Acrylic vs Gel Nails

Okay lets look at the term "artificial nails". These are not a replacement, but an extension for natural nails. They were originally created to enhance the look of your own nail and encourage it to grow underneath the extension, so that when the extension was removed your longer looking nail is underneath.

There are two main approaches to creating artificial nails—tips and forms. Tips are made of lightweight plastic plates that are "nail"-shaped. They are glued on the end of the natural nail and acrylic is then applied over the entire nail.

Acrylic Nails.

There are several popular techniques that can be used to create longer, better-looking nail enhancements. One popular material commonly called "acrylics" is a mixture of a polymer powder and a liquid monomer (e.g. ethylmethacrylate).

The mixture starts to harden in 30-40 seconds after application and continues to cure to final hardness typically within fifteen minutes.

Powder and liquid acrylic nails can be removed by using a variety of solvents (usually acetone is used). It takes 15 to 20 minutes to remove acrylic nails. Now that is in theory but is not always the case as I witnessed with a client that phoned me pleading with me to take these nail extensions of. That's another story for later and one of my reasons as to why I prefer the traditional manicure. Okay now we can look at another theory of acrylic vs gel.

Depending on brand these can show a broader variety of quality and properties (flexibility, strength, etc.) but may be more expensive. I do think they look more natural though.

They generally cannot be removed by organic solvents, but can only be removed by filing (or left to grow out with the natural nail). However technology is changing. Some companies say they have a product to remove them, for example...Creative Nail Design's Shellac

My opinion on Acrylic vs Gel Nails.

In my experience, I tend to not like either, oh yes they are both cosmetically pleasing especially the gel. But I have seen a nail technician file too much of the natural nail.

It resulted in the woman's own nail being filed, which was starting to give her a burning feeling and resulted in the nail plate being nearly down to the flesh underneath.

Her nails were spliting all over and this is dangerous as infections can occur. Anyway another popular alternative to acrylic vs gel nails is fiberglass or silk wraps.

They are done by cutting pieces of actual fiberglass or silk fabric to fit on the surface of the nail or tip and then it is sealed down with a resin or glue.

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