Technique

What is the difference between acrylic brushes and gel brushes?

December 01, 2008 | Bookmark +

What is the difference between acrylic brushes and gel brushes?

Answer

Gel brushes are usually made from a nylon bristle called Taklon. Taklon is a good and relatively cheap product that makes effective, stiff brushes. Acrylic brushes are usually made from animal hairs such as sable, which is a small forest-dwelling mammal, or something similar like kolinsky, a mammal in the weasel family. Taklon cannot be used for acrylic brushes because Taklon cannot withstand exposure to acetone, and becomes damaged with acetone use.

Natural hair fibers can also be used with gels, but it is unnecessary and in the event that gel is accidentally cured in the brush, the more expensive acrylic brush will have to be discarded.

— Jim McConnell is the president of Light Elegance.

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How can I prevent lifting when my client's hands are constantly in water?

I have a client who is in the medical field so her hands are constantly in water. She has me keep the length of her acrylic nails short. No matter what I do, she always has at least one nail that comes off, and she always has lifting and gets water under the acrylic. I prep the nails correctly, I have a cuticle bit to clean the cuticle area, and I wipe the nail with alcohol, dehydrate the nail, and prime the nail. What should I do?

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