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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between gel nails and acrylic nails?

 

There are two big differences between gel nails and acrylic nails: the product and the procedure. Acrylic nails usually consists of using a one-size-fits-all plastic tip, which is secured onto the nail with nail glue and then a powder mixed with a chemical liquid is applied and cured by the air. Placing a tip on the nail can allow for water or bacteria to get caught in the nail, which is a common cause for infection. This can be prevented by opting for gel nails instead of acrylic nails. Gel nails are sculpted directly off of your natural nail (with no need for a plastic tip) with the help of  foil forms to create extensions. To create gel nails, we apply  thin layers of gel products and cure them with UV or LED light in between layers. The result is long, strong, and beautiful nails that look very natural. One of the biggest benefits of gel as opposed to acrylic is that gel is a flexible product and has more resistance to breakage and nail damage. Acrylic is not flexible, therefore a break can be a lot more painful as it often breaks the natural nail at the same time. Another benefit of gel over acrylic is that gel is completely odourless; whereas acrylic nails usually have a strong chemical smell.

Are gel nails safe?

 

Gel nails are completely safe! While they do require extra care to ensure that no breakage occurs, they act as a shield to your natural nail and give them extra strength. Moreover, gel nails are the safer alternative to their acrylic counterpart!

How often do I have to get my gel nails filled?

 

It is recommended to get your gel nails filled every 3-4 weeks. However, everyone is different and their nails grow at a different pace. We suggest booking your first fill roughly 3 weeks after you get your nails on, and then base your next booking around how quickly your nails grew during that period.

Are there any benefits to having gel nails as opposed to natural nails?

 

As previously stated, gel nails are a shield for your natural nails. If you have problems with weak or peeling nails, gel nails could be the perfect fix for you! Not only will your nails look beauitful and freshly done for weeks, they will also remain strong. Moreover, having gel nails can reduce the amount of hang nails and peeling cuticles you have!

Is Gelous Nails a safe and reputable place to get my nails done?

 

At Gelous Nails, all of our nail technicians are either NailBasics or professionally certified by a reputable education facility. All of these nail education companies are some of the most reputable in North America. Not only are our technicians skilled, but they also use very high quality products in order to exceed your expectations. We also take care to properly sterilize and sanitize all tools between clients, using the highly reputable AccelTB system, in order to ensure your safety.

I broke a nail. HELP! What do I do!?

 

If your gel nail has chipped or cracked, don't panic! If you give us a call, we will be happy to fit you into the salon to get a nail repair done. In the meantime, you can apply nail glue or clear polish to protect your natural nail, or you can cover it with a bandaid. If your nail plate (natural nail) has separated from the nail bed (the part of your finger where the fingernail is attached to), try to remain calm. Sanitize the area and make sure that it stays dry as to avoid an infection. If it doesn't hurt too much, you may also try to use a file or cuticle nippes to shorten the nail so that it doesn't have a free edge (in order to prevent further snagging). If the area feels hot and appears red or swollen, you may have an infection--seek medical help as soon as possible. If this type of damage has occurred, you can feel free to come to the salon to have it assessed. It may not be able to be fixed immediately after damage; however, after a couple of days, you can come in to have a fresh layer of gel applied to it to give it strength. If you keep the gel on it, the nail will heal faster and you may file it down as it continues to grow out normally. The typical healing time of this type of damage is about 3-6 months.

I've decided that I no longer want to have gel nails on. What do I do?

 

While we'll be sad to see you go, we understand that our clients need to take their nails off for a variety of reasons. If you would like your nails removed, please save yourself the trouble and your nails the harm by booking an appointment to have your gel nails safely removed. If you pick at your nails and peel them off, your nails will be weak and the nail plate will be damaged. There is also the risk of tearing the nail plate off of the nail bed, which will be painful and time consuming to grow out.

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