Acrylic nail from IG @nailiish_

Artificial nails, also known as false nails, are extensions that are placed on the nail. As a fashion accessory, they are an extension of natural nails rather than a replacement. While gel and acrylic nails are two of the most popular nail treatments in salons. Both create glossy, hard-wearing nails that are popular with modern women, but they are very different in terms of craftsmanship and appearance. Are you confused? Let me clear it up for you.

What are gel nails?

Gel nails are shiny artificial nails that are used to enhance the beauty of the hands and are popular with women. They are also used as decorative jewellery. Gel nails are made by applying a colorful mix of powders to the original nails. Gels are basically liquid gels containing cosmetic, medical or other pre-operative uses. They are semi-solid gel suspensions in which the solids are dispersed in a liquid. If you want more natural-looking nail art, similar to the effect of nail polish, then you are supposed to go for gel nails.

What are acrylic nails?

Acrylic nails are a type of artificial nail that is glued on top of the original nail and then coated with a liquid colour mix. However, acrylic nails are more of an extension. Acrylic can be used to create an entire artificial nail or a nail tip, which can be made from a variety of materials, including acrylic and some other polymers. Acrylic nails can effectively lengthen your natural nails and if you are a young person looking for nail length then you wouldn't go wrong with acrylic nails, to be honest.

What is the difference between gel and acrylic nails?

With gel nails, in short, the gel is applied to your natural nails just like normal nail polish, only under UV light, sandwiched between a special top and bottom layer. Before applying ultraviolet light, you can paint a suitable pattern with different colours of gel and then irradiate it with UV light to get a similar effect to the nail polish application method.

The gel nail art production technique can be widely designed on different materials and can be used to create different patterns as long as they can be well integrated. This drying process basically consists of rubbing gel nail polish on your nails, providing you with a rich and shiny polish which will dry immediately and is not prone to cracking. The whole process usually takes just one hour and involves the preparation of the gel for the nail polish and cleaning the cuticle. You can then get about two weeks without any 'lifting' (as soon as the gel starts to come off, usually on the natural side of the nail). Many ladies can last more than two weeks without a chip and will only remove a gel nail if there is too much regrowth at the base of the nail.

So gel nails will be a little more natural and there are many options available. But acrylic nails are hard, very strong, there aren't many colours or patterns to choose from and may not look as natural as gel nails, however, it can help you save a lot of money as it is much cheaper to make acrylic nails and can be used for a longer period of time compared to the 14-day durability of gel nails, so you don't need to worry about changing your nail art all the time.

Are there safety issues with gel/acrylic nails?

Many people are concerned about the safety of fake nails as there have been many news reports of infections in the past, but let me give you a quick reminder that if fitted correctly, artificial nails are usually fine, so please feel relaxed about using them. However, prolonged use and improper nail assembly can seriously damage the nail bed and prevent natural nail growth. The most common problem associated with artificial nails is the possibility of fungal infection between the fake nail and the natural nail.

How safe are gel nails?

It is true that gel can cause some damage, but this is mainly due to improper application. Although some sources claim that covering the nails prevents them from "breathing", in fact they do not need to breathe as they receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood supply, so feel free to use them. The main problem with gels is usually due to improper application. Either the gel has not cured long enough under UV light, or uncured chemicals in the polish have caused a reaction.

Or sometimes the gel takes too long to cure and may damage the nail bed. Both of these problems can be easily solved by going to a reputable salon. If you find a problem, you must go to a salon early to get professional help. Oh, the only downside to gel nail polish is that once it stays on the nail for about 2/3 weeks, the nail will start to grow out. So the nails will end up with nice nails and then a row of natural nails will grow underneath. Also, if you cut your nails off, you can end up doing a lot of damage to them. Most natural nail polish will come off with gel polish.

How safe are acrylic nails?

Once again, many of the problems with acrylic nails can be attributed to improper application or abuse. In order for acrylic nails to adhere, natural nails are polished to a rough surface. If you are not careful, this polishing can make the nail plate thin and easily damaged. Some of the chemicals used in this process can also be harsh if you have sensitive skin. The main problem with acrylic nails is that they are particularly attractive to people with weak nails as they are very strong. This can create a vicious circle as part of the process of acrylic nails can further damage the nails, so when the acrylic nails are removed the underlying natural nails can be in a very poor state and it is easy to put another set of acrylic nails directly on top, making the problem worse. So by all means please don't overuse them.

Safety advice for getting your nails done

For those who regularly get gel manicures or acrylic manicures, if you notice signs of damage to your nails, you should stand you should stop immediately and give your nails a rest. It is best to wait until your nails are fully grown out before deciding to have a gel or acrylic manicure next time, which usually takes about 6 months.

How do I remove acrylic and gel nails?

You always want to replace your fake nails after a long time, right? Well, that's what I think, so, how do I remove acrylic nails? Or gel nails? Normally, acrylic nails should be removed by a nail technician in the salon, while gel nails can be easily removed at home. If you try to remove both types of nails without taking the proper steps, you may be left with broken and brittle nails. But as far as removal is concerned. Both come off in basically the same way - by soaking the nails in acetone until they become soft enough to be gently removed. To effectively remove gel nails from the hands, the nail bed should be soaked in acetone. The whole process of removing the gel takes almost 50 minutes.

What do I need to pay extra attention to?

The most crucial part of the nail art process is choosing the right colour as gel nails come in a variety of colours (nearly 400 colours). Nails are more durable as they can last up to three weeks, as it depends on how you carry and maintain them. If gel nails are well maintained, they may last up to three months, which means a whole season. There are horror stories about nail salons using mechanical files to remove nail files or tools to remove nail files, but please don't believe them as any good nail salon will use the soak method as this causes the least damage to the nails.

It is recommended that acrylic nails are removed thoroughly and replaced every six to eight weeks if necessary. Some women will constantly have their nails refilled, which is understandable from a cost point of view (as it costs over £25 to buy a new set of acrylic nails and refills start at around £15). This is because it prevents you and your technician from seeing the natural nails underneath and ensures they are healthy and free from infection.

As a writer, what do I recommend you choose?

In terms of cost, acrylic nails are usually cheaper than gel nails. In terms of comfort, gel nails are a bit better - after all, gel nails are shaped like gel, whereas acrylic nails can be a bit uncomfortable for your fingers, and acrylic nails are hard and thick, whereas gel nails are soft to wear. Acrylic nails and gel nails are very similar in terms of process. However, both types of nail art can provide you with a beautiful, long-lasting and elegant look. Choosing them depends on your needs and options. If your nails are strong and you want a natural look, then acrylic nails would be the best choice as they will provide you with shinier, glossy, chip-free and durable nails. In addition, gel nails are the best choice for weaker nails. If you have nails that need hard nail polish for a long time then you can do gel nails. So I would say that if you are comfortable with the higher cost, gel nails are the best choice for artificial nail art.

Advice on how to buy

After reading all this, I'm sure you're just as eager as I am to get your hands on some fake nails, so let me tell you how to shop for them. Both types of nails can be purchased at professional nail salons or medical facilities. The market price for gel nails is around $25-$60, but with a surcharge of up to 50%. Also, make sure you consult a professional before buying, don't just choose blindly. Alternatively, you can mix the two styles and apply gel nail polish to your acrylic nails to get the ultimate manicure with strength and durability.