Gel & Acrylic Nails

I have had lots of messages asking me about my gel nail and how they compare to acrylics.

I am by no means a nail technician, artist, or any of the sort. I have merely had all sorts done to my nails since I was about 15 so I speak from experience!

As much as i love acrylics they can be bad bad bad! Now you can pay lots of money for these to be applied properly by highly trained technicians, but your average Josephine is going to pop to their nearest Nail Bar. Cue an electric file to ruin the natural nail bed and industrial strength glue used to apply to tips. Most nail bar technicians can apply a full set in 45 mins which is perfect for popping out of work in your lunch break. I have read so many articles on the dangers of the products some nails bars are using and to be honest it puts me off. When I would eventually soak/rip my nails off, they would all be peeling and painfully thin.

One day I decided enough was enough, I got them off and went through a hellish 8 months waiting for the damage to grow out. I love having my square cut short nails, but I have found I can achieve this look without ruining my nails for life!

Introducing Gels...
You can get different types of gels, the ones I get are by Biosculpture. These are a gel overlay over my natural nail which strenghten it. You can get french manicure style or colours. You can get tips with these but I don't both with this as I prefer my nails shorter now. I have been through just about every colour my nail technician has. Now I am going through a nail obsession faze I am going to be getting just clear gels and painting them. Fakes are always so much easier to paint and look so much nicer!

When my gels are removed they are weak, as any nail would be after not seeing daylight for a long time but they aren't peeling and paper thin! Within a day they are back to being strong. Every few months I give myself a 'nail break' where I go au naturel for a couple of weeks. Its a painful time for me(not real pain, more heartache at not having gorgeous nails!) and I dread it each time but you gotta do what you gotta do! Your nails need time to recuperate and as 'healthy' as they makes false nails, there is always going to be risks of infection from water damage etc. Nail damage can be permanent!

I do love both types and there is always a part of me that will love acrylics but after years of constant wear, I could never go back to how my nails were. My advise to you is, whichever false nails you choose, do your research. You wouldn't let just anyone cut/colour your hair and now I've found a great nail technician who encourages me to look after my nails, I'll continue to have gels 'safely'

Please feel free to comment with any questions you have or message me on twitter.

xoxo