Gel or gel polish? This is THE question we inevitably ask before booking a salon manicure or treating ourselves to an at home kit. Wear, shine, removal, effects on nails... Let us compare the two techniques to make things clearer and help you make the right choice, based on your profile and your wishes.
Key takeaways:
- Wear and shine: 4 weeks with gel, 3 weeks with gel polish, 3 weeks with Xtrem Flash™.
- Application: in salon for gel, at home or in salon for gel polish, complete DIY kit for Green Flash™.
- Removal: filing for gel, acetone for gel polish, peel off without acetone for Green Flash™.
- Nail care: sensitivity and harsh removal with gels and gel polish, bio sourced formula and gentle removal with Green Flash™.
Understanding the basics
Before looking at the difference between gel polish and gel, let us start by clearly defining the products in question.
What is gel polish?
Introduced in the 2010s, gel polish shook up the world of nail polish by promising a long lasting manicure that is as easy to apply as a regular polish. This revolution was made possible by a formula based on photosensitive resins and monomers that cures under a UV or LED lamp to form a hard, resistant film. The result: vibrant color, intense shine, and a natural domed finish that lasts two to three weeks.
Application is very simple and does not require any special technical skill. Gel polish is fluid and is applied to bare, prepared nails in just a few brush strokes, like traditional nail polish. Application is done in 4 layers, each of which must be cured under an LED or UV lamp:
- 1 layer of base coat
- 2 thin layers of color
- 1 layer of top coat
Finally, removal is done by filing, buffing, or using an acetone based remover.
While it has many advantages that made it successful, gel polish also has its limits. Intensive use can cause sensitivity and allergies, caused by ingredients that may pose risks to human health, such as methacrylate monomers, HEMA and DI HEMA TMHDC, and other substances classified as CMR, banned by European regulations in cosmetics produced and sold in the EU. Not to mention the weakening of nails caused by harsh removal methods.
Formulas have therefore evolved, and a new generation of gel polish has appeared, such as Manucurist’s Green Flash™ polish. Controversial or banned ingredients are gone, replaced by bio sourced and vegan components. Formulas are now gentler on nails and allow for easy removal without filing or acetone.
Discover the new generation of safe, bio sourced gel polish with Green Flash™.
What is gel or acrygel?
Gel is a thick resin mainly used to strengthen natural nails. Color is secondary here. Its viscosity makes it possible to work on the nail structure to hide imperfections and add volume and length, for example with nail extensions. Gel nails offer wear for up to 4 weeks, much longer than gel polish. It is an ideal option if you want to stop biting your nails or protect broken or damaged nails while enjoying a flawless manicure.
The gel nail application technique is longer and more complex and is most often done in a salon by a nail technician. A gel manicure is completed in 3 steps:
- application of a base gel
- sculpting the builder gel
- finishing with a finishing gel
Some gels combine all 3 steps into one product. Drying of the different layers is done under a UV or LED lamp for builder gels, or in open air for acrylic gels.
Removal is the weak point of UV gels. Some soak off UV gels are removed using an acetone based remover, which can dry out nails and cuticles. Most gels, however, are usually removed using an electric nail file or nail file, which can permanently damage the nail plate.
Comparison: wear, strength, and effects on nails
| Criteria | Gel polish | Gel / Acrygel | Green Flash™ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌿Composition | Resins, monomers or polymers, pigments, photo initiators, petrochemical based ingredients | Resins, polymers, pigments, photo initiators, petrochemical based ingredients | Copolymers, pigments, resins, and photo initiators, up to 84% bio sourced ingredients |
| ⏱️Application time | 30 to 45 minutes depending on lamp power | 2 hours and more | 30 to 45 minutes depending on lamp power |
| 📅Manicure wear | 2 to 3 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | 12 days with the Green Flash™ routine, 21 days with the Xtrem Flash™ routine |
| 🍃Removal | Acetone remover in 10 to 15 minutes per hand | Filing or buffing in 10 minutes per hand, acetone for soak off gels |
Green Flash™: 1 to 2 minutes per hand, without filing or acetone Xtrem Flash™: 10 minutes per hand, without filing or acetone |
| ✨Finish | Natural dome, intense shine and color | Pronounced dome, possible extensions, extreme shine | Natural dome, intense color and shine |
| 🛡️Risks for nails | Possible drying of cuticles with acetone | Damage to the nail plate from filing or buffing, drying of cuticles with acetone | No risk with Green Flash™! |
💡 Did you know? With the Top Coat Xtrem Flash™, Green Flash™ promises a long lasting manicure for up to 21 days and becomes the gentle alternative to traditional gel polish and gel nails. The results of a clinical test conducted by Manucurist under dermatological supervision on a panel of 26 people confirmed comparable performance without the drawbacks:
- Right after application, 100% of users noticed a mirror like shine, and 85% observed a domed gel effect.
- After 21 days, 85% reported extreme resistance, 85% found the removal easy and gentle, and 88% said their nails felt strong after removal.
Which technique best suits your needs?
For a quick and simple manicure routine
Gel polish is made for you! Easy to apply at home, affordable in terms of budget and equipment, it suits every profile.
For an even simpler experience that is gentler on your nails, choose Green Flash™ LED polish: a bio sourced formula, available in more than 100 shades, that strengthens the nail beneath the color and removes in less than 2 minutes without filing or acetone. It is the ideal choice for changing color whenever you want, without compromising on wear or nail care.
For a strong manicure and extra long wear
If you have soft or brittle nails on which polish chips after only a few days, or if you want to space out your manicure appointments as much as possible, gel or acrygel is a great option for achieving flawless and ultra resistant nails.
And for anyone looking for a long lasting manicure without using gel, there is the Green Flash™ x Xtrem Flash™ Top Coat solution from Manucurist. This Xtrem Flash™ manicure guarantees:
- extreme shine
- a gel like domed effect
- perfect resistance for up to 21 days
- gentle removal with no risk to nails
With Xtrem Flash™, enjoy the shine and long wear of gel polish without the drawbacks of harsh removal.
For a manicure that does not damage your nails
This is the greatest strength of Green Flash™! With its non toxic formula, up to 84% bio sourced ingredients, and peel off removal, without an electric nail file or acetone, it is the ideal solution for preserving natural nails, whether fragile or not.
Unlike gel, whose removal requires buffing and filing, or traditional gel polish, which involves prolonged exposure to acetone, Green Flash™ respects the nail plate at every step. It notably features the patented KeraHCE+ technology found in the Green Flash™ Vitamin Base Coat. By combining hexanal with vitamins C and E, this innovative formula helps protect and strengthen the keratin layers beneath the color.
The result: from the very first use, 96% of users found their nails harder, and 88% said their nails looked more beautiful and better protected, according to a clinical study conducted under dermatological supervision on a panel of 26 people.
To better understand the difference between gel and gel polish, remember that if you are looking for a manicure that is simple, quick to apply, and easy to remove at home, gel polish will be your best ally. However, if you prefer ultra long wear, intense shine, and a more pronounced domed effect, along with extra nail strength, gel will be the technique best suited to your needs. Finally, if you want the best of both worlds, in other words a premium, safe, easy, and long lasting manicure, Green Flash™ LED polish is made for you. Let yourself fall for Green Flash™ and discover the lifestyle and wellness manicure experience created by Manucurist.
To summarize:
- Gel polish: the perfect at home manicure routine for changing polish easily.
- UV gels: a great solution for a very long lasting glossy manicure and strengthening fragile nails.
- Green Flash™: a high performance, safe, easy, and long lasting manicure routine that protects nails and guarantees shine and radiance for up to 21 days.
