Nails - gel overlays or dipping powder?

[Marahute]

Hello Beauties!

I got gel overlays (The Gel Bottle Builder in a Bottle) a few days ago. Just on my natural nails, no extensions.

They're nice enough but very thick and a couple of them are quite "blobby". For example on one nail you can definitely see where the polish was very thick and has gathered at one side of the nail before it fully cured, so there is a noticeable bulge. They look a bit amateurish to my inexperienced eye, but I don't know if I am being picky. I have never had gel nails before so no idea if this is normal? I have have had shellac before, a few years ago and they were not thick like this, but I understand shellac is more like normal polish in consistency. The place I went to is reputable and popular.

When I have this set removed, I am planning on trying a different nail place for comparison - I have contacted them and they can do gels or do "dipping powder". I am just not sure which is best? I want something long-wearing that will strengthen and protect my natural nails to allow them to grow. They recommended the dipping powder for being the most gentle on the nails.

Does anyone have any experience?

Thanks!

It's definitely not normal for gel polish to be blobby. It should be smooth like regular polish or shellac. Dip powder nails are long lasting like gel. However, dip powder nails don't require UV/LED lamps to cure. They both require soaking off. Neither are damaging to your nails as long as they are applied and removed correctly.

I had regular gel nails for years and they were great. They did help my natural nails grow underneath. The OPI brand were my favourite as they are a little thicker than and other brand I tried at another nail saloon (cuccio I think seemed a little thin, and Iiked the thickness of opi)

Thanks both. Sounds like it is a matter of personal preference then. I had issues with nail damage when I had a brief stint with gel polish (it was Artistic Colour Gloss I think) which has made me a bit wary.
I might book gels again, purely for the sake of comparison!