I have had acrylic nails for the longest time, but I have recently found that acrylic nail aren't good, but gel nails are...somewhat... If you are thinking about getting nails ask for GEL it may cost a little more but in the long run its better and they last longer too.

Welcome to our newest member.....Isbw49! Really gel nails? That's sounds pretty cool! I'll have to try them next time I get my nails done! Do they look more real than acrylic?

I personally like gel

Gel is stronger. I like gel better.

I get acrylic rockstar nails with gel on top. They last a million times longer, don't get scratched, and don't go dull.

I use to do mine all the time. I actally went to school for Cosmetology. I watched the girl do them and picked it up. I never got my licences. I didn't want to do it anymore.

UV gel nails are a good choice for many women for several reasons. They are more realistic looking, and feeling. They are long lasting, non-yellowing, non-toxic, and odorless (No smelly acrylic monomers are used with gel nail application!). They tend to be more flexible than acrylic nails are, and that results in fewer breaks, chipping, and cracking og the nail enhancement.
However, to get these results, one needs to seek the services of a qualified tech with at least several years of experience in doing UV gel applications. You see, gel nails are easy to do, but they are very difficult to master. It takes several years for a tech to get to a point where they are truly competent in the fine art of UV gel application so that the nails you walk out of the salon with are truly top notch, and impressive looking! Equally important is that the tech should be using nothing but the best quality UV nail gel products available. UV gels are not created equally. There are some cheap imitations out there which will not look anywhere near as good as a top notch gel product would. he cheaper gels also tend to be problematic in that many yellow easily, others simply lack that great high gloss luster that gel nails are famous for.
One side note which I feel is important. Beware of nail salons that are charging very low prices for their services. Quality gel products are rather expensive, so that is part of the reason gel nails are more expensive than acrylic nails. Not to mention the time it takes to apply them. The salons that charge low prices are not using top notch products. If they did, they would not be able to continue charging customers low prices, and still make a profit. This skimping on product quality is only one of the ways that discount salons are able to keep their prices very low.
Anyway, my point is that there are many nail salons in operation that charge low, low prices for all their services. It is quite unfortunate, but there is what amounts to be nothing short of a scam which occurs on a regular basis at many of these 'discount' salons. It goes like this. You walk in (They are almost always walk-in salons, no appointment needed) and kindly ask for UV gel nails. They say OK. But when you get to the nail table with the tech, and they begin application of this supposed 'gel,' it is often nothing but liquid and powder which is applied to your nails. In short, you are paying for higher priced gel nails, but are getting acrylic nails instead. It happens all too often to many unsuspecting women each and every day in this type of salon. Now, not all of them are liek that. Just be aware they do exist. Simply stated, if the nail tech uses ANY liquid and powder on your nails, you are not getting gel nails, You are getting acrylic nails, and you are getting scammed out of your hard earned money. There is really so much more, but I think I have taken more than enough space up already with my post, so I will leave it at that. Just remember, UV gels are NEVER a powder. Some of these salons even go as far as advertising "Powder gel nails" Sorry, no such thing as powder gel. That is 'discount' salon speak for 'acrylic nails' which sound like gel! SO many people are folle by this. Quite unfortunate and sad, in my opinion. A gel is not a powder. It is never a powder. They are 'gel,' as the name implies.
I hope this helps.

Hi, I'd like to comment on this also, I just got out of the nail business....I'd done nails for 12 years.....Loved my clients.....but after about 5 yrs, the smells started getting to me.....so I wore the mask which helped aLOT with the dust and particals but the scent was still in the air....I remember comming home and have the smell on my cloths.....

I've dabbled in the Gels, Acrylics and Fiberglass.....and to be honest I enjoyed doing the Gel better......alot less work to the great finished look!

Are any of these better for your nails.....NO!

Either way your covering up the nail so it is not getting oxygen....therefore your natural nail will be brittle and could even get molded if not properly cared for.....

I went and had mine done not to long ago, and I choose the Gel nails also.....I did not care for them.....guess I am not usta wearing them......

now can I please advise y'all of one thing.....

PLEASE PLEASE, DO NOT LET ANYONE DRILL ON YOUR NATURAL NAIL....IF YOU ASK THEM TO USE THE FLAT FILES AND THEY TELL YOU THEY CAN'T THEN TELL THEM TO STOP...THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE THE HALF MOON LINES IN YOUR NAIL BEDS....THEY ARE DRILLING AWAY THE LAYERS OF YOUR NATURAL NAIL...

This does not have to be done....the reason for the pre filing is to remove any oils or lotions from the nail bed so the product will stick better....this can be done with polish remover, and a natural nail file.....From what I was taught is you just need to scratch up < if that is correct term> nail bed so the product wont be on a smooth surface....

So girls/ladies...y'all remember this when your getting your nails done....anytime anything is put on your natural nails, they are not breathing nor is air getting to them...unless you have lifting....

just trying to pass on a little information that some may not be aware of....

Take care and God Bless!