How To Use Poly Nail Gel

Manicure upkeep can be difficult — when one nail chips, the whole fix is ruined. Plus, there's the question of whether or not you're ruining your nails with treatments like acrylics or gels. Still, a polished and pretty set of nails can make you feel like a million bucks — not to mention, nails can be an outlet for cocky-expression via different nail shapes, smooth colors and designs.

If yous are obsessed with the look of acrylic, dip powder or gel manicures, but detest to adventure damaging your nails, your new manicure hero has arrived: polygel. This gel-acrylic hybrid provides the best of both worlds, and then you no longer have to choose between nail manner and nail safety. Then, let'due south become into what really makes the polygel formula then unique.

What are polygel nails?

Polygel is a nail enhancement that'south best described as a gel-acrylic hybrid formula. "You lot get the forcefulness of an acrylic enhancement, just and so you get some of the flexibility that comes with a gel," explains Naomi Gonzalez-Longstaff, a nail designer and celebrity manicurist. "Information technology is gel-based in terms of its consistency and texture, but a bit thicker." When properly applied, polygel nails do non intermission easily. In fact, they're strong and flexible, despite feeling lighter than other solutions like difficult gels. Their flexible nature also makes them more durable as time passes.

Are polygel nails ameliorate than acrylic nails?

Similar to acrylic, polygel can exist used to sculpt, make full in or extend nails. However, there are differences, including the fact that polygel is significantly lighter than acrylic (though it's just as strong). It's also different than a dip manicure, which is equivalent to granulated acrylic.

Polygel is a perfect selection for anyone with softer nails, but not recommended for anyone with more breakable nails. "It'south a neat in-between for those who take good natural nails but desire a piddling scrap more stability and a little bit more strength, without the abrasiveness of acrylics," she says.

What do you need for DIY polygel nails?

If you're attempting to do polygel nails at home, you showtime need supplies. Attempting the process without proper tools tin can be both frustrating and potentially damaging to nails. Here's everything y'all'll need to successfully pull off a gear up of DIY polygel nails at domicile.

The Best Polygel Blast Kits

Polygel Nail Kit with 6 Colors Extension Builders

Polygel Brand Nail Enhancement French Kit

Gelish amazon.com

$129.95

Polygel Nail Extension Kit with Nail Art

Polygel Nail Extension Kit with Blast Art

Beetles amazon.com

$24.99

Polygel Nail Kit Builder Gel with LED Nail Lamp

A polygel nail kit. There are many neat kits available online with a diversity of color options; choose a top-rated one that works for your budget and style.
Dual forms or nail forms, depending on your preference. Both are a shell that is placed over the nail to sculpt. Ane of the biggest differences betwixt the two is that dual forms are multi-use and boom forms are single-apply.
Base of operations coat and top coat. These are ii staples you should use whenever you DIY a manicure, every bit they aid in prepping and sealing the nails.
LED light. An LED nail lamp helps to cure the nail, a.yard.a. harden the polish. "The strength of an LED calorie-free is a footling flake more intense than a UV light and volition assistance the product last longer on the nails," she explains.
A sculpting brush (with a spatula). "You want to use a designated gel sculpting brush that has a foursquare angle tip — think of it as a paint brush," Gonzalez-Longstaff says.
Rubbing booze. This is used to wet the castor so the polygel doesn't completely adhere to it.

How to apply polygel nails at home

These steps tin can vary based on the instructions in your kit; adhere to them carefully for best results.

File your nails. This helps smooth any ragged edges so you start with a smooth surface that enhances lasting power.
Choose the dual or nail forms that fit your fingers. This is an optional step, as you lot can also overlay the polygel on natural nails. If you do to use a dual form, your kit volition probable come up with different sizes. Some shapes are curvier or flatter than others, but try to match the form with your nail appropriately. "For a more natural nail look, match the dual form to the nail bed and cuticle line," Gonzalez-Longstaff advises.
Employ your base coat and cure it under an LED low-cal. The amount of time underneath the lite will depend on your kit, simply a good rule of pollex is 60 seconds.
Dip your brush in the included slip/alcohol-based solution. This is an important step, every bit it allows you to move the polygel around on the dual form (or natural nail) without the gel excessively sticking to the brush.
Clasp polygel on the dual form or smash. Using your castor, spread the polygel on the dual class evenly and sculpt it into the desired shape.
If using a dual form, press the polygel coated dual form on your nail to adhere.
Cure your nails underneath the LED light to set up the polygel.
If using a dual class, remove it.
Cut, file and shape your nails to your desired look.
Utilise the top coat and cure your nails nether the LED low-cal one last time.

How to remove polygel nails with acetone

Much similar the gel itself, the removal procedure is a combination of techniques. "Yous're going to take to file some of it off, similar you lot practice when removing acrylic nails, and then use acetone with a cotton ball wrapped around the blast, like you do for your gel manicures," she says.

Pronto

Simply every kit and product has a different application and removal procedure, so follow the included instructions closely. I way to tell whether your polygel nail kit is good quality is "by looking at the removal procedure, considering if it includes a lot of abrasiveness to the natural nail, that means the product isn't formulated well," Gonzalez-Longstaff notes.

How long exercise polygel nails last?

The smooth itself lasts around 3 weeks, depending on lifestyle wear-and-tear. If y'all're not opting to utilize a more affordable polygel kit in the condolement of your ain home, notation that in-salon prices can vary from $75 to $150, depending on the location and technician. If you lot're only filling your nails in, rather than getting a full set up of polygel nails, prices are probable lower.

Marielle Marlys Freelance Writer Marielle Marlys is a freelance author at Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan who graduated from New York University with a degree in Journalism and Global Liberal Studies, and with a Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy.