Poly Gel Manicure

Poly gel is an emerging hybrid formula in nail salons. It is considered less bulky than acrylic and easier to remove than traditional builder gel.

Nail techs use a brush dipped in slip solution and a dual-ended tool to mold polygel products on natural nails or tips to form extensions, and then cure them using UV or LED lights.

Prep

As with any nail enhancement service, your nails must first be shaped and prepped before receiving Poly gel enhancement. Your nail technician may use dehydrator or base coat products to ensure product adhesion before buffing your natural nail plate to remove oils or moisture buildup.

Polygel manicures differ from acrylics in that they have a more malleable and putty-like consistency, and set quickly allowing your nail technician to easily manipulate and shape them to meet your desired design.

A product similar to toothpaste, the product must be applied over your natural nails and then molded to achieve your desired length and shape using a brush. After setting under UV or LED light, once set it’s time for color. But before applying polish you’ll need a cotton ball saturated with acetone wrapped over each nail as a protective measure first.

Apply

Polygel is an all-in-one nail product that doesn’t require mixing or monomer to use, giving nail technicians greater power when shaping and overlaying nails. Brush it on like acrylic then cure under UV or LED lights like gel polish for ultimate control over shaping and overlaying nails.

Nails are first prepared by using a dehydrator and either a gel base coat or liquid slip solution, depending on the brand of Polygel used, then polished. A pea-sized amount of Polygel is then applied and cured on each nail before buffing to complete this step.

Polygel nail enhancement products feature a putty texture that stays put, unlike other nail products with flexible consistency that moves around during application. Once satisfied with its appearance on a nail, nail technicians use a poly-tool (a dual-ended tool equipped with both brushes and flat spatulas that can pick up and transport Polygel) to smooth any bumps or uneven areas on its application surface.

Nail technicians use color coats and sealants to protect free edges, as well as curing time of 60 seconds under LED/UV light. Furthermore, top coats may also be added for glossy or matte effects.

Cure

Polygel is an odorless gel used to cover natural nails, create nail extensions or restore damaged natural ones. Additionally, its flexibility enables users to mold it into any desired nail shape and size.

After applying and curing the base coat according to brand requirements, a pea-sized amount of Polygel should be applied using the Dual-Ended brush soaked in Slip Solution for easier molding of Polygel. After curing for the specified time limit recommended by Polygel manufacturers.

Polygel nails typically last three to four weeks before needing infills or being fully removed by your nail technician. When performing fill-ins, more Polygel will be applied near the cuticle area to fill any gaps that have formed, then polished using a lint-free wipe soaked in nail surface cleaner before buffing and wiping clean with nail surface cleaner for final buffing and wiping off. And that’s it!

Remove

Poly gel nail enhancements differ from acrylics in that they’re odorless and don’t require primer; however, they still must be cured under a curing lamp for proper curing. Furthermore, unlike traditional gel enhancements which may damage natural nails over time, poly gel offers thinner or damaged nail coverage with the added bonus of not damaging natural nails as much. Poly gel is an excellent solution for people with thin or damaged nails looking for alternatives.

To remove polish, first file down the top coat with a coarse nail file or e-file to break its seal, before soaking your nails in acetone using either the foil method or bowl method for 15-20 minutes to soften any builder gel build-up on them. When your nails have been submerged in acetone, gently scrape off polygel from cuticle area toward tip of nail using gentle scraper until all polygel scraped away – resoak if necessary to see if polish comes off easily

After you remove your manicure, be sure to wash your hands to get rid of any leftover acetone residue before applying cuticle oil or hand lotion several times daily to rehydrate your nails and avoid cracking or brittleness. It is also essential that polygel nail enhancements stay hydrated as this could lead to further issues with cracked and brittleness in nails over time.