BIAB, acrylic or gel: which should you book?

It is the question we hear more than any other: "Should I get BIAB, acrylics or just gel?" They all look glossy when you walk out, so it is easy to think they are the same thing at different prices. They are not. Each one does a different job, and the right choice depends on your own nails and what you want from them.

Gel polish: colour that lasts

A gel manicure is a thin layer of colour painted onto your natural nails and cured under a lamp. It does not add strength or length. What it gives you is a finish that stays shiny and chip-free for two to three weeks, compared with a few days for normal polish.

Gel suits you if your nails are already in decent shape and you simply want colour that keeps up with your week. It is also the quickest of the three.

BIAB: strength for your own nails

BIAB stands for "builder in a bottle". It is a thicker gel that is brushed on and shaped to build a protective layer over your natural nail. Because it is flexible, it bends with your nail instead of cracking, which is why it is so popular with people whose nails are thin, soft, bitten or always snapping.

Most people wear BIAB at a natural length, either clear, in a milky pink or with colour on top. It lasts around three to four weeks. When you come back, we file it down and infill the regrowth rather than taking it all off, so your nails keep growing underneath.

Acrylic: length and shape

Acrylic is made by mixing a liquid and a powder into a bead that we sculpt onto your nail, often with a tip to add length. It sets hard and strong. If you want long nails, a dramatic shape such as almond, coffin or stiletto, or a set for a wedding or a holiday, acrylic is usually the answer.

Acrylics need an infill every two to three weeks, as your natural nail grows and the gap at the base appears.

A quick way to decide

• Happy with your nails, want colour: gel manicure.
• Nails keep breaking, want them to grow: BIAB.
• Want length or a bold shape: acrylic.

If you are still not sure, book the treatment closest to what you want and tell us at the start of your appointment. We will look at your nails and talk it through with you before we start. You can see what each treatment costs on our treatments and prices page.