Top Gel Nail Brands for Durability & DIY - Expert Recommendations

Question
So, I have a friend that is licensed in acrylics and I would like her to learn gel nails so she can do mine.  And eventually I would like to do my own (no im not a pro but I cant help it.  I am a do it yourself type person.)  My main question is who has the best brand of gel nails?  She says most are no good and dont last so I would like the most durable kind to experiment with and eventually prove her wrong :).  Just from research on the web I hear a lot about Calgel, IBD, CND Brisa but just hard to decide what system to go with.  I am a xray tech so I wash my hands a lot and im not looking for extensions.  Just an overlay that I can keep short but keep my nails looking nice and professional.  Also one that we can experiment in color with.  Thanks in advance for all the help :)

Answer
As a professional, I can't recommend that you experiment on yourself--gel application is tricky even for experienced nail techs who've never used it.  However, if you can get your nail tech friend to take a class in CND Brisa, I highly recommend it.  It's strong and light, and a well-trained tech can create a beautiful enhancement with it (they do have colors, also).  Taking the product-specific training is HIGHLY recommended, since even Brisa is a bit different that most other gel products.

I hope this is helpful!  Feel free to follow up if you have any more questions.