Whether with tips or forms, creating hard gel extensions requires technique—technique that takes years of practice. This helps to create a harder, more resilient surface that is less likely to chip or break than traditional nail polish. This is also a good service for people who are interested in growing their natural nails to longer lengths. This is where gel extensions can be damaging if you attempt them at home as you can accidentally file too much of the natural nail and weaken them. This means that hard gel forms an impermeable bond on the natural nail—protecting it from breaking down or being penetrated by any substance including acetone—which makes it durable and excellent at protecting the natural nail.

Superior quality builder and colour gels - Crystal Nails UK

Most gel polish brands have now ventured into the world of builder gels and everyone’s gone mad for them. Builder gel tends to ‘self-level’, so allow it to settle for a few seconds to make sure it is applied evenly.

If you are looking for a durable product that will last for weeks, hard gel may be the better option. You don’t need to cure the slip layer, just paint on a thicker coat of gel over the top, then cure as normal. If you are keen on the DIY hard gel route, watch educational videos prior to trying your hand, Ornellas advises. Lasting up to three weeks, a gel polish manicure is easy to soak off with acetone and, as long as it’s applied and removed correctly, causes little damage to the natural nail.

Gel Guide: How Much Do You Know? The Ultimate Builder Gel Guide: How Much Do You Know?

When you’re choosing whether to get a gel or acrylic manicure, there are certain factors that you need to consider before making your choice. No filing is required during the application; the base coat can be applied straight to the natural nail and cured under the lamp, with the polish and top coat applied similarly. Bluesky Hard Gel is extremely versatile allowing you to not only add extra strength to your nails, but also create short extensions up to 2mm. If you are looking for something that is more flexible and natural-looking, then builder gel is the better choice.Over time as nail technology developed, hard gel formulations were adapted and brought to the market in a weaker form, known as soft gels and gel polishes. Hard Gel is best used as a nail strengthener – either underneath your gel polish colour coats or on its own for a natural-looking manicure.

HARD GEL - NAIL ENHANCEMENTS The Nail People ibd Beauty HARD GEL - NAIL ENHANCEMENTS The Nail People

How long nails last is more about the technique on which it was built rather than the product itself,” Suzie says. Acrylic nail extensions can achieve a similar look, but contain more allergens, which is why hard gel is so popular. According to Ornellas, “Hard gels are used for strength and structure,” whereas “gel polish is just for color and art, and a little strength.Hard gel is a bit more flexible than acrylic, which means that hard gel nails are less likely to crack.

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

You remove polygel by first filing off any excess product with either a hand file or an e-file (aka nail drill). It is more flexible than hard gel, making it ideal for those who want to create natural-looking nails. The nails may be painted with nail polish and a topcoat at this point, or colored dip powder may be used instead of polish and finished with a topcoat. However, critics point to the fact that this treatment requires the use of UV light for curing, which can be damaging to the nails.

You probably already know the basics - from regularly applying Cuticle Oil to avoiding using your nails as tools - but one of our Bluesky Hero products is an absolute must-have if you struggle with brittle, breaking nails.