Hi! Welcome back :) If you’re new here, I’m Kara! I’m a licensed nail tech and a certified educator and I love gabbing on about nails and nail health. This month I’m focusing on a few educational topics here that I always get asked about. Today I’m answering the question:

Which Nail Products Are Right For Your Specific Nails?

I’ll be going through a bunch of different nail types and scenarios and suggesting some products that might work for your nails! I would highly suggest reading my previous two posts if you haven’t yet as they’ll help you get a better understanding of the products I like to use:

Rubber Base vs. Builder Gel vs. Hard Gel

What is Hard Gel?

Ok let’s get into it!

A quick caveat:

As you’ll see, some products and nail types have some overlapping suggestions. That’s because everyone and every nail is different and not everything will be a perfect fit. And the type of product your nails need can and probably will change over time as your nails get stronger or change lengths or shapes too. I think the most important thing is to understand what each product is good for and then you can pick and choose when you need to use each one. I wish there was a clear answer but hopefully this will be helpful!

Healthy, short nails:

Nail Type: Not very bendy or damaged at all, with a short free edge

Goal: Start growing nails longer, while keeping them strong

Product recommendations:

Soft adhesive base gel or rubber base gel - You could build a small apex with these if you’d like to for the first few manicures until the free edge starts to grow. Or you can also use a thin layer of either base gel as just a base gel to help the builder gel adhere.

Kokoist Mega Stick Base or Kinetics Max Base (use code KARA10 for 10% off all links!)

Semi-hard builder gel - the flexibility and strength will work well with healthy nails to help them grow longer, while still being able to flex a little with a natural feel. The base gel underneath will help extra with adhesion so the gel doesn’t lift and damage the nails at all. Once the free edge starts growing even longer, you can switch to a harder gel if you’d like!

Nail Thoughts Tinted Builder Base Gel (I’m wearing Chai Latte Base here)

Weak, bendy, thin, damaged short nails:

Nail Type: Delicate, thin, damaged, sometimes painful. Possibly damaged from gel removal or peeling or picking

Goal: Start growing nails longer and getting stronger. The nails need a strong product to protect them, but also an adhesive base to help the strong product adhere.

Product recommendations:

Soft adhesive base gel or rubber base gel - applied in a thin even layer to help with adhesion of builder gel.

Kokoist Mega Stick Base or Kinetics Max Base (use code KARA10 for 10% off all links!)

Semi-hard builder gel - You might try one with fibers in it which will help add some strength and durability to the delicate nails. A builder gel with a nice amount of flexibility and also adhesion will be helpful for retention with these nails.

Kinetics Fiber Base Gel or Nail Thoughts Builder Base Gel

OR

Bottled hard gel or medium viscosity potted gel - self leveling hard gel is not as flexible as semi-hard builder, but just as easy to apply! It can be applied with a thin overlay to prevent lifting and keep the natural nail from bending too much underneath it which can help with retention and building strength.

Kinetics Gel In Bottle Hard Gel or Classic Gel Medium

Broken, cracking nails, and/or missing sidewalls:

Nail Type: weak nails that crack or break, and those that struggle to grow without breaking. Missing nail at the growth point and sidewalls

Goal: Reinforce and repair broken parts, rebuild free edge and sidewalls, and add strength with builder gel. Harder gels need a strong free edge to properly adhere and prevent lifting at the free edge.

Product recommendation:

Soft adhesive base gel or rubber base gel - applied in a thin even layer to help with adhesion of builder gel.

Kokoist Mega Stick Base or Kinetics Max Base (use code KARA10 for 10% off all links!)

Fixee gel - a thick gel with nylon fibers in it that can be used for repairing breaks and building short extensions

Kokoist Fixee Gel

Thixotropic hard gel - applied in a border around the free edge and sidewalls to armor and make them stronger

Kinetics Jelly Gel Medium or Strong

Semi-hard or hard gel - applied in a thinner overlay to avoid making the nails bulky. You should do a finish file underneath the free edge to tuck the natural nail underneath the hard gel boarder to prevent lifting

Kinetics Gel In Bottle Hard Gel or Classic Gel Medium or Nail Thoughts Builder Base Gel or Kokoist Platinum Filler Base

Healthy, medium to longer length nails

Nail Type: stronger, not so bendy or weak nails that are able to grow and have a medium to longer free edge. This type of nail is kind of a lucky type, because most products will work well and you can usually get by with whatever you like and prefer to wear.

Goal: Maintain or grow nails, keep them strong so they don’t break

Product recommendation:

Soft adhesive base gel or rubber base gel - applied in a thin even layer to help with adhesion of builder gel.

Kokoist Mega Stick Base or Kinetics Max Base (use code KARA10 for 10% off all links!)

Semi-hard or hard gel - Build an overlay to keep nails strong and supported while growing.

Kinetics Gel In Bottle Hard Gel or Classic Gel Medium or Nail Thoughts Builder Base Gel or Kokoist Platinum Filler Base

Long, durable wear or specific shaped nails

Nail Type: healthier, stronger nails

Goal: Durable, longer lasting manicure that doesn’t change shape/maintains shape

Product recommendations:

Soft adhesive base gel or rubber base gel - applied in a thin even layer to help with adhesion of builder gel.

Kokoist Mega Stick Base or Kinetics Max Base (use code KARA10 for 10% off all links!)

Hard gel - has less flexibility than semi-hard gel and the shape won’t change over the duration of the manicure. It’s especially helpful for square nails to maintain those crispy corners! If you need something extra durable, try an even stronger hard gel. You can also add length by building extensions.

Kinetics Gel In Bottle Hard Gel or Classic Gel Medium or Akzentz Trinity

Cheat Sheet - When to use which product:

Rubber Base/Base Gel:

• Every manicure, every type of nail

• When you’re just starting with gel and want to start growing and gaining strength

• If you have super weak or bitten or brittle, short nails

Soft/Semi-Hard Builder Gel:

• Weaker, bendy nails that need strength & support

• Stronger, healthy nails that want to grow with support

• Shorter, stronger nails

• Shorter extensions

Hard Builder Gel:

• Weaker, bendy nails, especially those that struggle with semi-hard gel retention

• Broken nails and missing sidewalls

• Longer, stronger nails

• Long wear and specific shapes (especially square)

• Durable extensions

Did I forget your nail type?? Let me know and I can make adjustments or give you a suggestion :)

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BYE! 💋