Strengthening nails with gel: how to strengthen them and how to use gel polish, acrylic, biogel, base, step by step at home and in the salon

Strengthening nails with gel is necessary if they are weakened, thin, peeling or breaking. The procedure is also indicated for long, highly flexible plates. Strengthening is carried out not only with extension products, but also with hard bases, acrylic compounds, the same powders, biogels, including camouflage ones.

One of the selected cosmetic preparations is applied to oil-free nails, coated with a primer, and polymerized. Unevenness should be removed with a file and a buff. And on top the strengthening agent is covered with gel polish or only with a transparent top. After all, many of them also give a beautiful natural shade to your nails, without the need to paint them.

Strengthening nails with gel: what is needed for the procedure

Starter kit for strengthening nails
Strengthening nails with gel is only possible if you have a certain set of products and tools:

lamps for coating polymerization,
nail files,
soft buff
orange stick,
clinser,
primer,
degreaser,
lint-free wipes,
brushes for applying strengthening composition,
the means for imparting rigidity to the plates.

The list of what is needed to strengthen nails with gel depends on their general appearance and condition. Before starting the procedure, you must perform a hygienic manicure. Then the list of tools will expand; you should add cuticle scissors, an applicator with a silicone tip, or a pusher. After all, in essence, strengthening nails with gel is a procedure that precedes the application of a decorative coating for longer wearing. That is, doing a manicure after using a product that gives your nails strength and smoothness is pointless.

What is biogel

Initially, acrylic appeared, then it was replaced by ordinary gel, but they began to treat it with caution. I didn't like the fact that it couldn't be removed by soaking it. Then the usual gel was replaced by biogel.

Biogel is a material made from natural resin, before polymerization it has a liquid consistency, can be removed by soaking, and can be used on any nail plate.

What the polymer may contain:

vitamins A, E and other groups;
silk proteins;
keratin.

Manufacturers add other substances necessary for nails. This significantly improves the quality of the plate, helps restore and grow it.

Strengthening nails with gel under gel polish: options for how to strengthen them

Strengthening nails with gel under gel polish is required if they are thin, excessively flexible, or flaking. If the surface of the plates is too oily or damp, the procedure will also prolong the wearing of the color coating. Today the following types of nail strengthening with gel polish are known:

Acrylic composition, also known as acrylic, hybrid gel or polygel. This viscous product with synthetic components is pink, beige or completely transparent. It does not level out on the surface on its own, but it does not flow onto the skin. The product is easy to file off after drying if the layer is too thick.

Acrylatic Cosmoprofi (hybrid of gel and acrylic) Acrylatic Pink

Acrylic Powder. This is a brilliant, finely ground powder of the same nature as the previous remedy. It is easier to strengthen nails with gel polish than with liquid acrylic, especially since there are several ways to apply powder evenly. It also comes in color and transparent.

Colored acrylic powder

Biogel. This is a colorless or tinted, rather thick liquid containing synthetic polymers, calcium, vitamins, and proteins. It not only makes nails tough, eliminating brittleness, but also nourishes them. The product has a thinner consistency than acrylic, so it is easier to apply.

Biogel from TNL Professional
Covering natural nails with this gel without extensions is technically comparable to using a rubber base. But the strengthening effect of a product with natural ingredients is, of course, more noticeable.

Single-phase gel. This composition is intended for extensions, but can also be used for natural nails of any length to make them stronger. It does not require a base or top coat, which greatly simplifies the work. But at the same time, you don’t have to be afraid of peelings; the manicure lasts a long time. The compositions also come with a tint, that is, they can be used without colored varnish.

Other types of extension gel. They can be transparent or tinted, two- and three-phase. The products are easy to apply and have the consistency of a thick base or top.

Acrylic gel

Acrylic gel can be an ideal composition to make nail plates stronger if used correctly:

First, the surfaces are treated with the hard side of the buff.
They need to be degreased.
First, apply a thin layer of primer to clean nails, air dry it for a few seconds until it evaporates completely.
Then you need to apply a liquid base with good adhesive properties not only to the entire plate, but also to the end parts.
This layer is dried in a lamp.
The brush that will be used to pick up and apply the acrylic is lightly moistened in a cleanser (you can drip it onto a cotton pad).
Read also: Manicure with rubbing: types, new designs, trends 2022
The required amount of composition is scooped out of the jar with it or a spatula and a portion is applied to the nail.
With a brush, it is kneaded over the plate so as not to disturb its natural architecture, that is, thinning the layer near the cuticle and side ridges.
The pile of the tool is moistened a little more with a cleaner and the acrylic is smoothed out, removing the glare.
If there is excess product on the end, remove it with a brush or pusher while it is wet.
The hand should be placed in a drying lamp.
The acrylic remaining at the ends is cut off, it also needs to be removed from under the nails.

Strengthening with a solid gel can be done under polymerizing colored varnish or left as the main coating of a natural shade, adding gloss with a top coat. In the first case, the dried acrylic needs to be removed from stickiness, then treat the nails with a buff and wipe off dust with a degreaser. After that, they are painted, the flower bed is polymerized and a top coat is applied. The last product also needs to be dried.

Strengthening your nails before gel polish will help avoid not only brittleness and cracks, but also eliminate peeling and chipping. In this case, the plates should not look thick. The layer of the strengthening agent must be no more than 0.5 mm, otherwise it may not dry out.

Acrylic powder is an excellent tool for strengthening natural nails.

Another commonly used product for strengthening natural nails is acrylic powder, which is quite simple to use:

After the manicure, the nails are degreased.
Then one of the plates is covered with a base, not reaching a couple of millimeters to the cuticle.
This finger is dipped into a jar of acrylic powder 2-3 times so that the border of the product does not reach the base line.
Excess powder is shaken off by lowering your hand down and tapping the joint with the applicator.
The nail must be dried for 30 seconds.
It is treated with a brush to remove excess grains of powder.
Next comes the application of a leveling base layer, which is also dried for 30 seconds.

After this, you can paint your nails with a flower garden as usual.

Other methods using powder

There are other ways to strengthen nails with gel polish powder:

Spray it on your nails. The base is applied as in the first case, with a layer of medium thickness. Then acrylic powder is poured onto the surface of the nail in several portions. The finger is placed in the lamp for 30 seconds, after which the plate is treated with a brush. All previous steps can be repeated with each nail 2 more times to strengthen them more reliably. And you can design with gel polish.
Mixing acrylic powder and base. A drop of the liquid product is placed on the palette, and a little powder is poured next to it. The components are mixed with a stick until a paste-like composition is obtained. Place a portion on the nail and work with it as with ready-made acrylic.

With gel under gel polish

Strengthening nails with gel under gel is also easy, in several stages:

Apply primer, air dry.
Using a special base for a strengthening agent, polymerization.
Apply the gel first in a thin layer, then “wet” in a thicker layer using the leveling technique.
Turn your hand over to spread the product.
Drying in a lamp with a decrease in its power setting.
Degreasing and coating with colored gel polish, top coat, sequential polymerization of each layer.

Biogel

Biogel not only makes nails harder so that the manicure lasts longer, but also treats them, allowing them to grow their own length. After all, these products contain proteins, calcium, vitamins and fewer aggressive components. Another advantage is the variety of colors of the product, that is, it can be used as a coating. The strengthening procedure looks like this:

Prepared nails are degreased and an acid-free primer is applied to them, covering the ends as well.
The product is air dried for 1 minute.
Next, apply the biogel, applying a thin layer, not forgetting about the end edges.
A second layer of strengthening agent is applied to the wet coating, simultaneously leveling the plates.
After drying, you can paint your nails with colored gel polish, then use a finishing agent, they are polymerized one by one.

Some masters use a base before biogel. But this remedy is needed for especially problematic nails, on which the coating hardly sticks.

Watch the video about three methods of applying biogel:

Single phase gel

Single-phase gel for strengthening weakened nail plates is applied in the following sequence:

They are properly prepared, and after a hygienic manicure they are wiped with a degreaser.
Then apply the first thin layer, spreading it over the entire plate, do not dry.
A larger volume of product is placed on this base and leveled so that the coating is denser.
All that remains is to dry it in a lamp.

Then you can cover your nails with colored gel polish or do without it. But in any case, a finishing agent is applied on top.

Best lists

Next, we would like to present you with a list of the best products in three popular categories:

Universal.
Medicinal.
Dense coverage.

Let us dwell on the listed categories and describe them in more detail.

Universal

EL CORAZON is aimed at completely strengthening and restoring the nail structure. The product line includes a rich variety of biogels of different colors that do not contain shimmer or glitter. You can independently choose a remedy for any occasion. The varnish dries quickly in the lamp and does not require the application of a base, since it is already included in the product.

Volume	10 ml
A country	Russia
Total drying time	2 – 5 min

Cost: from 100 to 200 rubles.

biogel for nails EL CORAZON

Medicinal

PATRISA NAIL is considered the best medicinal type product. In a short period of time, it promotes the complete restoration of the nail plate and protects it from further delamination and excessive fragility.

Country of Origin	Russia
Tube volume	8 ml
Color	beige

Cost: from 200 to 250 rubles.

biogel for nails PATRISA NAIL

Dense coverage

IRISK COVER PEACH (PREMIUM PACK) is considered by many users to be one of the best camouflage type products. It looks like an opaque type of coating with a dense coating. It is an excellent tool for creating a French manicure and acts as a coating. The main property of the drug is aimed at strengthening the nail plate and effectively hiding all its shortcomings.

Tube capacity	15 ml
A country	USA
Dries out	4 min

Cost: from 200 to 350 rubles.

biogel for nails IRISK COVER PEACH (PREMIUM PACK)

Which gel is suitable for strengthening nails?

Gel for strengthening nails is chosen according to their condition and the nature of the problems:

if they are uneven, with damage in the form of pits due to the tearing off of the old coating, or “twisted”, it is better to use acrylics;
for thin, brittle nails due to a lack of vitamins, a bio-composition is more suitable as a nail hardener under the gel;
if the coating simply doesn’t wear well and flies off quickly, you can use a single-phase product for the flower garden;
For soft, bendable plates, strengthening nails with extension gel is more suitable, but acrylic powder will also provide a good effect;
for long lengths, it is also worth choosing one of the two previous products.

It is difficult to say which gel for strengthening nails is better, since everything is individual. You should pay attention to the following brands:

biogels from TNL, Planet Nail, Irisk, Nail Professional;
regular extension compositions SuperNail, LiaNail, NSI, Dance Legend;
acrylics Irisk, Patrisa Nail, Cosmoprofi, Global Fashion, Tertio;
acrylic powders Harmony, Kodi, Irisk, Entity (the main thing here is fine grinding).

All of the listed products have different consistencies and are also applied differently - some are easier, others require great care. But they are very persistent. And gel polish with strengthening is the use of any of the proposed compositions, which is paid separately from nail art masters according to the price list.

Causes of brittle nails

The formation of the plate begins in the matrix, which is located near the root. Its condition directly affects the speed of regeneration, shape, and thickness. The substance of the plate itself consists of layers of keratin, between which there are water and fat, which are responsible for shine and elasticity. Healthy nails contain sulfur, calcium, selenium, zinc, and other trace elements. They can well absorb moisture, oils, and other substances with which they come into contact, so they react hypersensitively to the environment.

The cause of fragility is the result of the negative impact of internal or external factors on the plate. Among them are:

frequent use of cheap nail polish, nail polish remover containing acetone or formaldehyde;
direct contact with household chemicals;
dry air, temperature changes, long stay in the cold without gloves;
improper care - cutting, not filing the plate;
lack of vitamins and microelements;
period of hormonal disruptions and changes;
thyroid dysfunction, stomach and intestinal diseases, anemia, stress.

Strengthening nails with a base

Strengthening nails with a base is necessary for long lengths, as well as a thin plate, if there are no other problems. To do this, use a rigid substrate, that is, a product designated strong:

Nails ready for coating are degreased.
Then they are covered with a thin layer of plastic base and dried.
Now it’s the turn of that very hard base, which is initially applied thinly, and then in a drop and leveled.
This layer also needs to be dried.
This is followed by the application of gel polish, top coat and polymerization of each product.

After the 4th stage, long nails should be checked for strength by pressing on the free edge. If they have not acquired sufficient rigidity and are still bending, you can apply an additional layer of strong base.

How to strengthen nails with gel: what to do step by step at home

You can strengthen your nails with gel at home if you follow the procedure step by step:

Get a manicure, either with a machine or using a nail file, orange stick, remover, nippers or cuticle scissors.
Treat the surface of the plates with a buff to remove shine.
Wipe them with degreaser.
Strengthening nails with gel is not complete without using a primer.
A minute or two after this, the first thin layer of gel is applied.
Take a new portion of the product and distribute it over the plate, making the coating more dense.
Send your hand into the lamp.

Applying three-phase gel to nails to strengthen should be almost the same, but from the 5th step the sequence is as follows:

base,
drying,
dense layer of gel,
another drying
removing uneven nail surfaces with a file,
finishing coating,
drying.

To ensure that the manicure does not have bumps, it is important to apply the gel correctly to strengthen the nails. The first layer is laid in three long strokes - along the side rollers and in the center of the plate. Then the drop is placed on the highest point of the nail and stretched with zigzag movements over the entire surface. The finger should be turned upside down and the product should be helped to lie evenly with a thin brush. Gel for thickening nails under gel polish should not be applied under the cuticle, since at the base they are already quite strong.

Method 3. Strengthening baths

The point is long-term (about 15-20 minutes) exposure followed by rinsing or without it (drying). Afterwards, you can additionally apply cream. It is recommended to do it before bed so that the active components are not washed away by chemicals, and the effectiveness is more significant.

With retinol: 25 g. vegetable oil, 2 drops of iodine, 3 drops of liquid vitamin A. Lasts 15 minutes.
Chamomile: a tablespoon of pharmaceutical chamomile is brewed with 1 tbsp. boiling water Apply for about 5 minutes.
Beer: Heat a glass of beer until warm, but not hot, add a spoonful of dry chamomile and dip your fingers in a water bath for 25 minutes.
Vegetable: squeeze and mix the juice of cabbage and potatoes. Hold for 25 minutes.

Shellac with gel strengthening: how to do it, the better

Shellac with gel strengthening is also used for problem nails; this extends the time of wearing a manicure to 2 weeks. Of course, the coating period cannot be compared with gel polish, but chipping and breaking of plates are excluded.

You can strengthen your nails with shellac gel in several stages:

Coating with primer.
Applying the base composition under the gel or a good regular base.
Using a strengthening agent and leveling the plates with it.
Degreasing surfaces.
Shellac coating.
Applying top.

All products used, except the primer, are dried in a lamp. To prevent the strengthening composition from spreading, it is worth polymerizing it on each nail separately.

The best way to strengthen your nails using shellac is to look at their condition. But, given the property of a colored coating of this type to dry out the plate, for weakened and thin ones the most suitable remedy is biogel. If nails break or peel, acrylics, extension gel and powder can be successfully used.

How to choose?

It is important to be able to choose the right composition option. The price-quality criterion does not always work. Each person has their own characteristics when it comes to wearing material. What works for some pens may not work at all for others. For example, drying in a lamp will cause severe discomfort for some, while others will not feel anything. Although the application technique and amount of material were the same for both clients.

Here you need to take into account all the physiological features of the nail plate:

cuticle sensitivity;
width and thickness of the nail;
plate humidity;
natural curve;
desired length (for extensions).

Every nuance is taken into account when selecting the material for the nail. A high-quality gel is not cheap, but among the budget options you can find decent ones. If you combine all the coating criteria, it is worth highlighting the following funds:

1st place – Bloom brand gel. The composition is of medium consistency, applied using one drop method, and is well leveled on the nail plate. There is virtually no sawdust when applied correctly, which saves material consumption. It is very practical to wear, does not cause peeling, does not chip.
2nd place – polygel from Cosmoprofi. Unlike many representatives of other brands, this material does not have noticeable grains. When applied, it is very pliable, does not sag and does not bake in the lamp. The appearance of the nail is smooth; there may be no sawdust if the application technique is correct.
III place – gel from TNL. The manufacturer announces the low prices of this product. Application is easy, the material has self-leveling properties. It burns a little in the lamp when drying, but is practical to wear and does not cause peeling. The sawdust is minimal.

Attention. The choice of nail strengthening products is very large. There are a huge number of products on the market that have similar properties. You need to try and choose for yourself individually.

Gel nail coating without extensions: step-by-step instructions

Step-by-step instructions for covering nails with gel without extensions include sequential use:

degreaser,
primer,
bases,
the most strengthening agent in a thin layer,
a denser layer of extension gel,
clinser,
files,
buffa,
brushes,
degreaser again,
gel polish,
top.

All products, except degreaser, primer and cleaner, are dried in a lamp. As a rule, the dried strengthening agent must be filed down to remove the resulting irregularities. And then the surfaces of the plates are also treated with a buff.

Design ideas

Design when strengthening nails with gel does not necessarily imply the use of a flower garden, because these products come in shades. Therefore, you can simply apply a glossy or matte top coat on top, and you will get a nude manicure. If you highlight the free edge with white and outline the “smile”, it will be a French jacket. And when marking the holes - a lunar manicure.

In general, you can come up with many designs with extension gel:

paint 2 nails on your hand in beige or pink tones (darker than the shade of the gel) and make graphic designs on them in black and red;
choose a dark-colored varnish (burgundy, emerald, chocolate, purple) and make tracks from rhinestones or laid out foil on 1-2 plates;
cover the strengthening camouflage gel with a top coat and make monograms on it with white paint on 1-2 fingers;
make stretch marks with glitter without using a flower bed using a beige or pinkish strengthening gel.

Strengthening nails in the salon - what is it?

Strengthening nails in the salon means using extension gel, acrylic, powder or biogel under a colored coating, but not only. There are also procedures that have a therapeutic effect:

Lamination. Includes preliminary preparation, that is, hygienic manicure, hand massage. Then vitamin serums and oil extract are rubbed into the nails. They are coated on top with a nourishing composition in the form of varnish so that the beneficial substances penetrate into the thickness of the plates and are not washed off. It also serves as protection from external influences. And on top of the laminating composition you can apply gel polish.
Sealing. The procedure is similar to lamination in that nutrients are also rubbed into the nails. These are oils, waxes, vitamins, mineral pastes. They restore the legs and form a protective film on them. But design is not done with gel polishes after sealing.
Hot manicure. This is a hand bath with herbal, oily vitamin solutions, creams, serums. A constant temperature is maintained in the container during the procedure, which enhances the effect of beneficial substances. After this, you can make a color coating.
SPA manicure. This is a complex procedure that includes hygienic nail treatment, scrubbing, baths, and massage. The effect is directed not only to the nails, but also to the hands.
Paraffin therapy. The substance is melted in a special bath, the hands are prepared by scrubbing and massage. Oil, mask or cream is applied to them and to the nails. Hands are dipped into melted paraffin three times, allowed to dry a little, and the hands are wrapped in polyethylene and thicker fabric. After 20 minutes everything is removed. Hands are washed and cream is applied.

Strengthening compounds will help extend the wearing of the design for up to 3 weeks, after which correction is needed. Otherwise, the problems that caused the need for their use will worsen. And in order for the nail-strengthening composition to lay more evenly, you need a high-quality hygienic manicure.

Flaws

There are practically no contraindications to the use of strengthening biogel for nails. Contrary to popular belief, the material can still cause allergies. It occurs rarely, not always specifically to the polymer; sometimes the reaction occurs to the additives included in the composition. Therefore, a product from one manufacturer may be suitable, but from another it may cause itching, redness on the skin, detachments and other unpleasant manifestations.

Disadvantages of biogel for natural nails:

The material requires careful wearing; durability decreases with prolonged contact with water, household chemicals and other aggressive products. He doesn't like alcohol.
Nails are not as strong and hard as when coated with acrylic or regular gel. If layers are applied thinly, they can also break.
The cost of coating in a salon is high; you will have to visit a specialist 2 times a month, when with some other materials you can go for up to four weeks.

Some disadvantages are relative. For example, a biogel manicure can be done not only in a salon, but also at home. The procedure is quite simple; you do not need to take special courses to master it. Often, an allergy occurs not to the coating itself, but to the means for removing the coating, or a skin reaction is caused by the dispersion layer getting on the cuticle during removal. It is important to do this carefully, moving from base to tip.