Gel nails vs dipped?

I recently(few days) got dipped and so far they’re hanging on. I can tell you I worked in a kitchen for years and the gel hung on. I smashed them in between pans dropped pots and caught them with my nails and rarely had one break even when they needed a balance.

As someone who has gone back and forth between both, I will tell you that there are pros and cons to both.

With acrylics, you run a higher risk of breaking a nail; however, I can generally stretch my fills out to three weeks without my nails looking totally awful. (I do gel polish on my acrylics to make them last longer).

With the dipping powder, very rarely do they dip your nail all the way down to your cuticle, so they already look a little grown out right off the bat. Additionally, the top coat they use is extremely thin and peels within a week. They are also more expensive. However, they are definitely healthier for your nail beds, and they don't break as easily.

I just got the gel/shellac nails done this past Friday, and so far so good. The nail tech told me they should last 2-3 weeks, but you will notice them growing out by the 3 week point. I also got a cuticle oil to prevent my nails from drying out too much.

I've heard that dipping usually lasts 3 weeks as well, so they are both good long term options.

I get the nexgen. Have been for maybe 2 years. I did gel a few times and it didn’t last at all. My nexgen lasts for about 3-4 weeks, maybe a bit longer. My nail tech dips all the way to cuticle, so it’s all done.

Gel lasts longer on my nails then the dip powder. The dip powder usually ends up starting to chip on me after two weeks.

I used to get gel done all the time but stopped 4 years ago because they caused my friendly bird to freak out and actually injure himself trying to get away from me when I got them done. My experience with gel is that they are stronger and last longer than acrylics. One such experience with acrylics, although likely a fluke but it never happened with gels, I was in colorguard in high school at the beginning of rehearsal we would pull out mirrors so we could check our form and stuff. Well I barely touched the mirror and my acrylic broke in half. Another thing I noticed with acrylics is within a week they start separating from your nail so your has snags in them much more frequently. With acrylics after 2 weeks I was at the either get them filled or take them off because they were coming off already. With gels it takes about 3 weeks for your nails to snag on your hair and about 6 weeks of no fill before they start coming off.

You want them to be longer. I would recommend polygel fullset. It’s fairly new but it’s bettrttnam acrylic bc it’s more flexible so they don’t lift or break if you hit them. I got mine done. I re did them in two weeks but I could have gone in three weeks. I attached of my first and last one I just did.

I would recommend the dip powder. Gel nails only last like a week on me because I too am rough on my hands at work. The dip powder is better for your nails than acrylic but they have sort of the same effect. I had mine done last week and they still look beautiful! Gel would have chipped by now already.

I'm a hairstylist so my hands are constantly in water! I currently have the dip on my hands and I'm at about 2 and a half weeks. They still look great with just a little regrowth. This is the longest my nails have ever lasted. Highly suggest the dip.

I just go the SNS/powder dip done this past week and i LOVE IT. It's super durable, and the color looks amazing. Usually within a few days my polish has chipped or cracked or I've messed it up somehow but I haven't had an issues with these at all. Even with washing dishes/doing laundry and going to the gym! I also love how its drys basically instant. Usually for the first full day after I get my nails done I feel like I have to be super ginger with how I handle things but these feel super sturdy.

I am definitely going to look into getting these done for my wedding.

I do the dip nails - they last much longer than gel IMO. However - I would not get them done with tips because they can break off easier - especially when you are rough on your hands.

I'd go with gel if you are rough on your hands. At least from what my nail lady says, dipped are better for your hands but break easier. I get acrylics and am also super rough. My nail lady has to make them thicker than normal for me not to break them. If you have time prior, I'd try both. But from what I've read, acrylic/gel is stronger.

I do gel and just switched to dip. Gel last about a week and half and starts to peel on me (I am rough on my hands) first round of dip lasted 3.5 weeks and I went to have it done again because it was growing out so much not because it was coming off. Also dipping is not as tough on your nails as acrylic or gel.