Choose a gel for nail extension

In modern society, all girls know what nail extension is, although this method has appeared relatively recently. It all began in the XX century in the field of dentistry. Acrylic and UV gel were created by a dentist from materials for dental fillings. The substances contained in gel products for nail extension are almost similar in characteristics and do not differ from acrylic extension technology.

The positive qualities of nail gel extension include several factors.

• The speed of the procedure - it does not last more than two hours.

• The consistency of the gel allows you to create a solid foundation for natural nails, which affects the duration of the manicure and the ability to grow the length of even thin nails.

• The composition includes coniferous resin.
• The cost of gel building is slightly lower than other methods.
• Strengthening and tearing the surface of natural nails.
• Easy correction.

• The gel allows oxygen to pass to the nail plate, which does not lead to dryness.
• Protection against ultraviolet radiation, mechanical and chemical effects on nails.
• Protection against fungal diseases.
• A hypoallergenic formula has been developed.
• Creation of various complex designs.

The negative qualities of the gels for building a little.

• When polymerizing the material, a burning sensation may occur.
• If the gel coating is broken, restoration is not performed, only re-building is needed.
• Gels are susceptible to damage due to sudden temperature changes.
• Possible injury to the upper layer of the nail plate when cutting off the gel.
• Some brands are allergic.
• The inability to independently remove the material.

Materials for nail extensions come in different types and systems. What is the difference? Gels are available in various volumes, differ in consistency and method of application. To the classic hard gel, innovative types have been added to date. They should be considered closer.

• Modeling gel (constructing) - the first invented type of gels. A transparent, thick, self-leveling product created to form the desired length of the nail and its shape. They work only on forms. The polymerization takes place in a UV lamp.

• Chewing gum - An innovative tool for high-speed nail modeling. The consistency is very plastic, resembles soft plasticine. With it, you can create both simple and complex original forms. A small portion of the product is distributed first on the center of the nail, and then gradually stretch the tool in the right directions with a brush or pusher. Work with such a gel is carried out quickly, polymerization in the lamp no more than ten seconds. This product is great for creating volumetric designs in nail art.

• Gel jelly - a relatively new product. A means of dense consistency, reminiscent of jelly, which is why its name went. This tool is presented in natural shades that mimic the color of natural nails. With its help, the extension of the nail plate, the creation of a jacket, the implementation of an aquarium design, the correction and repair of nails are performed. Gel jelly is a universal tool that allows you to accelerate the process of nail extension.

• Color gel for nail extension - a novelty in the world of nail service. A wide color palette and the quality of the material allow him to create various designs and compositions, and can work as an independent tool. The gel does not conflict with products of other brands. Persistence of manicure up to two weeks, during wear there are no cracks and chips, does not exfoliate.

• Hypoallergenic gel - Designed for people prone to allergies. In such products, the composition of the substances that make up the gels is much smaller. In some formulas, methyl acrylate is present, which has a low level of allergenicity. The consistency is most often viscous, preventing spreading on the nails and affecting the cuticle area, since irritation and swelling may occur when the skin comes into contact with classic gels.

• Single phase gel - used for building in one application. It does not require a base and top coat. The consistency of the gel allows it to even out, which facilitates the work and the formation of an artificial nail. Such gels are quite expensive, but they are not inferior in quality to other analogues.

• Biphasic gel - a system of two means: the main product is the foundation and sculpting gel, the second is the finish coating. The adhesion to a natural nail is strong, in the absence of irregularities during the application process, chips and delamination are not formed. Persistence of manicure up to several weeks.
• Three phase gel - A professional system consisting of three tools. The process of building takes place in three stages, which is why it takes a longer amount of time to create artificial nails compared to a single-phase or classical scheme. Three-phase gels are expensive, and building this type is impossible at home.

If the question arises in creating smooth and strong nails, you should consider some points before buying.

The main selection criteria.

• Decide on the choice of system.
• The consistency of the gels should be viscous and thick.
• It is advisable to purchase products of the same brand in order to avoid conflict of materials.
• Give preference to gels requiring polymerization in a lamp. Materials that can be used without drying are less resistant.
• Pay attention to the smell of funds. A sharp, strong chemical odor may indicate the presence in the gel of substances prohibited in some countries, the compounds of which can cause allergies and irritations.
• Pay attention to which lamps and at what temperature polymerization occurs.
• Do not purchase products whose shelf life is nearing the end. The consumption of gels in use is minimal, and over time they begin to harden and their further use becomes impossible.

The Russian company that produces high-quality materials at affordable prices. The brand provides ready-made kits and individual products. The kit includes: lamp, three-phase nail extension system, primer, degreaser, lint-free wipes, nail polish remover, abrasive files, foil, cuticle oil, soft buff and orange sticks.

Single products are represented by camouflage and color gels. All materials have worthy characteristics, are well polymerized.

The palette of materials is presented: camouflage, single-phase, color and self-leveling gels, gel-jacket. Irisk gel is lightweight and gives a good gloss. Among the shortcomings, a slight burning sensation during polymerization can be noted, as well as some masters claim its insufficient strength.

CNI brand products have been produced since 2001 and are made exclusively for professional use. The company follows the trends in the world of nail services and tries to produce materials, keeping up with new technologies. It is represented by almost all types of gels, which are of high quality, harmless effect on nails, resistance. A wide color palette and various volumes of jars.

Budget products for nail extension. The opinion about these gels is mixed. Fakes are widespread, materials do not always correspond to the declared characteristics. The products of this brand are more suitable for beginners. The coating is strong, hard to the touch, but unstable. The material is prone to bubble formation. With prolonged use, the development of allergies is possible.

Luxury products. Camouflage, color, transparent base and others. Gels are characterized by medium density and density and self-alignment on the nail plate. During polymerization, bubbles do not form, there is no burning sensation. The result is durable and retains the declared shade. Natural nails do not suffer, strengthening occurs during socks. IBD gels are presented in several series, responsible for different tasks for each type of nail plate.

The brand has existed on the market for more than 10 years, and since 2017 has updated the design of its products. Kodi provides mainly camouflage, sculpting and clear gels for single-phase and three-phase systems. Some materials are intended exclusively for modeling already artificial nails and are called Kodi UV Builder Gel Clear Ice. Product quality is high, quickly polymerizes, does not turn yellow, does not crack.

Cosmoprofi brand gels have mostly positive reviews due to the characteristics declared by the brand. Gels sit perfectly on nails, do not cause burning sensation when dried, do not bubble, have a persistent color. A thick consistency will allow nails to grow even for a beginner. Artificial coating retains gloss for a long time. The color of camouflage gels is as close as possible to the natural color of the nail.Products do not indulge in a variety of types and systems, but all gels are created from high quality materials.

To properly apply the gel for building, you need to decide on the technique. Create artificial nails using tips or shapes. Each method has its own subtleties.

When building on forms, the type of nails is as close to natural as possible. It is possible to create any shape - square, almond, stilettos and others. The transition between the gel and the nail remains invisible. This technique allows you to avoid excessive thickening of the nail plate. Among the shortcomings is the complexity of the process, there is no possibility of self-build. On thin and exfoliated nails, it is not recommended to exceed the length of the free edge by more than 1.5 times the length of the nail plate.

The technique of execution is as follows.

1. Natural nails need to be given the desired length and shape, or shortened.
2. Using the buff, the upper keratin layer of the nail is removed, the cuticle is removed and the side rollers are cleaned.
3. A degreaser is applied to the prepared surface, followed by a primer.
4. The form is set, trimmed according to the template and fixed around the finger.
5. With a synthetic brush and a small portion of the selected gel, a substrate is formed under the new nail.
6. It is necessary to correctly lay out most of the material on the middle zone of the nail and reduce it to the ends.
7. The finished result is polymerized in the lamp.
8. If the build-up occurs with a single-phase gel, then after drying the template is removed and the shape is corrected.
9. After all the manipulation, the sticky layer is removed using a degreaser and a lint-free cloth.

A feature of this method is the gluing of finished tips to the nail and filling the result with the selected gel. There are two attachment zones: contact and free edge. The first method involves the complete design of a natural nail by the tip, the second - partial attachment to the tip of the nail plate, thereby creating the length and shape of the future nail.

The execution is as follows.

1. Natural nails are given the desired length and shape and treated with an antiseptic.
2. The free edge is filed with rounding.
3. The cuticle is removed, the side rollers are cleaned.
4. A soft buff or abrasive file cleans the top layer of the nail plate.
5. Processing is carried out with a degreaser and a primer.
6. Tips are attached to the nail, depending on the chosen technique.
7. An artificial nail is filed, giving it the desired shape.
8. The junction is also filed, thereby removing the visible step.
9. The gel is applied from the middle of the nail, creating a "stress zone", and is distributed to the ends.
10. Polymerization in the lamp, following the allotted time.
11. After this, the last shape correction is made, any roughness is removed.
12. Finishing and lamp drying.

Among the possible difficulties, only a few stand out. The first problem is the density of the material. Since after polymerization, the artificial coating becomes very dense and strong, thin nails with mechanical damage can break from the inside. Sometimes it doesn’t appear on the outside or a barely visible trace appears. Damage to the nail becomes noticeable when removing the coating, which sometimes leads to painful sensations.

In addition, with all the strength of the coating, very weak and thin nails can bend along with the gel. This occurs when the length of the extended nails is unnatural for this type of hand.Brittle nails cannot grow longer than a comfortable length, and with an increase in this limit, deformation of the plate occurs, leading to the flexibility of the canvas and its ruptures.

The second problem is allergic reactions, which occurs due to the inhalation of vapors and particles of gel and varnish.

The procedure is prohibited when:

• taking antibiotics;

• chemotherapy
• diseases and injuries of nails;
• wounds and inflammation of the skin;
• malaise due to the reaction to the smell of acrylic or gel.

Local symptoms of allergies occur in the following possible forms.

• Itching and burning.

• Finger pain.
• Swelling.
• Blisters and redness.
• The formation of crusts and rashes.
• Peeling material.
• Deformation of the nails.

In case of the above symptoms, you should immediately apply a respiratory mask and drink antihistamines. With a very severe allergy, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Most girls are satisfied after applying nail extensions. The formula and texture of the gels is being improved, which pleases the fans with the quality and durability of the coating, saving time when building and correcting the coating. Healing gels receive the majority of positive reviews due to an improvement in the structure of the stratum corneum of the nails.

Of the minuses, customers note that some products are above average and the price does not always correspond to the declared quality. And also cheap products can not boast of the characteristics that are expected from gels. They quickly form chips and do not dry well in lamps.

Masters respond positively to hypoallergenic gels. Such products make life easier for customers and allergy sufferers, allowing them to build safely. Of the brands presented, draw attention to the shortcomings in the form of inconvenience in working with not very thick consistencies. Despite this, gels perform all the tasks assigned.

It should be noted that amateurs and professionals are unhappy with the fact that on the market you can periodically find fakes. Most often, fake products are produced under well-known brands. Such a surrogate can harm the reputation of the master and the client’s hands.

How to choose a gel for nail extensions, you will learn from the video below.