Gel nails first appeared in the U.S. in the early 1980s. But it wasn’t until new gel formulations began appearing on the market in the late ’90s that we really began seeing gels pick up as a solid salon service. Now gels are a great alternative to acrylic enhancements and even to the tried-and-true traditional manicure.

As a student or an instructor, it’s good to stay knowledgeable about ingredients so you can keep clients informed on how things work and what chemicals are used. Give your students this quiz to see how much they know about what's in nail products.

An answer key is included on the second page.To read more articles about gels, visit the "gels" sub-section of our Technique channel: www.nailsmag.com/technique/gels