Click, clack, click, clack. Ahh, don’t you love that wonderful sound of long nails clicking on the keyboard?! We know we do! But while some of us were #blessed with long, natural nails, others have to turn to faux nail methods like acrylics to achieve the extra length. However, from the aggressive filing involved with each filling to the removal process that leaves nails brittle and frail, this nails technique can be super damaging to your natural nail. 

Just a few years back, Beauty blogger Amelia Perrin made headlines when she took to Twitter to show followers the reality of what six years of acrylics looked like. The cringe-worthy photo showed Perrin’s nails raw with a few remnants of acrylics.

a lot of people on curiouscat ask me about my acrylics, presumably wanting a set themselves. sharing these to show u the reality lol pic.twitter.com/aqVRGjPiMO

— Cardi BTEC (@amelia_perrin) December 9, 2016

We spoke to Elizabeth Garcia — celebrity nail artist to Latinas Jackie Cruz and Denise Bidot and owner of New York-based nail studio, The Nail Room— who further talked about the downside of acrylics. 

“Acrylics are damaging because you constantly have to keep filing down. With each filling, which usually occurs every 2-3 weeks, you have to file that growth that came out to flush it with your own nail.” Garcia reveals the agressive filing leads to “those harsh line that you see when you remove acrylic nails.”

So, how can you get long, flawless nails without all the damage, you ask?  Well, gel nail extensions are the answer. Unlike acrylics, which use harsh powders and chemicals to create the desired shapes and length, these sturdy gel nail extensions come in several shapes––square, round, or stiletto–– and use the same gel used in gel polish. 

“Gel-X is made out of soft gel; they’re not as harsh on the nails. They already come in a form and you simply put it on top of your nail,” Garcia explained, adding, “With acrylic you have to file, shape, glue, and blend it with your own natural nail.”

The Latina celebrity nail stylist, who uses the Aprés Nail Gel-X Extensions to add length to clients, explains that while with acrylics most of the filing occurs on the natural nail, with gel extension the filing happens on the fake nail. With an e-file, the nail technician should lightly file the inside of the Gel-X tip, focusing on the area that will be placed on the nail. This step is vital as it help the nail tip better adhere to the natural nail when it bonds with the gel polish.

Next, a thin layer of gel is applied on the gel tip, which is then pressed on top of the natural nail. The nail technician will then cure the nail  underneath the LED light to finish the adhering process. Once the nails have been cured, normal or gel polish can be applied. 

Because these gel nails tips blend seamlessly with the natural nails, the nail extensions can last up to three weeks (Yeah, it’s amazing). And, unlike acrylics, you don’t need filings to maintain the nail growth; you simply remove the extensions by soaking them off with some foil and acetone. After about 15-20 minutes or when the gel extension starts crumbling, the nail tech will gently use a wood stick or cuticle pusher to remove the gel off your nail bed. Garcia recommended first filing the layer of gel polish to accelerate the removal process.

Watch the entire process, from start to finish, down below!