What is the difference between modern biogel and gel polish?

With the discovery of the possibility of permanent nail coating, women have a wide choice of procedures that help them maintain their manicure without damage for a long time. Various types of extensions with gel and acrylic powder quickly gave way to strengthening natural nails with special biogel. No less popular is the procedure of decorating hands with bright gel polish, which has amazing durability when worn.

What is better - shellac or biogel?

Many girls unknowingly believe that there is a close connection between the last two products. Having appeared on the cosmetic market almost simultaneously, they have big differences. This causes considerable controversy even among professionals who are trying to figure out what is better - biogel or shellac for the hands of their clients.

What is better - shellac or biogel?

Similar Product Features

This confusion, clearly visible in the reviews, is due to a number of similar functions and features that allow you to strengthen and grow your nails:

are a good replacement for standard gel or acrylic extensions;
retain an attractive appearance for a long time;
allow you to achieve the desired length without fragility;
can only be removed using special compounds;
practically do not harm natural nails;
low cost of expert services.

With a manicure done with biogel or shellac, fashionistas can easily walk around for at least ten days without seeing any chips or peeling paint. But, despite the similarity, these funds have differences, since they were originally intended for completely different purposes.

Main characteristics of biogel and gel polish

Gel polish is a common combination of gel and polish. Externally it looks like an ordinary varnish, but the properties remain from the gel. Main characteristics:

The application is very gentle on the plate, since it does not need to be filed down before application.
It dries both using an ultraviolet lamp and in the usual way, it all depends on the quality and composition.
The applied coating usually lasts from 2 weeks to 20 days.
The shine and color are perfectly preserved and do not fade in the sun.
Does not wear off throughout the entire wearing period.
It can be eliminated very quickly, in about 3 to 20 minutes, using a special liquid rather than cutting it off.
The manicure looks more natural.

Biogel is a special type of material that helps create the shape of nails during extensions, the basis of which is protein. Main characteristics:

It has no contraindications for application and is suitable even for allergy sufferers.
Helps strengthen the nail plate.
The material lasts for quite a long time.
Great selection of colors.
Affects the structure of nails in a positive direction;
Nails grow faster, become stronger, and also breathe.
Before application, the nail plate is pre-treated.

Today, a type of manicure such as shellac is very popular. Shellac is a coating that dries quickly, lasts a long time, and, moreover, strengthens the structure of the nail plate. The coating does not harm the structure, but after the shellac is removed, the effect ends. Breaks between long periods of wearing are a must.

What is better to choose biogel or shellac? There are some similarities between shellac and biogel: they stay on the nails for a long time, are removed with a special liquid, do not chip, strengthen the nail, and the application procedure is not very long. Now let's look at the difference. When applying extensions using biogel, you must remember that in case of contact with acetone or household chemicals, the manicure may deteriorate and will not last long, will fade, possibly peel off and change color. This material will not withstand rhinestones or modeling.

Features of biogel coating

This option is ideal for girls who prefer long nails. The main characteristics that make it more popular than decorative varnish:

Great for extensions, creating French manicures, and leveling the nail plate;
features a large number of natural beneficial components, including keratin, calcium and teak resin;
combined with vitamin serums, which are applied before extensions;
perfectly gives the desired shape, promotes rapid growth.

This is a more gentle type of extension that preserves the health of the nails. According to client reviews, the plate under the biogel does not darken, evens out and grows back well. This is how it differs from the usual all-chemical compositions for extensions. Experienced specialists make a beautiful non-standard manicure, practicing the method of applying shellac to biogel. Such strengthening can be done over a fairly long period of time.

What is the difference between gel polish and biogel?

Despite the fact that gel polish and biogel are very similar, there are a number of differences between them:

You can find out how you can combine these two coatings in one manicure by watching the video:

Gel polish and biogel have different purposes. The first gives room for imagination and allows you to create the most daring design on your nails. The second is designed primarily to support the health of nails and improve their condition. Before deciding to choose one or another product, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the nails. Only then will the manicure last a long time and will delight its owner for many weeks.

Subtleties of working with gel polish

Durable shellac has a huge palette of different colors and shades that are pleasing to the eye. Its growing popularity is due to:

absence of extraneous unpleasant odors;
good resistance to impacts, water treatments, and accidental scratches;
the ability to strengthen the plate as a protective agent;
absence of allergens and substances harmful to health.

Many girls have learned how to perform this manicure at home, given the low cost of the necessary materials. You can verify accessibility by watching a video with the expert’s advice. Giving room for imagination, you can lay out rhinestones, combine several shades, and draw a pattern. This is the difference between it and a regular decorative coating.

All existing gels, biogel and shellac must be placed under a special lamp for application and sealing. Only the latter hardens best in the new LED lamps, which significantly reduce manicure time. Although manufacturers claim a wear time of at least three weeks, an overgrown nail quickly loses its shape and attractiveness.

A small disadvantage is its ability to slightly dehydrate the plate, so it is better to take a break between several procedures. The composition is completely artificial, which can cause harm if the nails are initially weak and damaged.

Biogel, shellac, vinyllux or regular nail polish – let’s figure out what is what

I get asked quite often to tell me what shellac, biogel and vinyllux are. But how can I explain this in words? Moreover, few people are interested in the composition and chemical properties of such products. As a result, I advise everyone that it is better to do it once than to hear it a hundred times.

Shellac

Much of what is now called shellac polishes are ordinary gel polishes . And Shellac is a product of an American company, essentially a hybrid of varnish and gel.

And it really has many differences from other coatings:

In percentage terms, it contains more varnish than gel, which is why it is sometimes called varnish-gel.
Shellac contains fewer harmful substances such as toluene or formaldehyde.
When applied, the nail plate is only cleaned, dried and degreased, while remaining intact - it is not sanded or filed.
To remove such a coating, you do not need to destroy the top layer, but simply use a special acetone-containing product for removing artificial nails. Soak Shellac for 10 minutes.
Shellac can be applied at home.

After applying Shellac, it is dried under a UV lamp. And it becomes so strong that even sharp objects cannot damage the surface.

I usually recommend Shellac to people who want to grow out their natural nails but can't because they keep breaking. Under shellac, your marigolds will be safe and sound. Girls also really like the fact that this coating is hypoallergenic .

When satisfied with the results, clients come to the next session and demand that Shellac be applied to them again, only in a different shade.

I warn you that you should not do more than 5 applications in a row; your nails should sometimes take a break from shellac, approximately every 3 months.

Vinylux

No less often, girls want to see VINYLUX polish on their nails.

It looks like an ordinary varnish, but it has features that you won’t see right away:

This is a two-phase product; you don’t need to apply a base underneath it, because it is part of the varnish itself.
The structure of the coating pigments is such that they simply cannot color the nail because they exceed the size of the spaces between its keratin scales.
VINYLUX hardens completely (hardens, not dries) in 10 minutes.
Over time, the coating only becomes stronger (much like self-sharpening knives become sharper with use).

VINYLUX varnish does not save the nail from damage; unfortunately, the risk of breaking it remains. But the color palette of this varnish is so rich, and the colors are so beautiful , that clients still cannot resist trying this miracle product on themselves at least once.

Biogel

It is impossible to paint my nails with biogel, as salon visitors sometimes ask me to do. This material is used to lengthen or give the desired shape to the nail plate , as well as strengthen it.

I recommend using biogel in pedicure, especially after wearing winter shoes for a long time, since without the sun's color, nails deteriorate greatly, and the substances included in the biogel will help them quickly recover.

However, this is not just a strengthening varnish; the application procedure is very different from the previous ones:

First, the nails are degreased and polished, and about half the thickness is filed off.
Then the biogel is applied with a special brush.
In general, there is no need to file your nails either before or after the procedure, because biogel has the property of self-leveling.
The next step uses a UV lamp. Under the influence of rays, the coating adheres to the surface of the nail due to the protein included in the biogel.
The coating is removed in 10 minutes using a special solution.

This application has some advantages over other types of extensions - the nail underneath continues to grow, and there is no need to remove the coating completely , as, for example, in the case of acrylic.

It must be said that shellac, vinyllux, and biogel have their fans who don’t want to hear about anything else. But, one way or another, the main role for everyone is how long the coating lasts.

Which remedy is better and safer?

Both materials are widely used by masters to work and improve the appearance of their clients’ nail plates. For brittle, thin nails, applying biogel under shellac is a great way to combine the healing effect and create a beautiful manicure. The two components complement each other, causing minimal harm with this extension option.

In this case, the biogel provides a high degree of adhesion to the surface of the nail, which helps the gel polish last longer. It has a dense structure, reminiscent of rubber or caoutchouc, softens impacts and provides a certain flexibility. At the same time, it well protects the plate from drying out, nourishing it under the pigment layer. After such an integrated approach, hands look well-groomed and beautiful for a long time.

Analyzing how biogel differs from shellac, constantly practicing masters believe that it makes no sense to compare compositions. Invented for different purposes, they must be selected individually, based on the task assigned to the master and the condition of the girl’s nails.

How to properly combine gel polish and biogel?

From the description of biogel and gel polish it is clear that the first is used to treat nails, and the second is used to decorate them.

It should be noted that at the moment biogel for nails is available in a limited range of colors, and many manufacturers make it simply transparent. That is why it is recommended to use biogel under gel polish: first strengthen the nails and prevent their fragility, and then decorate them using almost any manicure technique.

In general, combining these two products allows you to achieve an excellent result, since you can improve your nails and at the same time create an original and beautiful manicure. At the same time, gel polish, when applied over a layer of biogel, absolutely does not interfere with air circulation and does not damage the nails, allowing them to “breathe”.