QuestionI tried to get gel done to my nails, but my tech said that the crystal powder was better and cheaper. I got the crystal done, but now I want to do the gel- is it possible to get a gel fill? would it look really weird?... if i asked for gel, would they just remove the crystal powder, and redo the process with gel, and charge me double?
thank you
AnswerDear Hanna,
The "crystal" powder is actually acrylic. There is no such thing as crystal powder and ALL powders used for false nails are acrylic powders.
UV gel is an actual 'gel', similar in thickness to hair gel. It's most often clear, but also available in white and/or pink. With UV Gels, absolutey NO POWDER at all is ever used, so beware of salons saying it's UV Gel, and then using powder. They are scamming you.
Quality Acrylic and Quality UV Gel nails are the same in cost, and shouldn't be charged any differently for the same service.
HOWEVER, there does exist a cheaper, ILLEGAL AND TOXIC acrylic that 'some' (not all) salons/nail bars use, that is 1/4 the cost of Quality and LEGAL and NON-TOXIC acrylic.
This acrylic is known as MMA, and must be avoided.
When choosing between QUALITY Acrylic and QUALITY UV Gel, they are both EQUAL in strength. Neither is better than the other. Neither is better for the nails.
The only things that damage natural nails are: bad technicians using the electric files on natural nails, bad MMA acrylic, and clients that 'pick off' their nails. Otherwise, enhancements do NOT damage the nails.
Also, some companies claim that calcium in the product will nourish the nails. This is not possible and untrue. The only way your nails are directly affected by anything like that is by your health and what you eat. In any case, your nails don't need calcium.
At present, many technicians are scamming the public, telling them that UV Gel is better for the nails and charging more for the service. It's not better and should NOT be more expensive EXCEPT if compared to MMA Acrylic which is toxic, illegal and cheaper. THEN AND ONLY THEN is UV Gel better than Acrylic.
Here's a page on my site with more information about these scams and the dangers of MMA: http://ongles-chez-victoria.tripod.com/victoriasnails/id18.html
Now that I have explained all of that, to get to your initial question.
YES, UV Gel can be filled over existing acrylic or uv gel from another salon. NO they do not have to remove the old acrylic to refill with new or with uv gel.
They can not charge you double BUT can charge a removal fee.
IF the acrylic was applied properly, and is of quality, then it should not look weird as both should be clear as glass, and no differences showing from one to the other.
BUT if it wasn't done properly, or a poor acrylic was used, THEN you might see a difference.
I'm going to assume that your technician is not a very knowledgeable one or that he/she is trying to scam you. That being the case, my best advice to you is to seek out a better qualified and better skilled technician who will be honest with you.
Best of luck and please feel free to ask me more questions.
Victoria
