If Gel-X nail extensions had a fan club, I'd be the president. Over the past few years, I've worked with my incredible nail artist Stephanie to create some of my favorite nail looks to date, and Gel-X played a huge role in them turning out as polished as they did. However, I've recently realized there's a major downside to getting them so often. I know nail artists have said that these particular types of extensions are better for your nails, but after quite some time getting them, my nails aren't in the best shape. I recently decided to give them a rest and go a different route.
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Luckily, the salon I go to offers builder gel&#;a thick nail-gel offering that adds strength to the nails. I gave builder gel a go, and my nails are in much better shape. If you've been thinking about getting it and would like to know more about it and the process, keep on scrolling. I'm giving all the details ahead.
To fully understand more about what builder gel is exactly, I asked celebrity nail artist Julie Kandalec to break it down for us. "Builder gel is a gel product that has a thicker viscosity that is able to be used to lengthen the nails as well as build strength at the apex period," she says. "I recommend builder gel for clients who like to have an enhancement that is a little more on the flexible side as compared to acrylic, which is a great product but it is harder. Builder gel is sort of like if you take a plastic dish and drop it on the floor, it'll bounce back versus an acrylic dish, if you drop it, it'll crack. Builder gel is good for people who are heavy lifters (meaning their nails lift easily on the side) because it's more flexible."
Even I'll admit that there are so many different types of nail gels out there that it's hard to know the difference between them or which one is right for your particular nails. Kandalec went into a little more detail. "Builder gel frequently is a hard gel," she says. "Hard gel is a nonporous gel that has to be filed off. Builder gel can either be soft gel or semi-hard gel or hard gel. The difference between [builder gel like] Solar Gel and Aprés Nail (which is a brand of gel tips) is that that is a full-coverage tip that is already pre-made. It's made out of gel, but it's adhered with more gel as opposed to builder gel. Builder gel you can sculpt with, apply it over a tip, or you can just do a structured manicure with it to give the apex the shape and the strength."
Now that you have a little more background, read on for my experience getting builder gel for the first time.
Before:
(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)
(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)
I know&#;my extensions look extremely grown out and crazy in the above photo. Needless to say, it was nice to finally get them taken off&#;my nails felt like they could breathe again. I'd never really gotten builder gel before this, only a lighter, less buildable form of gel, Gel-X extensions, and regular gel nail polish. What I didn't realize before getting builder gel is that it's actually pretty similar to hard gel&#;the only difference is that builder gel is a bit stronger than regular hard gel. Both can also add extra strength to the nails, which comes in handy if your nails are as damaged as mine after getting extensions for years.
Say it with me: Breaks are necessary. I decided to give builder gel a try since my nails were becoming extremely brittle and thin and starting to crack easily. That was my cue to give the extensions a rest. Sure, Gel-X extensions are considered one of the better options for preserving nail health, but as you can see in the above photo, mine were still pretty shot after getting them for an extended period of time.
During the process:
(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)
The process of getting builder gel definitely went by quicker than getting extensions since she just painted the gel onto my natural nails. She did several coats of the gel, which I liked since my natural nails tend to break a bit easier these days. Doing a few coats also adds more strength to the nails and created the perfect base for the pink French mani I decided to go with for the month of February.
Products used:
Orly
Builder in a Bottle
SHOP NOWOPI
GelColor in Bubble Bath
SHOP NOWOPI
Nail Lacquer in Mod About You
SHOP NOWAfter:
(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)
As you can see, my nails are now a lot shorter than when I had extensions, but they're also a lot healthier. I won't lie, it's also a lot more manageable now doing everyday activities (lol). I loved the results that builder gel provided because it feels a lot lighter than Gel-X extensions and really did add extra strength to my weak nails. It also lasts a long time and doesn't chip. The below photo is what my nails looked like after two weeks. Still pretty good, right? There are no chips whatsoever. Sure, they're a tad grown out, but it still looks like a neat and polished manicure. In terms of price, I paid $75 for the builder gel and an additional $20 for art. Everyone's prices will differ, but that should give you a decent baseline.
If you're a nail enthusiast interested in trying builder gel yourself, or want to bring your own to the salon, keep scrolling for a few other great-quality gels and some at-home nailcare items I've been using and loving.
After two weeks:
(Image credit: @shawnasimonee)
Beetles Gel Nail Polish
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Builder Nail Gel
SHOP NOWNot all nail artists would suggest trying builder gel at home if you want to use it to extend your nails, but I think it's worth a shot if you're not looking to add length. You can paint it over your natural nails to add extra strength and polish to the nails.
CND
Plexigel Builder
SHOP NOWCND's Plexigel Builder is one of Kandalec's top picks for builder gel.
Makkart
Nail Extension Gel
SHOP NOWI've seen so many rave reviews about Makkart's various nail gels. I actually wanted to try the brand's polygel kit on Amazon but chickened out a bit since I'm not the best at home manicures. This nail builder gel is another good option from the brand that retails for only $10.
OPI
Pro Spa Cuticle Oil
SHOP NOWThis is my absolute favorite cuticle oil. I honestly use it all over my hands as a moisturizer, and it leaves them feeling so silky and soft.
Aveeno
Repairing Cica Hand Mask
SHOP NOWHydrating hand masks are key for me right now&#;especially since the air has been aggressively dry lately. This mask from Aveeno has oat and shea butter in it to help keep my cuticles and fingers from looking flakey and patchy.
Hnyyzl
Manicure Tool Kit
SHOP NOWI may not be the best at home manicures, but having my own little tool kit certainly helps. This one is good to have handy if you're taking a break from any kind of salon nail service altogether. These tools always will help keep my nails from looking like a raggedy mess.
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Not all Aloe Vera Gels are made the same. Here are 4 tips for buying 99% Pure Organic Aloe Vera Gel.
Some companies trick you with wording. &#;100% Gel&#; means that it's pure gel, not pure Aloe Vera. Here are 2 examples of two popular Aloe Vera Brands. This is pretty tricksy &#; instead of &#;100% Aloe Vera gel,&#; they&#;ve rearranged the words to, &#;Aloe Vera 100% gel,&#; which gives consumers the impression that it&#;s 100% Aloe Vera. The second one is 100% gel... that's not much of a promise... Please don't be fooled by this trick and buy 100% Pure Gel, Buy 99% Pure Aloe Vera.
Would you like some Aloe Vera with your water? Some companies use water as the main ingredient. Ingredient lists on products are the same as food lists. The first ingredient is the most prominent ingredient. Here is an example of a leading Australian brand. Notice that Aloe Vera is the 8th ingredient... This means that it contains more of the other ingredients and therefore less Aloe Vera.
id you notice that alcohol is listed number two in the above Aloe Vera Gel ingredient list? Companies use alcohol to create a fake Aloe Vera "cooling effect", however if you use an Aloe Vera Gel that does not contain alcohol and put it in the fridge, it provides the same cooling effect but without drying your skin out.
f you have ever cracked open an Aloe Vera leaf the gel Is a light golden colour, so if your Aloe Vera gel is green, then it has been artificially coloured. This means your pure Aloe Vera gel is not as natural as you think.
he only way to get totally pure, actually 100% Aloe Vera is to grow a plant or make it yourself. And if you&#;ve ever tried that, homemade Aloe Vera gel doesn&#;t last long...it gets pretty suspect-looking, not to mention time consuming...
So for Aloe Vera Gel to be commercially viable, stabilisers need to be added. And that&#;s not a terrible thing. It really comes down to what kind of stabilizers are added to the Aloe Vera. If the added stabilizers are as natural as they come, that Aloe Vera gets a pass.
And that's where Plunkett's Organic Aloe Vera Gel steps in and says hey we have a beautiful natural, pure organic Aloe Vera product that you are going to love. Here's a breakdown of our ingredients because we have nothing to hide and want to show you what to look for:
Plunkett's Certified Organic Aloe Vera Gel is Australia's number one Pharmacy Aloe Vera brand. Don't settle for anything less than Pure Natural Aloe Vera!
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