Nails for Gals

My nails of the day
Maybe I'm being stuck-up but I think I could do better gel nails myself. (I did only pay $40 for the full set though, so I shouldn't complain) I think I officially want to buy my own UV light and gels to do my own nails And maybe if I'm good at it I could do nails for others as well



Gel Nails

I gel nails, I'm not gonna lie! Gel nails are just what the name implies - gel is applied to the natural nail (or over a plastic tip) and cured under a UV light for a few minutes per layer, then voila! You have gel nails! I personally recommend gel nails because a) They don't smell!! b) They're pretty quick to do c) They come out looking super smooth and shiny! Most gels kind of level themselves off, but they can be filed and buffed if needed Personally I think they feel very natural, and they do a great job of protecting your natural nail (if you have weak, thin nails like me). Gel nails don't chip, so your color/nail art is protected but you can apply nail polish over your gel nails if you don't want to wait a few weeks (in between fills), to change your nail color Also, in my experience gels hold deco (rhinestones, cabochons, etc) better than acrylics or glue.

Acrylic Nails

I'm sure everyone has heard of acrylic nails! A special liquid is dipped in the acrylic powder, thus forming a little goo ball that once cured, becomes your acrylic nail! Like gel nails, acrylics can be applied over plastic tips or sculpted on their own. Acrylics come in a ton of colors, glitters and brands, as they've been around forever. Many people claim that acrylic nails are tougher than gels, but this hasn't been the case for me. Acrylics take a bit longer than gels to cure (I think! I haven't had acrylics done in a few years!), but the real reason I personally don't get acrylic nail extensions is because of their smell That's right - they smell like chemicals from hell! Back in the day they used to use Methyl Methacrylate, so if you see acrylics done in a salon that seem too cheap to be real, or the nail technicians are wearing masks, be careful! If the salon won't tell you what acrylic brands they're using, find a different salon

Full Plastic Nails (aka press on nails)

If you can't get false nails that match your nail size exactly, try to get ones that are slightly larger than your natural nail beds. This way you can file them down to fit you, whereas false nails that are too small won't cover your entire nail and look odd (plus some times they hurt! ) Be sure to buy the highest quality nail glue that is available to you! Press-ons are notorious for falling off and getting lost, leaving you with one finger (or more) that stands out...and not in a good way Press-on plastic nails are best suited for one-day wear, on a day that you won't be doing hard work while using your hands. If your falsies all stay on for more than one day, consider yourself lucky!

Fiberglass, Resin, Porcelain, Solar and Silk

I have no personal experience with any of these nail processes, so really all I know about them is what I've read online...and from what I've read online I don't think I'll be trying any of these types any time soon! (Fiberglass/Resin/Porcelain seem too brittle, Solar seems too expensive and Silk Wraps seem more for people who have damaged nails, which I do not have)


With any kind of artificial nail it is possible for your natural nails to be wrecked if the technician isn't doing their job properly! Be sure to choose your salon based on reputation, not by price.