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Gender in nails & beauty

According to the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings for 2019, there is no gender pay gap between full-time nail technician workers. Both men and women earn exactly the same estimated amount.

There are a lot more women than men in the industry, but increasingly more men are getting involved. Especially at the managerial level, an area that has nearly double the number of male workers as in the staff area. 

Currently, about 93 per cent of the staff workforce are women. And 16 per cent of nails and beauty managers are men. 

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Do you want to be a nail technician?

The nails and beauty sector is full of opportunity. Not only is it the fastest growing industry, but it is also rapidly diversifying and expanding. And with its growth comes more demand for skills and, as a result, higher pay-grades.

The next big revolution is expected to be male-orientated cosmetics. 

So the future looks very bright for the world of nails and beauty, with no signs of slowing down. 

Find out more about our Nail Technician courses and start your future in beauty today

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Please note: Statistics from Indeed’s database were accurate at the point of extraction, May 2024.

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Contents

• Gel Nail Extensions
• Acrylic Nails
• The difference between gel and acrylic nails
• The difference between gel polish and regular nail polish
• Other types of nail extensions

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Gel Nail Extensions

The most common questions are: “What are gel nails?” and “How do gel nails work?” To put it simply, gel nail extensions are a type of false nail that can be extended and sculpted. The gel extension bonds to a real nail semi-permanently, but fits on like a press-on nail. This gel extension then requires a gel base coat, colour, and top coat. Gel extensions are then shaped, preserved and hardened with an LED or ultraviolet light. 

The Benefits of gel nail extensions

Gel nail extensions vs acrylic look more natural than other types of nail extensions. Gel nail extensions also look glossier, and the curing time (the time it takes for the gel to harden) is faster than with acrylics.

Gel nail extensions also have mixtures that lack the fumes and the chemicals associated with acrylic nails. For these reasons, many beauty technicians offer gel nail extensions as a safer, more environmentally friendly alternative to acrylic nails. 

Arianna Grandé often wears gel nail extensions.

Are gel nails safe?

We are sometimes asked, “do gel nails ruin your nails?” Improper removal can damage the nail bed, especially if this happens a lot. Moderation is key. Give your nails gel breaks from time to time, and let your nails rest and grow. If you have any further questions, consult your nail technician.  

How to do gel nails step-by-step

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For best results, we would always recommend visiting a qualified nail technician to apply gel nail extensions. But if you fancy a DIY gel nail manicure and learn how to do gel nail extensions, try following these steps:

1. Start with the ultimate ‘blank nail’ when planning sculpted gel nails. File and shape your nails before cutting them. Then think of a shape. Popular gel nail shapes include round, square, almond, oval, and pointed shapes. With shapes like these, you can make nails such as coffin gel nails and french manicure gel nails. Then cut the shape you want, using a nail buffer to finalise sculpting gel nails in the shape exactly as you want it.
   
   HINT: It is important to choose the right shape because your gel nail extensions will be based on the shape. Gel nails are not like acrylic nails, which can be shaped during and after applying.
   
   
2. Use a cuticle remover. Cuticle is a fancy word for ‘dead skin at the base of a fingernail’. Make sure to clear it up before applying gel polish.
   
3. Apply a base layer of gel polish. There only needs to be a very thin base coat layer with gel polish; much thinner than regular nail polish.
   
   HINT: If you are looking to touch-up your gel nails, then this is the perfect time to apply gel nail infills. After about three weeks of nail growth, there is usually an uncoated bit of the nail at the base where it has grown. A gel nail infill refers to the process of touching up the gel polish on a growing nail.
   
   
4. Apply the colour and cure. Once the base layer has dried, it’s time to apply another thin layer — but this time of colour gel. Make sure to paint over the tips of the nails to prevent the gel from curling back on itself. Cure this layer under a UV lamp for about three minutes. Then add another colour, rinse and repeat.
   
   HINT: Don’t worry if the first layer appears streaky, that’s what the second layer is for.
   
   
5. Apply your top gel. Apply generously over the gel nail tips, painting right over the top. Like with the previous layers, you will need to cure the gel polish under a UV light for about three minutes.

And that’s it! How to do UV gel nails, on a simple step-by-step basis. After the top gel is applied, in some instances there is what’s known as “tacky” left behind on the gel nail overlay. Tacky refers to a sticky later left after some gel application methods. To get rid of it, take a cotton ball dipped in isopropyl alcohol and remove it that way. 

Here are some images of gel nails, of the different types:

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How to remove gel nail extensions

We would always recommend visiting a professional nail technician to remove gel nail extensions, as improper removal can damage the nail bed. That being said, if you are still looking to remove gel nail extensions yourself, here’s what you can do:

1. Buff the surface of your gels with a nail file. Some gel nails will need to be filed off if they want removing. This will break through the top gel and allow your nail polish remover to sink in properly.
   
   
2. Soak a cotton ball with a 100% pure acetone or dedicated gel remover. Then place it on top of your nail. The gel nails should crumble off quite easily. Gel remover is expensive and hard to find, but it is gentler on the nail bed.
   
   HINT: It is important to use pure acetone. Typical nail polish removers don’t have as much acetone, meaning it can take a long time to remove the gel nails.
   
   
3. Wrap foil around your nail and the cotton ball. And then repeat this process for the other nails. Allow 15 minutes for the gel to start crumbling. If the gel is not crumbling, you may need to soak your nails for a bit longer. Gel polish removal follows a similar process.
   
   
4. Gently get rid of the remaining glue and residue. You can do this by using a cuticle pusher. There may also be some clear residue left behind from the process, so give your hands a good wash and buff afterwards.
   
   
5. Hydrate your nails. This is best done using a cuticle oil and moisturiser on the nail bed.

For this reason, gel nails are sometimes referred to as soak off gel nails, as all you have to do is use foil and acetone to soak them off until they’re ready to peel. 

Hard gel nails

Hard gel nail extensions are, despite the name, closer to acrylic nails in almost every way — from sculpting to shaping — except they are cured through UV light. Acetone cannot break down these long gel nails. The only way to remove them is to file them off completely. 

How much are gel nails?

The average gel nails price can be anywhere between £25 – 35 in the UK. Circumstances dependent on the nail technician, the salon, and even the location of the salon can all affect the pricing. 

Can you paint over gel nails?

Painting over gel nails is no problem at all. You can use regular nail polish over gel nails as much as you desire. It is also easy to remove regular nail polish without damaging the gel nail, but you must use a non-acetone remover to leave the gel intact.

How long should gel nails last?

How long do gel nail extensions last? In most cases, gel nail extensions last at least two full weeks. And in a lot of cases, they can last three weeks, depending on your natural rate of nail growth. 

If you are using a regular nail polish, and not gel nail polish to paint your gel nail extensions, then you can repaint your gel nails as often as you like without needing gel nail infills — like with acrylics. You can extend the life of your gel nail extensions with good maintenance: by cutting and shaping them as they grow.

Another question we often hear is: “How long do gel nails take?” The answer is, it depends on the gel and the gel methods used. We would say at the longest it may take up to a bit over an hour, but some nail technicians can apply gel nail extensions within 15 minutes. 

Things to remember if you have gel nail extensions 

Gel nails tend to need regular maintenance. So if you want to keep them in good condition, you will need a number of filler appointments with your nail and beauty technician. 

Another downside is that gel nail extensions don’t last as long and are less durable than acrylic nails. Gel nail damage tends to make the gel nail shatter. If this happens a nail technician will have to reapply a new gel nail.

Gel nails on short nails can be difficult to apply — especially if the nail beds are both short and wide. Gel nails on bitten nails can also be difficult to apply. Remember to consult your nail technician, who can give you reasonable expectations.