Our Nail Enhancement & Extension Services: Hard Gel & Acrygel
We specialise in creating beautiful, durable nail enhancements and extensions using two leading professional systems: Hard Gel and Acrygel (also known as Polygel or Fusion Gel). These services are designed to add strength, structure, and lasting style to your nails. Our focus is on creating custom-fitted enhancements using sculpting techniques.
Here’s a closer look at the enhancement systems we offer:
Hard Gel (Builder/Sculpting Gel)
A professional-grade, viscous gel meticulously sculpted over your natural nail or onto a nail form to build strong overlays or custom extensions. It is cured (hardened) under an LED or UV lamp, resulting in an odorless application process.
Hard Gel creates a very strong, rigid, and resilient enhancement. It's an excellent choice for adding significant length and structure, providing reliable durability.
Designed for long-term wear, Hard Gel requires maintenance "fills," ideally around the 3-week mark. Achieving retention significantly beyond 3 weeks is highly dependent on individual factors like nail type, growth rate, lifestyle, and consistent aftercare.
As a non-porous material, Hard Gel cannot be soaked off. Removal requires careful, professional filing by a trained technician.
Acrygel (Polygel / Fusion Gel)
A cutting-edge hybrid system combining the best features of acrylic and gel. This paste-like product is expertly sculpted over the natural nail or a nail form and then cured under an LED/UV lamp.
Acrygel offers impressive strength, comparable to traditional acrylics, but with slightly more flexibility than Hard Gel, though still very robust. It provides excellent control during application and is completely odorless. It's versatile for overlays and creating strong, sculpted extensions.
Maintained with regular fills, typically recommended around 3 weeks post-application. As with Hard Gel, extending the time between fills beyond this depends heavily on the client's individual circumstances and adherence to aftercare.
Similar to Hard Gel, Acrygel is typically removed by professional filing.
Our Extension Technique: Sculpting with Forms
We exclusively use nail forms to create extensions. This technique involves placing a temporary guide under the natural nail's free edge, allowing us to sculpt the Hard Gel or Acrygel directly onto it, creating a truly customized extension that seamlessly fits your natural nail shape. We do not use pre-made plastic tips.
Benefits for You:
Adds significant strength and structure to your natural nails.
Provides reliable durability and chip-resistance for long-lasting wear.
Allows for customized length and shape tailored to your preferences.
Offers a beautiful, polished look with a high-gloss finish.
Odorless application process for a comfortable salon experience.
Important Considerations for Hard Gel & Acrygel:
Suitability for Nail Length & Nail Biters
Creating significant extensions using sculpting forms generally requires at least a small amount of natural free edge for support. These systems might be less suitable for individuals with extremely short nails. For nail biters, while the hardness of these enhancements can act as a deterrent and help some individuals break the habit, it's not a guaranteed solution for everyone. For those primarily seeking to strengthen their natural nails and encourage growth without necessarily adding long extensions immediately, exploring options like BIAB™ (Builder in a Bottle), a soak-off gel system, could also be a beneficial alternative. We can discuss the best approach for your specific situation during a consultation.
Custom Fit
Sculpting with forms allows for a highly personalized enhancement tailored to your nail's specific shape and desired look.
Durability
Both Hard Gel and Acrygel offer excellent strength. Hard Gel tends to be more rigid, while Acrygel provides high strength with slightly more flexibility.
Maintenance Schedule
Regular fills, typically around the 3-week mark, are crucial for maintaining the structural integrity and appearance of your enhancements. Pushing appointments significantly longer increases the risk of lifting, breakage, and potential nail damage. Achieving longer wear times is entirely dependent on the client's lifestyle, nail health, and diligent aftercare.
Lifestyle Factors
- Intensive Manual Labour: Jobs or hobbies involving heavy use of your hands can put excessive stress on enhancements, potentially leading to premature wear, lifting, or breakage. These systems may not be the best fit for such demanding activities.
- Water Exposure: Prolonged or frequent exposure to water is detrimental to nail enhancements. It is essential to always wear protective gloves when washing dishes, cleaning, or performing any task involving soaking your hands in water. Minimise soaking hands in baths or pools.
Removal
Professional removal by filing is necessary. It is crucial that this is done by a trained technician to avoid damage to the natural nail plate. Improper or forceful removal is a primary cause of nail damage.
Nail Health & Long-Term Wear
When applied, maintained correctly (including timely fills and appropriate aftercare), and removed professionally, these enhancements can typically be worn continuously. If retention issues arise, we will troubleshoot with you. Options may include adjusting the service, reinforcing aftercare, considering treatments like IBX underneath, or, if necessary, recommending a temporary break (e.g., 3-6 months).
Choosing the right enhancement requires considering your nails, lifestyle, and commitment to maintenance. We are dedicated to providing a thorough consultation to help you select the best service for achieving beautiful, healthy, and long-lasting results.
Book a Consultation
