What Is Builder Gel? All You Need To Know

With so many nail products on the shelves, it can be challenging to keep up.

And while most people know gel polish and acrylics, one term that’s causing confusion is builder gel.

Builder gels are the latest craze to hit the industry, and it’s becoming quite popular due to their ease of application and undeniably stunning results.

But what on earth is this gel, and why should it find its way into your makeup bag?

Keep reading if you’re looking for the “next new thing” in terms of at-home manicures. This article shares all of the must-know info about builder gel.

What Is Builder Gel?

Builder gel is precisely how it sounds: it’s essentially a type of gel polish that can be used to “build” stronger natural nails or create lovely nail extensions.

Builder gels are notoriously thicker than regular nail polish and come in two forms: soft gel and hard gel.

Soft builder gel is used on the natural nail plate as an overlay.

However, those that want to create nail extensions will need to use builder gel that is hard as it’s strong enough to work with nail tips.

Regardless of which type of builder is used, it will be brushed on like traditional polish with no fancy tools or techniques (except for a UV/LED lamp).

What Are the Pros & Cons of Nail Builder Gel?

Builder gels can be a great way to transform your natural nails, whether you’re using a bottle of soft gel and a nail brush to create soft gels or want extra-long fake nails.

But what are the pros and cons, specifically?

PRO - Easy to Apply

One of the most significant advantages is that builder gel must be cured using a UV lamp or LED nail lamp.

This gives the manicurist more time to build nail extensions or a non-chip overlay on natural nails - even for beginners.

PRO - Long-lasting

Unlike other kinds of nail polish, builder gel can last up to three weeks without any signs of chips or scratching, especially when applied correctly.

PRO - Self-leveling

A big plus is that this type of polish will self-level, so you won’t have to worry that it’s applied evenly. You get a beautiful manicure regardless if you create extensions or not.

PRO - Can encourage how fast your natural nails grow

When used as an overlay, this type of gel can be used to strengthen the natural nail underneath. And everyone knows that strong nails (not brittle nails) will have better growth.

PRO - No base coat required (most of the time)

A base coat is not needed with most builders. However, you should still apply a primer or dehydrator for the best results.

CON - Requires a UV or LED lamp

If you’re avoiding acrylic nails or gel nails because of the need for a LED light or UV lamp, you won’t find an escape with builder gel.

CON - Not as hard as acrylic

Even if you apply builder gel correctly, it will never be as strong as acrylics. This isn’t necessarily bad, though, as they are more flexible - which is desirable.

CON - It takes a little time to create

Although builder gels are more straightforward than other artificial nails, they still require some learning time.

What Is the Difference Between Polygel and Builder Gel?

Polygel is another popular choice for the natural nail or to create length using a nail tip, whether done at home or professionally by a nail tech.

Both builder and polygel are used to create beautiful nails, so which one should you choose? What’s the difference between the two?

• Buildergel is more flexible. Polygel tends to have a tacky layer that is somewhat sticky, making it less flexible than the builder gel polish counterpart.
• Polygel is more durable. Although builder gels (esp hard gels) are impressively strong, they aren’t quite as durable as polygel.
• Buildergel is easier to work with. Polygel requires a slip solution and brush that can be challenging to work with, especially if you’re not a nail technician. Applying builder gel is simply easier than polygel.
• Polygel has more color options. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to find the desired colored gel polish for builder gel compared to polygel. Keep in mind that you can always apply regular polish as a “topcoat” and decorate your nails with nail art.
• Buildergel is easier to remove. Some people think that polygel is easier to remove since it can be removed with an e-file. However, at-home manicurists will appreciate that builder gel can be removed with a cotton ball soaked in acetone.

Can You Put Builder Gel over Acrylic Nails?

You can successfully put builder gel on top of acrylic nails, just as you can with any other type of gel nails.

It does not alter how acrylic nails are placed on the nails (at home or by professional nail techs).

FAQs

Is builder gel better than acrylic?

It really depends on what style you’re going for.

For example, someone who wants to change their nail’s length or shape dramatically may get acrylics as it’s the easiest way to achieve that look.

A builder-type gel is more often used on top of natural nails to add impressive thickness and strength that has an utterly glossy and lavish appearance.

Of course, you can also add length using hard builder gels paired with a nail form or tip.

Is builder gel safer than acrylic?

A builder-type gel is said to be safer than acrylic, mainly because it does not come with the strong chemical scent that is infamous for acrylic application.

Why does my builder keep lifting?

The biggest reason why your builder might be lifting is that you did not use a dehydrator or primer on the nail before creating your manicure.

Although base coats aren’t necessarily, you still need to get rid of excess oils and moisture for proper adhesion.

So, apply a primer or dehydrator and wait a few seconds before applying the coat of builder with the included brush.