'Dry Gloss' Manicure Is The Ultimate Minimalist Nail Option
Manicure trends are increasingly becoming bigger, bolder, and more varied in presentation. Dopamine manicures, for example — with all of their vivid patterns and colors — are showing up everywhere. Whimsical jelly nails are a current option for people who want their mani to be noticeable, but slightly softer in presentation. Really, there's no way to go wrong with any of these on-trend manicure techniques, but some people are happy about the new crop of more natural, still polished nail options. Leading the charge at this point is the Dry Gloss Manicure Kit by Bare Hands. The product is specifically designed to be used in the comfort of one's own home to produce minimalist, healthy, polished nails. It's sort of like a happy medium between nail cycling (taking breaks between manicures to give nails time to rest and rejuvenate) and having a full-fledged set. For the moment, it appears that Bare Hands corners the market in this category, although there are undoubtedly similar options out there.
Expect these items in a Dry Gloss Manicure Kit
By its very name, one can assume that the Bare Hands Dry Gloss Manicure Kit includes only the bare essentials. Probably the most anticipated part of the kit is a cuticle pen that users twist to produce polisher and cuticle oil (available in unscented or citrus scent), although it also comes with a glass polishing tool for filing. Those items can then be easily stored in a faux leather case, which the company bills as "vegan."
No problematic ingredients are in this dry gloss kit
The kit prides itself on using only high-quality ingredients. Even people who are sensitive to scent can opt out of the citrine variety and go for an unscented cuticle oil instead. The brand also says that the product is free of parabens, sulfates, and cyclic silicones. Plus, it doesn't test on animals, a refreshing departure from the habits of many cosmetic companies.
This is how to use the dry gloss kit
It's easy to use the Bare Hands Dry Gloss Mineral Kit, and the brand also provides a QR code that links to a tutorial video in the packaging. First, use the glass polisher to apply pressure in "short strokes" across each nail. This will result in lots of nail dust, so it's best to wear something you don't mind getting dirty. Once the grooves are worked out and the nails are shiny, put a thin coat of cuticle oil on the cuticles and nail beds.
A dry gloss manicure turns out like this
Done correctly, dry gloss nails should be shiny, smooth, and delightfully natural looking. Bare Hands says that the cuticle oil can be repeated as needed, and the polisher can be used weekly. It does retail for $42, which isn't exactly cheap, but compared to multiple salon manicures, it's a great value.
People are turning to dry gloss manicures to avoid this
Salon manicures can be visually stunning, but they can also be stunningly bad for your natural nails. Frequent manicures (especially of the SNS or gel variety) can cause nails underneath to weaken, making them split or peel outright. Leaving them nice and natural for a while (with or without the help of a dry gloss kit) is not a bad idea to avoid potentially serious nail problems.