Difference between acrylic and gel nails

These two nail types are very different: different ingredients, various application techniques, and different pros and cons.

Below you’ll find a few tips to weigh the pros and cons of the different artificial nails to help you pick the best option.

Acrylic nails

Acrylic nails create a hard protective layer over your natural nails. The acrylic is a combination of a liquid monomer and a powder polymer.

The advantages of acrylic nails are:

• Acrylic nails are hard and very robust
• They last longer
• Easy removal (soak off method)
• When you break an acrylic nail, you can almost always fix it at home

The disadvantages of acrylic nails are:

• They can damage your nail bed
• Acrylics may look less natural than gel nails, mainly if misapplied.
• The application process involves chemicals and fumes.

 

Gel nails

Gel nails are achieved in three steps: a base coat, polish colour and topcoat. Each stage has to harden under a UV lamp.

The advantages of gel nails are:

• Natural, glossy, freshly-manicured look
• Lasts up to 14 days
• Curing time is faster
• More flexible than the acrylic nails
• Easier to remove
• Gel nail mixtures lack the fumes associated with acrylic nails

The disadvantages of gel nails are:

• Self-fixing a break at home is complicated
• Removal can result in nails damage if the gel is used too frequently