It's a tough decision for any glamour girl (or boy). Which artificial nails will complete your look and complement your lifestyle best? I'll show you what each type of false fingernail is how they differ from each other.
Gel fingernails are artificial fingernails that enhance your natural nails. Gel fingernails use a special gel that is applied to the natural nails (and tips if you want more length) then "cured" or hardened with either UV light, water or another special gel. They are a more natural looking artificial fingernail. Gel nails are meant to be worn for a long period of time and require a longer commitment than other artificial fingernails. They need to be maintained over time but will be a long term artificial fingernail that will look beautiful every day.
- clear
- flexible
- thin
- non-yellowing
- and won't lift off of your natural nails.
- They need to be maintained to stay beautiful
- Less durable than acrylic fingernails
- Breaking a nail usually means needing to re-do the entire nail (rather than a quick fix)
- Gel nails are more difficult to apply or do fill-ins at home
- Difficult to remove
- Can be expensive to maintain.
Acrylic nails can be used over the entire fingernail or only on the tips. They can be as inexpensive as the glue-on nails found at the local pharmacy or can be applied as tips in a salon. They are beautiful and dramatic and can be great for a single occasion or for a longer time period.
- Durable
- A broken nail will not be devastating, it can be temporarily fixed
- Widely available in salons and stores
- More easily applied at home
- Look less natural
- Filing the natural nail before applying acrylics or not removing properly will damage the natural nail
