One of the biggest questions of anyone who’s considering getting nails done is whether to go acrylic or gel. Most salons will support both, though most salons in the United States support both nails equally, while most salons in Europe support gel nails over acrylic nails. Many salons in Europe just won’t do acrylic nails at all.
So what’s the difference between these two kinds of nails?
The Cost Factor
When it comes to costs, generally these two kinds of nails are about on par. Acrylic nails cost less for each procedure, but last a shorter period of time. By contrast, gel nails last a lot longer but cost more upfront.
If you plan on having sexy nails all the time, the cost is about the same. Gel nails cost a little more to “just try out.”
Which Looks Better?
When it comes to look, gel nails win by quite a wide margin.
People with a savvy eye for nail fashion can pretty easily tell acrylic nails apart from real nails. Even a guy with a moderate sense of fashion could look at an acrylic nail or touch and acrylic nail and tell that it doesn’t feel like a real nail.
From a distance, acrylic nails work just fine. Up close however, people can quite easily tell that acrylic nails aren’t authentic.
By contrast, gel nails look very, very real. They even feel real. They bend slightly like real nails and don’t have that artificial hardness. They don’t reflect light in the odd way that acrylic nails do. In other words, they look as natural as an artificial nail can look.
Differences in Process
The processes for putting these two kinds of nails in place are very different.
With acrylic nails, a brush is dipped into a monomer (a liquid chemical) then dipped into a polymer (a powder) to form a ball of acrylic. This is then placed on the nail and gently patted until it has the shape and form that you want your nail to have.
Gels on the other hand come in a gel that can simply be brushed into position. Once you’ve brushed and molded the gel into the perfect shape for your nail bed, you place your hands in a UV lamp that activates and sets the gel.
Generally applying acrylic nails is much more dangerous from a health perspective than gels. Gels have no odor and exposes you to very few chemicals in the application process. Acrylic by contrast vaporizes quickly, resulting in a strong odor that’s extremely unhealthy.
Because of the improvement in looks, longevity and health, more and more women are making the switch from acrylic to gel. Why not give it a shot? You might just be surprised at how great your nails can look.
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