Difference between gel and gel polish

Women who decide to make a long-term coating are often interested in what is the difference between gel and gel polish. Manicure with gel polish today is the most popular procedure in nail workshops. The composition is a polymer compound with a rich gel texture and pigment. Covering the nails with gel polish allows you to wear a classic manicure longer - up to 2-3 weeks without correction.

Despite its popularity, gel polish has a certain percentage of opponents of such a coating. It implies a three-stage coating procedure: the base is applied first, the second layer is the pigment, and the final one is the finish or top. Advantages and some features of the salon procedure:

• Gel polish stays on nails for 2-3 weeks uniform glossy or matte finish, does not require additional care while wearing;
• The coating allows create a variety of color combinations and original designs;
• Withdrawal occurs using the most advanced method of filing or "soaking" the nails in nail polish remover.

Among the features of women note:

• Before application procedure gel polish is not recommended to use greasy (and any other) hand cream and soak nails, so the manicure is performed by the device before coating;
• On the day of application nails are not recommended to contact with water;
• Coverage time gel polish + manicure takes, on average, 2 hours.

At the same time, you can create unique designs and a stylish look literally to your fingertips with it. The composition of modern professional coatings is absolutely safe and practically does not cause allergies, wearing protects the nails from chips, scratches, breakages.

Not every woman knows that gel polish and gel (biogel) are not the same thing. Biogel is a completely synthetic fiber without pigments, that is, transparent or with a slight natural shade, which is applied to the nail plate with a brush. This product is applicable for:

• Nail extensions due to its dense, durable texture and the use of additional material - tips;
• fortifications - one of the most popular and safe procedures for nails;
• Formation of the natural regular shape of the plateif it is flat or anatomically incorrect (damaged).

This material has a porous structure and does not "block" the supply of oxygen from the keratinized layer of cells - the nail plate.

You will learn more about the difference in the following video.

Gel polish and biogel coatings are similar in that they require the use of a UV lamp to form the polymerization process, or solidification of the material under ultraviolet light. This option allows you to work with materials until a perfect uniform coating is obtained (for varnish) or the ideal shape / length of nails is created (for gel).

The difference is as follows:

• Consistency. In varnish, it is liquid and at the same time dense, which allows you to apply the product from the bottle with a brush and distribute the product with it. The consistency of the gel is so thick that you have to take it out of the jar with a small spatula, distribute it with a special thin brush.
• purpose. Gel polish is designed to create a manicure with a long-lasting effect, resistant, glossy, which is not afraid of water, housework, or household powders. It was invented for the beauty of women's hands.

Biogel was created almost a hundred years ago, but it has become so widespread relatively recently. It is usually used for nail extensions to connect a natural nail with an artificial plate, give it the correct shape and firmly fix it with ordinary varnish. Today, biogel is often used to strengthen nails - the natural nails are coated with the composition and give them a more “lush” shape.

• Compound. The composition of the decorative coating contains both synthetic components and natural ones such as resins, waxes and natural acids. Biogel consists of 100% synthetic ingredients and is "attached" to the surface of the nail almost tightly.
• Care. After coating the nails with a pigment composition, you can continue your normal life: now they are not afraid of breakage, chips, cracks, or loss of glossy sheen, which cannot be said about biogel. This material is sensitive to various household chemicals (powders, cleaning products) and mechanical damage.
• Safety. Undoubtedly, both compositions are safe for the health of a woman and her nails, but the compositions still have little effect.Gel polish is an exclusively decorative coating, which contains both dyes and acetone-like components, it requires careful removal, and long-term wearing of the coating can cause dryness of the nail plate, its brittleness and loss of natural shine and thickness. Biogel is used for additional long-term coverage in order to treat and restore the structure of the nail.

How the coatings differ from each other, now it has become clear. Let's deal with the question of which one is better. There is no single answer here, both products are good for various kinds of cases, for example:

• Gel polish is used to create beautiful nails with pigmented finish. Of course, a transparent, nude manicure can be made with a similar composition, but the essence is the same - to give the fingers grooming, the nails - beauty.
• Biogel is used in two cases: to strengthen the natural nail and build up the nail plates. For two procedures, one product is used, however, the technologies for its use differ significantly from each other. They say that biogel is harmful to nails, but the masters do not think so, subject to the technology of applying the product and removing it.

It is necessary to remove the gel coating and the classic polymer composition from the master using a hardware or manual method. The difference lies in the auxiliary materials, but the essence remains the same - the preservation of the natural density of the marigolds and their health.

Can! Regular nail polish on the applied gel layer will lay down more evenly and last a little longer. To the question of whether it is possible to apply ordinary varnish on gel polish, it gives rise to controversial answers and the main question “why?”.The only thing that nail masters do not recommend to do is to apply ordinary varnish before coating with any gel composition - this will lead to the fact that not a single coating will hold or will not lie on the nail at all correctly.

It is better to use conventional and professional compositions separately, and if necessary, choose Divage "Everlasting" from synthetic coatings for recreation - a classic coating with a gel formula and a long-term effect. Its application does not require the use of a lamp and minimizes any attempt to damage the plate.

They talk about gel polishes as an opportunity to forget about caring for nails for 2 weeks. This coating is ideal for women who lead an active lifestyle, when there is no time to renew “hand makeup” every 5 days. However, women are careful about the regular use of gel polish and give time to rest their nails, which after a series of procedures become brittle, damaged, stop growing actively.

Masters of nail cabinets say that the gel composition is safe for nails and does not affect their normal life; the main mistake of women is the incorrect removal of the coating due to “picking” or soaking the nails in acetone. Professionals recommend removing the long-term coating with hardware equipment, which will protect you from delamination of the nails and their overdrying.

Reviews of the gel as a strengthening procedure are ambiguous.

Some ladies are satisfied with the result and beautiful, natural, voluminous nails. Others do not recommend using gel for strengthening, since the coating must be renewed every 1.5-2 weeks by cutting off the previous layer and applying a new one, and natural nails lose their strength and shine over time. To strengthen the nails, they recommend painting the plates with pharmaceutical transparent varnishes - this method of healing, according to most ladies, is the most optimal.