Acrylic Nails vs Gel Nails

It’s time to get your monthly manicure. You walk into your favorite nail salon with your magazine under your arm, all ready to go, when the manicurist asks “acrylic or gel?” What? All of the sudden, you’re faced with a two-sided dilemma, in which you don’t know the whole story on either side. Wipe that sweat off your forehead, because Sarah Scoop is here to give a crash course on acrylic and gel nails.  Get the scoop on Acrylic Vs. Gel Nails.

So, which one?

When it comes to choosing your nails, it really depends on what you are looking for in a nail product.

Acrylic Nails

Yes, these are the fake nails that have reigned supreme in the world of women for years now. A special powder and water combine to apply a specific shape to the nail and can range from an average nail length to inches long. As you may know, if you have gotten these at your local salon, acrylic nails are artificial stick-on nails that can endure for weeks. As well, they are becoming more and more affluent in your local beauty & drug stores.

Gel Nails

Gel nails have started hitting the salons a little more recently than acrylic nails. They require a base coat, a color coat, and a topcoat. Sounds like what you do at home, right? Well, there’s one big catch: gel nails require UV light to dry. Yet, they tend to be more natural than acrylic nails.

At the end of the day, they both have their ups and their downs. Acrylic nails can last up to 6 weeks, are simple to fix, effortless to remove by a professional. They are also incredibly durable. However, gel nails are shinier and have a more natural look. Also, they don’t smell bad, and require less attention. Even with these positives going for them, acrylic nails can be damaging to your nails if not treated properly and can look less natural. Gel nails aren’t as durable, harder to upkeep on your own, and have to be filed completely off.

If you want to try either manicure at home, there are some great gel manicure kits, gel nail polishes, and acrylic kits!

For more beauty scoop, check out 7 DIY Nails Inspired by the Runways!