Acrylics vs Gel nails? I’m clueless!!!

[ImNotReallyHere]

DD16 wants to have her nails done for her prom. Neither of us have ever had our nails done before and don’t know what she should go for.

She has naturally quite long, strong nails. Also need to consider we are going on a long haul holiday for a month straight after prom.

Can anyone explain the difference to me or recommend which is better please? And do both need an appointment to remove them afterwards? And what does the nail look like once it’s been removed?

TIA

Gel is a hardened polish over your own natural nail. You'll get a base coat, two/three coats of polish and a top coat, all cured under a lamp. It's longer lasting than regular nail polish but more difficult to get off. Probably better for a first time

Acrylics are put on like a paste on top of your nail, with or without tips to extend your nail depending on the length you want. They last longer, but feel more "fake"

Acrylics are better to be removed in a salon. Gel you can remove at home - file off the top coat to take the shine off, put some acetone on a cotton pad, and wrap the nails up in tinfoil for 10-15 minutes. You'll need to scrape/file it off once the acetone has loosened them.

In all honesty, my never look great once either are removed. You'd want a good nail and cuticle oil for a couple of weeks afterwards.

There's a health scare around the gel nails.
She'd be better off going for a manicure with no gels or acrylics.

An alternative could be a nail wrap - I get mine from holy grail nail. I have the top coat so they last about 10 days on average but just used clear nail varnish at first. Easily removed by soaking with nail varnish remover or using their proper remover. Only £3.75 a set! I'll never have gel nails at a salon again as I sometimes need to get them removed at short notice for work so these work out much easier and better value.

Think the health scare is around the BIAB nails? Something to do with the chemicals in it and poor application practises?

Your daughter doesn't need gel or acrylic nails, they are highly toxic, and they will ruin her natural nails. Just have her get some varnish and be done with it.

If removed correctly, nails are not damaged. It's over enthusiastic buffing with a drill file that ruins the nails. I've had acrylics on and off for years. They are always fine when 'off'. But my nail tech is extremely careful and gentle.

Normal nail polish is fine for a first timer.

The issue with gel or acrylic is that it sticks better and therefore lasts longer when applied to a rougher surface so nails are usually buffed before application which isn’t great for when you then want a natural nail back.

As she already has nice nails wouldn’t normal polish suffice? A manicure in a salon with normal polish if she’d like the special treatment.

I’d go for normal polish too. And while a PP is correct, minimal damage occurs through removal if done correctly, damage can occur just from actually having the gel on. This is because when the gel is adhered to the nail and it is knocked, in everyday use, it can cause surface damage and peeling. It doesn’t happen to everyone of course but people often think that gel layer protects their nails and are therefore a bit more heavy handed.

I would just get her a manicure with normal nail varnish in a salon - she should get a nice finish (but will need to be careful of them until the prom). Anything else will damage her lovely nails, expose her to a load of chemicals and be a hassle whilst you are away (because they will look horrible after 10-14 days).

Thanks all. Very useful information. I obviously would prefer her to just have a manicure but all her friends have their nails done all the time and I’ve never let her so she’s dead set on having her nails done for Prom and is paying herself.