False nails: which technique to choose?

When you're not a nail technician, it's hard to know everything about nails, let alone the different methods of nail application or types of artificial nails.

What is nail application?

Nail application is a technique of covering nails with different materials, such as gel, acrylic, resin, or polygel. The application is done directly on the natural nail, and the application of tips (capsules) can complement these techniques to achieve even longer nails.

Resin Nail Application

Resin is a liquid adhesive applied with a brush. It is usually combined with powder that will solidify and even out the nail. The resin is applied to the nail, the nail is then dipped in the powder, and then covered with resin again. Resin does not air dry; it needs a catalyst applied to the nail to solidify it. There are countless powder colors for very natural or very colorful manicures. This technique makes it easy to create French manicures and baby boomers. This technique does not allow for nail lengthening; for this, it is combined with tip application. One of the big advantages of resin is that it dissolves in acetone for removal. Therefore, filing is not necessary. In France, this technique is called acrylic or ANS technique (abbreviation for Acrylic Nail System). To learn more, watch the resin nail application video.

Acrylic Nail Application

Acrylic is another technique, mixing acrylic powder with monomer liquid. The mixture produces a small, pliable ball that is then applied to the nail and worked until the desired shape is achieved. There are builder powders that allow for nail lengthening without tips. The technician will then use pre-marked forms placed around your nails to build the nail extension. Acrylic air dries. The nail is not very flexible with this technique, but it is very strong.

Gel Nail Application

UV gel is applied directly to the nail, without any mixing. Builder gels, with the help of forms, allow for nail lengthening, and colored gels allow for a colorful manicure. Gel does not air dry; it needs to cure under a UV lamp, about 2 minutes between each coat. Gel leaves the nail quite flexible, but to be strong, the gel layer must be quite thick.

Polygel Application

Polygel is a hybrid between gel and acrylic, offering the best of both: no mixing, very resistant and flexible. The technique is quite simple; just take a small ball of Polygel from the tube, apply it to the nail, and work it with liquid (Slip Solution) to soften it and achieve the desired shape. Polygel needs a UV or LED lamp to cure. You can watch the Polygel application video.

Tip Application

There are several types of nail tips: half-tips, also called French or conventional tips, only cover part of the nail; they must be completed with resin to cover the entire nail. This tip serves to lengthen the natural nail, and the resin overlay unifies and solidifies the whole. The nail retains its natural curve, and the application is durable. There is also another type that are full-cover tips. These are commonly called artificial nails. These types of tips can be found in pharmacies and specialized stores. They are glued to the nail with nail glue or resin. An overlay is not necessary over the tip. The nail takes on the curvature of the tip, which may not be suitable for all nail types, and some parts may not be glued to the nail.