Nail Talk: Gel Vs. Acrylic
Acrylic nails have been my long time friend, but I can’t stand the way it leaves my nails looking broken off and just plain scary. However, gel nails leave me with another concern, UV rays. Something about putting my nails directly under those ultraviolet rays week after week unsettles me. Here is a list of the differences between acrylic nails and gel nails, you decide!
| Appearance: | Acrylic overlay has a much more natural look than the “full-set.” | Gel nails have a more natural and glossy appearance than acrylics. |
| Durability: | Lasts longer than gel nails, typically up to 2 weeks. | Less durable than acrylics and only last about a week. |
| Cost: | Cheaper than gel nails usually around $20-24 | Generally $28-30 |
| Curing techniques: | Slower curing time. Acrylic liquid and powder are applied to the nail, shaped and dried. | Faster curing time. Most often cured under uv-light; some use a gel activator and do not require uv-light (low durability). |
| Removal Process: | Requires professional help for better/safe results. | For better results ask nail technician. However these can be soaked and peeled off with little damage. |
| Corrosive effect: | If properly applied with the correct quantity, primers(with or without methacrylic acid) minimal damage to nail bed. Avoid constant contact with skin. | Gel nails can be applied with or without a base or primer.(CND GEL uses a non-acid primer to bond the gel to the nail). If primer is applied correctly, it does not damage the nail bed. |
| Flexibility: | Inflexible; hard and very robust. Damages real nail when chipped or broken. | Semi-flexible; easier to chip or break, but no damage to real nail. |
| After effects: | Overuse and incorrect application of primer can cause damage to the nail bed and leave an impression on the nails. | Gel nails applied without a primer leave no hard impressions. |
| Range: | Not much variety with material texture. Always hard and glossy. | More variety in texture; those that look natural to the ones that look hard and glossy. |
