Press-On Nails With Builder Gel

If you’re a fan of wearing press-on nails (and we are, now!), then you know that there are so many ways to use these nail extensions. And this can be quite confusing when you’re deciding to choose what’s best for the look that you want to achieve. This even includes the type of gel you use to form your nail.

There are many types of gels used for curing with UV light, including hard, soft, polygel, and builder gel.

In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at curing your press-on nails with builder gel. Builder gel is great for use to strengthen your natural nails and make your manicure appear fabulous and last longer.

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Press-On Nails With Builder Gel

So, what exactly makes builder gel different from other types of gels? Well, to start, builder gel comes in two different forms — soft and hard.

Soft builder gels are easier to remove, although they are just as durable and hard-wearing as hard builder gels.

Builder gel has a unique quality over other gels: it helps your natural nails grow. It contains ingredients like vitamins B3 and C, and moisturizers that support your nail in becoming stronger by filling in splits and cracks.

Builder gel has a unique quality over other gels: it helps your natural nails grow. It contains ingredients like vitamins B3 and C, and moisturizers that support your nail in becoming stronger by filling in splits and cracks.

These ingredients help the gel rebuild the structure and surface of your natural nails, and stop them from becoming brittle.

It even makes them appear smoother.

This is why some people choose to use builder gel as a base coat for other nail polishes. See our article on how to use builder gel for details.

However, builder gel can also be used to build up the structure of your press-on nails, and you can even use on its own, because it’s available in many different colors.

Builder gel is designed to protect your manicure from the damage that UV light can cause, and your manicure, if done well, has the potential to last for weeks if you look after your nails carefully. That’s much longer than what typical press on nails last.

Although it was originally designed to be used for extending nail tips with nail forms, here we’re concentrating on builder gel being used to cure press on nails to make them last longer.

If you need a recommendation, then Rosalind Clear Builder Gel  will do the job for you. This easy-to-apply brush-on builder gel is made from natural resin. It is also odorless, brushes on smoothly, and is bubble-free when applied.

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Prepping Your Nails For Builder Gel

To begin the process of using press-on nails with builder gel, you need to make sure that your natural nail beds are completely clean and free of dirt or excess oil.

You can use rubbing alcohol to do this.

If you choose to file and trim your natural nails before applying your press-on manicure, then make sure that you also push back your cuticles, and again clean your nails with rubbing alcohol to remove any dust and debris.

Using a nail file, the next thing to do is etch the back of the press on nails where you would normally apply the glue. Doing this will increase the surface area so that the builder gel will hold better. Again, clean off any debris after etching each press on with either rubbing alcohol or acetone.

Next, apply a nail bonder or primer to your natural nail beds, and then add some builder gel to the back of your press-on nails. A little bit of this sticky substance goes a long way!

Make sure you don’t use too much and apply only a thin layer.

Apply the press-ons from the edge of your cuticle, and then press them down flat until all the bubbles have been removed. Make sure that you wipe away any excess gel that escapes onto your fingers.

When you’re sure that there are no bubbles remaining, then you can cure each nail under a UV lamp for between 30 to 90 seconds. If you want more strength, you can apply another coat of builder gel and repeat the process again, then finish off your manicure with a top coat.

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The Risks of Builder Gel on Press-Ons

Of course, just like any type of gel or acrylic-style manicure, there are always risks associated with using builder gel with press-on nails, like ruining your natural nail bed when removing them, or being

There are always risks associated with using builder gel with press-on nails, like ruining your natural nail bed when removing them, or being left with a manicure that you’re not happy with and/or could cause a skin infection.

This is why it’s extremely important that you start with a nail bed that is properly clean so that the builder gel adheres to them. The other important thing is to make sure that there are no bubbles between your nails and the press on when you’re curing them.

If there are bubbles left, not only will the UV light not penetrate through the press-on properly, but you run the risk of them lifting off. And if this happens, moisture and dirt can get trapped and cause a bacterial infection, or even cause you to become allergic to the builder gel itself.

Removing press-on nails that have been cured with builder gel are also more difficult than if you used normal nail glue.

When you’re ready to remove them, you’ll need to soak them in acetone.

Don’t attempt to remove your press-ons by picking them off, no matter how tempting that might be! This will increase the likelihood of you causing real damage to your natural nail beds underneath.

And growing out any nail damage caused by removing press-ons like this can take up to six months — if you’re lucky.

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Conclusion

Wearing press on nails with builder gel will give you the added assurance that your manicure will last longer than normal nail glue. Plus, the fact that builder gel on its own has the ability to strengthen your natural nails, makes this manicure combo a winner in our book!