Collection: UV Gels

Trust Velvet Extension, specialist in products for nail technicians, to offer you professional UV gels of the highest quality. Semi-self-levelling gel builder, colored gel builder or single-phase UV gel, you'll find everything you need to achieve magnificent nail tips on your customers.

Builder gel for nails

It's a brand-new range available from Velvet Extension : self-leveling UV color gels. Builder gel clear, pink, neon lemon yellow, orange, mint green, red, blue, purple... You can choose from a wide range of UV builder gels to suit all needs and desires. You'll love having them in your daily professional gear!

Single-phase UV gel

Single-phase UV build-up gel is a must-have for all nail professionals. Our 3-in-1 construction gels can be used as base, construction and finishing gels, ideal for saving time! They don't run, they set well on the nail, and they have a long-lasting hold.

What is UV gel?

It's a synthetic resin that hardens under a UV lamp, enabling you to build highly resistant nail extensions (up to 3 weeks without moving). UV gel is applied directly to natural nails and sculpted with a brush into the desired shape. You'll love how easy it is to use: beginners and experienced nail technicians alike can apply it to create exceptional manicures!

Gel or acrygel nail?

When it comes to enhancing your nails, the choice is often between UV gel or polygel (also known as "acrygel"). Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice depends on your customers' priorities and specific needs.

• UV gel manicure: as mentioned above, UV gel is ultra-simple to apply and ideal for technicians new to the trade. It's flexible, promises a wide choice of colors and offers a natural, delicate finish, close to the natural nail. Be careful, however, as UV gel breaks more easily than polygel and requires regular touch-ups to fill in nail regrowth;
  
  
• Manicure with polygel: polygel (acrygel) is a hybrid product that combines the advantages of resin and gel. It gives nails exceptional strength and scratch resistance, making it the ideal option if your customers have a more active lifestyle that requires a robust manicure. On the other hand, polygel is a little more complex to apply than UV gel, and fewer colors are available on the market.

How to use UV gel on nails?

Start by preparing the nail: to do this, gently push back the cuticles and file the surface to roughen it and promote gel adhesion. Caution: don't file too hard to avoid weakening the nail. Next, dust with a brush to remove any filing residue and apply a degreaser. Air-dry nails completely.

Apply a thin coat of UV base coat over the entire nail (making sure to seal the free edge), then catalyze for two minutes. Then apply a thin layer of colored UV gel. We advise you not to apply too much gel at once, as it may run or bubble. Catalyze again and repeat until the desired opacity is achieved. 

Velvet Extension tip: clean up gel spills immediately with a fine brush dipped in pure acetone. Don't wait for the gel to dry, as it will be harder to remove!

All that's left to do is apply a coat of top coat and cure under the UV lamp for a brilliant result.

How do I remove UV gel from my nails?

To remove UV gel from your customers' nails, start by gently filing off the top coat, without touching the natural nail (or risk damaging it!). The aim here is to remove as much shine as possible. Next, soak pieces of absorbent cotton in acetone and wrap them around each finger, so that they impregnate the UV gel on the nail. To concentrate the heat even further and make it even more effective, wrap them in aluminum foil too.

Leave on for 15 minutes or so: the UV gel should soften and peel off easily. Remove the aluminum foil and cotton pad and use a buffer to remove any residual UV gel. Once again, be careful not to touch the nail!

Why doesn't UV gel catalyze?

If your UV gel does not harden despite catalysis, there may be several reasons: 

• UV lamp problems: make sure your UV lamp has sufficient power to catalyze the UV gel you're using (most UV gels require a lamp of at least 36 watts). Also, make sure you place your nails at the right distance from each other: if they're too far apart, the gel won't cure properly. Finally, respect the curing time indicated on the gel bottle: it depends on each product!
  
  
• Problems with UV gel : an out-of-date gel may not catalyze, so be sure to check the product's expiration date regularly. Make sure you've applied the gel thinly and evenly (too thick a layer or air bubbles can prevent complete polymerization).

At Velvet Extension, we advise you to clean your nails thoroughly before applying UV gel, to remove all traces of grease and dust, and to apply a base coat for better adhesion. This will give you the best chance for effective catalyzation.