Do you have broken, weak nails or are they simply just too short to your liking? Why not get a new set of artificial nails? Not only will your nails look pretty as a picture with acrylic or hard gel nails; your nails will stop tearing too and false nails allow your natural nails to grow further. Acrylic and hard gel nails are offered with or without nail extensions. Strengthen your natural nails with a gel overlay or elongate your nails with nail extensions or tips. Tips are made from lightweight plastic and are cut to the shape of your nail. These are glued onto your own nails and overlaid with acrylic or gel to secure and finish. Overlays skip the extension step with acrylic or gel being applied directly onto your natural nails and shaped by hand or by using ‘forms’, before being buffed to create that glossy effect. Great for anyone with nails lacking in natural wow factor. Get the perfect finishing touch with some creative nail art. Add embellishments, 3D designs and decorations to your nails and add flair to your look.
What is the difference between acrylic nails and gel nails?
Acrylics are the oldest form of artificial nail and use a polymer powder called polymethyl methacrylate which is mixed with a liquid monomer called ethyl methacrylate. This formula hardens after around 20-30 seconds of being exposed to air and continues to cure for a further 15 minutes.
Gel coatings are set in just one or two minutes when exposed to UV light. Whilst gels aren’t as long lasting and tend to be more expensive than acrylics, they are strong, more flexible and odourless. Gels also cause much less damage to your natural nails than extensions. A big bonus.
Good to know
The length of time false nails last for, depends on what you get up to. Nails are more likely to be damaged during a weekend of DIY, than when sat at a desk in the office. Both extensions and overlays are best fitted and removed at a salon to avoid damage of the nail bed. With acrylics, you’ll want to return to the salon after 3-4 weeks for refills or infills (infills are a way of extending the life of false nails and involve the bottom of the acrylic being filed down until it’s flush with the regrowth creating a smooth surface) or removal whereas gels last around 2-3 weeks. Acrylic extensions and overlays are usually removed by soaking the nails in acetone for around 20-30 minutes with each layer then being filed off. The latter can cause damage to the nail bed so it’s advisable to choose a salon or nail bar who employs qualified technicians.
