As an educator for Nail Professionals as well as a practicing nail tech I find most common, people seem to not know the diffrences between Gel and acrylic services as due to lack of knowledge on the techs part, communication barrier or that the tech wants to scam the costumer into beleving that they got a quality product for a cheap price or all the above!!!
The industry has come up with an alternative to the traditional nitrocellulose-based product that we are all familiar with on the market today. Gel nails are a new, more natural looking alternative to acrylic nail extensions. Unlike acrylics, the UV gel used to create the nails has no discomforting odors and no hazardous ingredients. There is no glue involved in the process except to put on tips before the application if neccesary but not needed, eliminating unnecessary nail damage caused by lifting. Gel nails are created with a layer of base gel, brushed into a mold then cured by UV Lamps: 9 watt, 18 watt, or 36 watt at 110 volts depending on cure rate desired. Gel nails are limitless in their design capabilities, and can even be reinforced with fiberglass for extra strength and repairs purposes. They are also available in a choice of natural, basic color choices mainly the basic color wheel red, blue,yellow,blacketc to pastelcolors to enhance the natural look of the nail bed or to add some flare and go with a daring black french. In short, gel nails are an extremely natural-looking enhancement: thin, clear, flexible, non-yellowing, nonporous, while resist lifting. Gel nails can be used for natural nail overlays (actually one of the most difficult techniques, but looks the easiest to achieve), tip overlays, and sculpted onto forms for short extensions, and to help encapsulate a damaged free-edge as it grows out. These have been used mainly by nail salons Gel nails are the future of the nail industry. 90% of the nail business in Europe is based on gels, and the United States will also be using gels within 5 to 10 years. Gel nails are up and coming probably the next hot service that salon clients will demand. No other service can give clients both a natural nail look and feel combined with the convenience and durability of acrylic nails. Many clients have tired of acrylic nails in this past two decades because of the disadvantages that can be associated with them (such as the odors, lifting and nail damage, and components such as MMA, etc). These same clients now flock to salons in record numbers for ';natural nail'; manicures with many spa type add-ons to increase the service price. However, many of these clients have already grown weary of the weekly appointments and rigorous home maintenance requirements of ';natural'; nails. They want another alternative; they want natural beauty combined with strength and durability. Now we can deliver to the clients what they really want - convenience as well as durability.Some major benefits of gel nails are that they are odorless, they have a thin, flexible, natural feeling on the nail, and they are clear and extremely lightweight. Traditional acrylics harden in about 10 minutes, but they can take 24 hours or more to fully cure. Ultra violet gel nails harden in about 15-30 seconds and cure in about 2 minutes. They are simple one-component UV gels. These are not temporary nails that are applied with adhesives, they are extensions of one's natural nails. The UV gel is a multifunctional product and can be even used for nail sculpting. Clients want and are willing to pay for high-end services. Just as the top department stores have defined a separate niche for themselves from the K-Mart type stores, so will gel nails be distinguished from many other nail care services. Gel nails will never be a discount service offered in a discount salon atmosphere. Gel nails are a long term, lifestyle choice. The type of consumer looking for only a quick fix of short term or temporary nails (such as party nails). While some salons will always cater to quantity sales such as walk-in type business, the gel nail philosophy demands commitment and planning and so will attract a clientele that is compatible with that service level. Just as Nieman Marcus does not compete with K-Mart, neither will gel nail salons compete with discount salons. These are two very different market segments with two very different price points and a lot safer to use than what is currently available on the market today
The acrylic nails that are created by mixing a powder with a liquid. Nail techs literally paint and shape the nails into place using this mixture. The liquid recommended by most professional nail technicians is Ethyl Methacrylate, or EMA. Ethyl Methacrylate is a little more expensive than its alternative, Methyl Methacrylate or MMA. Methyl Methacrylate is commonly used because it is more cost-effective and is deemed a ';black market under the table product'; due to it being banned for use by the FDA. However, MMA is linked to a number of harmful side effects, including skin irritations and irregular nail growth. MMA -Methyl Methacrylate is an ingredient that was commonly used in early ';nail porcelains or acrylics.';
In the early 1970鈥檚, the Food and Drug Administration received numerous complaints of personal injuries associated with the use of acrylic monomer formulated with MMA and then banned by the FDA.
The reports included serious nail damage or loss, contact dermatitis, organ damage from long term use, soreness and infection due to breaks caused by rigidly adhered acrylic.
Most nail tech's that still use Acrylic including me urge customers to choose Ethyl Methacrylate for acrylic use because of its quality. Excellent material choices and proper nail care insures consumers that their nails will enhance their hands with style and safety.
Once care and maintenance are in place, a regular acrylic nail customer can concentrate on nail color, design and trends. One of the classic nail color combinations is found in the French manicure. This design is simply a natural nail color accompanied by white tips. This is a popular option for many women because the colors compliment any outfit. Some customers are a little more daring and want to play with color. Nail techs create a plethora of designs ranging from stars to little murals of famous paintings.
In addition to color, many people choose to add a little sparkle. Nail technicians offer inserts that are imbedded right into the acrylic. Some more exotic choices include tiny gems and stickers that come in a huge range of shapes, designs and colors.What are the contra indications for acrylic and gel nails?
Just a clairfication. Gel nails are non-porous. Thats why they are not soakable in acetone. In order to remove them, they must be filed off. Though there are a few brands of soakable gels on the market, they are not widely used. All traditional UV gels are non-soakable. Thus, they do not 'breathe.' However, gels are definitely better for your nails though all artificial nails will cause damage to some degree after wearing them for some time. How much damage is done really depends on the technician, and the products they are using. There are so many unskilled techs out there who will ruin your nails for you. No need for acrylic, or gel, LOL! And poor quality products will damage your nails much quicker than top quality products, especially if they have MMA in them. That stuff is really bad for your nails. No wonder it was banned for use on nails over 25 years ago by the FDA. But, still many of the cheap salons still use it because it costs next to nothing to buy the stuff. Those are the salons to avoid at all costs.
- Um, as for the advice given elsewhere on this page, over half of the comment was copied verbatim from:
http://www.specialchem4cosmetics.com/mar鈥?/a>
That was an editorial piece written by a man named Nick Morante back in April of 2007.
The other half consists of almost verbatim plagarism from:
http://ezinearticles.com/?All-About-Acry鈥?/a>
(With a couple of words thrown in here and there to personalize it a bit, but nevertheless, it is plagarism at its finest).
Thank You for asking this question as i have asked my lady that does my nails if i should have it taken off for a while to let them breath as they are acrylic, she has assured me my nails will be ok my daughters nails have gone all white %26amp; brittle.
gel is porous and allows the nails to 'breath' therefore doesnt damage them as much. acrylic isnt as nice but it is more hardwearing
Gel is supposed to be kinder on the nails but I have had both and they both leave the nails damaged and easily broken.
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