Artificial Nails?

whats the difference between each of these:


Tips Only


Tips w/Acrylic Overlay


Tips w/Wraps


Full Set - AcrylicsArtificial Nails?
ips and overlays are faster than gels. A really good manicurist can put on a set of tips in 10 minutes (most nail techs. will take longer, though, about 20 minutes). My wife's record time for a full set -- buffed out, is 8 minutes.





Gels have to cure under the UV lamp -- there is no speeding that up.





I'd go with the tips and overlays for your first time. They are easier to work with (for the nail tech./manicurist).





The nail tech. will pick out the proper sized plastic tip for each of your fingers and glue them on to the tips of your fingernails using super-glue. Then the nail tech will apply a small amount of a chemical with a small brush to your nail to etch away some of the smooth surface so the acrylic will stick.





She will ask you how long you want the tips, so figure that out ahead of time. Don't get them too long if you are not used to long nails, because you'll end up breaking one or more of them doing something ordinary.





The nail tech. will then mix a powder and a liquid together on a small paintbrush and pat the wet mixture down onto your nails. This wet mixture is the acrylic and hardens within a minute or so. The acrylic connects the plastic tip to the bed of your own nail, and smooths over the glue-joint.





The nail tech will then file down the acrylic so it is very smooth and looks like your own natural nail. A really good tech. can apply the wet acrylic properly with the brush so she doesn't have to do much filing.