Next-gen nail art techniques that won’t wreck your nails, according to experts
There is something undeniably transforming in a fresh manicure. Suddenly, you make a more gesture, tapping with a flair and savoring these clicks and asmr-y clacks. Before you know, you admire your nails every few minutes. For many, it’s more than grooming – it’s a creative outlet. A way to recover control the days that feel unruly.
Every few weeks, I fall back into the rhythm: scrolling Pinterest for inspiration, choose a shade to match my mood, go out with nails that look like armor and ornament in equal.
Like most, I have long relied on gels and acrylics for their immaculate finish and their stay. They are the only way in which many of us have managed to achieve these dreamy and hyper-detailed designs. But although the gain is real, the consequences rarely go to the grid.
Because here is the friction: the damage does not always come from the varnish, but from the process. Skip the professional withdrawal, delay the fillings or too much deposit can cause clarifications, coat or in serious cases, an onycholysis – where the nail is painfully lifting from the bed.
And then there is the burning or tingling sensation during the application, a red flag that your nails need a break. The nails raised, left unsumed, can invite fungal infections that aggravate things.
“The withdrawal part is very important, it is actually the worst thing that many people neglect,” explains the famous nail artist Anisha Mulchandani. “When you try to get out of your acrylics or your gels at home, you do not realize that you also undress the layers of your natural nail.”
But the tide turns. With an increasing accent on safer formulations and smarter methods, a new generation of nail systems provides sustainable and clever results without compromising nail health. Below, an overview of nail art techniques leading the charge.
Polygels
Hybrid of acrylics and gels, Polygel offers an ideal point: lighter and more flexible than acrylic, but more solid than traditional gels. Unlike ordinary gels, he does not heal alone, giving artists nails to perfect the shape before putting it under UV light. The withdrawal, however, is not a rapid move – it requires meticulous polishing, which may not call on those who promote maintenance with low effort.
Build-in-A-Bottle (BIAB)
The Biab technique, invented by Daisy Kalnina, has gained ground in Indian salons as a strengthening superposition. He imitates the appearance of naked nails, only stronger and brighter. Not intended for dramatic extensions, it is preferable to apply them by a qualified technician to avoid vulgaria. For those who favor long -term nail health, Biab is nothing less than revolutionary.
Japanese gels
Loved for their butter texture and their autonomous formula, Japanese gels are a must for complex nails. They offer long wear without the rigidity of acrylics, and thanks to their gentle base, they are less likely to damage the natural nail. Light and resilient, they balance beauty and care with quiet elegance.
Plexigl
Developed by CND (Creative Nail Design), Plexigel is a versatile and friendly system that is between a gel and a superposition. Ideal for those who want strength with flexibility, it is often used to strengthen fragile nails or for minor repairs. The formula is designed to support the natural nail while offering sustainable wear – think of BIAB, but with more adaptability.
Fiberglass
Back from the archives, the fiberglass nails make a quiet return. Made using ultra-thin strands of bunk glass fiber resin, they are in light feathers and ideals for sensitive or damaged nails. The drawback is that they are fragile and coming from time, better suited to lifestyles in lower contact.
Korean gels
Minimalist and manicure Korean gels are known for their own and clear finishes and low damage formulas. Like Biab, they are ideal for the nail rehabilitation phases, offering durability and a shiny without weight or unnecessary pigment. They quickly become a favorite among those who want strength without leaflets.
Nail health and maintenance
“The nails are part of your skin and fulfill important protection functions – they are not only cosmetic,” said dermatologist, Dr. Madhuri Agarwal. In other words: if your skin care obtains a routine in 10 steps, your nails deserve more than one last -minute finish layer.
