Kylie Jenner’s hands all over Instagram. It’s hard not to cave into the expensive of nail extension trend. They look pretty cool. The allure of fake nails has always capture my attention. I started getting my nails done when I was eight years old. It was the basic manicure with nail polish. But soon enough it turned into wanting fake nails. Fake nails aren’t that cheap and have to get them refilled every 2 to 4 weeks depending on your own personal growth on the nail bed.
You have the choice between Acrylic and Gel. (I personally like Acrylic better but I’ll get in more depth later). Gel has been more popular trend to get. Every girl at my highschool had Gels instead of Acrylics on.
*Not a professional nail technician just going my by my surplus of years of getting my nails done :)*
Image: http://stealherstyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/kylie-jenner-nails-29-500×500.jpg
The process (approximate time 45 minutes-1/15 minutes)
- Gel: Set with a gel (duh) in UV light cured onto the natural nail bed. Formed with a small brush. Can be applied onto the natural nail or on top of nail extensions. They file down with electric nail file.
- Pro’s: shiny appearance, very smooth, with manicure an assortment of colors
- Con’s: If done improperly the gel can peel off. If not cured properly they feel very mushy and very pliable and leave finger prints.
- Acrylic: Set with monomer liquid and powder. Formed with an oval brush. Doesn’t have to be cured with UV light. The air & time makes the nail harden. (Depending on the nail technician they can ask to put your nails in the UV lights just to further more harden the acrylic to the nails). They file down the acrylic so there is no scratches or unevenness in the surface of the nail with nail file, buffer, and electric nail file.
- Pro’s: The nail has more strength with powder, cheaper, easier to fix, easier to remove.
- Con’s: There isn’t a set way to make it look shiny so sometimes the nail technician can con your way into getting the gel top coat for a couple more bucks. You can see the nail growth if you wait too long for refill. They yellow if you get Pink & White, there is no set color. You can have a set color acrylic or nail polish on top ( could cost you more in the end).
Pricing
I’ve tried to tell my friends to get Acrylic instead of Gels. First off they are way cheaper than gels. I would approximate that a full set is 25-42 depending on what type of Acrylics (color, pink & white (french), natural tips, white tips) and refill is 16-25. Gel nails for a full set 45-65 even higher. Usually in Gels they offer colored or pink & white. Refill costs (25-35) even higher. *personal note I think they price is more expensive because its more popular* JUST REMEMBER TO TIP. I tip around $7. But a personal choice for tipping.
Finished Product (pictures) Gel & Acrylics
Casey Edits 
