Quick Question
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Beauty Talk
Forum Name: Nails
Forum Description: Dig your claws into the latest tips & techniques for your nails
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=36795
Printed Date: July 18 2025 at 9:02am
Topic: Quick Question
Posted By: Celina
Subject: Quick Question
Date Posted: October 30 2005 at 9:22pm
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quick question. does anyone know much/anything about acrylic/gel nails? |
Replies:
Posted By: naildiva
Date Posted: October 31 2005 at 3:36pm
| What do you want to know? Im a professional nail tech. |
Posted By: Celina
Date Posted: October 31 2005 at 9:55pm
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well i would like to know which is better which is more durable? ive had them like three times.. and they break after liek 2 days just the basics and what not |
Posted By: naildiva
Date Posted: November 01 2005 at 9:08am
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OK, easy enough! Acrylic is your basic liquid and powder enhancement. It is more rigid, not flexible, but generally very durable. This is the stinky one, too! I personally love acrylic, but it is not for everyone. Another thing with acrylic is that 90% of the corner "discount salons" use illegal products. thats a whole other discussion! Gel nails are odorless, flexible and super shiny. They are in a gel form - no mixing - and are hardened under a UV lamp. Gels are applied in several layers and each layer needs to be hardened under the lamp. You will find that most "discount salons" don't do actual gels - they use acrylic (if it's stinky - its acrylic!) and may put a coat of gel on top for shine. THESE ARE NOT GEL NAILS!!!!!!! Gel is called that because it is made of gel - not a liquid and powder. My favorite lie is when they say they are using "gel powder" Umm, ok. Whatever. Anyway, getting off my tangent, gels are good for people who bang their nails areound - like someone who types all day - because the flexibility acts as a "shock absorber". Gels are also wonderful for people who tend to lift with acrylic because gel sticks to the nail in a superior fashion. Because of this, though, gels cannot be removed with acetone - they need to be filed off. Side note -- NEVER EVER EVER let someone rip your nails off! That is one reason nails can be damaged after an enhancement service. Another reason is letting someone use a rill" on your natural nail-that is a biiiigggg no no! OK, back to the topic: Which is better? That depends on the person. A qualified nail technician should talk to you about your needs and figure out which product will work better for YOU. I never do the same product or technique on everyone, if that worked, we wouldnt have so many choices! If the nail is breaking, either the nail is too long, the technician used the wrong technique or product, or you need a new tech. Hope this helps Jessica
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Posted By: Celina
Date Posted: November 08 2005 at 10:34pm
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welll i got gels like 3 times.. and they always take like 15 minutes and break in like two days how do you know a "good salon" and ii mean im 15 i work at subway and im a busser at a buffet restraunt.. i dont want to be having to pay for a broken nail here and a broken nail there.. and i just want something that.. isnt going to snap off everyttime i try to pick something up... do you get waht im getting at? |
Posted By: naildiva
Date Posted: November 09 2005 at 10:47am
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15 min for gels? I highly doubt that you actually got gels. They take at LEAST an hour - and that is for someone who is super quick! Here is a website that lists what to look for in a salon: http://www.beautytech.info - http://www.beautytech.info And you are right, nails shouldnt snap off every time you pick something up - ANY kind of nail should stay on unless you really force it. |
Posted By: Celina
Date Posted: November 11 2005 at 5:10pm
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im justtt im nervous about the durability |
Posted By: MsRoboto911
Date Posted: November 19 2005 at 10:56pm
| Well ive had gel overlay (over natural nail not tip) for about 3 months and i LOVED THEM. only problem the Mom fround out they were fake(im 16) But had acrylic for a dance and found them nice, but when the fell off they really left my nail rough, textured and flakey. One of my gels fell off becuase i smased it in the car door. It came off and left harldy any damage behind. I LOVE the gels they seemed to even last onger and were more durable. With the gels i went 4 weeks per fill. |
Posted By: MsMocha
Date Posted: November 20 2005 at 4:23pm
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Lately I've been thinking about getting gel/acrylic nails cos my nails are starting to peel and split, thanx for the basics on what each type is like. ------------- http://public.fotki.com/SweetCocoa/ - http://public.fotki.com/SweetCocoa/ |
Posted By: Celina
Date Posted: November 28 2005 at 7:19pm
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im realllly deep into basketball.and i dotn want them breaking in the middle of a gaame. or worse hurtiung my fingers because of it. any ideas? |
Posted By: MsRoboto911
Date Posted: November 28 2005 at 11:13pm
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I useto play on the varsity team in High Shcool(don't know what level you are are at) had gel nails and they all cracked and broke of withthin the first 2 pratices. My coach made me have them taken off b4 the first game! It was even i think a little harder to handle the ball because they were longer than my natral nails. So save the money and go with a manicure. |
Posted By: naildiva
Date Posted: November 29 2005 at 9:40am
| I agree. Sports are not conducive to ANY kind of long nails. Short nails can be gorgeous too - spend your money on a manicure! |
Posted By: Alayney
Date Posted: December 06 2005 at 6:25pm
| I think it's interesting how all the young girls have artificial nails. It's so expensive and just seems like something "grownups" would do. But then I guess I did that when I was a kid too -- I never had nails but I would buy expensive makeup like Lancome -- something I wouldn't do now -- Ha, ha. Anyway, I just wonder, is this a "fad" or something? I mean, when I was a teen NOBODY did their nails, not even for Prom. Just curious. :) |
Posted By: naildiva
Date Posted: December 06 2005 at 7:42pm
| I know what you mean. I had my nails done for the first time at age 17 and felt soooo conspicuous! Its not so much a fad, as with the advent of all the corner discount salons, it is more affordable for teens to do it. Problem is, then we (meaning professional techs) have a lot of work to do to educate them why these places are so cheap and why it is not in their best interest to go there! *sigh* |
Posted By: MsMocha
Date Posted: December 07 2005 at 3:03pm
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^^^That is so true most teens get them done at cheap places and wonder why their nails get damaged easily; it looks tacky most of the time you get you nails for under £22, the airbrushing looks alright but the acrylic itself is thick and lumpy looking. ------------- http://public.fotki.com/SweetCocoa/ - http://public.fotki.com/SweetCocoa/ |
Posted By: naildiva
Date Posted: December 07 2005 at 8:40pm
| That is true, though I have seen some decnet looking nails. BUT most of those places (not all, but probably 98%) use a product called MMA, which was banned in 1974 for use on nails! Add that to the lack of sanitation and the amount of damage they cause, and its no wonder they are so CHEAP! |
Posted By: Alayney
Date Posted: December 08 2005 at 12:56am
| Well, what ever happened to inspections and the FDA?! |
Posted By: naildiva
Date Posted: December 08 2005 at 3:21pm
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Well, the FDA makes recommendations - it is up to the state to implement them into law. 37 states have done so -BUT, it cost over $800 to test just ONE tube of liquid to figure out if it is MMA. So, unless, they have blatently left bottles stating that this is what is in them out on the table, states are never going to spend that money to test it. MOST of those places will put it into a different bottle - either from a reputable brand or an unmarked bottle. So, its pretty hard to tell! Some signs: MMA yellow easily, smells extremely stong, is very hard to file and remove. When you file them it smells like a litter box. "Normal" acrylic has none of these characteristics. |
Posted By: MsRoboto911
Date Posted: December 09 2005 at 7:21pm
| Does Anyone know anything about something called water nails??? I saw a shop advertising for them but i never heard of them! Are they like gel or are they better than gel? Whats the deal? |
Posted By: naildiva
Date Posted: December 10 2005 at 10:21am
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I would call and ask them how they are applied. Water nails could mean a number of things. Certain acrylics will cure under water (usually they are an odorless acrylic). There is a nail art technique that uses water and nail polish to produce a marbled effect. And there is a funky acrylic technique that puts a bubble inside the acrylic, essentially making a "snow globe" inside the nail tip. Most likely, its a form of acrylic. |