One admirable thing about nail treatments is that there’s a product for everyone. Whether you’re a manicurist, nail artist, or beauty enthusiast, there seems to be a cosmetic product designed specifically for your needs. These range from gel extensions to gel polishes and even acrylics for those looking to enhance their natural nails.
The availability of diverse nail care products is the inspiration behind the ever-emerging nail design trends. Right at the center of those trends is builder gel, an unsung hero in the nail art and manicure industry.
If you regularly go for nail treatments but are yet to try out builder gels, we fear to admit that you’ve been missing out on a lot. Read below as we uncover what this product is and why it can transform your nail care experience.
Introducing Builder Gel
We’ve just hinted at the role builder gels play in inspiring nail art trends. But if you’re new to these products, perhaps the one question now boggling your mind is, what is builder gel?
Builder gel, known more specifically as nail builder gel, is a type of gel polish used to add extra thickness, length, and strength to nails.
Builder gels are notably thicker than regular nail gels. You can use them on both natural nails and nail enhancements.
Types of Builder Gels
Builder gels fall into two major categories, namely builder gel in a bottle (BIAB) and hard gel.
Builder gel in a bottle is a type of builder gel designed primarily for strengthening nails and nail tips. The product is typically soaked off in suitable solutions like acetone.
Although relatively soft, BIAB can create an incredibly strong overlay on your nails compared to regular nail polishes. The product is too hard to bite down, which makes it ideal for nail biters.
You can avail BIAB in many colors. However, it commonly comes in nude, light pink, or clear shades.
Hard gel, on the other hand, is a type of builder gel commonly available in a pot and used to create a rigid layer around natural nails or nail enhancements. It differs from builder gel in a bottle in that you cannot soak it off. Rather, you must file it off.
The removal method might be a huge drawback to hard gels, especially for people with sensitive nails. But if properly handled, hard gel can produce nearly the same cosmetic benefits as builder in a bottle. It’s also great to know that although hard gel creates similar effects to acrylic, it’s less brittle due to its higher flexibility.
Ways Builder Gel Might Transform Your Nail Care Experience
– Delivers Long-lasting Benefits
Durability is builder gel’s biggest selling point. The substance can last up to three weeks, sometimes more, if properly applied.
Builder gel’s durability doesn’t only come from the product’s sheer strength. It’s also because the gel is refillable. That eliminates the need for a fresh application each time you go for a nail treatment.
Builder gel refills typically target the outgrowth areas at the base of the nails. Filling these empty spaces gives your nails a refreshing look, almost as if you had applied a new gel.
– More Reliable Than Acrylics
Many manicurists love acrylics for their strength. However, acrylic nails are notoriously inflexible compared to the more stable builder gels. That rigidity makes them more susceptible to breakage.
Compared side by side, builder gel is more reliable than traditional acrylics. It’s even more reassuring to know that you can use builder gels as a standalone nail care product or in conjunction with acrylics.
Builder gel’s flexibility also gives it a more realistic feel around your nails.
– Easy To Apply
Ease of application is another noteworthy benefit of builder gels. To apply the product, proceed as follows;
- Prepare your nails by cleaning, filing, and buffing them.
- Apply a primer or base coat if your builder gel requires using such.
- Apply the builder gel by painting (for BIAB) or by using a nail brush (for a hard pot gel).
- Cure the gel under a UV or LED lamp, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Apply a second coat (if required) and cure again.
- Clean your nails using a lint-free piece of clothing and suitable solutions, such as isopropyl alcohol.
- File your nails and wipe them clean.
- Apply a top coat (if desired) and cure.
- Complete the process by applying a dash of cuticle oil.
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Easy To Remove
Many nail care products are incredibly easy to apply but painfully difficult to remove. However, builder gel is one of the few notable exceptions.
As previously stated, most builder gels in a bottle can be easily soaked off in acetone. You can remove the polish without needing to visit a manicurist.
If you care so much about builder gel’s ease of use, insist on the BIAB variety. Remember that the hard gel type would need to be scraped out using a file, which may require an extra pair of hands or a paid visit to the nail salon. Do not attempt to remove hard builder gel yourself unless you’re sufficiently familiar with the procedure.
Wrap Up
Builder gels provide numerous benefits over and above traditional nail treatment products. As a parting shot, remember that achieving shining nails requires more than simply investing in high-quality builder gel. You’ll also need to incorporate many other healthy nail care tips into your routine. Read more beauty blogs at SmartSavings by theDiscountCodes.co.uk.
