When it comes to nail extensions and nail artwork there are sol many options to choose from these days, from glitter acrylics to stunning nail art effects, the complete universe is ever evolving ! so, it ’ mho more important than ever to get a good clasp of the basics .
But, not only has nail artwork and acrylic nails become increasingly popular…so has natural looking nails and promoting nail care and intensity ! Which has in plow paved the way for builder gel to take industry by storm….allowing nail technicians to add persuasiveness to their clients natural nails, allowing nails to grow and keeping them looking perfect for 2/3 weeks .
At Salons Direct we have a wide stove of gelatin polish brands available to suit all budgets. Most mousse polish brands have now ventured into the populace of builder gels and everyone ’ s gone harebrained for them. Some of our best sell ranges are : Glossify Naturabuild, Glitterbels Brush On Builder Gel, Halo Easibuild Builder Gel, & Gellux Builder Gel.
We thought it was a thoroughly meter to answer some of the most normally asked questions around builder gels. Want to know the benefits of mousse manicures ? Or whether gel or acrylic is better for your clients ? Keep read to find out !
What is builder gel?
Builder gelatin is used when you want to create length, thickness or add lastingness to the nail down. You can apply builder gelatin to either natural nails for a non-chip overlay, or use it with nail tips to create extensions or enhancements. It ’ s much stronger than regular gelatin polish base coats, and the formula is a much chummy consistency to a normal base coat. They have high self-levelling properties which ensure a smooth foundation layer .
How long does builder gel last?
2-3 weeks. Though a manicure created with builder mousse can final up to three weeks, this much depends on which brand you use and how well you apply it – plus, how well the old coat is removed. When applied on natural nails, a strong and healthy base is required .
Always make certain you follow your chosen gel mark ’ second instructions to get the best results. This much means lone using products from your choose gel nail system – not mixing one builder mousse with another brand ’ s acme coat, for model .
You besides need to make sure you use the right LED or UV nail lamp for the correct amount of time .
When the builder gel begins to grow out, you can infill good like you would with acrylic, or remove the located and apply another square away – providing the smash is still in beneficial condition .
How to use builder gel…
Do you need a base coat for Builder Gel?
The way you use builder mousse depends on the particular post you buy. Some require you to use a flat coat or base coat first base, while others, such as Glossify, can be applied straight to the nail for a speedier application .
If you are applying builder gel to the natural collar only, it can be applied and built up to the desired thickness and condition in a number of coats, curing between each layer. If you are extending the nail, merely apply your complete gratuity or form before applying the gelatin and creating the length .
by and large, the steps you would take to apply a builder mousse would be something like this :
- Prepare the nail – clean, file and buff the nails. Push back and trim the cuticle. Wipe the nail with a lint-free pad using nail cleanser or acetone.
- Apply base coat or primer – if your builder gel requires you to use one. Cure under your nail lamp if needed. If you don’t need a primer, you can skip this step and save some time.
- Apply the builder gel – if you are using a bottled builder gel, you can paint it on. If you have a pot of gel, you will need to use your own nail brush to pick up a small amount. Stay away from the cuticle and be sure to cover the free edge. Builder gel tends to ‘self-level’, so allow it to settle for a few seconds to make sure it is applied evenly.
- Cure under LED/UV lamp – your chosen builder gel should state what type of lamp it needs to be used with and how long to cure it for.
- Apply a second coat – if needed, apply your second coat and cure again.
- Clean the nail – use a lint-free wipe and isopropyl alcohol to remove any tackiness.
- File the nail – perfect your client’s desired shape and even out any areas that might be too thick.
- Apply colour or top coat – wipe the nail clean again, and apply your top coat. If your client wants a different colour, paint on your gel polish and cure again first.
- Finishing touches – once all your gel is applied and properly cured, your manicure is complete! Add a touch of cuticle oil and let your client know of any aftercare advice before they leave.
Is builder gel better than acrylic?
It depends. As a breeze through technical school, you will credibly have your fair parcel of clients asking you whether builder gel is better for their nails than acrylic fiber .
however, it can be hard to answer this question as it is frequently a casing of personal predilection .
For exemplar, builder mousse might not appear to be a hard as acrylic, but it is more elastic and can actually be stronger. For more natural looking nails, builder gel is much preferred over acrylic as it can be applied cursorily with a high-shine stopping point. Gel is besides great for helping clients with easily broken nails maintain their natural smash length .
many clients besides believe that gel nails will damage their nails less than acrylic fiber nails. The flexibility of builder gelatin does mean that they are less probably to cause a breakage. If you use a intoxicate off formula, you can minimise damage during the removal, excessively, as less filing and buffet will be needed .
however, that ’ s not to say that acrylic is particularly bad for nail ! If clients have actually easy nails, acrylics can offer a suit of armor to protect them. therefore long as they are applied, cared for and removed properly by a trained nail technician, gels and acrylics should be equally condom .
If your customer however can ’ t decide which to go with, keep some pictures of your best workplace handy to show them the different looks you can create with them.
Read more: Holographic and Iridescent Nail Polish
But, which do nail techs prefer?
As a breeze through technician, you will credibly have your own favorite to work with, besides. acrylic hardens within a few minutes without the necessitate for a lamp, while builder gel stays moisture until cured under UV or LED light. Some nail techs love the flexibility and control builder gel gives them, as they can continue to move the product around american samoa much as they like, then cure them in seconds when they are happy .
other nail down techs plainly prefer working with acrylic, particularly if they have clients who love having their nail extra-long .
overall, both acrylic fiber and builder gel can be used to create evenly sandbag manicures. It ’ s always best to take a full look at your node ’ s nails and see how potent they are naturally before deciding which is best for them .
Hard gel, soft gel, builder gel, gel polish – what’s the difference?
If you are raw to gel nails, you might be wondering what the deviation is between the terms hard mousse, soft gelatin and builder mousse. Just what precisely are they all ? !
Hard Gel
Hard gels are used to build nail down extensions as they can add length that most voiced gels can ’ t. They are exchangeable to acrylic nails in this view, but still need to be cured under an LED or UV lamp. To be removed, they normally need filing off, so can cause more damage to the natural smash .
Profile Gellux UV/LED Hard Gel and IBD Builder Gel are examples of hard gels .
Soft Gel
soft gels are fabulously popular with nowadays ’ randomness clients as they are precisely adenine durable as a hard gelatin, but easier to remove. besides known as ‘ soak off ’ gels, they can gently be lifted away with acetone when needed .
many of today ’ mho soft gels, such as Glossify Builder Gel, come in a bottle with a brush and can be applied exchangeable to a regular pinpoint polish – though calm need curing with a nail lamp. You can still add thickness and some duration to the nail down, though you won ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate be able to extend them ampere much as you would with a arduous gel. indeed, they are normally used for a more natural effect .
Builder Gel vs Gel Polish
You can get both cushy and hard builder gels to create shape and distance .
however, it ’ second important to remember that both types of builder gel are different to regular gel polishes. These have a slender consistency and while they do help keep the nail down firm, they aren ’ t ampere hardy as builder gels .
You can paint gel polish over the natural breeze through or over the acme of your builder mousse – merely make certain you stay within the lapp mousse arrangement brand .
See how Amy Guy uses Glossify Naturabuild Gel to create ombre gel nail art!
Don’t forget you can shop our bestselling builder gels online at Salons Direct…
Shop our full range of gel nail supplies online today!!
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