The unvarnished truth: The quest for beautiful nails could leave you with infections and allergies. Here is how to keep your fancy manicure healthy

Fancy manicures were once reserved for special occasions but are nowadays so popular that they’ve proved a recession-proof beauty indulgence.

High streets are awash with salons and nail varnish has developed into high-tech design, led by pop stars such as Lady Gaga and Jessie J.

New long-lasting gel manicures are now a major trend, using UV light to seal chip-resistant nails.

Yet concerns have been raised about the potential harm of these treatments, and scare stories abound about poorly trained technicians leaving nails brittle, weakened or infected.

So could your manicure do damage? How can you safeguard your talons?

Do manicurists know best?

Ignore any client/ therapist power balance – manicurists require no qualifications and untrained technicians are the main risk, according to Samantha Sweet of Sweet Squared, the exclusive UK distributors of gel brand Shellac.

The lack of regulation means poor practices exist, such as filing down the nail plate and weakening the whole nail, or scraping off old polish with a sharp tool.

‘People should speak up if they  feel the manicurist is treating their nails harshly,’ says Sam.

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