Services
Here you'll find more information about the services I offer!
Acrylic
Acrylic is probably the first thing you think of when you want to extend your nails, and for a good reason! Acrylic is the most common nail extension and is loved for it's strength and the customizability.
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Acrylic is formed by using various clear, colored or even glitter powders combined with liquid monomer, (which is where the traditional nail salon smell comes from). Gel polish is painted over top, so it can be very versatile in terms of design options. It can be filled over and over, which makes it very convenient and cost effective, because there is no need to do a soak off and new full set every visit.
Typically, I recommend my clients come back every 3 weeks for an infill. At this appointment, any gel polish will be filed off, and both the old acrylic and new nail growth is prepped for fresh acrylic application. Then it is filed and ready for a new design!
After 3 or 4 fills, I typically recommend my clients to get a soak off and fresh application. This helps me monitor your natural nail health and gives you the opportunity to change your base acrylic color or shape!
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A common misconception about acrylic is that it damages your nails. This is actually not true, damage comes from a nail technician over-filing nail beds when prepping for the acrylic application, or improper removal of acrylic such as using floss.
It can, however, cause allergies if you have particularly sensitive skin, so please let your technician know if you feel itchy or burning sensations, or notice redness and peeling after acrylic application. If this occurs, your technician will recommend alternative services to minimize allergic reactions.
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I recommend this service to my clients who prefer longer nails, need more strength, or even those who have a hard time growing their natural nails out. It is also my preferred service, so it is typically what you'll see me wearing!
Structure Gel
Structure gel has many names, so you may recognize it by "builder gel" or "Biab", which stands for builder in a bottle. It is a type of soft gel that is applied over the nail bed to give it structure. This helps to prevent the breaking of natural nails, and can be filled. It is not as strong as acrylic, so I generally discourage people with longer nails from receiving this service when they tend to be rough on their hands.
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Structure gel is thinner than acrylic, but is thicker than a gel polish. It is cured under a lamp and gel polish can be applied over top if desired. I recommend filling structure gel after 3-4 weeks, and I typically don't need clients to soak the gel off as I rarely see major lifting.
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Builder gel cannot be formed on to a nail extension the way that acrylics can, but minor chips and corners can be repaired by using a nail form. I love this technique for those who prefer lightweight strength added to their nails, those who tend to keep their nails shorter, and those who tend to be gentler on their nails.
GelX
GelX is a relatively newer nail extension type within the industry. GelX is applied by adding a gel nail glue to a full cover nail tip that is typically also made of gel. The tips come pre-shaped, so it is then buffed and desired gel polishes are applied. Typically, these full cover nail tips only come in clear to ensure the gel glue cures fully, but newer tips with nude colors have recently hit the market.
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Contrary to popular belief, GelX can be filled! I use structure gel on new growth to even out the gap between extension and nail bed. Unfortunately, the amount of times the extensions can be filled is limited due to the longevity of the gel glue and pre-shaped tips, so typically only 1 to 2 fills are done before a soak off is necessary.
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I recommend GelX to people who would prefer a lightweight alternative to acrylic, have acrylic allergies, or would prefer a longer nail than what they currently have and would like an extension.
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