You can use hard gel to overlay natural nails, sculpt extensions and repair broken nails. It is great to overlay clients who are transitioning from acrylic, want to strengthen their natural nails, want extensions or longer nails, or have weak and brittle nails that need more support and structure. If you are removing acrylic from a client, hard gel is the best product to use as it will provide more support. Much like the application of hard gels, a gel polish manicure is an easy one to master. Gel polish causes little damage to the natural nails, is easy to apply and cure, and simple to maintain with cuticle oil and moisturiser between appointments.

Gelish Hard Gel — by Nail Alliance Gelish Hard Gel — by Nail Alliance

Lasting around 3-4 weeks, they’re a good, hard-wearing manicure which is a great choice for anyone working with chemicals or coloured dyes, as their non-porous formula makes them stain resistant. Soft gels are incredibly popular with today’s clients as they are just as durable as a hard gel, but easier to remove. Also known as ‘soak off’ gels, they can gently be lifted away with acetone when needed. Most hard gel systems don’t have colors. This means that you are going to be limited to clear, pink, or white if using hard gel.

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Acrylics could be a perfect choice if you’re after a long-lasting manicure that won’t chip and peel prematurely. Lasting up to eight weeks with regular in-fills, acrylics are super strong but not as flexible as gels, so they may be a bad choice if you need to do a lot with your hands. weeks. Though a manicure created with builder gel can last up to three weeks, this often depends on which brand you use and how well you apply it – plus, how well the old coat is removed. When applied on natural nails, a strong and healthy base is required.

Hard Gel vs Builder Gel. Which one is better for you? - nailhow Hard Gel vs Builder Gel. Which one is better for you? - nailhow

Builder gel nails are a great way to strengthen your nails because they create an extra hard, durable layer over the nail plate, which protects it. This can lead to stronger, longer natural nails as the durable coating helps prevent nail breakage. Many clients also believe that gel nails will damage their nails less than acrylic nails. The flexibility of builder gel does mean that they are less likely to cause a breakage. If you use a soak off formula, you can minimise damage during the removal, too, as less filing and buffing will be needed. Acrylics have been around for a long time, so although the application is more difficult than gels, it’s easy to find a skilled technician who can apply a fresh set. Achieving the correct consistency or monomer and polymer mix is key – but skilled technicians will have no problem achieving this. The biggest difference between Hard and Soft Gel nails is porosity and removal. Soft Gel (Shellac, Gelish, OPI Gel Color, etc.) otherwise known as "Brush on/Soak-off Gels," go on like Nail Polish and removed with acetone applied to a cotton pad and soaked off. The best way to remove: Acetone soaked pads called Fast Foils. Pros of Soft Gel or Soak Off GelsHow did you like it? I hope you understand the difference between hard gel and soft gel nails little bit more today.

Here’s What You Need to Know About Hard Gels | Nailpro

They are slightly more durable than acrylic, they also are less likely to irritate allergy sufferers. We always advise using a Base Coat at the beginning of every gel manicure. This is because it provides the perfect base layer for all following coats to adhere to. While we can’t guarantee best results if you miss this step out, many of our Bluesky users find that applying Hard Gel with no Base Coat works well for them, and they experience no peeling or lifting at all. Apply colour or top coat– wipe the nail clean again, and apply your top coat. If your client wants a different colour, paint on your gel polish and cure again first.Must be applied and removed properly to ensure no damage to the natural nail. The nail bed can be damaged. Chance of allergic reaction to the skin from acrylic powder. This is fine to do as you can either let it grow out (it won’t be too noticeable) or go ahead and apply a new set over the top. You should cure builder gel for 3 minutes under a UV lamp or for 60 seconds under an LED lamp. Final thoughts As a beauty editor who has qualified as a nail tech in my spare time, I spent a lot of time trying different nail trends like aura and cat eye nails and different types of nail enhancements like gel extensions and Polygel. A builder gel manicure is wonderful because it can be used as a strong base to help protect nails and it looks great. Alternatively, because the polish is available in a range of colours, it can be used as a polish in its own right.