What's the difference between gel nails and acrylics? I feel hopelessly out of touch

[Fluffycloudland77]

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Gel nils is put on like nail varnish, and set under a lamp in between coats. Also called shellac nails. Acrylic is done with powder and mixed up and applied to nails, is thicker and stronger but messes up your nails underneath.
Its easy to do your own gels, if you have a steady hand and buy a lamp (cheap off Ebay) and the gel nail varnish.

Acrylic is applied to you own nails usually with a white or clear tip it's very hard wearing and can last 2-3 weeks on your nails before infills are needed.

Gel is applied agin to the natural nail often with a white or clear tip but the layers are cured under a uv lamp again last 2-3 weeks gel gives more of a high shine and is thinner than acrylic

Gel Polish is applied like a nail varnish and each layer is cured under a lamp last up to 2 weeks completely removed before a new shade is applied

No system will ruin your nails if applied by a qualified tech and removed correctly

I'm an editor for a beauty magazine. Gel and shellac are not the same thing. Shellac is what is known as a gel polish, it is applied like a polish and cured for a few seconds under a Uv lamp. It lasts about 2 weeks.

Gels require a filing of the nail plate. Layers of gel are applied and cured for a couple of minutes. These are stronger and can last 3-4 weeks.

Acrylics are even stronger. A mixture of liquid and powder is applied to the nails in layers. These can sometimes be thicker and also require filing of the nail plate.

Applied and removed properly, none of them will damage the nail.