Gel polish and gel: what is the difference, pros and cons, differences, rating of the best 2020

In the image of a modern girl, not only hairstyle, makeup, clothes, shoes are important, but also manicure. Recently, gels and gel varnishes have been very popular for creating different nail designs, the main difference between which is the purpose of the application.

What is gel polish and nail extension gel?

Gel polish and gel are materials for covering and building up the nail plate. Thanks to them, you can eliminate defects in the nail or lengthen the free edge.

How does gel polish work? Pros and cons

Gel polish is a combination of regular nail polish and bio gel. Its dispersion medium forms a cellular component on the surface of the nail plate, due to which the material is held. The gel polish hardens due to polymerization in an ultraviolet and LED lamp.

Gel polishes are divided into:

• reflective (characterized by fast coupling with the nail plate, dried in a lamp);
• not reflective (applied using a catalyst).

Most often, craftsmen use reflective gel polishes, as they are easier to use.

Gel polish is suitable for those who have a dense nail structure.

The advantages of gel polish are as follows:

• relatively harmless, even during pregnancy;
• covers the nail plate with a thin layer;
• ease of application (similar to a regular varnish with a brush);
• resistant to mechanical damage with proper care;
• does not have a pungent chemical odor;
• has a wide color palette;
• there is a special line of gel polishes for children, enriched with vitamins;
• retains its original appearance for a long time;
• lack of detachment when applied correctly;
• due to the plasticity of the material, it does not deform the nail;
• has a high polymerization rate;
• looks natural;
• has a glossy sheen;
• easily removed by soaking with a special compound.

Among the disadvantages of using gel polish are:

• inability to adjust the shape and length of the nail;
• fading in the sun;
• cheap and low-quality material can cause allergies, rashes and problems with the respiratory tract;
• less wear resistance compared to gel coating;
• when worn for a long time, the material begins to actively absorb moisture, drying the natural nail, voids form on it, which spoil the nail plate;
• can exacerbate existing fungal infections, as well as dermatological problems;
• budget gel varnishes of some manufacturers contain substances that are toxic and harmful to the body;
• drying the material in a lamp can cause discomfort and burning;
• it is not recommended to apply on long nails, as the likelihood of chipping increases;
• long-term wear of the gel polish without interruptions will thin the nail.

The principle of the gel. Advantages and disadvantages

Gel is a porous artificial polymer material that is used for building and covering natural nails. Using the gel, you can lengthen the free edge, shape the desired shape and strengthen the thin nail plate.

There are such types of gel as:

• base (gel of a liquid consistency, which is necessary for better adhesion of the material to the nail plate);
• modeling (used to create the shape and build the length of the nail);
• finishing (used to ensure a glossy surface of the material).

There are also gels that combine the properties of different types of material.

Among the advantages of using the gel are the following:

• high strength of the coating;
• minimal negative impact on the structure of the nail;
• the ability to create creative designs on nails using broths, rhinestones, stones;
• correction of the shape of the nail and alignment of the plate;
• lengthening the nail plate;
• good durability of the coating on peeling nails;
• giving a healthy look to the cuticle by moisturizing it;
• long wear duration;
• no deformation when worn;
• economical consumption of material.

The helium coating also has its drawbacks:

• poor color palette;
• removal only by cutting;
• injury hazard when chipping material;
• burning sensation when polymerizing in a lamp;
• under the gel, the natural nail grows faster, since the material blocks the access of oxygen;
• with poor quality performance, an unnatural look;
• extended nails are more brittle due to their length;
• you cannot remove the helium coating yourself;
• the gel can crack at a sharp temperature drop.

What is the difference between gel polish and extension gel?

Gel polish and gel, the difference between which is observed in many ways, are popular in the nail industry. The main feature that distinguishes these materials is the purpose of use.

Differences in composition

There is a lot of controversy about the harmfulness of materials for building and covering nails. For a client whose frequency of contact with materials is no more than 2 times a month, the harmful effect of substances that make up gels and gel varnishes is minimal. The master, regularly using protective equipment and taking precautions, is able to reduce the negative consequences.

Gel polish is a material that is more flexible to wear and does not bite into the nail plate.

It also includes:

• nutrients that strengthen the nail, resin, wax;
• a solvent that promotes polymerization and adhesion to a natural nail;
• polymer that increases the durability of the coating;
• plasticizer, providing elasticity of the material;
• TSF, which enhances adhesion;
• film former, which forms a coating on the surface that does not allow the gel polish to be erased;
• titanium dioxide, which is a white pigment that enhances the brightness of the color of gel polish;
• pigment, mica.

Gel for nail modeling consists of monomers and acrylate, which form a single chain during polymerization. Unlike gel polish, it absolutely does not contain any natural ingredients and is a synthetic material. The gel also contains adhesion diluent, photoinitiator and colorant.

Difference in application method

Application of gel polish and gel can be divided into several main stages:

1. manicure;
2. sawdust of the nail plate;
3. degreasing the nail;
4. applying a primer;
5. application of material (gel or gel polish).

Initially, it is important to do a manicure, remove the pterygium, because without this, there is a high probability of detachment in the cuticle area.

The procedure for preparing a natural nail for coating and building begins with sawdust with a soft file or buff with a slight abrasiveness... This procedure is carried out in order to achieve better adhesion to the artificial material. In this case, it is necessary to control the thoroughness of such sawdust.

If there is insufficient removal of the gloss during wear, detachments may form. Excessive cutting of the surface layer will lead to further deformation of the nail. After the sawdust, a degreasing agent (dehydrator) and a primer are applied to the surface of the nail, which lifts the scales of the nail plate.

Since the application of gel polish is a simpler process, the speed of such a coating is higher.After applying the primer in the three-phase system, the nail is covered with a base gel polish, after that - with a colored material, and at the end of the procedure - with a finishing gel polish. Each layer is dried in a lamp.

The difference in applying the gel is that after the base, the artificial nail is modeled. The primer and topcoat used for gel polish and gel build-up are different.

Differences in polymerization time

Gel and gel polish solidify only when exposed to ultraviolet rays from a special lamp.

The polymerization rate of a plastic material depends on factors such as:

• number of layers of material;
• lamp type (LED lamp dries faster);
• the number of decorative elements in the coating;
• type of material (gel polish dries faster than gel).

The difference in the duration of saving the result

Gel polish and gel, the difference in which the results are preserved for several weeks, are worn the longer, the less mechanical impact they have on them.

The term of wearing gel polish is 2-3 weeks. However, a natural nail can grow back much faster, and as a result, the visual component of a manicure deteriorates. When covered with gel, it can be filed in the cuticle area and temporarily covered with regular varnish. With proper care, the gel can be worn for up to a month.

The gel coating is resistant, but the extended nail can be undermined along with the natural one. Chipped gel polish can only affect the appearance.

Removal Procedure

Gel polish and gel, the difference in which is not very large in application, differ in the removal procedure. Removal of the gel coating is possible only by cutting. Usually, for this, craftsmen do not use files, but an apparatus with cutters. The gel polish is removed by soaking.

At the same time, cotton pads are moistened in a solution, applied to a pre-sanded gel-varnish coating and wrapped in foil to obtain a thermal effect. The material becomes soft after a while and is removed with a manicure spatula. Sawing off the gel polish is also possible, but with this procedure it is quite difficult not to damage the natural nail plate.

Color spectrum

The color variety of gels is poorer than that of gel polishes. Manufacturers produce transparent gels, gels of nude shades, as well as white ones for laying out a jacket. Colored gels are usually made in gel paint format. A variety of colors of gel polishes allows you to perform a variety of designs with their help.

There are such varieties of gel varnishes as:

• nude (gel varnishes in pastel colors, which are mainly used to create French manicure);
• plain;
• stained glass (gel varnishes of a translucent texture);
• thermal effect gel varnishes (gel varnishes that can change their shade as a result of exposure to heat and cold);
• gel polishes with craquelure effect (gel polishes with cracked effect);
• magnetic gel varnishes (gel varnishes, which contain metal particles, which, when using a magnet, line up in a pattern);
• mirror gel polishes;
• gel polishes with shimmer (glitter).

Price

Gel polish and gel, the difference in chemical and physical properties, between which is significant, also differ in cost.

As a rule, the price of the gel is higher. But do not forget that in the long term, helium nails are more beneficial. In case of chipping of one or more nails, extended or covered with gel, they can be corrected with correction.

Gel polish, on the other hand, cannot be corrected and must be completely removed and the coating done again. At the same time, the gel is sold in larger volumes than the gel polish, since the extension procedure takes more material than the gel polish coating. There are also budget, middle-class and expensive gels and gel polishes, the main of which are presented in the table.

Table 1. Price comparison of gels and gel varnishes.

Correction

Gel-extended nails are subject to correction when they grow back or break off. A manicure made with gel polish is removed completely and re-created.

With helium build-up or strengthening, it is necessary to give the nails a break in order to restore the nail plate.

Such a three-month vacation for nails should be done at least once every six months. During this time, the nail plate will grow back completely. During rest, the masters recommend intensive nail care, the use of varnishes to restore the structure, regularly moisturize the skin of the fingers with a special oil, and include foods rich in calcium, protein, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus in the diet.

Consistency

The consistency of gel polish is more liquid, while the gel is slightly viscous and dense.

Base gel polishes, especially those with a rubber base, are thicker.

Is it possible to distinguish coatings visually?

It is almost impossible to visually distinguish the nail plate strengthened with gel and coated with gel polish. At the same time, extended nails differ from natural ones in thickness. Also, gel polish has a more pronounced gloss.

The best gels for nail extension, prices

High-quality gels for nail extension are able to provide good manicure durability, but at the same time they are distinguished by a high price. Cheap means not only wear badly, but can also damage the structure of the nail.

When choosing a gel for building, the following parameters should be considered:

• consistency (the gel should not be too thick or too liquid in order for the coating to be most comfortable);
• smell (a pungent smell indicates the presence of harmful compounds in the composition of the material);
• composition;
• curing time (gels with fast curing can be unpleasant, and those that dry longer in the lamp increase the coating time);
• the base and top coat must be used by the same company as the construction gel.

The most popular are single-phase gels due to the time savings in application. The best gels for nail extension and their comparative characteristics are shown in table 2.

Table 2. Gels for building

Popular brands of gel polishes and their cost

Among the important criteria when choosing a gel polish are the following:

• durability (this criterion is very important, but it is checked only in practice in the process of wearing);
• consistency (should not be too dense, but not too liquid);
• easy removal (it should take no more than 15 minutes to remove the material using special tools);
• high pigment density;
• composition;
• smell.

Among the best gel polishes are the following:

The difference between gel and gel polish is their purpose, therefore the composition, consistency and price differ.

Those who want to diversify the manicure, not wanting to spend a lot of time on it, can make the coating with such a material or build-up that lasts much longer and looks much better than ordinary varnishes, even if they are of sufficient quality and expensive.

Video showing the distinctive characteristics of different products

What is the difference between nail extension products: