Gel nails - I’m confused!

[GorgeousLadyofWrestling]

I have been having home manicures for a couple of years now by a lady who would use builder gel. My nails are terrible - weak and flaky - and builder gel was wonderful. For the first time ever, I had long natural nails that were strong!

She’s recently stopped her business and I’m looking to continue with having my nails done but no idea what. My friend said she had SNS done which she said was the same as gel - but when I had it done once, they put acrylic nails on with the SNS powder over the top.

Is gel just the same as builder gel or is it damaging? What should I ask for? Should I look for places that specifically name builder gel? Is it ok just to go for gel? So confused 🙈

Try shellac

There are loads of different brands. Bio Sculpture has the best reputation for not ruining your nails so maybe find a salon near you that does it?

@Hollipolly what is shellac again? I always thought it was acrylic nails and bad for them but I know nothing!

@MondaysChild7 that’s good to know what names to look out for. Is that a builder gel?

Shellac is brands like CND. Personally I wouldn’t recommend this if your nails are weak.

Bio Sculpture is just a gel but it’s very good quality and it’s supposed to help your nails grow.

If you find someone who does gelish they should be able to use a builder gel or structure gel first. Ask whoever you book if they have the builder gel though.

I often have SNS polish on natural nails, no acrylic extensions.

I also have weak nails and this is a really good solution for me. Never chips, they’re bomb proof.

I recently also discovered that builder gel - which my wonderful nail tech uses - is not ubiquitous, and I'm trying to work out what I'm going to do about having fills done during the summer when she is away! Nobody else seems to use it.

I adore my builder gel nails - like you, I had slightly rubbish nails before and now they're lovely.

My nail tech use The Gel Bottle brand range and I just have these as regular gel.

The Gel bottleBottle do an additional product called Builder in a Bottle BIAB. Which has offers for an small additional fee.

So no I don't think that builder gel is the same as regular gel

Shellac is really thin I think. Some gels are thicker than others too.

You could find out what brand she used and find a salon that does this too.

None of these are acrylics or extensions. Just gel or builder on a natural nails.

I think ask around specifically for builder gel or builder in a bottle. I have that with a gel colour on top.

gels/shellac/gelish straight on your nails isn’t good:
shellac is separate to acrylics but many people will have acrylics or a ‘full set’ with gel colour on top.

ive heard SNS is similar to builder gel in that it’s very strong and isn’t bad for your nails like gel. You can have it without acrylics.

(Acrylics being fake nails/nail extensions. I do have these occasionally when I’ve had a bad nail biting relapse and I just have them really short on top of my nails so my nails can grow a bit, then I have builder gel on)

Please don't use what your friend uses, they are dip powders and usually you are putting the equivalent of superglue on your nails (Dip powders are bonded using a glue called cyanoacrylate) so check the ingredients. They are also difficult to remove.

Builder gel allows you to build layers and strength. For a beginner you just want a bottle of builder gel like a nail polish that you apply and cure in an LED lamp. This adds strength to the nail. I also agree that shellac wouldn't be good enough as your nails are weak.

Lots of videos on YouTube explaining the different systems, I recommend The Nail Hub who is an incredibly well informed nail tech.

One of my DDs is a nail tech and uses this brand of builder gel and gel colour in her salon OP

www.thegelbottle.com/12-builder-gels

I always have french and she uses just infills the builder gel on my nails and redoes the white tips. I go every 4/5 weeks - it never chips - they just get too long and need a trim and re do!🙂

Sounds like you need biab, really good stuff.
Or shellac

I know you have said that your nail tech has stopped her business but you could ask her to teach you how to apply it etc, like a lesson and pay her for it.

You want Gel Bottle with BIAB. Shellac isn’t builder gel.

Google for Gel Bottle salons near you.

This might be what she was using smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08PZCPRCT/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_3WK6SJPY0TMGSH4MQ2NX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Mylee builder gel. It's a UV light cured gel. It's really good

I do my own gels at home, and use a builder gel like the one above.

Hi @Harridan1981

Did that take practice or is it quite easy to do?

This is what I get done in Teddy then usually a colour on top. Stops me picking and biting !

I find it quite easy, I've had the lamp etc for about 8 years now so well worth the money. I don't do fancy nail art etc (occasional cats eye type thing with the magnet) but a perfectly passable finish. Probably not quite as good as a salon, but I'm quite happy with it. Takes me about an hour every 2 to 3 weeks.

Pic attached

Or not

Yep you want a salon that offers The Gel Bottle, BIAB!

it’s the only thing that both stays on my nails but doesn’t wreck them!!!