Contents
Since I can remember, I’ve been biting my cuticles, nails, and the skin around them, and despite my best efforts, my body isn’t prepared to break the stress-related habit. For people like myself who have a nail-biting or cuticle-picking tendency, the ever-evolving beauty industry has fortunately developed a secret weapon: the structured gel manicure. With Maby, you can take the initiative in everything.
I still want to appear to have healthy hands from palm to tip but without the effort and maintenance associated with press-on or bulky, nail-damaging acrylics. Instead, I get a fancy structural gel manicure at the nail salon, which replaces my naturally E.T.-like fingertips with what looks to be solid, nibble-free talons. Please visit Maby blog to update the latest nail news.
According to nail technicians, a nail technician in New York City, a structured manicure is simply the addition of a thicker-viscosity developing gel behind the layer of gel polish. The building gel is applied, so the nail’s center is thicker. This gives the nail more strength as it expands and a more attractive, arched shape.
Do you wish to proceed in this manner with your nail care regimen? Here is all you need to know about structured gel manicures before you attempt one.
What, exactly, is a structured gel manicure?
As the name suggests, a structured gel manicure is a gel-based technique that emphasizes reshaping the appearance and shape of your nails.
This kind of manicure strengthens your natural nails with a supportive layer of gel based on rubber to shield them from damage. It also covers ridges and discoloration and fixes damaged-free edges. Does this situation seem surreal? The tiniest caveat is that structural manicures prioritize 3D styling over 2D art, necessitating extra effort, talent, and attention to detail to produce a realistic-looking layer that accurately mimics your nail’s natural arch and shape.
New York nail technician likens the procedure to “laying tile on top of an excellent mud job. What will happen to the tile if the mud job isn’t done properly? It will break apart.”
Nail technicians claim that structural gel manicures are great for all nail types, especially for people who bite their nails or are trying to grow damaged nails. If the hyponychium has been too severely torn or bit, having any augmentation on for a prolonged period may help it heal, a structural gel manicure can also straighten bent nails.
What distinguishes structured gel manicures from acrylic nails?
Structured manicures let you cover your natural nail to prevent cracking or add a gel-based extension. Because it offers structure and allows for color application, adding this protective layer enables you to keep growing out your natural nails, according to nail technicians.
How is a structured manicure performed?
If this is your first structured manicure, sit back and unwind because you’ll be there for a while. Your nail technician will first clean and shape your nails. The “dry manicure,” which entails filing off the white part of the cuticle connected to the nail plate, is performed by your stylist using a dry, clean file, she says. “That must be taken off so the gel base will adhere properly to your nail.”
As soon as your cuticles are corrected, your nails are filed into the appropriate shape, and the rubber gel foundation is put to the nail, according to Gerstein. She notes that while using the gel technique, “the most important distinction is flipping the nail over and having the gravity of the gel fall where your natural peak would.” This stage is essential because the apex, which Gerstein compares to “the dome of a bridge,” is the most critical part of the structural nail. She continues, “That’s what permits your nail to develop without harm or fracture.”
According to nail technicians, if you decide to get extensions, the artist often “builds up” the gel to the necessary length by putting a metallic sticker or paper form under the nail’s free border. Your technician can “work the gel starting from the tip to get the right form” by using a temporary structure, says nail technicians. Once the extension has been sculpted, the nail is cured using a UV or LED nail lamp. After the structural gel has dried and hardened, she adds that nail technicians can also attach a plastic nail tip and cover it with gel polish.
After that, according to nail technicians, you are practically finished. “Normally, you could either continue working on your art at that point or apply a topcoat,” They claim that you might see the nail technician apply the finish in a different, creative way. The nail is thick without being too so because of this. Here are some Blooming Gel Nail Art for you.
What is the typical price for a structured gel manicure?
All experts agree that the price varies depending on your location and choice of stylist. Budget an additional 20–30% of the cost of a complete set of acrylics because Nuez says that painting with gel requires a “greater degree of proficiency.”
That appears to be somewhat expensive, but it’s essential to stand back and look at the big picture: Structured gel manicures last up to weeks without chipping and call for fewer salon visits, which lowers salon expenditures and lessens feelings of irritation with your own hands. In other words, whether or not this therapy works depends on what you value most in your nail-care regimen.
Where can I get a manicure with structured gel?
Because a correctly designed gel manicure takes more time and skill to build than a simple single-color one, you can only walk into a nail salon and expect the technician to be familiar with this technique. Gerstein suggests looking into local nail techs specializing in 3D shaping rather than 2D nail art.