To prolong the life of your manicure, avoid using your hands for activities that could damage the gel, such as washing dishes or gardening. You should also avoid exposing your nails to harsh chemicals, such as nail polish removers, household cleaners, and pool or hot tub water. With proper care, a hard gel overlay can be a great way to achieve long-lasting results. Does hard gel overlay damage nails? When it comes to artificial nails, there are two main types of materials: hard gel and acrylic. Both have their pros and cons, so it really depends on your individual needs as to which one is best for you. Hard gel is a newer material that is more flexible than acrylic, making it less likely to break. It also tends to be more durable and looks more natural. However, hard gel is more expensive and takes longer to apply. There are two ways to apply this product. The first is as an overlay, applying it similarly to gels (but this time with a brush and slip solution) to provide strength to the natural nail. The second is using something called dual forms; these are essentially plastic tips and help create extensions; adding length to the nail. And it’s not just suitable for the fingers either. Celebrity manicurist Kate Williamson uses acrylics on models to provide a hard-wearing surface on their toes to withstand pressure caused by squeezing into too-small shoes. If you do touch the skin or the cuticles while applying, make sure that you wipe it off before you cure.

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

Before using any of these products, you must prepare your natural nails. Failure to do so will lead to a breakdown of products and your nails not lasting very long. Wash your hands, file your nails, scrape away the cuticle, give them a buff and a wipe with some acetone. This will dehydrate them and remove any oils or dust from the nail to get the best results.is a self-proclaimed nail addict, always on the lookout for the latest trends and techniques. When she's not creating stunning nail designs, you can find her researching the latest nail care products or experimenting with new techniques. If you still can't decide which product, or you just want to share your results with like-minded people, you will find what you need on our Facebook Support Group. It is full of Bluesky lovers; sharing their work and their stories. Home users and professional nail technicians alike! Join Today! We always recommend filing off as much of the product on your nails as possible beforehand, especially when you've used Hard Gel. This is because there are now 2-3 additional layers for the acetone to soak through, so we advise making sure your nails are properly filed down and prepped for removal to cut down on the soaking time. Can you infill with Hard Gel? A slip layer is when you apply a thin coat of gel to the whole nail. This ensures that you get good coverage. Starting at the simplest: gel polish. Gel polish was created by iconic nail brand CND under the brand name Shellac; a lot of salons use Shellac and gel polish interchangeably, but actually the former refers to a brand name (a bit like hot tub and Jacuzzi).

Best Nail Strengthener UK | Hard Gel Polish - BLUESKY

If your natural nails are already long, then you don’t need an extension, so you would get an overlay. 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. It uses gel polish and plastic tips cured under a UV or LED lamp to harden to create the finished enhancement. Although this technique looks fairly simple, it’s actually quite difficult to master if you’re trying it at home. It’s easy to flood your cuticle with too much gel and not properly cure the product, which is where problems like allergies can be a risk. Done correctly though, there are plenty of pros to this enhancement.Gel polish is made up of monomers and oligomers that harden to a polymer under a UV lamp — essentially turning the wet liquid on your nails into a hard, durable surface. Gel extensions or hard gels are perfect if you want that same gel polish glossy finish, but you want longer, stronger nails. Cured in the same way as gel polish, they are more durable than soft gels but offer the flexibility you wouldn’t get from acrylics. With a longer lifespan than a gel polish manicure, they’re great for those who don’t want to visit a nail salon constantly. When it comes to Bluesky products, these two products have different uses! 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. 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. Gel nails last up to three weeks and are a great option for people who like a high-shine, chip-free manicure that provides extra everyday protection — ideal for the clumsy among us, counting myself among the “us”.They do not however provide any extra length, so must be applied to your natural nail.

Hard Gel Nails: Everything You Need to Know | Glamour

Although acrylic nails last longer, there is a further chance of infection to the cuticle area and nail bed due to the longevity of wear. To prevent this, always keep your nails clean and dry and use antimicrobial cuticle oil to prevent infection from spreading. Gel nails vs acrylics: which is better Another nice thing about not using acrylic and monomer is that you don’t have to put up with a strong smell. Clear is just as you would expect... Crystal clear. It's also great for encapsulating glitters to get a smooth clear finish.

Soft gel works with any gel manicure, either on its own, on top of builder gel nails or hard gel extensions. This means you can't go wrong with a soft gel nail polish. Conclusion Soft gel polish, often called Shellac (CND’s brand name for this formula), has a more liquid consistency than hard builder gels. It comes bottled and is applied in the same way as nail polish. It’s a great product for not only using under gel polish for your normal manicure, but it can also be used without a colour coat for a super natural look too. It comes in a bottle and is applied with the brush, just like your gel polish. Whichever manicure you opt for, always book an appointment with a trusted nail technician to avoid damage to your natural nails. Shop kits and accessories at Nail Polish Direct – for all of your gel and acrylic essentials

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

We’ve been seeing different types of nail products and techniques pop up on TikTok, but it can be confusing as hell trying to understand what each enhancement is — even if you’re a regular salon-goer. A guide to the different types of nail enhancements Unlike gels, acrylics are air-cured and begin to set once applied to the nail. Much like soft gel polish, acrylics are removed by soaking the nails in acetone. There is minimal prep needed for the natural nail so Williamson recommends it to clients who have weak nails. She also suggest this method as ideal for nail art: “Clear tips give a clean base to build colour, encapsulate gems and create different effects,” she says. Press-ons 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. Hard gel cannot be soaked off because solvents cannot penetrate hard gel. 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.Remember that if you want to create extensions, you’ll need to choose a shape and use a form or a tip. There'll be no spam from us. Just a weekly guide to the best affordable fashion and beauty buys. Sign me up