What is gel x system?

Gel-X is a "soft extension," meaning it artificially lengthens your nails but still feels flexible, not hard, plastic-y, and molded from, as the name says, gel. This is an iteration of the same material that you would get during a typical gel appointment, made from a blend of acrylic monomers and oligomers.

Chances are you’ve heard of — and probably have tried — a standard gel or acrylic manicure. Gel nails are popular due to their ability to stay looking great for a week or more without chipping or breaking, while acrylics give you the appearance of long, perfectly shaped nails with the same long-lasting abilities (and then some). Though pricier than a regular manicure, gel and acrylic nails are often worth it for the long-lasting effect. After all, when you get a cute new mani, you don’t want it to chip the next day.

There is, however, a downside to faux nails. The state of your natural nails when you take them off can be seriously diminished (read: dry, brittle, weak and more susceptible to breakage.) That’s where Gel-X comes in. Gel-X manicures are a fairly new type of nail treatment that give you the strength of gel and the length of acrylics, minus the damage to your natural nails. Ahead, Eunice Park, licensed nail tech and research and development manager of Aprés Nail, and celebrity manicurist Elle Gerstein answer all of our questions about Gel-X nails.

“Gel-X is a full-coverage soft gel extension service,” says Park. “Invented by Aprés Nail in 2017, Gel-X allows you to create beautiful and durable extensions easily and quickly.” According to Gerstein, Gel-X is “a full-coverage gel that has already been sculpted while off of the hand to create a full nail extension with gel when applied.” Since the Gel-X nail tips are pre-formed to your preferred length and shape, the application process is quick and easy. Gel-X nails give you the best of both worlds in that they’re strong and long-lasting, but they can also be easily soaked off using acetone the way you would remove normal gel polish, says Park.

When it comes to a Gel-X manicure, both the application process and the actual extensions themselves differ from acrylic nails. “The difference from acrylics is that this is an already pre-done nail that soaks off every three to four weeks,” explains Gerstein. “You don’t need to apply, then cut and shape like you do with other nail tips or extensions.”

Aprés Gel-X extensions are applied with Extend Gel (no glue) on the natural nail and filed down to the desired shape, while acrylic nails require the use of an acrylic monomer/liquid or acrylic powder on a nail form or tip and can be filled every two weeks. This makes Gel-X a great option for people who are sensitive to fragrances. Since there is no monomer required with Gel-X extensions — only soft gel polish — you don’t have to deal with the strong scent that comes with the acrylic manicure process.

Gel-X is also different from regular gel nail polish. “Most soft gel is like the name implies — too soft to create lengthy extensions,” explains Park. “But with our patented soft gel formula, we apply both an incredible amount of heat and pressure during our manufacturing process which chemically alters the gel into something 10 times stronger and harder than in its liquid state, all while still maintaining its ability to be easily soaked off with acetone.”

According to Park, Gel-X nails can last anywhere from two to four weeks. Of course, as with any manicure or nail extensions, the proper prep, application and care affect the longevity of your mani.

For the best results (and the wellbeing of your nails), we suggest heading to the salon to get your Gel-X extensions done by a licensed nail technician.

Prep your natural nails the way you normally would for a manicure, then apply a layer of the Aprés Nail pH Bonder. This is the first layer of the Gel-X nail and it dehydrates your nail plate, ridding it of any oil or residue that could affect the application.

“Next is our Acid-Free Gel Primer to create a tacky layer for the gel to adhere onto,” says Park. This helps the Gel-X nail better adhere to your natural nail. It guarantees more comfortable wear than acid-based primers, which can cause nail sensitivity or soreness.

Once you’ve applied your primer, it’s time to go in with the Extend Gel, “the soft gel lynchpin that adheres the Gel-X Tip onto the natural nail,” says Park. Be sure to use just a thin layer of the Extend Gel at this step. Then, cure your nails for 30 seconds in an LED lamp.

“Next take your Gel-X tip and etch the underside of the tip to allow for better grip,” explains Park. “You can do this either with an e-file or with our Gel-X Prep, a dustless way to chemically etch the underside of the tip.”

Finally, you’re ready to place the tips on your nails.”After etching, apply a bead of Extend Gel to the underside of the Gel-X Tip,” says Park. “Then, apply the Gel-X Tip at a 45 degree angle onto the nail and flash cure.”

Once you’ve added all five Gel-X tips to one hand, cure the hand for 30 seconds in an LED lamp. Repeat these steps with your other hand. Park notes that if you’re still unclear on the process, all boxes of Aprés Nail Gel-X Tips come with a QR code to a video tutorial for how to apply them.

Start by filing off any top coat and nail polish you have on the Gel-X extensions, as well as most of the Gel-X tip. If you have especially long extensions, you can cut them down first.

“Take a cotton ball, soak in acetone, apply it on the nail and wrap in foil,” instructs Park. You’ll want to leave your nails soaking in their foil wraps for 10 to 15 minutes. This process may seem familiar to you as the process by which you soak off regular gel nail polish.

1. File and lightly buff the nail. Then, after fitting a tip to the nail, apply a thin coat of pH Bonder followed by Primer.

2. Using an e-file and a sanding band, lightly file the inside of the Gel-X tip, focusing only on the area that will be placed on the nail plate.

3. Apply a thin layer of Extend Gel over the nail plate. Cure for 30 seconds under an LED light or for one minute under a UV light.

4. Apply a small bead of Extend Gel on the filed area of the Gel-X tip. Make sure to cover the entire filed area.

5. Place the tip on the nail, starting at the cuticle area. Push the tip down slightly towards the free edge to smooth out the Extend Gel. Use the flashlight to cure the tip for 10 seconds. (After applying all 10 tips, cure the whole hand for 30 seconds under an LED light or for one minute under a UV light.)

6. Once the gel has been cured, shape the nail with a hand file, and finish with gel color if desired.

Watch this step-by-step in action in the video below!

Typically, the latter look requires help from extensions — our nails don’t grow into coffin-shaped tips overnight and, even if they do, our natural nails would break off within minutes. Luckily, there are many ways to get instant length, including acrylic powder and press-on tips, but another celebrity-favorite option is the Gel-X Nail Extension. Fans of the product like how natural the extensions look and feel, which is also why it’s a popular pick for celebrities like Ariana Grande, Janelle Monáe, Elle Fanning, Candice Swanepoel, and Ashley Graham.

Gel-X Extensions are also a healthy alternative to acrylics both for the person getting them, as well as the manicurist. While the FDA has repeatedly warned the public about how hazardous the chemicals in them can be many salon still offer them. The FDA has even banned some of the chemicals that can be found in acrylic nail solutions, such as methyl methacrylate, however, due to poor regulation in the nail industry, some salons still use products containing it as well. Other potentially toxic chemicals that can be found in acrylics include toluene and acetonitrile, both of which can cause skin irritation, respiratory issues, and in more serious cases, kidney and eye damage.

Gel Polish is inarguable safer and healthier than acrylics before you hop on the Gel-X bandwagon, let’s discuss it’s own pros and cons.

Gel-X extensions have the malleability of a soft gel polish and the length of a press-on or glue-on nail. The extension is made out of gel polish which is applied directly on top of your full natural nail and can be cut and shaped to your preference. Our Gel-X Nail Extension Service uses the same materials as a Gel Manicure, but the technique can create length past your natural nails, thanks to clear tips that are filed to blend seamlessly with them.

Unlike acrylic or hard-gel extensions, Gel-X tips don’t just sit at the tip of the nails. Instead, they cover the entire nail bed from cuticle to free edge. We offer various sizes of full-coverage tips, which allow you to customize the ones you use based on the size and shape of your finger. While they do come in different shapes — square, round, or stiletto — you can cut and shape them however you want. You can also pick from short, medium, long, stiletto, coffin, round, or square shapes.

Once you’ve selected the shape and size of your nail, your natural tips are prepped with a pH bonder and nail primer. Then, your nails get one coat of a thick, clear gel which is cured under a LED lamp. When your natural nails are cured, it’s time to secure your extension. This is done by adding more of the Extend Gel polish to the inside of the tip (the side sitting on your nail) and curing it with the LED lamp. The clear gel product fills in any of the gaps, making the nail extension even stronger, similar to an acrylic.

Perhaps what’s best about gel nail extensions are how natural they look. It is a better-looking finished product in the end — it looks more natural than acrylics. This is partially due to the fact that we’re able to shape them the way that you want and make them as thin as your real nails. What’s more, they won’t lift the way that acrylics do over time, looking less clunky on your hands.

If you walk into the salon for a fresh set, prepare to spend at least an hour and a half for extensions. Add additional time if you want to add gel polish on top.

If you’re looking for a nail technique that won’t chip when you wash the dishes or peel off within one week, Gel-X nails will quickly win you over. When installed correctly, the nails can last up to 3-4 weeks without any lifting, meaning no raised edges or chipping off. You may notice some growth at the base of your nail after wearing the extensions for over three weeks, but that’s also an indicator that it’s time to get your nails removed or redone (more on that ahead).

Another plus? If you’re using regular nail polish to paint your gel nail extensions, you can remove and repaint them as much as you want without having to worry about getting them filled, like acrylics. You can maintain the life of your gel extensions at home by cutting and shaping them as they grow out.

With any nail enhancement, there’s a possibility of damage to your natural nail over time with prolonged use and improper removal. However, Gel-X is a safe method for lengthening your nails. While we haven’t seen any damage from our own Gel-X nails, gel is gel, and if you pick off your extensions you could cause damage to your natural nails. It’s why removal is, hands down, one of the most critical parts of the process.

There is also the concern of using a UV lamp to cure the polish, but experts say that the risk of malignant cancer because of nail lamps is extremely low, according to WebMD. As a result, many people in in the industry favor gel polish as a way to extend polish life and strengthen nails.