Talk to me about nail extensions

[Livingoffcoffee]

I've always just gotten gel polish on my natural nails. I'm really interested in the different types of extensions, but always feel to awkward to ask about it when I'm at the nail place 🙈

I like my nails on the short side, but my natural nails are never as tidy as people with fake nails look. And I have one nail that's constantly splitting down the middle.

Would gel extensions be good (I think that's what they're called??) With that, do they use the plastic tip things? Or is it literally just done with the powder gel stuff??

Nail tech here! Nail extensions can be any length you want, most of my clients have a more natural length.

I work with Gel and acrylic, but there are other options such as acrygel but I'm not qualified in that so don't feel I can offer advice on it. There is no such thing as gel powder.

Acrylic and Gel are totally different systems. The one you choose comes down to preference and lifestyle really. Acrylic is slightly more hard wearing but both require you to follow the aftercare advice given by your nail tech to get the best out of them.

Not all nail techs use tips, I sculpt the enhancement onto forms which are then removed... Bit difficult to explain but you can look on YouTube to see what I mean.

The best advice I can give is to find a decent nail tech or salon who will answer any questions and try to avoid non standard salons or any nail bar where they don't follow standard procedure e.g. Filling in a consultation form, sterilising tools etc

If you don't want to add to the length, you can ask for "overlays" (gel it's acrylic) which is just the powder mixed & applies over your own nail. If you want to add length, then you would ask for a full set of extrnsions - again gel or acrylic. I get acrylic as it is tougher & that suits me better. It's also a bit cheaper.

When your nails grow, you then go back & get "infills" (or "refills") which is where they add more acrylic / gel to where the nail has grown out. So you don't need a "full set" every time.

Hope that helps.

Gel overlays! I think that's what I was forgetting the name of!

Thanks both! I always feel a bit like an numpty when I'm at the nail place so chicken out of asking.

@Livingoffcoffee any decent nail tech will be happy to chat through your options with you so don't feel daft for asking them

Find a nail tech that uses the Gel Bottle -Builder In A Bottle - it's an amazing overlay for natural nails.

i have acrylic powder on mine? ...some sort of polish/gel , a sprinkle of powder, under the lights, repeat and polish

my nail tech is really good with the acrylic forms/sculpting and doesn't give thick results but this powder is a little lighter and even more natural looking. I did have gel but ideally would have needed to get those done every two weeks as they edges would start to lift which I do not get with this powder/gel combo, so for me it's more hardwearing.

I have quite weak and brittle nails
Beauty salon I go to use layer of builder gel instead of base coat, 2 coats of gel polish and then extra strength top coat
I get 4 weeks without a chip and my nails actually grow
I keep them shortish or can’t type at work

@LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow is it SNS? The dipping powder?

@QueenOfOversharing ... it's all Young Nails products she uses. I had a google, and it's Slickpour.