Talk to me about BIAB nails

[HouseWithASeaView]

I’m trying to work out if BIAB nails are for me. Gels don’t work on me - each time I have had them done, at least one nail has completely peeled off within 48 hours of getting them done. They also completely destroy my nails leaving them really weak for the following 6 months.
Would BIAB work? And, if so, would BIAB work for me now as I currently have one nail ripped down to the end of the white tip (ie there is no white bit on that finger at the moment) and am doing a lot of gardening (have 200 tulip bulbs to plant next week amongst other tasks), have various bits of flat pack furniture to build as well as the usual day to day stuff such as washing up by hand.
If not BIAB, what else could I do? As well as the above, I also have a fancy dinner and a lunch do next week so want to look put together for those
Thanks!

I find them really good. Last longer than gels, - mine are virtually indestructible and haven’t got a scratch or chip after 2 weeks.

I love BIAB. Like you, I could only have 2/3 sets of gels before my nails would be so brittle that I had to let them recover.

I don’t have the same problem with BIAB as the builder gel stays on for 3 sets (so just the colour changes and the growth gets filled in) so my nails are never thin and weak.

I broke one of my nails previously and you can have a small tip added to give some length.

Yea biab is amazing! I get mine done every 3 weeks. Sometimes a colour and sometimes French and they are super strong, no chips or peeling away and my natural nails have grown sooo long underneath. Would definitely recommend

I had them done and they lasted better than shellac and gel. However I had them done twice and not since and my nails are wrecked. It’s been months and just break all the time. I don’t know if it’s standard but she used this round rotating file to remove it and think it’s damaged my nails till they grow out.

I started having BIAB some months ago when my nails had got quite brittle from gel. I had a month off getting gel done then had BIAB and my nails are great, the gel on top lasts 4 weeks, no chips just nail regrowth that’s normal anyway. It’s about a fiver on top of the gel I have done but worth it for me.

I’ve had them solidly for about 4 years. Last longer than gel. Nails not fallen off. All good

I started doing my own BIAB nails at home and they definitely last longer than gel and it’s much easier to remove as well. I find gel a real faff to remove and that in itself is more damaging.

I use BIAB at home and it basically never comes off. Just grows along and when i can be bothered every 2/3 weeks i infill the grown out bit with BIAB and gently file the whole nail and refresh the top coat.

My nails get stupidly long i have to cut them. The whites get longer than than the pink nail bed otherwise.

I have french all the time as a) i get bored with colour and don't like to keep fussing with my nails to keep trauma down. b) the grown out bit at the cuticle doesn't show much as BIAB is pale pink so again i can leave it ages.

Yes i don't take mine off.

On the rare occasion the layer of BIAB (and the french white and top coat) peels off my nail is perfectly normal underneath ...

I hate it. Destroyed my nails 🥲

BIAB is superior to shellac or any other type of gel polish in my experience. I currently have BIAB + gel on my nails, and they’re in pristine condition, no chips, scratches or peeling. I get them done every 3 weeks.

Try polygel. Much better than anything else I’ve ever had and if it’s applied correctly, lasts ages. No lifting.

This is all helpful. Appointment booked for next weekend.

How are BIAB nails removed please?

My nail technician uses an emery board, takes no time at all.

I'm curious how it went, OP? I’m thinking about BIAB.

I am loving them! I had them done almost two weeks ago, they are looking incredible still and infills are booked in. Two of my nails had snapped down to the pink before I went so I knew I’d need extensions on those but, due to a bit of a
misunderstanding, he put extensions on all of them (and then filed them right down as I don’t like long nails). I think it is more to do with the extensions than the BIAB that they feel so solid but they feel indestructible. I have been applying cuticle oil religiously and wearing rubber gloves when doing the dishes. I planted about 100 bulbs the other day though with just my bare hands and have been doing plenty of chores and normal day to day stuff.
When I go next week, I’m going to have infills & change the colour of the top coat. I’ll do the same just before Christmas. Then, when they’re next due for infills, I think I’ll actually have the removed and see how my nails are looking underneath.
The BIAB did sting a bit when it was cooking under the lamp which the technician was a bit surprised by but a few seconds of discomfort is a very small price to pay for looking like this! I feel
so much more together.

@HouseWithASeaView thank you for coming back and updating. The stinging under the lamp is something called a hot spike. It happens because the gel curing causes a chemical reaction and this can produce heat. Sometimes it is mild sometimes it hurts. No matter what brand I use I get it so I do the hokey cokey hand in, hand out, hand in, hand out and then cure it fully.

As to the technician being surprised it is regular occurrence for some people.

The infill should mean your nails are left in this current state of hardness. If you have them removed it will reveal the softer nail bed underneath. It is the price you pay for having beautiful nails. Just keep having the infills and different colours or nail art. Take a break if you can but I had acrylic nails on without a break for years. I cannot grow my nails no matter what I do and I have tried everything.

If you have a good nail tech who prepared the nail bed properly and is very clean (no dust particles left) then you shouldn't have any lifting of the BIAB.