Acrylic vs gel nails

Gel is the type of nail polish, acrylic is when they can give you length.

These are gel nails! I've been getting them done for awhile, and they last about 3 weeks. You can have acrylic tips put on that add length. My nails are all natural, and I am not a fan of acrylic tips. These though keep me from biting my nails and add some pizazz to my outfits.

Gel is just a type of polish that goes on your natural nails. It lasts a LONG time though... minimum 2 weeks. I had mine on for 4 weeks (and I was in the pool/ocean a lot on my honeymoon...) and then had to get it removed at 4 weeks because my nails were getting so long, but the gel polish hadn’t even chipped at all yet lol. Here’s a pic of my wedding nails too (gel).


Acrylics are fake nails.

Typically, you'll have a few options:

Regular Polish - Regular polish painted on. Dries naturally. Lasts a week or so.

Shellac (gel) - Long lasting polish that are "cured" under UV light. They are still on your real nail. Gel is more of the generic name, Shellac is a type of gel so depending on the salon they will carry different types of gel nail polish. Lasts 1-3 weeks. This kind requires UV light and must be soaked off.

Dip (SNS) - Done with powder instead of gel. Still on your real nail. Typically a little more expensive than gel. No UV light needed (unless you want a gel top coat). Lasts 2-4 weeks.

Acrylic - Fake nail glued on top of your nail. Lasts the longest (3-4 weeks depending on care & nail growth). These types of nails can get you a longer look if that's what you are looking for, plus the nail is harder so you can do more designs or shapes than on your regular nail. Acrylic can damage your nail if not taken off correctly, so you'd need to go back in to take them off or get them filled.

I would find an ideal style you both want. Whether that's a specific color, length or shape will determine what kind of nails would be best. For our wedding, I did acrylic nails (I have them on all the time) and shellac pedicure.

I'd never done my nails in my life, and my hands looked it! About 18 months before daughter's wedding, I decided to see if I couldn't get some really bad life long nail habits under control. I wasn't comfortable with acrylics, where they glue fake nails to your own nails; I'd heard lots of stories about how damaging they can be. I found a nail tech who I felt comfortable with and started getting gel manicures every 2-3 weeks. The gel goes on like regular nail polish, but then is "activated" by an led light. It turns the gel polish into a super durable nail polish like covering on your fingernails. For me, it minimally lasts 2 weeks and it DRIES INSTANTLY to a very durable finish (with regular polish, I can't go 10 minutes without messing it up...). The downside is I need to have it removed at the salon (it takes a combination of light sanding and then having to "soak off" for a good 30 minutes or so with your fingers wrapped in foil and remover-soaked cotton balls); I've tried to remove it at home a couple times and can't really get it all cleaned off. So, it's the sort of thing where once you start, you have to go back to the salon to have it removed/redone. Like pp, it has made a WORLD of difference in my nails. I broke a 50+ year habit of biting my nails and picking my cuticles. For the first time in my life I have people tell me how pretty my nails are and "what nice hands I have." I'd definitely give it a try!

PS -- I also tried dipped nails a couple times (as described by pp, above). For me it doesn't last as long as gel and I don't like the finish as much, but I know people who love it. For me, gel was a good place to start.

I get acrylics done to add length. I also use a gel polish on top of that. It does appear more shiny than normal polishes. I mainly do it because there is no dry time involved.

I have acrylics all the time but it can thin your nails out quicker than gel but both can. If it is a one time thing I would just go gel nails. Won't add length to your nails where acrylics they an add fake nails and then put acrylic powder over it. Gel manicures can hold up 2-3 weeks.

I get SNS and I love them! I highly recommend - your nails will be diamond hard. In my experience, you have to baby gel and acrylic, but not SNS so much.

I get gel done regularly and love it! I do it solely with my natural nails. I usually can go 4 weeks without getting them redone (due to my nails growing out too much). The polish I have on right now is from 2 1/2 weeks ago, and my nails haven't grown out a ton.

I do shellac (gel polish) if I want my real nail only to be painted.

I do dip if I want acrylic ends added on as it seems to work better for my nails that way! And the dip lasts FOREVER. I've had my current set on for over 2 months now lol. I've had to actually cut and reshape my nails because they got so long hahaha.

I do like shellac though because it lasts roughly 3 weeks for me and I can remove it a lot easier myself as opposed to dip!

I did gel because I’m not a huge fan of having “fake” nails.

I always get dip because they last long and don't chip. But for my wedding, I was considering getting gel because they have more bridal colors available imo. I've tried gel once, it didn't last long and it peeled easily so I never got it again. But I'm going to give it a try the next time I go in.

I just wanna thank the OP for this post because I'm finding all the responses super helpful to me as well!

I am a fake nail/dip powder person. Right now I'm rocking stilettos but I go between both. If you are a novice to acrylic or fake, I suggest getting them done at least 4 days before the wedding. Your nail beds may be kind of sore for about 24 hours or so. It will be hard for you to help put on clothing, put your own clothing on, possibly write, type or clean/wash anything. If it isn't an issue for you, pop an advil and call it a day. I tell everyone I know since people who have nails leave that part out!