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Now, getting my nails done is a special treat.

photo of hand wearing long black nails with silver studs holding silver chain and wearing silver ring on white background

If you’re new to getting nail extensions, choosing between gel extensions and acrylic tips can be confusing.

This guide should help.

What are nail extensions?

Essie Hard to Resist Advanced Nail Strengthener transparent bottle of nail strengthener with holographic label and white cap on white background with red Allure BoB seal in the top right corner

In a nutshell: additional length and layers added the nail bed.

“How and where the monomers link together determines just how strong the resulting product is.”

What are the differences between gel extensions and acrylics?

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“Acrylics tend to be harder than gel,” she says.

Do gel extensions last longer than acrylics?

“However, the other limiting factor is how quickly your natural nail grows out.”

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Cheng often suggests gel extensions to her clients due to the flexibility of the formula.

But that doesn’t meangel extensionsare for everyone.

Are gel extensions safer than acrylics?

It’s likely not the formulas themselves that will cause damage.

All this means that the highest potential for nail damage is usually theremoval process.

Filling the top surface of the nail will cause it to weaken."

If a client wants an overlay on their natural nail without an extension, the same rule applies.

I look at the nail health (C-curve and nail bed) to create a custom blend."

“That’s the fun with gel and acrylics,” says Gonzalez-Longstaff.

“Both create masterpieces on 10 little palettes.”