Weighing the pros and cons: Should you get nail extensions during pregnancy

Extended fingernails are comfortable and beautiful. But many women, preparing to become mothers, worry whether it is safe and won't harm the future child? The executive director of the NailMaker Bar salon chain, Anastasia Petrova, answered these questions in detail.

"If a woman has had regular hair extensions before pregnancy and tolerated it well, then there are no specific contraindications to the procedure. But in any case, before you go to a nail salon, you should consult your pregnancy doctor. And, of course, you should not have your hair done if you are allergic to any of the ingredients of the preparations used by the artist", - says the executive director of the chain of salons NailMaker Bar.

What can cause problems?

During pregnancy, the hormonal balance of the woman changes and she may be allergic to products and medicines that have not caused such a reaction before. It is therefore important to be extremely careful as the mother-to-be's body is unpredictable.

It is also important to know that the primer used for acrylic nail extensions contains methacrylate, which is a very harmful substance with a specific smell. For women with lung problems, it can cause choking and asthma attacks. And even if it does not cause allergies, a pregnant woman can have an unpredictable reaction. With gel extensions, there is no such smell, but the substances it contains can cause allergic rhinitis.

"One of the reasons why NailMaker Bar salons do not use acrylics in their extensions is the pungent smell. We use gel, which is a porous polymer. Due to its ability to let air in, it allows the nails to breathe. In addition, the nails coated with gel, continue to grow and stop breaking" - explains the executive director of the chain of salons NailMaker Bar Anastasia Petrova.

Another problem is the use of low-quality materials, vapours of which, if inhaled, may provoke unwanted consequences in the body of the expectant mother. Women with a risk of premature miscarriage should be especially careful.

Expectant mothers are advised not to undergo the procedure in the first trimester, as the baby's organs are being formed at this time and any adverse effects can affect its development. In the first three months, it is even forbidden to take a number of medications.

What should you do if you really want to?

If you still want to get your nails done, there are a number of rules to follow:

• Choose a qualified professional, and have your nails done in a well-established salon, rather than at home, so that you can get medical attention in case of an emergency.
• Be sure to warn the technician about your position and ask for a window to open for better airing of the room.
• Choose nail salons with sufficient space, because in small rooms with poor air circulation, harmful fumes accumulate and pregnant women can inhale them, and through the blood they will get to the baby.
• It is also important to pay extra attention to the disinfection of the instruments, as the cuticle treatment can cause a wound and become a gateway for infection.

Alternative variants

Many masters of manicure do not recommend to their clients to extend nails during pregnancy, because women's hormonal background changes and influences the condition of their nails - materials may peel from the nail plate and the result will be short-lived. You should keep that in mind and ask the masters to suggest other kinds of coverage.

Pregnant woman sends most of the nutrients and vitamins to the baby, that's why she often develop brittle and broken nails. If the client is concerned about the worsening of their condition due to hormonal changes, lamination or restoration of the nail plate with special non-toxic preparations can be recommended. They help to make the keratin flakes of the nail thicker, preventing its destruction.

Nails can also be strengthened with a gel nail base, which can even lengthen nails by a few millimetres. The gel polish itself is non-toxic, using an acid-free primer.

Generally, it is not possible to apply a coloured permanent coating on the treatment base and dry it under a lamp. On gel or acrylic nails, it can be applied. This is the fundamental difference. If you want to get a therapeutic effect, you will have to do without colour. There are also special agents for strengthening thin, brittle or damaged nails, which are considered the ideal care and recovery after the removal of acrylics. With them you can apply resistant coloured nail varnishes and have them dry in a lamp.

In the third trimester, it is advisable to trim your nails to avoid hurting the baby after delivery.

A future mum should be beautiful and nail extension during pregnancy is acceptable, but it is worth to be more serious about the choice of a nail technician and the technique. If you feel unwell, it is best to avoid the procedure.