If you enjoy getting fake nails or nail extensions but find the process tedious and expensive at the salon, you may be tempted to try doing them at home. A common question that arises is whether you can use UV gel, the kind used to build nail extensions, as the adhesive to glue on fake nail tips or wraps.<\/p>\n
The quick answer is yes, UV gel can work to adhere fake nails<\/b>. However, using gel this way has some downsides compared to traditional nail glues. We’ll explore those tradeoffs here, looking at:<\/p>\n
* The pros and cons of using gel as fake nail glue<\/p>\n
* Tips for applying gel under fake nails <\/p>\n
* Recommended gel adhesives<\/p>\n
* Alternative nail glue options<\/p>\n
One of the best advantages of using gel as the adhesive for fake nails is its incredible bonding strength and durability. Gel glues form a super strong, long-lasting bond between the artificial nail and natural nail that can withstand several weeks of wear without lifting or popping off.<\/p>\n
This gives you the freedom to go about your daily activities without worrying about a nail suddenly detaching, which is a common nuisance with weaker nail glues.<\/p>\n
Gel adhesives owe their tenacious grip to the unique chemistry of the gel formula. When cured under UV or LED light, the photoinitiators in the gel are activated, causing the monomers and polymers to crosslink and form a robust, reinforced polymer matrix.<\/p>\n
This dense crosslinked structure is far less prone to breakdown over time compared to the weaker cyanoacrylate bonds formed by traditional adhesives. So you can count on gel glue to keep those tips secured.<\/p>\n
Additionally, gel adhesives are less porous and permeable than liquid glues, meaning they form an exceptionally tight seal around the perimeter of the artificial nail that blocks moisture, debris, and oils from seeping in underneath and disrupting adhesion.<\/p>\n
This impenetrable barrier further boosts the longevity of the bond.<\/p>\n
Another advantage of opting for gel glue is that it cures in a flash under the UV or LED lamp. Typical cure times range from 30 to 60 seconds. This is a major time-saver compared to nail adhesives like Krazy Glue or clear nail glues that can take several minutes to set.<\/p>\n
The rapid cure time also means you can get to filing and shaping the enhancements sooner. With traditional liquid adhesives, you usually have to hold each nail in place for a minute or so while waiting for it to dry enough to let go and move onto the next nail.<\/p>\n
But with LED\/UV gel adhesives, once you’ve held it for the cure time under the light, it’s solidly secured and ready for perfecting the shape.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the quick hardening of gel glues allows for immediate bonding. That means you can basically glue the tip on and be done; no need to wait for it to air dry before filing and finishing the nail, saving you even more time.<\/p>\n
Applying gel polish as an adhesive for fake nails can be a messy process. The thick, viscous formula often drips and runs down the sides of the natural nail during application (making precise positioning of the fake nail difficult<\/b>).<\/p>\n
Excess gel oozing out the sides needs to be cleaned up carefully to avoid skin irritation or damage to the cuticles or surrounding skin.<\/p>\n
Using gel nail products too frequently can cause damage to the natural nail plate. The intense UV rays during curing combined with constant abrasion from filing and removing gel can lead to dryness, cracking, peeling, and thinning of the nails.<\/p>\n
Brittle, damaged nails mean the bond with fake tips is weaker and less durable.<\/p>\n
Additionally, dehydrated nails have compromised flexibility and structure. When adhering lengthy fake nails, this puts excess strain on the fragile natural nails underneath leading to a higher chance of painful breaks or cracks over time<\/b>.<\/p>\nDifficult Removal Process<\/h3>\n
Removing gel polish used as fake nail glue is a lengthy, difficult process compared to traditional nail adhesives. It requires filing off each tip individually with an abrasive tool or sitting for 15-20 minutes with pure acetone-soaked cotton balls wrapped around every nail.<\/p>\n
The chemicals and tools used can be quite harsh on natural nails that may already be compromised from previous gel use. Leaving any remnants of gel stuck to the nails also prevents new growth emerging smoothly<\/b>, compromising future enhancement applications.<\/p>\n