Soak off vs file off gel

[roseblanc]

Ok, so I've been searching this forum and I can't seem to find the answer I'm looking for. I've been using IBD gel and I'm curious about their soak off gel. What exactly IS the difference between soak off and file off (aside from the obvious, lol)? I was never taught this in school. From the searching I've been doing (all over the net, not just on geeks) the general concensus is that soak offs are best on natural nails and not tips. Is this true? What do you prefer (or use)? Which (if either) is better for all applications (natural nail, sculpting and tips)? I've been looking into IBD's soak off gel but I don't know what the difference is and if it's worth the purchase or not. Is it better to offer both soak off and file off ... oh I'm so confused! LMAO! Any advice would really be appreciated.

 

[Bagpuss]

Soak offs are obviously pouros....this can mean that they stain/discolour....non soak offs always stay bright and crisp looking.

Some companies will go on about soak offs being better for nails (due to the non filing) but if you are a confident filer and know what your doing then filing off gel isn't any more harmful than soaking off....lets face it, too much soaking in acetone can be considered harmful.

Once the gel is on there should only be 1 reason to remove it anyway...client request

I have been using a non soak off gel since 2004 on my clients....and i have 99% of all the clients i started out with....so in 5 years i have had to remove maybe 4 sets of gel.

Non soak off gels are less flexible and stronger...so great for NNO, Tip and overlay or sculpts.

Soak off gels are great for those who want a shortish NNO.

I only use a non soak off gel and never feel i could benefit from a soak off.

 

[Zingara]

I use both a soak off and a file off gel, and feel that they aren't 2 systems to be compared against one another...each has its own place and each is suited to a particular kind of client.

The soak off gel I use comes in a huge variety of colour and I know I have clients who would have stopped coming along time ago if they didn't have the choice of changing each time, yet they do not want polish. It is probably more suited to an NNO, but IMO length isn't relevant, some of my soak off clients have the most beautiful long natural nails and just love the gels to enhance and strengthen. I do extend nails with my soak off gel and very successfully, but not if a clietn is ahard on her nails.

Soak off is also great for those clients who openly admit they want gels for a special occasion and won't keep them up. In my 'early' days I KNOW I used to put people off coming back to me, as I advocated they should keep their nails up all the time, and never stop.....and some people just simply aren't ever going to do that, and then fel bad coming back as they didn't keep them up. I now offer the service of gels for the 3 or 4 weeks that they last and incorporate a removal and manicure....and I have loads of clients that are more comfortable with that....for example for holidays or weddings. They come back time and time again...and tell all tbeir friends....and everyone is happy!

But for those regular clients who are hard on their nails and need length adding, or real tough strength building in, especially if they have permanent french every time....I always use a file off gel! There is no need to remove their nails, and they keep looking long and strong. I also use a file off gel if a new client walks through the door, plonks 10 chewed fingers down and ants them all extending. I explain we need a little more strength and thats my product of choice for it.

Interestingly I have far less lifting and breakages with my soak off gel, but that may well be down to the nature of the clients too.

So, both work for me!