Pros and cons of Acrylic and Gels?

[kajay]

What are the pros and cons of acrylics and gels? I have not trained in gel application as yet, as I have only recently passed my acrylic course, and want to gain experience in that, before trying gel application. I find a few people saying gels are better for their nails and they won't touch acrylic! I find acrylic on my nails is absolutely fine. I did have bio sculpt gel applied to my nails last year, but found my nails split at the sides after a week, and went back to having acrylic applied. I'd like to be able to say to clients what the difference is between them, but not having had normal gel myself don't know what to say!

 

[Bagpuss]

Hi, First off...gel is acrylic.. all systems are from the acrylic family....so saying one is better than another on the nails is a myth...neither are bad....all they do is sit there on top of your nail plate...nothing penetrates into your nail so no harm can be done by the actual product...the only damage that "can" be done to your nails is by either nail techs with a heavy hand using a file....or clients who pick, bash or break their nails.

There was alot of rubbish about gels letting your nails breath and be better for for your nails....all scare mongering marketing.....nails don't need to breath...and as above one is no better than another...its all about how they are applied and how they are removed. HTH x

 

[kajay]

Thanks for that. I was told that gel isn't as hard wearing as acrylic. I have a trial gel kit to use, but it seems quite fiddly to apply, with the three types of gel that has to be applied. Acrylic is quite straight forward compared to gel. Saying that some clients seemed to be brainwashed into thinking gel is kind and acrylic is bad for the nails. I feel will have to train in gel use for those clients who think it's better for their nails. At least now I can tell them that gel is a type of acrylic already made up, and that it's the way the product is removed that can damage the nails, if not done correctly.

 

[Bagpuss]

what is often referred to as acrylic is actually L&P...(liquid and powder).

So there is ...L&P, Gel and Wraps

There are also 2 types of gel...soak off gel and buff off gel

I prefer a buff off gel as IMO its stronger than a soak off gel but soak off gels do have their place in the salon and are great for NNO's (natural nail overlays)

Gel can seem fiddly at first with all the layers...but like anything you adjust and soon find yourself whizzing through the application as you would L&P.

 

[kajay]

I will eventually try gel, but as I have only just passed my acrylic assessment course, I'll wait until I become more confident with the acrylics before I start on the gels. Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I love coming on this forum, and have learnt a lot from the advice from experienced nail techs on here.

 

[Helen v]

Hi, correct me if im wrong as i am no nail tech (i dont do enhancements) but i always thought that the main differences were strength (acrylic being stonger & gel being more flexible) and smell (gel not being smelly and acrylic is?). I have been considering going down this route but the smell is a MASSIVE factor for me. I will keep an eye out for other peoples thoughts on this. xx

 

[geeg]

Hi, correct me if im wrong as i am no nail tech (i dont do enhancements) but i always thought that the main differences were strength (acrylic being stonger & gel being more flexible) and smell (gel not being smelly and acrylic is?). I have been considering going down this route but the smell is a MASSIVE factor for me. I will keep an eye out for other peoples thoughts on this. xx

You weren't wrong maybe 10 years ago but now that is not strictly true. Buff off Gels may be a tad more flexible than L&P but some gels these days are just as strong as L&P (ex. CND Brisa Gel).

Hardness does not always = strength (myth)
Something that is flexible can often be less prone to breaking than something hard. Compare a rubber hose with a plank of wood ?? Which will break first? The hard plank. Toughness is what we want in enhancements which is a mixture of strength plus flexibility.

 

[CWhitty86]

i'm qualified in L&P and just started experimenting with gel and after the first 'fiddliness' (if thats a word lol) i actually prefer it (at the moment), i have found it less prone to lifting and imo they feel more natural and not as solid as L&P. they downside i think is that you buff it off rather than soak and you leave a tiny layer on the nail so they are not completely removed but then this does have an upside, it adds strength to the client's nails.

x

 

[geeg]

i'm qualified in L&P and just started experimenting with gel and after the first 'fiddliness' (if thats a word lol) i actually prefer it (at the moment), i have found it less prone to lifting and imo they feel more natural and not as solid as L&P. they downside i think is that you buff it off rather than soak and you leave a tiny layer on the nail so they are not completely removed but then this does have an upside, it adds strength to the client's nails.

x

You really cannot generalize like this, either about L&P products or gels.

Everything you mention (lifting, feeling natural) depends .. on the L&P or the Gel you are using; they are not all the same.

Neither one system or the other is less prone to lifting .... that depends on how good the technician is and on the clients nails and condition.