What is the difference between gel and acrylic nails?
Acrylic nails are a powder and liquid mix that sets up hard. They really smell when you get them done. They can be removed with acetone. Cheapest route, easier to find someone who can do them. Gel nails are a gel (no powder involved) that’s painted on and cured with a UV light. They are pretty hard if done right. There is no odor involved with gels. They cannot be removed with acetone (it’s nice you can paint them and remove the polish with acetone and repaint). Yes, gels are better for your nails. Gels take longer to do then acrylics because you can only do a few nails then you have to cure them. More expensive and hard to find someone properly trained. A friend and I went and got our nails done once. She got acrylics (took maybe 20 minutes) and I got gels (took over an hour). Both type you have to prep your nails by filing/buffing a small layer of nail off.
