My nail journey has been fraught. I’ve an expansive at-home nail equipment, which features a useful dandy nail drill, UV/LED lamps, and a plethora of nail polishes, however no actual endurance to do my nails myself. I like the look (and sound) of lengthy nails however cannot develop them alone. On this seemingly endless journey to photo-perfect nails, I turned to every part from press-ons to acrylics to dip powder. Whereas these are nice alternate options to a conventional manicure, I did not meet my excellent match till I hopped on the gel nail extension bandwagon.
I ended by Julie Kandalec’s Manhattan nail atelier to be taught extra—and was so excited after that I despatched a pic of my beautiful hand-model-worthy mani to one in every of my finest mates. She assumed the hand pic was me asserting I used to be engaged. Nope, simply enthusiastic about my manicure. For those who, too, wish to expertise the identical pleasure I felt after a contemporary gel extension set, learn on for every part you should know earlier than you e book your subsequent session.
What are gel extensions?
Gel extensions provide the look of lengthy, acrylic nails (the fabric is much like that utilized in extensions) however are a lot lighter and have much less threat of damaging the nail with regards to elimination. Gel nail extensions are made from “a molecule known as an oligomer that often is available in a pot and is the consistency of honey,” says celeb nail artist Julie Kandalec. “Gel extensions are created when the exhausting or semi-hard gel is sculpted, cured, after which formed so as to add size and energy to the nail.”
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Gel nails are a more healthy different to acrylic nails, provides freelance nail artist Trenna Seney. And when you is likely to be tempted to channel your internal nail artist, Seney recommends resisting the urge to do gel extensions. As a substitute, please search knowledgeable like herself, Kandalec, or Eunice Park, analysis and growth supervisor at Aprés Nail.
What is the distinction between gel extensions and acrylics?
What separate gel and acrylic nails is the nail’s materials. “Acrylic extensions require two parts: monomer and polymer, to create extensions. Monomer typically has a really sturdy odor that may be off-putting for some purchasers. However acrylic does provide very sturdy nails and might be constructed out to an extended size. Gel has no odor and requires curing underneath an LED or UV gentle,” Park explains.
Are there completely different sorts of gel extensions?
There are two fundamental sorts: exhausting gel and gentle gel. Briefly, exhausting gels are non-porous, making them acetone-resistant. “These enhancements are highly effective and might be worn lengthy and filed into completely different shapes like coffin, stiletto, and ballerina,” Kandalec says. Delicate gels (like basic gel polish) are porous. That is why they are often soaked off with acetone—however can’t be made into extensions. A semi-hard gel is a hybrid exhausting sufficient to be made into extensions however can be soaked off (it simply takes longer).
However in the event you’ve scrolled on Instagram or TikTok lengthy sufficient, you may’ve come throughout an organization named Apres Gel-X. “Aprés created Gel-X®, the world’s first full-coverage gentle gel extension system, to chop down the time of conventional gel extensions with out sacrificing form or sturdiness,” Park explains. As a substitute of utilizing a nail kind papers or free-handing the gel extensions, Apres’ gel-x suggestions “come totally fashioned with the specified form and size.” Among the extension kinds embrace pure coffin medium or a sculpted almond lengthy. “Every tip field comes with 14 sizes, together with half sizes so it is even simpler to dimension every nail for essentially the most excellent becoming tip. For professionals, Gel-X permits them to supply quicker, extra constant service that saves them extra time for the enjoyable components of service like nail artwork. Gel-X is made of sentimental gel, it may be simply soaked off with acetone,” she provides.
What are the advantages of gel extensions?
“Gel-X is a superb product for safeguarding weak or brittle nails. Gel-X can be an excellent interim product to make use of whereas the wearer is rising out their very own nails,” Park provides. Apres Gel-X lately launched a line of additional brief nails for individuals who choose a extra pure fashion.
What are the cons?
For those who choose lengthy extensions, Park advises getting one thing extra sturdy than gentle gel as “among the cons of conventional gentle gel extensions is that they are often too gentle for lengthy extensions. Delicate builder gels sometimes can solely create tiny extensions. Additionally, exhausting gel cannot be soaked off, it have to be filed off,” she explains. Since exhausting gel must be filed off, you run the chance of overfilling the pure nail, which may weaken and injury your nails.
How lengthy do gel nail extensions final?
“Most purchasers that put on gel extensions go two to 4 weeks between appointments,” says Kandalec, who makes use of the CND Plexigel on her purchasers. “They arrive in for a ‘fill’ to rebalance the nail. That is necessary as a result of it re-positions the place the strongest a part of the nail is to stop injury from the tip being too heavy.”
How a lot do gel extensions sometimes price?
The price of gel extensions varies from metropolis to metropolis. At New York’s common nail salon Vainness Tasks, Apres Gel-X units can begin as little as $150.
How are gel extensions utilized?
After the nails have been calmly prepped for the extension utility.
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- Step 1: Prep the nails. The nail tech will file the consumer’s nails, push cuticles again, trim lifeless cuticles, and buff nails. The nails have to be clear (and dry) earlier than utility.
- Step 2: After the tech applies a bonder for longevity, they are going to place a tip or paper kind to get the form and size, after which construct up the gel atop that to create the specified size and form.
- Step 3: The nail is cured between every layer of gel.
- Step 4: As soon as the set is totally constructed, it is filed additional to the proper form.
- Step 5: The gel extensions can both be left as is or painted.
- Step 6: End with a prime coat for an ultra-glossy shine that lasts weeks.
Instantly after ending.
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What is the aftercare like for gel extensions?
It is necessary to let your pure nails get some oxygen between extension units. Each agree that cuticle hydration, within the type of nice oil, is essential.
How do you take away gel extensions?
You probably have exhausting or semi-hard gel extensions on, knowledgeable must take away your set. “First, the enhancement is gently filed right down to about 10-15% of its thickness, avoiding submitting the pure nail,” Kandalec says. “The remaining is soaked off by saturating a small piece of cotton in pure acetone and wrapped in foil. After about 15-20 minutes, the rest will flake away, forsaking a wholesome nail.”
Meet the consultants
Julie Kandalec is an NYC-based celeb manicurist and founding father of Julie Okay Nail Artelier
Trenna Seney is a Harlem-based celeb nail artist
Eunice Park is the analysis and growth supervisor at Aprés Nail
Why belief ELLE Magnificence?
Margaux Anbouba is ELLE’s Magnificence Editor. She has interviewed numerous make-up artists and is all the time testing out new make-up and skincare merchandise.
Nerisha Penrose is the Magnificence Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Since becoming a member of ELLE.com in 2017, she has interviewed numerous skincare professionals and personally examined the most recent and biggest merchandise throughout make-up, skincare, and hair care.
Magnificence Commerce Editor
Nerisha is the sweetness commerce editor at ELLE.com, protecting all issues magnificence (and style and music). She has a penchant for sneakers and nude lip glosses, and spends manner an excessive amount of time re-watching 90s sitcoms.
