Among the artificial nail styles, two techniques stand out as the most commonly sought after in the salon industry — gel nails and acrylic nails. There are advantages and disadvantages to each style that you should know, even though you probably won’t be able to tell them apart when finished. Here are the juicy details of gel and acrylic nails – all the information you need to know how to select the best artificial nail technique that works for you.
Acrylic Nails
Acrylic nails are basically artificial nail tips which are glued in place over your natural nails, and that makes your nails stronger and longer. Because they have been around for so long, this means that technicians have plenty of experience working with acrylic nails, which is one of the primary benefits of getting them. You will definitely want to select a technician that has been properly trained, since acrylic nails applied incorrectly can look unnatural.
One disadvantage of acrylic nails, as opposed to gels, is that it requires a strong chemical solvent to remove the acrylics. Another disadvantage is that they also do not promote healthy nail growth like gel nails do.
The technician will first prepare your nails by cutting, filing and roughing up their surface with an emery board when applying acrylic nails. This is a technique that helps the acrylic better adhere to the nail bed. Then, the technician will glue the artificial tips to the tips of your natural nails and then the tips are cut and shaped to the size you like. First, a small brush is dipped into a liquid monomer and then into a powder polymer when applying the treatment. A small “ball” of acrylic product is created in this manner which is applied to each of your nail beds and pressed into place.
Gel Nails
This technique only started gaining popularity in the United States within the past few years, even though gel nails are not a new innovation in the artificial nail industry. It may be said that it is growing in popularity because it creates a thinner and more flexible artificial nail that looks much more natural than acrylic nails do. It also can be worn as a protective layer over your natural nails until your desired nail length is achieved, but also promotes the growth of natural nails. You can choose whether or not to apply tips, but they can be substituted for a full gel tip, that is created over a gel form on your real nails.
The preparation for gel artificial nails is pretty much the same as preparation for acrylic nails –the nails have to be cut, filed and roughed up with an emery board. Then, if you are using artificial tips, they must be glued to the tip of each of your nails. You can also spread a thin layer of the gel onto each nail and cure them underneath a UV lamp for approximately 15 seconds or so. This procedure will get your nails ready for natural nail overlays, which are done over a disposable nail form. Multiple coats are needed like nail polish, and then cured between coats underneath the UV light.
The end result is a thin and lightweight, natural feeling, and natural looking nail when done correctly.