Gel, BIAB or regular polish: which manicure suits you
Three systems, three ways of living with your nails. How regular polish, gel and builder gel work, how long they last and how they come off.
Manicure
Gel, BIAB, extensions and a home manicure that looks professional.
Every manicure system has its own chemistry, its own wear time and its own way of coming off. Here we compare regular polish, gel, builder gel and dip powder in plain words, walk through the extension systems used in salons and give you a calm, step by step home manicure that holds its own next to a professional one.
How to give yourself a salon-worthy manicure at home
A calm, unhurried routine for nails that look professionally done and last: preparation, shaping, cuticle care, thin coats and a proper finish.
Nail extensions explained: acrylic, gel and press-on
Acrylic, hard gel, soft gel tips, polygel and press-ons all add length, but they are applied, maintained and removed in very different ways.
Try it yourself
Nail Growth & Refill Planner
See how long nails need to grow out and when your next infill or removal is due.
Keep exploring
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- Nail ArtTechniques, French tips and the quiet power of negative space.
- Nail CareStrong nails, healthy cuticles and the myths worth leaving behind.
- ColourUndertones, colour harmony and a palette for every season.
- Shapes & StylesAlmond or square, chrome or milky: the shapes and finishes of the moment.
- Salon GuideHygiene, etiquette and what a really good appointment feels like.
- History & CultureFrom ancient pigments to modern nail art, a small canvas with a long story.