Manicure with gel polish is one of the most common procedures in the everyday life of girls in the modern world. The procedure is unique in that it allows your nails to look well-groomed and beautiful thanks to laconic colors and interesting designs, the style of which varies from small to large.
Many fashionistas get lost among professional terms, not having a complete idea of what products they expose their nails to. In this article we will try to understand the main differences between gel and gel polish.
How is gel polish different from regular polish?
Regular nail polish is a colored coating that:
- It does not stay on the nails for long without chipping: from 3 to 5 days.
- Nail polish takes a long time to dry in the air: it is not advisable to touch anything for at least half an hour after applying it.
- Washable with nail polish remover.
Every girl has used regular nail polish at least once in her life and has a good idea of what it is and how to apply it. The variety of varnishes is simply huge: you can find special medicinal varnishes, and varnishes with various effects, for example, craquelure, matte, sand, magnetic and others, as well as varnishes with additions in the form of sparkles, shimmer, and so on.
Gel polish is a cross between regular nail polish and gel for extensions, which is why it has such a name. The main goal that was set during its development was to combine in it all the best properties of both coatings: that is, durability and color. And this, of course, was achieved!
- Externally, a bottle of gel polish differs from regular polish in that it is not transparent . The color is indicated either by a sticker or paint on the bottle. This is done so that the gel polish does not lose its properties when exposed to sunlight.
- For the gel polish to dry, you need to hold it for 2-3 minutes in an ultraviolet lamp or 30 seconds - 1 minute in an LED lamp.
- Due to the properties obtained from the gel, the wear time of the gel polish coating increases to 3 weeks.
- The technique of applying gel polish requires additional nail preparation : degreasing the surface, removing the gloss with a buff, and the mandatory use of a base and top coat for gel polish. Additionally, liquid may be required to remove the sticky layer, if any.
- The presence of additional materials and a lamp for applying gel polish makes this procedure more expensive , so many people prefer to have it done in a salon or by a specialist at home.
- Removing gel polish from nails is also more difficult; regular gel polish is not enough. It must either be soaked with a special agent or removed mechanically using a hard file or cutters.
What's better?
A little higher, we already found out that gel and gel polishes differ in their purpose, although they have many similar measures for use. It is impossible to definitely say which is better, since these products are from the “one without the other does not exist” series. Many masters are accustomed to strengthening their nails first with a small amount of gel, and then applying the color coating directly with the gel polishes themselves. You can use varnishes without gel, but the nail will then be a little less strong, although the effect of long-term preservation of nails in a well-groomed form will remain. Both products lose their properties due to environmental influences, so no matter how luxurious the material is, you need to take care of your nails yourself so as not to create reasons for premature removal of the material from the nail plate.
The most important rule that will help maintain a presentable appearance of your nails for up to three to four weeks is to wear rubber gloves before each dishwashing and each wet cleaning. They will prevent harmful chemicals contained in detergents from reaching the surface of your nails.
Every girl should take care of her appearance, keep up with the latest fashion trends in order to look more confident and stylish. It is necessary not only to know about cosmetic procedures, but also to understand why and for what purpose this or that material used during the procedure is used.
Difference from gel
This is also an interesting question that deserves attention. After all, there are also colored gels, then what is the difference between them?
The main difference between gel and gel polish is the purpose of the coating. Gel, including colored gel, serves to lengthen the nail plate, while gel polish is simply a long-term coating. Therefore, their application technology is completely different. You can read about how to model nails with gel here.
What these materials have in common is their polymer properties, durability, and the use of a base and top layer for application.
The best gels for nail extensions, prices
High-quality gels for nail extensions can provide good durability of manicure, but at the same time they have a high price. Cheap products not only wear poorly, but can also damage the structure of the nail.
When choosing a gel for extensions, you should consider the following parameters:
- consistency (the gel should not be too thick or too liquid in order for the application of the coating to be as comfortable as possible);
- odor (a pungent odor indicates the presence of harmful compounds in the material);
- compound;
- polymerization time (gels with rapid polymerization can cause discomfort, and those that take longer to dry in the lamp increase the coating time);
- The base and top coat must be used from the same company as the building gel.
Single-phase gels are the most popular due to the time savings during application. The best gels for nail extensions and their comparative characteristics are shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Gels for extensions
| Gel | Peculiarities | Price |
| JessNail 3 in 1 | easy to apply, but after a week it is fraught with the formation of detachments | from 250 rub. 15 ml |
| Global | one of the best gels for beginners due to its excellent consistency | from 300 rub. for 15 ml |
| Irisk Professional | does not turn yellow, is easy to apply, but deteriorates upon contact with acetone-containing substances | from 300 rub. for 15 ml |
| NSI Balance basic clear gel | base gel, used to strengthen the nail plate, available in pink and also transparent | from 500 rub. for 14 ml |
| CNI | professional gel, hypoallergenic, easy to apply | from 800 rub. for 8 ml |
What is the difference between gel polish and base
Using a base is part of the gel nail polish procedure. It is transparent, applied under colored gel polish most often in one layer and serves to:
- Strengthen the adhesion of gel polish to the nail plate and increase the wear life of the coating.
- Protect the natural nail plate from the effects of colored pigment.
- In some cases, it is used to level the nail plate and obtain ideal highlights.
Currently, rubber bases for gel polish are very popular, but there are other options, for example, silicon.
Peculiarities
Despite its popularity, gel polish has a certain percentage of opponents of such a coating. It implies a three-stage coating procedure: the base is applied first, the pigment is applied as the second layer, and the final layer is the finish or top coat. Advantages and some features of the salon procedure:
- Gel polish stays on the nails for 2-3 weeks with a uniform glossy or matte finish and does not require additional care while wearing;
- The coating allows you to create a variety of color combinations and original designs;
- Removal occurs using the most advanced method of filing or “soaking” the nails in nail polish remover.
Among the features women note:
- Before applying gel polish, it is not recommended to use greasy (or any other) hand cream and soak your nails, so manicure before coating is performed with a machine;
- On the day of application, it is not recommended to contact the nails with water;
- Gel polish + manicure takes an average of 2 hours .
Gel polish allows you to create a long-lasting coating for 2 weeks or more.
At the same time, you can create unique designs and a stylish image literally to your fingertips. The composition of modern professional coatings is absolutely safe and practically does not cause allergies; wearing it protects nails from chips, scratches, and breakages.
Not every woman knows that gel polish and gel (biogel) are not the same thing. Biogel is a completely synthetic fiber without pigments, that is, transparent or with a slight natural tint, which is applied to the nail plate with a brush. This product is used for:
- Nail extensions due to its dense, durable texture and the use of additional material - tips;
- Strengthening is one of the popular and safe nail procedures;
- Formation of the natural correct shape of the plate , if it is flat or anatomically incorrect (damaged).
Biogel allows you to create a natural natural shape of the nails and, unlike gel polish, has a positive effect on the health of the plate.
This material has a porous structure and does not “block” the supply of oxygen to the keratinized layer of cells - the nail plate.
You will learn more about the difference in the following video.
Difference from biogel
Both materials - gel polish and biogel - are artificial. They are removed using a similar technology and do not require sawdust. The main difference between biogel and gel polish is that the former is used to strengthen the nail plate, eliminate brittleness (only if we are talking about natural biogel) and most often has a transparent texture. The technique of applying biogel is also excellent and is more like nail extensions, although the nail plate practically does not lengthen.
Read my review of biogel from Patrisa Nail here.
How to use it correctly
Another important difference between gel polish and regular polish is the complexity of its application. For a self-manicure, you will need to purchase, in addition to several shades, other products. This is nail oil, base coat, fixative, and a special lamp. You need to study well how to use gel polish correctly. Not everyone knows how its application differs from a simple manicure.
First you need to treat your nails, remove all the irregularities on them. Then apply the base coat. Dry it. Only after this is the gel polish applied. It hardens only under the influence of ultraviolet rays, so you need to dry your nails under a special lamp. On top you need to cover your nails with a fixative, which also needs to be dried.
Some women, trying to save money, make mistakes that ruin their manicure and make it less durable. Most often, instead of a layer of expensive coating, they apply regular varnish. This causes it to become weak and crack within a few days. Acrylic paints cannot be used for these purposes either. You need to remember that nails coated with gel polish need to be looked after daily. It is recommended to lubricate the cuticle with special oil.
Differences between gel polish and gel paint
Gel polish and gel paint are actually very similar materials and, in general, can be used as a substitute for one another.
Gel paint is a plastic, highly pigmented gel that is sold in jars without a brush. It has a denser texture and color than gel polish, but the consistency is very similar. Gel paint is most often used to draw a design on a finished gel polish coating.
Both materials are polymerized in a lamp; most often they have a sticky layer that is removed with a special means.
This is what the gel paint looks like:
Difference between gel polish and shellac
This is perhaps the most common misconception when any gel polish coating is called shellac. In reality, shellac is the same gel polish, but produced by CND, which was one of the first to enter this market and gained wide popularity, which is why there was such confusion in defining the name that it is still a gel -varnish is called “shellac”.
What is the difference between single-phase gel polish and three-phase gel polish?
three-phase gel polish due to the fact that in the process of creating the coating, three main stages are performed:
- Applying the base
- Coating with colored gel polish,
- Applying top (finish).
The presence of all three materials for three-phase gel polishes is mandatory, which, of course, is not cheap. Therefore, some time after the growth in popularity of gel polish, a new product appeared on the market - single-phase gel polish , which includes a base and top, and therefore does not require their mandatory use, which makes the gel polish coating procedure significantly more profitable financially.
Single-phase gel polish is often called 3 in 1. A striking example is the Patrisa Nail collection of gel polishes, which I reviewed on my blog.
However, practice has shown that using a base and top is still preferable:
- this coating lasts longer,
- It’s easier to straighten your nails and get the perfect highlights.
I hope this article has dotted all the “Is” for those who managed to get confused in gel polishes. And with this I say goodbye to you, see you soon!
Reviews
Those women who tried to get a high-quality manicure with good gel polish note that they were satisfied with everything. After all, such a coating is more durable, nails become stronger and do not break. This manicure can be updated once every 3-4 weeks, and not daily, as with regular varnish.
However, many women note that after removing the gel polish, the nail plate needs to be restored, as it becomes too thin. Besides, not everyone likes their nails to have the same design for almost a month. Women note that it can be difficult to find suitable clothes.
