Gel manicures can indeed make nails look beautiful and last a long time, but they can also damage the nails over time. However the good news is that gel nails (particularly overlays) are much less likely to produce nail fungus than acrylic nails, since you’re not dealing with those acrylic tips. Several harmful chemicals can be absorbed into your body through acrylic and gel nail products. However, their toughness tends to last longer but can cause nail damage and give your nails an unnatural appearance.

Gel overlays can be removable and repairable in case of accidents. You will be guaranteed everything is compatible. If you’re just getting started with DIY, it’s a great idea to buy a nail kit that has everything you need. You will need nail buffers, UV or LED light, and acetone to get started.Īnd you need to make sure that all of your equipment and materials are compatible. Stronger nails can easily be achieved at home! You don’t have to go to a nail salon to get either of these types of nails done. These settings just don’t mesh well with long nails!ĭo You Have to Go To A Salon For Gel Polishes or Overlays? Maybe you work on a computer a lot, or work in a kitchen or medical setting. You work in a job where long nails aren’t practical.Overlay nails are perfect if you do not want exaggerated long nails but want a long-lasting manicure. Those who want a long-lasting manicure without adding nail extensions.The added coatings will add strength and protection to the nails (note that if your nails are in really rough shape, take a break from any sort of nail polish and use some cuticle oil to restore your nails!) Cure again under the light for 30 to 60 seconds.A UV light is used to cure the product for 30 to 60 seconds.Apply the color gel polish you want or a building scalping gel.The gel should be applied as a base coat.Push the cuticles back to prepare the nail bed.Gel overlays can be applied in the following manner: Gel nails look natural and are ideal for those who want an artificial nail that looks like their natural nails. After that, a UV light cures the nail to make it more flexible and softer. The soft gel is made by mixing acrylics with monomers and gels. A UV light cures the nail, making it hard and durable.Īrtificial nails made from hard gel last for a long time and are quite durable. Hard gelĪn artificial nail made of hard gel is composed of acrylic and monomers. However, nail length is not increased by using it.Ī gel overlay can be either hard or soft. In addition, it adds protection against chips and splits. While artificial nails cannot be used to strengthen natural nails, gel overlays can. The term “gel overlay” refers to a gel applied to the nail’s entire surface to protect and strengthen it. In this process, the gel base is cured under UV light, and the top coat is applied. That’s it! Bold and strong nails are now yours!.You may need to wipe off the polish to remove any tackiness, depending on the brand.Cure the polish under the light again for 30 seconds to 60 seconds until it is dry.Don’t over-cure or under-cure your nails. Apply the LED light and cure for 30-60 seconds, based on your gel polish type.Depending on your coverage desired, the number of layers will vary. Gel polish is easier to do at home, and a bit closer to traditional lacquer in applicationĪ few things to watch out for are bubbling with gel polish and peeling gel polish.

There is a big difference between gel polish and gel overlay.

When working with gel overlay, an application of gel is made directly on the natural nail. An LED light will not properly dry a UV gel, and vice versa. With any gel coat, you need to make sure you have the right light for your gel. In addition to the base coat, you have your coat of color and a top coat, both of which need to be cured under UV or LED lights. Gel overlay (also called hard gel or builder gel) is a lot thicker than lacquer. You just need to dry it, most likely under an LED nail lamp, but possibly a UV nail lamp (depending on the gel) Gel Overlay Gel polish comes in loads of colors and creates really beautiful natural-looking nails. You just file your nails and apply the lacquer, and air dry, no need for fussy UV lights or anything. Normal lacquer nail polish is quite thin. To get a feel for the difference, let’s start with a baseline of normal lacquer polish everyone is familiar with. One of the big differences between gel overlay and gel polish is the thickness of the substance.

Gel overlay extensions