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Patrick -> RE: Question for those who use acrylic nails. (Jul. 31 2006 18:19:15)
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I thought I might try to clear up some misconceptions and misunderstanding of acrylics and gels. I am no chemist by any means, but I have used a lot of the products on the market and done a bit of research.
First off, it’s important to get our definitions down. If you ask a professional nail technician about “gel” nails they would in all likelihood be thinking in terms of the thick liquid that is set with an ultra violet (UV) light source. Gels are applied in liquid form and allowed to self level (flow out) for a minute or so and then set with the UV light. Professionally applied acrylics on the other hand (pun not intended) come in a powder form. A liquid called a “monomer” is used to melt and activate (a catalyst) the powder material. Once the powder has been liquefied and catalyzed it is applied to the nail. Once it cures, it is shaped or added to.
If you were to look geographically, most professionals in the US use powdered acrylics whereas most European’s apply UV gel products. Which is better? The reality is, chemically the two are essentially the same product. One is set by liquid catalyst versus UV light for the other. Powdered acrylics demand a higher level of physical shaping after they set. The surface can be very rough and needs to be smoothed and shaped. Applying acrylics is usually best left to the pros. Gels are very user friendly, as they will level out (self level) by themselves before being set with the UV lamp.
The typical process of applying UV gels is too first lightly rough the nail surface, followed by cleaning with soap and water. A sterilizer-dryer liquid is then applied, followed in some cases by a primer. A gel bass coat is then applied and set with the UV light followed by two to three coats of a thick gel topcoat, setting with the light between coats. The nail is then cleaned with alcohol to remove unset gel. Most professional at this point would do some minor shaping if needed and then apply a high gloss top coat set by UV light. For our purpose we don’t need the last gloss coat. In fact if you lightly buff the set gel, it will be almost the same gloss as your uncoated nails and will not stand out.
This all sounds like a very lengthy, tedious process, but once you get used to the material, it is very easy and fast to apply. The great thing about applying UV gels yourself is you get them the way you want them. Plus it’s very easy to do a fast repair. The downside with gels is a bit of an investment. A UV light will run about $60. Gels will be about $50 to $60, plus another 20 bucks for miscellanies. You can get kits at around $100. This may sound high, but in the long run is very economical and convenient. The gels I am currently using are close to two years old, so the stuff last forever.
Do you need acrylics or gels? If you have good hard nails, why bother. But in my case, it’s the best thing I have done for my nails. If I’m not playing guitar, I’m beating my nails to pieces doing yard work and fishing. I have tried most methods know to man and gels work for me.
Gotta go play my new DeVoe. That’s right, I have another DeVoe, but that’s a different story.
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