Gel or Acrylic

[amanda1977]

Hi Really need some help,
I trained with IBD 18 months ago for the Gel but have never really mastered it! My gel seems to melt on me! But I learnt Acrylic 6 Months ago and i seem to get on so much better with it. i thought gel was the easiest to learn. what am i doing wrong?

 

[user 17597]

I may be wrong on this, but i was told that gel is easy at first when you start learning, but it takes a lot longer to master. Where as L&P takes longer to master at first but is easier in the long run. Hope i have explained it properly . Basically i think it means that at first with gel you can get a good looking result but as you progress it takes longer for your work to progress. L&P is harder to get the hang of from the start but gets easier. :green:

I think i have confused myself, lol.

 

[blossom]

When you say it seems to melt on you, do you mean, quite literally, it is too runny and possibly running into cuticles before you're done on that hand? If so then the temperature of your room may have a lot to do with it . . . I understand most gels like a temperature of 68-70 degrees, the warmer it gets, the runnier they get . . . you could try fridging them? I do this in the summer.

Are you using one phase or three phase gel (ie the same pot for all layers or a bonder, builder and sealer in three separate pots)?

 

[amanda1977]

I am using a bonder, a builder gel, then just IBD ultraseal Ifeel like i really should have got it right by now, Thanks for the advice i will try storing it in the fridge, see if it helps.

 

[blossom]

If the problem is that you are building an apex but it's collapsing before you do the other nails on that hand, try "freeze curing" - this means popping that finger under the UV lamp as soon as you have finished applying the builder layer (and therefore built your apex) for 10 seconds, this will have the effect of stopping the gel moving around any more while you work on the others. Do this with each one as you go.

Some techs find it helpful to hold the hand upside down to use gravity to help form a curve, personally I don't but I guess it depends what product you use and how you're getting on with it. hth's anyway xx

 

[waxprincess]

I think you should always try different products to find the one you are most comfortable with. I found a gel that I love and I can't imagine switching. It took me a long time to find a good acrylic but I'm allergic to them now so I went to gel.

 

[Kerry's Nails]

I too started out with IBD - loved their gels for a while - but - still tried something new - I went to Brisa. I find their builder gel does not self level like the IBD and sometimes much easier to work with.
So now I alternate between the two brands depending on the client and the weather.