Welcome to the Fascinating Journey of the Nail World! Long gone are the days of limited, yet expensive options in the Beauty & Cosmetic Industry. Say hello to the near-infinite Inspiration available to you at your fingertips Whether you’re on Instagram, Tiktok or Pinterest; You’ll be amazed to find some of the most creative Nail designs out there.
If you’re into Nail Care, Just like we are, you understand that a manicure is the best way to Treat your Body and Soul with a Splash of colors that are sure to turn heads. Yet if you’re new to Nail Care, the variety of options online can be confusing and intimidating without the proper guidance but don’t worry, Kim is here to guide you.
Today we’ll go over the differences between Acrylic, Nail Gel & Polygel Respectively as well as the Pros & Cons for each Method.
I will leave a link to our each Nail Kit at the bottom of the page. Note that every kit on our website contains everything you need to get started doing your Nails from A to Z.
What are Acrylic Nails?
Acrylics are extensions of your natural nails; They involve the process of filing the natural nail bed followed by mixing Acrylic powder and Acrylic liquid together. This process gives you this sort of paste which is used to mold the artificial nail into the desired shape and form. Pro Tip: You may apply some Nail Polish on top to add a touch of YOU to your Manicure. Just make sure that your Acrylic is Smooth and even before doing so.
Pros of Acrylic:
- Acrylic nails are very hard and damage-resistant
- They can last up to 4 weeks
- They give you the smooth, desired surface to design Nail art
- You have the freedom of choosing the length of the Nail
Cons:
- Acrylic Nails can damage natural nail beds
- They sometimes look less Natural than Gel or Polish
- The process involves chemicals and fumes, Which may feel unpleasant
- Unlike a normal manicure where the nail polish can easily be removed, acrylic nails need to be soaked in harmful acetone.
What are Gel Nails?
Gel nails are formed by applying three coats of gel onto your natural nails. They are not extensions. At first, a base coat is applied, followed by a polish color, and finally a protective top layer. Each coat is cured under UV light for a few minutes.
Pros of Gel:
- Applying Nail Gel gives you a fresh and shiny look.
- More flexible, hence fewer chances of chipping off.
- Drying time is much shorter than a regular manicure.
- There are no unpleasant chemicals and fumes.
Cons:
- They last for up to 2 weeks, In contrast to 4 weeks for Acrylics
- UV can be dangerous to the skin if overused
- UV light can cause Damage to the Nail beds
- The application requires a bit of practice, this means you may have to try a few times before you get it right. If applied incorrectly, the Gel can peel off.
- The removal includes soaking your Nails in acetone, just like with Acrylic Nails
What are Polygel Nails?
Polygel was designed to utilize all the Pros of acrylic and gel nails into one method. This quite revolutionary formula uses a mix of acrylic powder in a Gel base. The application is similar to Gel, starting from the base coat followed by the polish and then a top layer.
Pros of Polygel:
- They are flexible and strong.
- The product uses pleasant scents.
- Polygel cures quicker under the LED light than traditional Manicures.
- Very light and comfortable to wear.
- Polygel easily filed off with a buffer and nail file.
Cons:
- Polygel is more expensive than other traditional methods and techniques. (Except in our Shop:))
- They can cause heat spikes when applied incorrectly.
In Conclusion
Each Method has Its advantages when applied correctly. Although, we tend to recommend Polygel for the majority of our customers since it’s a perfect balance between Acrylic, which is seemingly the best method but the most harmful at the same time, and Nail Gel which is the least harmful but doesn’t last as long an requires some practice before getting good at it.
As Promised, here are the Links to each Nail Kit with a 10% Discount Code: “10OFF”
Acrylic Kit: https://nailpiece.co/collections/kits/products/professional-acrylic-kit
Polygel Kit: https://nailpiece.co/collections/nail-colors/products/professional-polygel-set
Nail Gel Kit: https://nailpiece.co/products/nail-gel-kit-by-nailpiece