Acrygel, gel and acrylic, a bit of history.
Have you ever wondered how nail reconstruction was born?
Who was the first person to have this brilliant idea and how did he find the right material?
It all started in 1954 thanks to an American dentist, Fred Slack.
After accidentally breaking a nail, he decided to rebuild it using dental acrylic. The result was so successful that he perfected the formula and proposed it as a material for nail reconstruction.
Thus was born the first acrylic powder, which revolutionized the world of Nail Art.
Over 70 years have passed since then, and the Nail care industry has grown tremendously: today we have dozens of tools, formulas, reconstruction and strengthening techniques available. Companies around the world have worked hard to create the perfect material: Durable, non-toxic, convenient to use and long lasting.
The three most popular materials today are:
acrylic, builder gel e acrylic powder.
They all serve to strengthen or reconstruct the nail, but they differ greatly in consistency, resistance e how to use.
In this article we analyze in detail their differences, to help you choose consciously and save time and money.
Consistency
- Acrylic powder – It is a dry powder that is mixed with a liquid monomer. A dense mass is obtained that hardens quickly in air.
- Builder Gel – It has a viscous and fluid consistency, ready to use from the jar or tube. It polymerizes in UV or LED lamp.
- Acrygel – It is a hybrid between gel and acrylic. It has a pasty consistency, does not drip and does not harden until it is polymerized in a lamp.
Resistance
- Acrylic powder – Ensures high hardness and excellent impact resistance. Perfect for those with a very active lifestyle.
- Builder Gel – In the past it was considered more fragile, but today it is an outdated stereotype. Today on the market there are different types of builder gels capable of creating a precise, solid and long-lasting nail architecture.
- Acrygel – It combines the flexibility of gel and the resistance of acrylic. It does not crumble, does not crack and holds its shape well.
An important note:
There is not just one type of gel!
The choice of density really makes a difference depending on the type of work and your manual skill.
The gels He gives me, for example, cover every need of the modern salon:
Fluid Gel
Self-leveling gel perfect for quick salon jobs.
Ideal for short or medium reconstructions, coverings and reinforcements. Available in beautiful nude and milky colors.
Fluffy Gel
medium density, no fast, self-leveling gel.
It allows any type of work: extensions of any length, coverings and reinforcements.
Candy Gel
medium density non-self-leveling, perfect for those who like to work with thixotropic gels, that is, those that only soften under the brush.
Choosing the right gel allows you not only to improve the quality of your work, but also to speed up the process and make the manicure more enjoyable for you and your client.
Ease of use
- Acrylic powder – It requires a lot of experience, because it hardens quickly. Correcting mistakes is difficult and the smell during processing is very strong.
- Builder Gel – Easier to apply, but be careful when self-leveling, because it can drip and touch the skin. Choosing the right density can make a difference even for beginners.
- Acrygel – It is ideal for beginners and professionals. Plastic, easy to shape with the brush, does not drip and leaves time to perfect the work.
Polymerization
- Acrylic powder – No lamp required: hardens on its own in the air.
- Builder Gel e acrylic – They must be cured in a UV or LED lamp, otherwise they will not harden.
Which one to choose?
The choice between acrylic, builder gel and acrygel depends on the personal needs and from result you want to achieve:
- Acrylic powder – Today it is a material for true enthusiasts. It is chosen by expert professionals, fond of this technique and not inclined to change.
We do not recommend it for beginners: it is a complex and impractical material. But it must be recognized that it offers one of the highest resistances. - Builder Gel – Perfect for those looking for natural shine, smooth surface and architecturally perfect nails. With a full range of densities, Mida gels adapt to every style of work, from the fastest salon to the technical and structural.
- Acrygel – It is the most versatile solution: it combines the advantages of acrylic and gel, it is easy to work with and guarantees a long-lasting and comfortable result.
For this reason, it is becoming increasingly popular among both professionals and beginners.
Conclusion
The choice of material depends on the condition of the natural nail, the type of result you want to achieve and which consistency is most comfortable and pleasant for you to work with?.
Whatever material you choose, always focus on reliable and quality brands.