What Is a Gel-X Manicure: Nail Artist Explains Why You Should Try This Trending Technique
Learn about the viral manicure that doesn’t harm nails and adds some length to your fingertips
Artificial nails and nail enhancements are nothing new—they’ve been around for decades as a way to make nails look longer, thicker and stronger. From acrylics to dip powder nails, there have been many variations of artificial nails we’ve seen become trendy, but there’s a new type of nail enhancement that has entered the chat: Gel-X nails. A combination of the best of both worlds—a gel manicure and artificial nails—Gel-X is one of our favorite types of artificial nails we’ve seen in a while. And better yet, they can easily be done at home (the salon, too, if you’re not one for DIY). Keep reading for the ultimate guide to a Gel-X manicure, from what they are, why you should try them and a comparison to other manicure techniques—all according to a professional nail artist.
What is a Gel-X manicure?
First and foremost, let’s go over what exactly this popular nail enhancement is. A Gel-X manicure is “a type of nail enhancement that is created using a full-coverage nail tip and gel,” explains nail artist Sigourney Nunez. “The gel is used to adhere the tip to the natural nail and the finish is a natural-looking nail set.”
It almost looks like a press-on nail, in the sense that the “tip” covers the entire nail bed. However, because Gel-X nails are cured, they last much longer than press-on nails.
Why are Gel-X nails popular?
Aside from their longevity, which is typically about two to three weeks, Gel-X manicures are beloved for how natural they look and how easy they are to do. “Gel-X extensions are very popular among clients because the results are very natural looking. It’s a popular service among nail techs because the service has a smaller learning curve than traditional liquid-and-powder enhancements,” affirms Nunez.
With acrylics, nails can come out looking thick and non-natural looking, especially if you’re doing them yourself and you’re a beginner. It takes a lot of practice and expertise to perfect acrylics to get the right consistency and thickness.
With Gel-X, on the other hand, you don’t need to worry about making them too thick or thin since there’s no “powder” involved. You simply cure the Gel-X full-coverage nail tip and you’re ready to paint on your gel polish.
Is Gel-X better than acrylics?
Ultimately, the type of manicure you deem “best” all comes down to personal preference. However, Gel-X does offer many advantages over acrylics.
You may be wondering what the difference is between acrylics and Gel-X: “Acrylics are created using a liquid monomer and polymer powder. When the chemicals interact, it creates a bead that the nail tech can sculpt into a durable coating on the nail. This type of technique often requires a high level of artistry,” says Sigourney. “With Gel-X, the guess work is taken out of the equation because you adhere a nail tip that covers the entire nail plate and adds length.”
Further, as already mentioned above, a Gel-X manicure often looks more natural than acrylics. However, you get the same lengthening effects as acrylics, which is often why people opt for acrylic nails.
Another difference is with acrylics, you apply the artificial tip just on the tip of the nail to add length, not the entire nail bed like you do with Gel-X.
The difference between Gel-X and dip nails
Another popular style of artificial nails is dip nails. Dip doesn’t necessarily always add length (although you can request tips to be added), but they do last longer than your regular manicure and make nails look and feel stronger.
The difference between Gel-X and dip? “Dip gives nails a durable coating that is created using polymer powder and cyanoacrylate, which is a cosmetic grade adhesive,” says Nunez. “This type of enhancement is done by applying a coat of the adhesive to the natural nail and dipping the nail into the polymer powder. This step is repeated a few times to build up a protective coating on the natural nail.”
How much does a Gel-X manicure cost?
The cost of Gel-X manicures can vary depending on the salon and location, but on average, a typical Gel-X manicure will range from $60 to $150. You also have to consider the length you want and if you’re getting a design, which will likely make your Gel-X nails ring up on the higher side.
While this may seem pricey, it may just be worth it since your mani should last you two to three weeks (However, mine last up to four weeks sometimes!).
See the video below by @msjanetteok to see how Gel-X nails are done in the salon.
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