BIAB vs gel comes down to thickness. Gel is a thin colour finish on your own nails. Builder gel, the treatment many people call BIAB, is thicker and adds strength and structure. Acrylic is the sculpting option, used for extensions and length. Which is right depends on what you want your nails to do.
In short
- Happy with your nails and want colour that lasts: gel.
- Want your own nails stronger, or want to grow them: a builder gel overlay.
- Want more length today: an extension, in gel, builder gel or acrylic.
- Cannot decide: ask before you book and Jade will recommend one.
BIAB vs gel: what is the difference?
First, the name. BIAB is short for "builder in a bottle". It began as one maker's name for its own builder gel, and the name has stuck to the treatment in general. Our menu says builder gel, so that is what to look for here. There is more about it on the builder gel (BIAB) nails page.
Gel and builder gel are related products that do different jobs.
Gel is about colour. It goes on your natural nails at the length they are now and nothing is built up underneath. The gel nails page covers it in full.
Builder gel is about the nail itself. Applied as an overlay, it sits on the natural nail as a protective layer. It is a great option if you are looking to strengthen your nails and grow them longer.
So the question to ask is not which is better. It is whether you want a finish or a foundation.
Where does acrylic fit in?
Acrylic is a different material altogether. Gel and builder gel come ready to use. Acrylic is made at the desk from a liquid and a powder, which form a paste that can be shaped.
That is why it is known as a sculpting medium, often used for full extensions and dramatic length. On our menu, acrylic on the hands means exactly that: an extension, sculpted to the shape you choose.
One thing follows from this that is easy to miss. There is no acrylic overlay on our menu, so if you want strength without added length, builder gel is the one to book.
Which should you book for the nails you want?
You like your nails as they are
Book Gel. You keep your own length and leave with colour.
You want stronger nails, or to grow your own
Book the Builder Gel Overlay. Your nails stay your own, with a layer over them that adds strength.
You want length now
This is where there is a real choice, because all three materials can do it:
- Gel Extension adds length with Halo Jellie nail tips. Halo, which makes them, describes them as soft gel tips that cover the whole nail.
- Builder Gel Extension is builder gel applied with tips and sculpted into shape.
- Acrylic Extension is acrylic sculpted to your chosen shape.
Choosing between those three is where a recommendation is most useful, since it depends on your nails and how you use your hands. All three materials are on the menu for toes as well.
How often will you need to come back?
It is worth knowing this before you choose, because the upkeep is not the same.
Our gel manicures stay glossy and chip-free for up to three weeks, depending on how you use your hands day to day.
Builder gel and acrylic extensions are kept up with infills every two weeks. An infill fills the regrowth and refreshes the surface, and it suits nails with up to two weeks of growth. If a fortnightly visit does not fit your diary, say so when you ask for a recommendation.
The nail treatments page lists every treatment and infill with its current price.
Can you change from one to another?
Yes. What you have on now does not decide what you have next. If existing gel or acrylic has to come off before the new set goes on, add Removal when you book, so the appointment is long enough for both.
Still not sure which is right for you?
That is common, and you do not have to work it out alone. Jade does every treatment herself and sees one client at a time, so no appointment is rushed. Tell her what you want from your nails and she will recommend one of the three.
You can ask before you book through the contact page. The studio is on the High Street in Upton, near Pontefract in West Yorkshire, and is by appointment only.
When you know which you want, book your nail appointment online.
