Acrylic v gel nails

Friday 17th August 2012

For years I’ve been trying my hardest to grow my nails, and it’s only in the past month that somehow I’ve miraculously managed to stop biting, picking and prodding at them and I have to say, they’re getting very long! 

I used to always fake it, having acrylic or gel nails applied regularly and I dread to think how much I must have spent. Overall, I think I prefer having acrylic nails over gels, as the overall application is much easier (and less painful!).

When getting acrylic nails applied, they can be done two ways. The first way is cosmetic tape would be put under and around your own nail, and then white acrylic powder would be applied to the very tip of your nail and onto the cosmetic tape to mould and sculpt an artificial French white tip. Then pink acrylic powder would be applied to the rest of the nail, and once the powder has hardened, the cosmetic tape would be removed and you would have acrylic nails. The other way is a plastic white or clear tip would be stuck to the very end of your nail, cut to your desired length, then white acrylic powder put over the plastic tip, then pink acrylic powder put over the rest of the nail and again once hardened, your acrylic nails would be complete (that is after filing, buffing and applying a clear varnish).  I’m saying white and pink... that’s if you’re after a French manicure style, these days acrylic powders come in a variety of colours, neons, darks, pastels, and even glitters.

When it comes to gel nails, a tip would be applied. The tip again can come in any colour, design or style. The tip would be stuck to your nail, and then a gel would be painted onto the nail, with another gel getting applied once the first gel has dried. The second gel is of a more thicker consistency, and in order for it to harden, your nails must be placed under a UV light. After about thirty seconds, you get what I can only describe as a burning sensation pulsating through your nail and finger tip for about ten seconds, I find it less painful if when I get this sensation I pull my finger out from under the UV light and press the tip onto a hard surface. Once this pain has gone, even though your nails are  back under  the UV light, you won’t feel any more pain.

So now I’d like to show you just a few of the many types, colours and designs I’ve had within the past year.. enjoy!

Clover x

2011's Christmas nails. Acrylic silver and white glitter.

Acrylic nails with nail art.

Winter green glitters

Acrylics with nail art.

.

Painted acrylics with nail art (Barry M Berry Ice Cream).

Summer acrylic sparkles.

Funky gels.

Acrylics with self-painted tips (NYC Park Avenue 246B)

My favourites! Mixed acrylic sparkles.