Gel nails

[EmeraldRoulette]

Hi
I've had gel nails done a couple of times in my life

Back in the day they were just called... gel nails.

Looking to get it done again and now there's BIAB, bio sculpture, and some other others

The salon I'm most likely to go to is doing something that's just called "hard gel nails"

Is that what I'm looking for? Does anyone know what I'm looking for?

The gels I had before, basically lasted until you took them off. I'm not looking for any fancy designs or anything, just a very hard wearing manicure. Ideally one that won't get upset by things like hot baths! I had them to go on holiday for example, was in and out of the sea, and it was no issue.

I did have a training lady do BIAB once but she gave me a long lecture on how careful i had to be with them, that's not the point of getting these nails done surely. I didn't say anything because she was in training and I wasn't paying much 😂

Thank you.

@EmeraldRoulette I go to a salon that uses OPI Gel Polish. It’s cured by light and is more or less bomb-proof. Huge range of colours and they do two or three coats. Sometimes a top coat, sometimes not. Costs £35. Your nails will grow so it needs redoing after 2-3 weeks.

Thanks, that's all I'm looking for

I guess I'll just have to go down to that one and have a proper conversation. I find when you call these places, they expect you to know what you're talking about! 😂

Often people are repeating what they know they want. OPI have a salon map on their web site. Other brands I’ve found ok are Essie and DND. Prefer OPI though.

@OhDear111 i'm not fussy about the brand at all

I was just confused with all these descriptions that I see on their website websites

I was hoping one would just say "gel nail manicure"! But I suspect the one that's stating "hard gel" is it

And it'll be whatever brand they're using, which is fine with me

at this stage, it will be about whether or not I can get an appointment - I dithered too long, then I wrote it off thinking I didn't have time - but I would like it as I think it will last me two weeks - so if someone can do it then I will get it done.

Gel polish is not gel nails.

Gel polish is polish that is cured under a lamp and lasts 2-3 weeks.

Gel nails is when you have the thicker substance applied to your nails. It makes your nails very hard and can allow you to add some length too. They are sometimes referred to as overlays, as you are overlaying a layer on your nails. If done well, it looks just like your natural nail and no one will know but sometimes it can look too thick. Gel polish is then applied on top of them.

From your OP it sounded like you meant gel nails rather than gel polish.

I get BIAB and often have the polish removed to leave my natural nails. My nails aren’t soft or anything when it comes off. I don’t get gel or acrylic extensions so I’m not sure if they make a difference when the polish is removed? My manicure lasts around 3 weeks when I do get BIAB and I get it removed because I hate regrowth.

@Frogbear thank you - that's really helpful

so i will ask for gel polish that is cured under a lamp. honestly, I didn't know there was a difference between that and gel nails.

Not just me then!!! I'm so confused too - 'Builder Gel', etc. I have (had) good nails. Last May I tried a new place and I've never had such an aggressive manicure / pedicure! I kept trying to explain I just had normal polish on and didn't need that weird, electric Sander / Polisher contraption to take it off. Also, have soft skin and have never had issues with heels because scrub them daily so don't need 'cheese grater'. I'm a calm person but ended up yelling because Bloke ignored my directives and wrestled my foot into submission whilst wielding said implements! I can't imagine what a ridiculous spectacle / tableau we made; me, trying to wrench my foot away and him grappling it with vigour. I am small. He managed to do some damage and ground nails down. The manager was beyond belligerent. It's taken this long to (almost) get nails back to normal.

Hard gel is as per pp, which is used to make your nails longer. So you can have a long nail look even though your own nails are short.

BiAB is also a brand name. This is a rubber based gel, similar to a gel polish application wise. They use this for the clear look. It's thicker than normal gel polish and they can use this to give your nail shape, for the rounded look, for eg if you have quite flat nails. This is what I would always have as to me it's just natural looking and pretty bombproof if you use your hands a lot.

Gel polish is just like a normal polish which is cured under the light. So if you want a plain colour, this will be your best bet.

I am on a break right now and am just doing my own normal nail polish. They wrecked my nails over buffing with that electric file, so when time comes to remove it, rather ask for a soak off using acetone.

What’s the best product to put on your nails in terms of looking after them?

@EmeraldRoulette If your nails are decent, a gel polish is fine. Remember all nails grow though! Nothing stays the same for a month.

@Highlighta thank you - that's a really helpful explanation

I just removed it myself when I had it done before. It was ages ago but hopefully removal has not also become horribly complicated! My nails are in pretty good shape so I don't plan to do this regular or anything. I just have a couple of nights out -so I would like my polish to survive well this week. Don't worry, I would never let anyone near my nails with a drill or electric file anything. I only found out from here that that was a thing and I was pretty horrified.

They aren't answering their phone today, they are probably rammed but I'll get the bus down tomorrow and if they can't fit me in, then I need to go to some nearby shops anyway.

If you removed it yourself, then you would have gel polish and gel nails, BIAB, etc are really difficult to remove at home.

In case you see it, lots of places call gel nails “shellac nails”, but that’s just the brand name and is ultimately the same thing.

@Frogbear thank you

I think I have a category of false nails in my head, which I realise now probably includes BIAB and hard gel. Today I am learning all the things!

Try getting the fresha app. You can find salons and check availability.
I have biab and it’s indestructible it lasts about 3 weeks before the regrowth is noticeable

@MrsCatE sorry I missed your post earlier

Yes, I hate all kinds of salons and don't really go, I haven't been for years. That sounds awful.

honestly, if normal nail polish lasted as long as it used to, it wouldn't have occurred to me to do this again. But all the brands just seem to be crap now.

correction to my first post - I can't have had BIAB because I've never had anything other than colour on my nails. Nothing that even slightly resembles a false nail basically.

OPI nail polish with a top coat also lasts 2-3 weeks but is more likely to chip or get damaged. Gel polish is more durable. But nail growth means it’s a bit irrelevant really.

I did mention that I do ny own nails at home now, and I am quite impressed at how long they last.

I just removed the last lot and that was on for two weeks. And I use my hands a lot for work.

Nail polish from the shops is so much better than it used to be. There are quick drying options now, Sally Hansen is just one of them.

You need a base layer ( I use Sally Hansen miracle repair just because I am in a nail rehab process)
Let that dry for 5 mins or so
Then the colour you want of polish
Let dry and do another coat if necessary
Let dry
Then a top coat. It will chip without this layer.

Because I am a bit impatient I do tend to mark my nails before they are fully dry so my go to is on the 2nd colour layer, I use a glitter type polish. It's a very subtle glitter (you could go all not subtle for Christmas if you like but mine is more of a clear with fine glitter). Then if that gets bumped or marked, it is not that noticeable then.

I get that it's a bit of an outlay initially, but it works for me as then I don't have to rely on appointments for salons, can remove it easily and do it in the evenings or weekend when I please.

@Highlighta i've actually only just seen your post

So this is quite funny

I bought a Sally Hanson one and also I bought a glittery one thinking it would hide the imperfections! So great minds think alike 😁

I've been doing my nails since I was a teenager and I can't agree that nail polish is better though! In fact, I wondered if my quick dry topcoat was at fault - I've tried more than one but I was thinking perhaps they are a factor in things lasting less, because they didn't exist when I started doing my nails! That makes me sound so old 😂

I didn't end up having my nails done with gel because I actually wasn't able to go out on the day that I planned it. Turns out they're okay with walkins so I might get go and get a gel one done before Christmas and then it's okay until after New Year. I didn't have much going on at Christmas, but I do now suddenly.

Well, not loads, but enough that it feels like it's worth doing.