Am I getting ripped off with my nails?

[Joebloggswazere]

So I get my nails done regularly, I get gel extensions, or so I thought. I just realised that posters on here talk about uv light and getting the gel “cured” but mine have never been under a UV light. Am I getting acrylic but paying for gel? Also, while I’m here, last time I had them removed and reapplied, they charged £38. Is that expensive? One more question, how many infills before you get them removed and reapplied? TIA.

Price is standard for a decent nail tech using good hygiene practices etc but no, you aren't getting gel. If they are mixed with liquid and powder then they are acrylic (although technically all nail products are made up of acrylic and it's no worse for your nails than gel if done properly). Re new sets, I'd be wanting to put a new set on after 3 infills personally, on average, depending on condition but you could in theory keep having them infilled forever if the condition and natural nail is good enough. I prefer to remove to check on the nail health though.

I think you may be getting gel powder, but not gel polish.
I've been getting nails done for years now, and always have the option of gel or acrylic powder (over the extensions). They look similar but gel is more expensive and more flexible, personally my nails last longer with gel.
Then on top, you can either have normal nail polish or gel polish (like shellac). This colour is cured under a UV lamp so doesn't need to be air dried.
It sounds to me like you've been getting gel extensions with normal nail polish.
I leave mine as long as possible before taking off and having a new set.

Everything is acrylic with nails, that’s why if you get acrylic allergy you’ll be unable to have anything on them without reacting.

Gel is for brittle nails.
Acrylics for weaker nails that need strength.

You can ask if their trained in rebalancing the nail, which means you don’t have to get them soaked off at all. They infill at the base and reduce the length, hence the term re-balance, then polish as normal.

As long as no bacteria gets between the nail and the extension it’s fine to keep them on.

Thanks everyone, looks like I’m having gel nails but normal polish. I’ve only been having one infill between removals so I wondered why it has been so expensive! I’ll leave it a bit longer. Thank you