Which Gel for natural overlays?

[Marahute]

Help, I am totally overwhelmed by the choices available!

Which gel system is best for natural nail overlays? I want added strength and protection and nail benefits of a gel (rather than, say, Shallac). But don't want nail extensions.

It seems I have the choice of Calgel, CND, or The Gel Bottle BIAB locally.

I have had a set of Gel Bottle BIAB overlays before and was not impressed as they were thick and uneven, but I think that may have been the application rather than the system itself (application did not include removal of inhibition layer of buffing and shaping of the gel layer).

Are the above Gels much of a muchness? Or does it not matter? Or is there a better system it's worth seeking out?

Thanks in advance!

I love my BIAB overlays, they're not thick or uneven at all. You need to find a better nail tech!

I think all of these overlay products are much the same and it's all down to the skill of the nail technician as to how they end up looking and how well they last.

You need to find a better nail tech!

Totally! I am not going back there. I watched a BIAB application video on YouTube after the appointment and realised that it wasn't done right at all. I've now got gel polish on, which is beautiful but the place I went to used electric files(!!) and also didn't actually do what I asked, as I wanted overlays using a builder type gel.

So now I'm looking for somewhere different... I hope I have just been unlucky and third time will be a charm!

BIAB is great when applied properly. It should be built up in thin layers - 2 or 3 - and not in one thick layer as it self levels and if it's too thick that can't happen.

I had a horror with the first salon I went to, applied in a thick layer causing painful heat spikes ("oh, that's normal") and then when I chose to remove it and return to normal gel polish, filed it off rather than soaking which filed my natural nail - filed, not buffed!

I've found a new salon now, but asked lots of questions about application and removal to make sure she'd do it as per The Gel Bottle instructions.