False nails - acrylic or gel?

I've had both!

I much prefer acrylic, i get them done every 2 weeks and have done for the past 5 years.

I find acrylic much more hardwearing, and because i used to bite my nails, they now "spoon" so when i had the gels on, the false nail didn't sit true to the top of my real nail IYSWIM?

HTH

I've had both done. Acryclic for about 2 years and gel for about a year. I prefer the gel as to me, they just seem more natural. However, my die-hard acryclic nail friend way perfers her acyclics for the same reason!

It's definitely a personal preference thing, but I have had more positive comments about my nails since I've been wearing gel.

I have acrylic nails infilled every 3-4 weeks, I've never tried the gel nails as I'm a scrooge and won't pay the extra.

I too have very weak nails not helped by the fact that I can't stop biting them, I'd rather have nice looking naikls now and suffer any consequences when I'm old and don't care!!

I'm afraid I'm also someone that gets them done in a 'chinese' place...I know you shouldn't but they're cheap and I like them ?

ETS: I also have them done in the 'american' style as this looks much more natural, not airbrushed white tips which wear off and look a bit too bright iykwim

I have an American to. Although this week I'm deep dark red to match my new dark hair. I feel very vampy.

Sorry can't help with the gel as I only have acrylics. I type a lot at work, move boxes and funirture etc so need hardwearing acrylic.

Gel is generally accepted as being softer and not as hardwearing.

Gel technicians often slate L&P (Liquid & Powder, the correct term for them, not acrylic), Gel is usually easier to master so lots of techs use it when they first qualify.

L&P is harder to do, harder wearing, and I use it on 99% of my clients with good success. I've never rated gel on either myself or my clients, but I think that's just personal preference.

Beware of the salons claiming to use Gel but actually using L&P with a layer of gel on top to make it shine, a common ruse used by less scrupulous salons who do them fast, knock them out cheap and trash your nails with drills, unsanitised equipment, etc.

Gel cannot be soaked off so needs to be filed off, this is when the most damage to natural nails occurs, both will trash you nails if you pick/bite them off which is usually why people complain that nail extensions ruin your nails.

I have Biosculpture gel nails which is just an overlay over my natural nails - absolutely fab, very natural looking as opposed to the plastic look of acrylics (IMO!)

Also, Portia said they have to be filed off but actually thats not true for Biosculpture, they soak off really easily and leave no damage whatsover to your nail plate.

My sister does my nails - She is creative trained - she will soon be teaching others to use the product.

She uses L&P mainly & now does a product(custom blend) that can make your nail bed appear deeper, so I now have that rather than longer tips.

I would say to look at shapes & not just get a set done .

How does the new product work? I'm confused....

A power is blended to the same colour as your nail bed.

Most tips begin where your nail bed end - but the custom blend makes them appear deeper & you then have a little tip - but the overal effect is more natural & realistic.

I'll try to find pictures to explain better

Here is the official CND video on Custom Blending, I'm Creative trained and been doing it for 4 years, I wish I made it look as easy as their ambassadors do!! It's a 7 minute video but fascinating if nails interests you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAVqUYIceww

I can't comment on acrylics but I've had gel nails done twice, Biogel. I have to say I found that unless you want to go for colour then the natural coloured ones go off colour really quickly and look dirty.

So it makes her nail bed look longer even though there is a short tip. That is amazing! I have really long nail beds apparently, nail techs love doing my nails I really want a go of that stuff though!!

Portia, I'm confused, I have Calgel and they get soaked off. All of my nail lady's products have the Calgel label on them so I don't think she is using L&P plus a gel topcoat. Is Calgel different to other gel? She never files them off, they soak for a few minutes and then kind of peel off.

D

Portia, I hope you don't mind me asking, but you mentioned that you are Creative trained. Did you do another qualification first before going for their training, if so which course did you do?

Do you find their enamel worth the price?

Calgel is very different, it's really really soft, and yes you're absolutely right it soaks and/or files off really easily. It's great for natural nail overlays but not great at achieving extra length with tips or sculpting as it's way too soft. If you have very flexible nails Calgel can be terrible for lifting and peeling away as there is no stiffness to hold it all in place.

Don't worry, you're all good. Calgel do some lovely coloured gels. I've never had much success with it on me and I'm really hard on my nails, but I know others who swear by it.

Hi

I did a basic manicure and pedicure course with LCN before I did my 5 day Creative Foundation Course, but you don't have to. CND already include basic hand and nail A&P, basic manicure procedure and H&S. It's a costly course, somewhere in the region of £700 but worth every penny if you are serious about becoming a tech.

There is plenty of bad training out there, and it's easy to become a crap tech, it takes time, money, patience, and hell of a lot more money to become a good one. Sadly there is no current legislation to stop anyone just setting up as a nail tech in your local high street or anywhere else, that's why it's easy to end up with ruined nails, blame the products and give us good techs a bad name - bitter me? can you tell LOL!!

Thanks for that Portia. I have just started training for my NVQ qualification so have lots to learn

Thanks, I'm glad of the reply. What you said makes perfect sense, I didn't realise Calgel is different to other gels. I have usually pretty strong nails and don't need extra length, I guess my motivation for having it is instead of an ordinary manicure, i.e. because it looks good for longer. Have never had proper false nails. And yes my friend who has less strong nails does sometimes get lift on hers, but I have been OK so far.

Thanks for the reply!

D