkling & have an extremely tacky inhibition layer to work perfectly with Magpie Glitter.
Magpie is committed to developing a clean beauty product range based on safe formulations, of the highest quality and efficacy, with nail health and sustainability top of mind.
CNC's commitment to safety: non toxic, 15-free UV gel
At CNC, all our UV gels and gel polishes are 15-free, meaning they are free from 15 harmful chemicals typically found in nail products.
For gel manicures and pedicures, LED nail lamps are much better and safer than UV ones. They only provide the wavelength range you need for actual curing. They aren't too intense and do the job pretty quickly. You don't have to keep your hands under light for long and risk nail or skin damage.
Hospitals often prohibit gel nails for healthcare workers (HCWs) because they can harbor and transfer bacteria, especially as they chip or lift, creating gaps for pathogens, and they hinder effective hand hygiene and vital sign checks (like oxygen levels). Major health organizations like the CDC and WHO recommend short, natural nails for direct patient contact to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
For Health Concerns: Dipping powder nails may be a better choice if you're concerned about UV exposure from gel nail curing or chemical fumes from acrylics. However, it's important to be aware of the potential for contamination with dipping powders, especially in salon settings.
💅 What this means for you: I only use Magpie Beauty products – a brand I completely trust and which is 100% a professional ONLY brand! ✔️ All Magpie products sold within the EU are already 100% TPO-free.
For a $40 gel manicure, you should tip $6 to $8 (15-20%) as a standard, but consider tipping $8 to $10 or more (20-25%) if the service was exceptional, involved nail art, or took extra time, as gel services often warrant a bit more due to skill and duration, with cash being preferred by many technicians.
This is on my own nails & I've had them on for 3 weeks, I used Get A Grip & Give Me Strength for my bases😍 •• Gel Removal •File over each nail to remove the shine/top layer •Soak cotton wool in acetone •Place soaked cotton wool on each nail & wrap in foil •Repeat for all nails & leave for 10/15 minutes •If the gel isn' ...
The healthiest fake nails balance durability with gentler application and removal, with dip powder and soft/builder gel often cited as top choices for minimal damage, avoiding harsh chemicals and UV light (dip), or offering flexibility (gel). However, proper application, especially gentle prep and professional soak-off removal (not aggressive filing), is more crucial for nail health than the specific product itself, with press-ons offering a temporary, less invasive option.
Magpie ARTYgel colours have been formulated with the perfect consistency which does not run, it enables technicians to control with ease around the cuticle for a close on point full nail coverage application and create intricate artwork for maximum jaw dropping effects!
Magpies are called "magpies" because the name combines "Mag" (a nickname for Margaret, representing a chattering woman) with "pie" (the bird's older name, from Latin pica, meaning "pointed," likely for its beak or tail).
Magpie Gel Colours, Builder Gels and Acrygel are all Hema free, Vegan and Cruelty free!
Overall, Dip Powder Manicures are a great way to get a healthy manicure that will protect and strengthen your nails without causing any damage. Just like any nail treatment, you do have to make sure you properly remove it to keep your nails safe and healthy – Don't pick at your manicure!
Cons of dip powder nails include potential nail damage and thinning from harsh prep/removal, risk of bacterial infection if not sanitary (sharing jars), allergic reactions to ingredients like cyanoacrylate, bulky feel, and difficulty in DIY repair, with salon costs also being higher than traditional manicures. The removal process, often involving heavy acetone soaks, can significantly weaken natural nails if done incorrectly.
In brief, dip powder polymers are stronger than those found in gel polish, so dip manicures typically last longer—up to five weeks, if properly cared for. Gel manicures usually last between two to three weeks, while dip powder manicures can last up to five, with proper prep, application, and maintenance.
Uncured Gel Polish
If gel isn't fully cured under UV/LED light, it can remain tacky and trap moisture—a potential breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.
Long or false nails may damage clinical gloves, so nails should be kept short and free of any enhancements such as acrylic, nail varnish and shellac.
A sensor is placed on the fingertip and this measures the level of oxygen in the blood and works by passing red light through tissue. Nail polish may reduce the effectiveness of this monitor. The nail bed is one of the best places to detect cyanosis caused by low oxygen levels.
It's all about the curing process. "When the gel is exposed to the LED/UV lamp," Iram says, "a chemical reaction called polymerisation happens – and this creates heat." However, "if the layer of gel is too thick, the reaction happens super fast, causing heat to build up quickly and hit the nail bed," Iram explains.
How to Keep Nails Healthy While Using Gel Nail Polish
If you can't find a location near you to recycle your UV bulbs and have no recourse, you may seal the bulb in a plastic bag and dispose of it in your regular trash if doing so isn't illegal where you live. However, if it is, your last option is to find a hazardous household waste facility in your area.