Sorry. I know this post is over a month old, but I thought I would chime in. Show
What home gel kit are you thinking of purchasing? Are you just looking at gel polish, or are you looking at playing with "builder" gel as well? I've had my nails done professionally for over twenty years (acrylic for most of that time, with gel nails toward the end). I started getting my nails professionally done at 16. I'm now 42. For the last two years I've been doing my own nails with home kits. My advice is to leave the builder gels to the pros. A "builder gel" is what would be used to lengthen your natural nails. I would actually encourage people to leave builder gels completely alone unless there is a special event coming up (wedding, graduation, etc.). That application and removal process can do some damage. Home gel polish kits, IMO, are the bomb! They have saved me so much time and money, and the results can be great. I no longer have to fight for good appointment times. I can do my nails at midnight if I want. To be clear, I'm referencing gel polish that is cured by LED lights and is soaked off. Fortunately, that's most (if not all of the home kits). The way I apply the polish there is no damage to my nails. I don't rough up my nails before I apply it. I clean them with rubbing alcohol and then I paint the basecoat on. Adhesion isn't quite as good, but as I can fix a nail on my own time, I'm perfectly cool with that. I usually get a week out of a manicure, but sometimes it goes a bit longer. Removal can be a bit drying to the nails, but it is easy with no scraping. I don't scrape. Never. I scuff up the surface of the gel polish to remove the shine, put acetone soaked cotton pulls on my nails, and wrap the tips of my fingers in tinfoil. It is a bit Freddy Krueger-ish. I usually only need a 15 minute soak, but sometimes I need to double it: if I've worn the polish for more than a couple of weeks or used a crazy number of coats. Builder gel isn't formulated to come off this way, and that's one of the reasons I think it should be avoided. To offset any potential drying, I use a lot of cuticle oil: three times a day or more. I also coat my nails in cuticle oil after removing the gel polish and let it sit for a bit before I redo my nails. Most of the LED cured, soakable, gel polish kits are totally interchangeable. The kit I started with was the "Red Carpet Manicure" kit. I still use some of the Red Carpet stuff as it is readily available, but I also use Gelish and Essie gel polishes (which I prefer). The great thing about doing it yourself is that you can control the process. I've had some nail techs do some truly horrifying things to me over the years. My nail health is very good now, and I can choose to go with or without the gel polish. My nails were so damaged when I was getting them done professionally that I couldn't go without builder gel or acrylic as my nails would tear.  When it comes to nail extensions and nail art there are so many options to choose from these days, from glitter acrylics to stunning nail art effects, the nail world is ever evolving! So, it’s more important than ever to get a good grasp of the basics. But, not only has nail art and acrylic nails become increasingly popular…so has natural looking nails and promoting nail care and strength! Which has in turn paved the way for builder gel to take industry by storm….allowing nail technicians to add strength to their clients natural nails, allowing nails to grow and keeping them looking perfect for 2/3 weeks. At Salons Direct we have a wide range of gel polish brands available to suit all budgets. Most gel polish brands have now ventured into the world of builder gels and everyone’s gone mad for them. Some of our best selling ranges are: Glossify Naturabuild, Glitterbels Brush On Builder Gel, Halo Easibuild Builder Gel, & Gellux Builder Gel. We thought it was a good time to answer some of the most commonly asked questions around builder gels. Want to know the benefits of gel manicures? Or whether gel or acrylic is better for your clients? Keep reading to find out! Builder gel is used when you want to create length, thickness or add strength to the nail. You can apply builder gel to either natural nails for a non-chip overlay, or use it with nail tips to create extensions or enhancements. It’s much stronger than regular gel polish base coats, and the formula is a much thicker consistency to a normal base coat. They have high self-levelling properties which ensure a smooth foundation layer. How long does builder gel last?2-3 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. Always make sure you follow your chosen gel brand’s instructions to get the best results. This often means only using products from your chosen gel nail system – not mixing one builder gel with another brand’s top coat, for example. You also need to make sure you use the right LED or UV nail lamp for the correct amount of time. When the builder gel begins to grow out, you can infill just like you would with acrylic, or remove the set and apply another straight away – providing the nail is still in good condition. How to use builder gel…Do you need a base coat for Builder Gel?The way you use builder gel depends on the particular brand you buy. Some require you to use a primer or base coat first, while others, such as Glossify, can be applied straight to the nail for a speedier application. If you are applying builder gel to the natural nail only, it can be applied and built up to the desired thickness and shape in a number of coats, curing between each layer. If you are extending the nail, simply apply your nail tip or form before applying the gel and creating the length. Generally, the steps you would take to apply a builder gel would be something like this:
Is builder gel better than acrylic?It depends. As a nail tech, you will probably have your fair share of clients asking you whether builder gel is better for their nails than acrylic. However, it can be hard to answer this question as it is often a case of personal preference. For example, builder gel might not appear to be as hard as acrylic, but it is more flexible and can actually be stronger. For more natural looking nails, builder gel is often preferred over acrylic as it can be applied quickly with a high-shine finish. Gel is also great for helping clients with easily broken nails maintain their natural nail length. 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. However, that’s not to say that acrylic is particularly bad for nails! If clients have really soft nails, acrylics can offer a suit of armour to protect them. So long as they are applied, cared for and removed properly by a trained nail technician, gels and acrylics should be equally safe. If your client still can’t decide which to go with, keep some pictures of your best work handy to show them the different looks you can create with them. But, which do nail techs prefer? As a nail technician, you will probably have your own favourite to work with, too. Acrylic hardens within a few minutes without the need for a lamp, while builder gel stays wet until cured under UV or LED light. Some nail techs love the flexibility and control builder gel gives them, as they can continue to move the product around as much as they like, then cure them in seconds when they are happy. Other nail techs simply prefer working with acrylic, particularly if they have clients who love having their nails extra-long. Overall, both acrylic and builder gel can be used to create equally stunning manicures. It’s always best to take a good look at your client’s nails and see how strong they are naturally before deciding which is best for them. Hard gel, soft gel, builder gel, gel polish – what’s the difference?If you are new to gel nails, you might be wondering what the difference is between the terms hard gel, soft gel and builder gel. Just what exactly are they all?! Hard GelHard gels are used to build nail extensions as they can add length that most soft gels can’t. They are similar to acrylic nails in this aspect, but still need to be cured under an LED or UV lamp. To be removed, they usually need filing off, so can cause more damage to the natural nail. Profile Gellux UV/LED Hard Gel and IBD Builder Gel are examples of hard gels. Soft GelSoft 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. Many of today’s soft gels, such as Glossify Builder Gel, come in a bottle with a brush and can be applied similar to a regular nail polish – though still need curing with a nail lamp. You can still add thickness and some length to the nail, though you won’t be able to extend them as much as you would with a hard gel. So, they are usually used for a more natural effect. Builder Gel vs Gel PolishYou can get both soft and hard builder gels to create shape and length. However, it’s important to remember that both types of builder gel are different to regular gel polishes. These have a thinner consistency and while they do help keep the nail stronger, they aren’t as hardy as builder gels. You can paint gel polish over the natural nail or over the top of your builder gel – just make sure you stay within the same gel system brand. See how Amy Guy uses Glossify Naturabuild Gel to create ombre gel nail art!Don’t forget you can shop our bestselling builder gels online at Salons Direct…Shop NowShop NowShop NowShop NowShop our full range of gel nail supplies online today!!More nail salon advice on the Salons Direct blog… The Best Gel Nail Removal Products for Salons | How to Start Up Your Own Nail Business | The Best Gel Top Coats for Nail Professionals Should I give my nails a break from builder gel?For gel nails, take a break for a week at least once every eight weeks to allow the nails to rehydrate and to allow repair of the underlying structures. “An emollient applied directly to the nail and cuticle oil will also aid recovery,” said Batra.
Is builder gel safer than acrylic?As mentioned above, gel nails are a healthier alternative for the nail than acrylic. They are less likely to cause damage to the natural nail or nail bed. Gel nails also feel more natural and less rigid than acrylic, so if you accidentally hit them against something they are less likely to snap!
Which is better hard gel or builder gel?Let's break it down. Builder Gel, Gum Gel and Hard Gel are all strong enough to build an extension by either using tips or sculpting forms. But Hard Gel is the weakest of them all and should only be used for short extensions.
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Will builder gel damage your nails?
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