Builder gel
Also called: Hard gel and Gel overlay
A thick gel that is sculpted onto the nail and cured to add strength or length, firmer and longer wearing than gel polish.
Builder gel is a thick gel applied over the natural nail, or over a form or tip to add length, and cured under a lamp. Unlike gel polish, which is a thin colour, builder gel gives the nail a firm structure, so it is used to protect nails that break easily, to smooth ridges or to build a short extension. Colour can go over the top.
A set takes longer than a gel manicure, often an hour and a half or more, and is usually maintained with an infill every three to four weeks rather than a full removal. Hard gel does not soak off and has to be filed away, which is why it should be done and removed by someone trained in it.
Hamd Beauty does not offer builder gel or hard gel. For colour on natural nails the gel manicure is the closest service. If you have had a reaction to gel before, tell any technician, since builder products contain the same family of acrylates. This is general information, not medical advice.
We do not offer this at present. It is explained here because people ask about it.
