Gel vs acrylic nails

2014 February 22. | Szerző: shannon |

You want salon-perfect nails – but should you go for gel or acrylic?

There’s something about having gorgeous nails that just makes you feel much more glamorous. Particularly if you bite your nails, giving them that extra bit of TLC could break the habit and make you feel proud of your talons again. But with so many different ways of keeping them chic, what’s the right method for you? We’ve taken a look at some of the most popular so you can see just what’s at your fingertips when it comes to nail care.

Acrylics

The good:

Let’s face it – they look awesome. Acrylic nails are sturdy, shiny and what celebrities are made of. If you want to feel like an A-lister, head down to your local salon for a full set and you’ll come out feeling you’re stepping onto the red carpet. You can also get your beautician to add any array of gemstones, studs and stickers. If you end up taking off the original colour and paint over it at home, nail varnish also stays on acrylics for much longer than natural nails.

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The bad:

Simply put, they’re not great for your nails. You also need to think about the upkeep. Acrylics often need filling in every 3-6 weeks, which means a dent in your wallet. The nail bed can also get damaged and the acrylic nails can create a great breeding ground for fungus underneath (yuck). However as long as you clean them properly, you shouldn’t experience too many problems. It’s also important to get them removed professionally or you could damage your nails a lot.

Gel

The good:

The polish is applied under a UV light, which cures and hardens it and means that it lasts for around two weeks. Gel nails also look very natural and aren’t as talon-like as some acrylics, which means contact lens wearers won’t have as many near-misses when they insert their lenses.

The bad:

UV rays can be harmful for the skin, which means you should definitely apply some sunscreen to the backs of your hands before going for a gel manicure. An acetone finger bath is also needed for removal, which isn’t that kind on your nails.

Now that you have all the facts, it should hopefully be easier to pick the method right for you.

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