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Posted on: July 20, 2012

Acrylic and gel are both great options for your clients. Most women prefer one or the other based on the pros and cons of each set of nails.

Acrylic Nails

Acrylic nails are applied by dipping a brush into a monomer liquid followed by acrylic powder. This forms a ball that is placed onto the client’s nails and shaped with the brush before hardening. Once it hardens and is shaped by a nail technician, it creates a wonderful base for nail polish and a pretty nail design. The end result will be very strong nails that can last a long while with the proper maintenance.

Because acrylic is so strong, the nails will not have much flexibility. Clients should be careful with these nails to avoid painful breaks.

Nails should be filled in every two weeks to avoid lifting. If lifting should occur, avoid cracking acrylic away from the cuticle unless you absolutely have to. If you must do this, be careful not to pull because you can cause further lifting and have to cut more acrylic. File away any areas that lifted and smooth the ridge by the cuticle. Filling in the nail will come out neater and you won’t be able to see the uneven cracking lines through the fresh acrylic.

Acrylic nails are somewhat easy to remove. Clip the tips down to the natural nail and soak them in acetone until the acrylic softens and frees itself from the nail.

Gel Nails

Gel nails tend to look more natural than acrylic nails and are less likely to lift. They have a glossy finish that is perfect for adding a nail design. While gel nails are not as strong as acrylic, they are more flexible. Now you can even give clients a gel manicure or pedicure, which lasts longer than regular nail polish and does not chip.

After the nails are prepped, a few coats of gel are applied to the nail. The gel must be cured in UV light in between each coat, which some argue may be dangerous and unhealthy for your skin. Once fully cured, nails can be filed and finished. Gel nails are typically self leveling and don’t need as much filing as acrylic nails do.

As with most other nail services, nails should be maintained every two weeks. New growth should be buffed and prepped before adding gel to the new growth. Cure the gel in UV light and add a second coat over the entire nail. Cure gel again and finish the nails.

Removing gel nails can be difficult. Some brands can be soaked off with acetone, but most gel nails must be filed off, which can damage the nail. Gel manicures must be soaked in acetone for removal, which can be drying and damaging to the skin and nails if the client has this done regularly.

Many women have different preferences of nail enhancements based on these different features. A good nail technician will be able to determine the needs of her/his client and help them make an informed decision.

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