Perfect Prep and Builder Gel Application Online Course (2023)

FAQs

Do you need a qualification to do builder gel? ›

Course Prerequisite

You will need to hold a qualification in manicure and gel polish to be able to attend this course. You will be provided with pre- course reading. This will cover basic anatomy and physiology and health and safety. It will be recapped in your session.

Entry Requirements

To do this course you will need to be already qualified in gel polish and wanting to learn and qualify in BIAB (builder in a bottle). It will provide you with all the necessary skills needed and an industry recognised qualification. Gel polish qualification required.

All TGB products are professional use only. An accredited nail course certificate is required in order to purchase.

A level of training is necessary, and you will be required to obtain professional insurance if you want to perform nail services legally. Work experience is also valuable, but if you want to gain a solid understanding of the profession, then enrol on an online Nail Technician course with learndirect.

Apply the second layer of Builder Gel and cure for 60 seconds. Repeat this up to 4 times to achieve desired length and thickness.

BIAB can be used alone, or extensions can be added for customers who prefer longer nails. It can also be used as a base underneath gel polish for extra strength – but as the BIAB itself comes in multiple nude shades, it's often used as a standalone product.

The costs will vary from salon to salon but expect to pay around $65/£45 for your first set, the same again for infills, and $20/£15 for removal. "BIAB is growing in popularity amongst our customers.

What is BIAB? BIAB – which stands for builder in a bottle – also known as builder gel is a range of strengthening gel products that are applied to the natural nail, much in the same way regular gel polishes are, but it has a thicker consistency that improves the nail's strength.

If you are a professional, please create an account on our website and upload your certificate. Your account should be approved for “Pro” status within 10 minutes of uploading the document (during business normal hours). After that you will be able to add our gel nail polishes to your cart.

Why is The Gel Bottle better? ›

The Gel Bottle's website states that it won't chip or lift – again because it's a strengthened gel. It increases flexibility on brittle nails which means they're much less likely to snap.

The Gelbottle Inc™ gel polishes are rich, highly pigmented, chip-resistant & offer extreme long lasting shine. (their products do not contain formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde resin or camphor).

Clean the nail – use a lint-free wipe and isopropyl alcohol to remove any tackiness. File the nail – perfect your client's desired shape and even out any areas that might be too thick. Apply colour or top coat – wipe the nail clean again, and apply your top coat.

Builder gels are not as flexible as gel polish, so therefore need a layer in-between the natural nail and the gel to cushion the flex and prevent separation. When the builder gel is applied directly to the nail, it can flex more than the natural nail, meaning they don't move together, and this can cause lifting.

The gel top coat usually peels off if it isn't cured properly or has been applied over a colour gel or acrylic nails that have been wiped down with isopropyl alcohol. Each layer of gel is sticky and bonds to the next one, so if the tacky layer is removed, the next layer of polish will not adhere and will peel off.

You will learn how to use forms, create gel nails, and remove nail extensions. Usually, this course takes one day to complete and it is made for beginners. However, some schools offer one-day training sessions for more difficult tasks, such as fiberglass nails or acrylics – these are for pros only.

This typically takes 12 months to complete as a mix of learning in the workplace and off-the-job study.

Doing gel nails at home isn't so different from the nail salons. So long as you have the right equipment and have the patience to learn, you're going to find this to be rather enjoyable to do.

Over-curing a gel is possible. Some gels will discolor when over-cured and some will lose the gloss, while others will do both or neither. So much of this depends on the gel and the curing light. Each manufacturer should be able to assist the nail technician in what issues they may see with over-curing the product.

No. There is no need to use gel bonder prior to Builder Base application. You should prep the nail and apply Builder Base straight after. If the client has thin nails that bend easily we recommend applying 1 layer of gel polish base coat before builder base.

Can you paint straight over builder gel? ›

Yes. Fortunately, there is no real downside to painting on top. The only thing to consider is how it may affect the aesthetics of your nails. With the gel manicure already on the nails, you must be careful not to layer up on polish so much that you end up with really thick nails.

The beauty of BIAB is that is can be used on its own or as a base underneath gel nails to minimise any damage gel polish may cause. The only downside is that BIAB sometimes does not fit into the edges or creases like gel or shellac does. However it does dry harder, meaning it is more durable against chipping.

So, is BIAB polish good for nails? Short answer: Yes. Natural nails can benefit from trying the BIAB technique over other manicures. Plus, the application and removal process is less likely to damage your nails than classic styles like acrylics, gel or dip powder.

BIAB™ does not require base as it includes Rubber Base within its formula - however if you purchase CLEAR or WHITE BIAB™ this requires Rubber Base underneath.

The widely accepted minimum tip in the industry is 15 percent, Kandalec says, but the most common tip at a nail salon is 20 percent. This is similar to what's expected when tipping at a hair salon, or for a massage or spa treatment.

The price for a gel manicure can vary depending on where you live and the caliber of the salon you're visiting. Typically, a gel manicure can cost $5-$10 more than a regular manicure, with a starting price of $35. The removal process is just as important as the manicure itself.

Why is it better than acrylic? The BIAB is a lot thinner when applied to the nail so it isn't as heavy on the natural nail helping them grow longer and keeping your natural nails healthier.

Nail builder gel works by repairing and strengthening the nails. It can help to fill in cracks and breaks in the nail surface, making them appear smoother and more even. The gel also helps to strengthen the nails by helping to grow healthy new nail cells.

Let's break it down. Builder Gel, Gum Gel and Hard Gel are all strong enough to build an extension by either using tips or sculpting forms. But Hard Gel is the weakest of them all and should only be used for short extensions.

Builder in a Bottle is a hard gel and is made to act as a super strong base for nails. Your normal gel colour is a gel polish which is made to last between 2-3 weeks before being redone. The purpose of Builder in a Bottle is to stay on the nails pretty much until it is soaked off, making the natural nails super strong!

How long do you cure The Gel Bottle? ›

Curing times: 60 seconds for 2in1 base, colours and extreme shine top coat. Cure Rubber Base, Builder in a Bottle and Rubber top on low heat mode - press the low heat button for 0.5secs (curing power starts at 36w then increases to 48w, lasts 99 seconds). Low heat mode will minimise occurrence of heat spikes.

Most gel clients can easily go 3-4 weeks between fills. However, it can be beneficial to start out with 2-week intervals until you see how she is adapting to her nails. As time progresses the intervals can be extended to 3 or 4 weeks. The key is consistency and regularly scheduled appointments.

Designed to last 4+ weeks.

To avoid damaging your nail beds, don't peel or pick off gel polish. Instead, start by filing off the shine and then wrapping your nails in foils with cotton pads that you've soaked in liquid nail polish remover.

What lamp do I need? The TGB lamp has been optimised for use with TGB products ensuring 100% guaranteed curing.

As mentioned above, gel nails are a healthier alternative for the nail than acrylic. They are less likely to cause damage to the natural nail or nail bed. Gel nails also feel more natural and less rigid than acrylic, so if you accidentally hit them against something they are less likely to snap!

New research published in American Journal of Infection Control reveals that gel nail polish may retain bacteria on healthcare workers' fingers, even after using alcohol hand gel.

BIAB stands for 'builder in a bottle', and is also referred to as 'builder gels'. With builder gel, you can create the same look, hardness and strength as acrylic or SNS nails, without damaging the natural nail underneath (as much).

Yes, your gel will be slightly tacky to the touch after you have cured each coat. This is so that the next coat can properly adhere to the previous one.

Is builder gel supposed to be sticky after curing? ›

All of your gel coats will feel tacky after curing. It's the tackiness which allows each subsequent coat to stick.

The sticky residue occurs in the upper layer due to exposure to oxygen. Oxygen does not let the upper layer cure properly. Since we have a high percentage of oxygen in the air, so we can't avoid oxygen exposure to the upper layer. But once you apply another coat, the previous coat will get properly cured.

They may have lifted prematurely as the nail plate may not have been prepared correctly before the gel application, or they may not have been capped/sealed at the free edge.

Get a nail file and start filing down the top coat of the builder gel. This will make it easier for the acetone to penetrate the gel and soften it for removal. Buff nails to create a surface that the acetone can penetrate more easily.

Apply cuticle oil regularly

Cuticle oil is the magic ingredient when it comes to keeping your nails healthy and hydrated – and, in turn, helping your gel manicure to last longer. Regularly applying cuticle oil will hydrate your nails, helping them to grow faster and stronger.

Technically, you don't need any specific qualifications to become a builder. This doesn't mean you can dive straight in and start working though - all builders need some experience before securing their first job. The vast majority of builders gain experience through apprenticeships and on-the-job training.

Simply apply a thin layer of the builder gel to each nail and cure for 60 seconds under an LED lamp or 120 under a UV lamp. Once cured, your nails will be ready for any colour!

Although nail technicians don't necessarily need formal qualifications, at least some basic form of training or experience with nail treatments is needed and you will need to obtain professional insurance in order to legally carry out nail services to clients.

You can apply builder gel to either natural nails for a non-chip overlay, or use it with nail tips to create extensions or enhancements. It's much stronger than regular gel polish base coats, and the formula is a much thicker consistency to a normal base coat.

The length of your apprenticeship depends on the range of skills you can learn with your employer, and how quickly you master them. The average length of time is 3-4 years. It is common to change employers to gain the necessary skills to complete your apprenticeship.

How do I become a self employed builder? ›

Builders' certifications

Health and safety certificates (these should be from approved certifiers such as CHAS and Constructionline) Joinery certificates. Wood occupations certificates. Electrotechnical technology installation certificates.

Apply a gel primer

Apply gel nail primer to the nails you want to apply the gel on before application.

To become a fully qualified nail technician you have to gain a recognised qualification like VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Nail Technology.

There is no specific qualification you need to take to be able to start a nail business. However, you will need to get insurance and many providers do require proof of qualifications in order to cover you. So, while you could in theory be a self-taught nail technician, it is not recommended.

You may be using a builder gel with a sticky layer that needs to be wiped off with alcohol after curing.

For gel nails, take a break for a week at least once every eight weeks to allow the nails to rehydrate and to allow repair of the underlying structures. “An emollient applied directly to the nail and cuticle oil will also aid recovery,” said Batra.

Yes. Fortunately, there is no real downside to painting on top. The only thing to consider is how it may affect the aesthetics of your nails. With the gel manicure already on the nails, you must be careful not to layer up on polish so much that you end up with really thick nails.