QuestionMy natural nails broke two days before I was to be a maid of honor. So, I had gel nails put on. Back at home, not many places seem to have techs that know how to do gel nails properly. I was told that if the tech didn't know how, I could have them filled in with the acylics -- that acrylics could be put over the gels, but gels could not be put over acrylics. Someone else thought it was the other way around. Which (if one) is correct?
Is filing down the gels the only way to get them off? Is there a less damaging (to the natural nail) way to remove them?
AnswerEither product can be applied over either product. So if you have gels, you can fill them with acrylic, and vice verse. However, many technicians prefer not to do so and will remove all existing product before applying new.
The downsides of filling gel with acrylic are few. Acrylic is less flexible and heavier than gel, so even as the enhancement grows out, the heavier acrylic on the nailbed will anchor the gel well as it grows off the free edge. However, filling acrylic with gel can present problems because the gel is more flexible and lighter than acrylic, so as the nail grows out, the heavier product is at the free edge and can throw the enhancement off balance.
Some gels can be soaked off with acetone, but most will require gentle filing to remove. Filing the gel off the natural nail shouldn't cause damage to your nail. Simply file until the gel is very thin and then let it grow off the nail unless it comes off easily as you file. Often, because gel is softer than acrylic, it is easy to file off the nail without damage.
If you choose to have your existing gels filled with acrylic, make sure that the shine is completely buffed off the gel before acrylic is applied over it. Acrylic will not stick to the shiny, non-porous surface of the gel.
