Thread: nails - acrylic, gel, silk?

can anybody give me a rundown on the difference between acrylic, gel and silk nails? I'm familiar with acrylic. I asked at the salon last time I was there and there was, shall we say, a language barrier. ;) so I couldn't really get any answers other than "gel nails are done with a gel."

I heard somewhere that acrylic from nail overlays can enter your bloodstream and lodge in your liver or something, where it will live forever (is this true??? should probably check out snopes) so I was interested in trying another type of overlay for my thin, soft nails. I'm hoping for something that is strong and not too high maintenance, as I'm a mom with little kids. :) thanks in advance!

I would also like to hear more on this topic. Anybody know of an all-natural nail polish or nail polish remover? I love the look of painted nails, but think it's probably bad for you. That remover is noxious!

I never heard that about acrylic (.w.: that's all I wear). The heirarchy is this way...silk is the best, then gel, and acrylic is the lowest and also the cheapest (hence why it's maybe the most popular). I get acrylic because I'm cheap though I know it's not the best for my nails. Where I come from in the South, acrylic is all we know. Sometimes people there get gel, but it's pricey to upkeep. I also like acrylic because it's really sturdy and I'm tough on my nails. If I ever got overlay on my own nails, I would get gel or silk, NEVER acrylic. Do you want altogether fake nails or an overlay on your own? I know someone on here is a nail technician, and she can tell you everything. But I think she's in the UK, so ways of doing things may be different there. I know she was saying that a good nail technician should know how to do acrylic nails without in the future making them weak or damaging them. I haven't met one yet, so maybe I should go visit her!

BDF/KJ

I would do the overlay over my natural nails, not over tips. I hate tips! they make my nail beds ache. :P and I don't need big long porn star nails - I just want them to go barely past the tips of my fingers (my nail beds are short and square - they stop about 1/8" below my finger tips. I envy those who have narrow nail beds that go all the way to the ends of their fingers! you can have your nails trimmed to the quick and they still look nice).

I had really bad luck with gels. They came off and looked terrible really quickly. I wore acrylics for 10 years off and on and really didn't have problems. I'd still be wearing them if I could justify the expense. I had both tips and overlays. I never really had a preference but if I broke a nail, I had to have a tip.

I had porn star nails for a while in high school..l;, I had this awesome nail tech who did nail art that I couldn't resist. I loved having crazy nails with purple polish, silver stripes, rhinestones and glitter ... I just described my last costume. Well that explains a lot.

Elisa my dear, I have had the most amazing nail tech for the past 7 years so I'm probably spoiled, but let me give you my 2cents...... I've never had silk wraps so I can't speak for them, but I had acrylics for many years, and have now switched over to a lightweight gel overlay that is bonded to my natural nails with UV light. I prefer the gels and don't have nearly as much trouble with lifting/cracking, but I did well with acrylics too. I guess I've got good nail beds :) My nail tech has given me lots of sound advice over the years and she's always been right:
-- get the best nails you can afford and be sure that you and your tech can communicate. That way you'll get the best fit for your body/lifestyle.
--avoid any place where the techs are wearing masks. In some cases, this means that the techs are using cheaper (illegal) dental-grade acrylic and I don't trust a place that would use something illegal on my nails.
--try your hardest to find a place that doesn't use drills. A tech who does the work by hand (with files and buffers) will be more expensive, but nasty things can happen with techs who have been trained to get you done super quick.

I realize that this is really general advice and thus rules out most of the convenient, cheap mall/shopping center little shops, but I've had my cuticles nipped and my nail beds drilled down by techs in the ''chop shops'' enough times to know better. I spend a lot on my nails but knowing that I'm avoiding possible infections and that my nails will be healthy should I ever get my overlays removed is worth it.
Phew! Sorry for the rant, but I love nails!

Originally Posted by Razia

Elisa my dear, I have had the most amazing nail tech for the past 7 years so I'm probably spoiled, but let me give you my 2cents...... I've never had silk wraps so I can't speak for them, but I had acrylics for many years, and have now switched over to a lightweight gel overlay that is bonded to my natural nails with UV light. I prefer the gels and don't have nearly as much trouble with lifting/cracking, but I did well with acrylics too. I guess I've got good nail beds :) My nail tech has given me lots of sound advice over the years and she's always been right:
-- get the best nails you can afford and be sure that you and your tech can communicate. That way you'll get the best fit for your body/lifestyle.
--avoid any place where the techs are wearing masks. In some cases, this means that the techs are using cheaper (illegal) dental-grade acrylic and I don't trust a place that would use something illegal on my nails.
--try your hardest to find a place that doesn't use drills. A tech who does the work by hand (with files and buffers) will be more expensive, but nasty things can happen with techs who have been trained to get you done super quick.

I realize that this is really general advice and thus rules out most of the convenient, cheap mall/shopping center little shops, but I've had my cuticles nipped and my nail beds drilled down by techs in the ''chop shops'' enough times to know better. I spend a lot on my nails but knowing that I'm avoiding possible infections and that my nails will be healthy should I ever get my overlays removed is worth it.
Phew! Sorry for the rant, but I love nails!

Everything you described is what I and the women in our family have been getting for years. The place I go now, the women use masks. That scares me a bit now that you've said that. And they drill...alot. But my nails come out better with them than another place I used to go to that did not use drills and the acrylic didn't make them wear masks (maybe they just use them to protect their faces since particles go everywhere). My nails looked less refined and polished and they didn't use UV lights either. The place I go to now has a decent clientele, has been there for years, and are quite respected and professional. So it really depends on where you go, and who you know. But I do know what you're talking about (been there, done that too) and I stay away from places like that. It's good to find a good place and stick with it. I like the fact that I can go there and trust any nail tech that does my nails. Also, just because you have fake nails and designs doesn't make them "porno" nails. You can have shorter, square nails with designs that look classy (um, me!). I type alot and work in a college so I can't do all that mess.

BDF

yes, exactly! There are exceptions to everyone's advice :) I alter between crazy ass ghetto nails with designs on them and the nice neat french's depending on my mood. At the moment? I'm feeling tame.......

I do acrylic and I go for the boring "pink & white". Its a sculpted french manicure, where they use pink tinted acrylic on the nail bed and white acrylic on the tip. I have them applied right over my natural nail & finished with a UV gel. I like them because my nails always match my outfit & I never have to worry about polish, plus they aren't quite as noticeable when they start to grow out because they aren't painted. I can paint over them and sometimes do just for a change. I keep mine trimmed pretty short--just barely extended past my nail bed. I like them best when the white tip is a medium to thin sized strip. I think this length & pink to white ratio looks the most natural.
I paid about $70 the first time & $35 every 2 weeks for a fill.

I've tried acrylics (over my own nails, not tips) and I hated the feel. Then for years I tried to grow my own nails and it just wasn't working. I toyed again with trying some salon nail option, but the thought of the expense AND the time (never enough time already) just was prohibitive for me.
I tried the GNC "hair, skin and nails" supplement, but my tummy didn't like it.
Then I started using Clarins hand and nail treatment *every* night and *every* morning. It has myrrh in it which is a natural nail strengthener. Just by doing this (and eating well and taking multi-vitamins) my nails stopped splitting/peeling and started being able to grow before breaking. They are currently bout a 1/4 inch past the end of my nail bed, which is almost a 1/4 inch past the end of my fingers. For me it is a respectable yet workable length.
I also had a huge problem with nail polish peeling off my flexible natural nails. Then I learned it was because I was using acrylic nail polish, which hardens to a very stiff finish. Regular polish stays on much better for me. Non-acetone nail polish remover is much more gentle on the body than acetone.
Just wanted to share another option. ..g.:

Thanks, Samira. I like the look of fake nails and polished nails, but don't want to be slowly poisoning myself with them. It'd be great if there was a natural, less harmful alternative.

I have been using Gel the most but the best I have found is Solar. I really like the Solar nails butThey are expensive and they lasted the longest. My nail tech. told me the heirarchy for nail strength went like this:
Solar
Gel (UV light)
Acrylic
Silk

I asked what the silk was like and she saiid they are best for older women who don't use their hands that much b/c the silk nails break very easy.

Originally Posted by Elianae

I would also like to hear more on this topic. Anybody know of an all-natural nail polish or nail polish remover? I love the look of painted nails, but think it's probably bad for you. That remover is noxious!

Paula's Choice has nail polish that is toluene-free and something else-free... (Sorry, I don't remember offhand but you can find out more here: Shop Paula's Choice Skin-Care: Paula's Choice Skin Care & Cosmetics)

For the remover, I used to get this thing at the dollar store: it's a small white plastic bottle with a pic of a lady wearing a big hat and holding her hands up. I don't rememebr the name of it, but it was an actual oil, very pleasant smelling. Man, I never saw anything remove polish that quickly, even glittery nail polish. A couple of drops on a cotton ball and the polish would slide right off. I haven't seen it around in a few months now and I have exhausted my stash. ..cr.: I actually haven't polished my nails since I've run out.

If anyone knows what this product's name is and where to find it, please post!

If you have soft thin nails I would not reccomend getting any fake nails. Off and on the past 20 years I have had silk, acrylic, and gel. this past year is my last time! I tried the gel nails thinking it would be different. I loved them!!! but like all the others they still eventually ruined my nails and became painful to wear. I have thin nails that can grow long on their own with a lot of patience and upkeep. It is cheaper and healthier to just get a good manicure but if you decide to do fake nails any way the first sign that your nail beds are lifting take them off! My nails looked horrendous for months!!

Originally Posted by elisagamal

I heard somewhere that acrylic from nail overlays can enter your bloodstream and lodge in your liver or something, where it will live forever (is this true???

Gel is acrylic. The basic chemical compounds are the same. So you put the same stuff on your nails be it gel or liquid and powder.

Nail enhancements do not ruin your nails. It's the nail tech's application and prep and/or the client's care and removal that do this. Not the product.

Never, ever go to to a nail tech who uses a drill on the nail bed. There's no need. A good tech will always be able to sculpt the nail with her brush and use minimum filing.

There is an illegal product on the market called Methyl Metha-crylate or MMA
It sets like concrete and cannot be filed off or soaked off in the normal way. Know it by it's unusually strong fruity smell, and the fact that it leaves a cloudy finish to the acrylic end result.

It's tougher than the regulated EMA and will not budge if you jam your nail and because of that strength, your nail doesn't flex. It can literally lift the acrylic nail and natural nail right off the nail plate. Studies show that in extreme cases prolonged exposure to MMA in fake nails can cause miscarriages, lesions on the kidneys and liver and respiratory problems.

So, you get what you pay for. A good salon will not use MMA . Watch out for techs who pour excess monomer (liquid) from the dappen dish back into the main bottle. Watch for bottles that hold the monomer that are unlabelled. Ask your salon what product they use and ask to the see the labelled bottles. Avoid drills. Avoid low low prices. A set of nails in the UK should not cost less than £25 to £35. Any lower than this, and it could well be MMA.

A bottle 500 ml of EMA costs around £150 to £200 (depending on product supplier). The same size bottle of MMA costs about 50 pence or less. So you can see the attraction of its use for profit margins in disreputable salons.