A: The simple answer to this question is no. But wait, let me explain. The term "dip" implies applying an adhesive to the nail and then dipping your finger into a pot/jar of powder. The "dip/dipping" powder is acrylic powder. I do offer natural nail overlay using polygel or hard gel as an alternative.

A: If your nail tech utilizes a powder/liquid combo, you have acrylic nails with gel polish. True gel nails (hard or soft) are applied using a gel which is usually in a jar, bottle or tube. Gel nails are often referred to as builder gel, BIAB hard gel or structure gel.

A: Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) liquid monomers is more often referred to as Dental Acrylic and can cause permanent damage to your nails.

Ethyl methacrylate (EMA) is a type of acrylic monomer (liquid) that is used in acrylic systems. EMA is considered a methacrylic acid ethyl ester. It is the main ingredient in most nail acrylic monomers. Most legal acrylic monomers consist of EMA in the range of 70%-90%.

MMA has been made illegal and is banned in the nail industry, but due to the low cost, some nail techs will choose a budget friendly product, over your nail health.

A: Builder gel is a type of gel polish with a thick viscosity that is used to create length, thickness or strength on your natural nails or nail enhancements (i.e nails tips). Builder gel can be separated into two categories, builder gel or builder gel in a bottle (BIAB) and hard gel.

Typically, builder gel in a bottle is a thick gel that adds strength to the nails or nail enhancements and can be soaked off with acetone. Builder gel in a bottle is a softer gel, but it creates a much stronger overlay on the nails than traditional gel nail polish so it’s great for helping your natural nails grow. If you’re a nail-biter, it’s also a sound option to protect your nails because it’s too rigid to bite through.

Builder gel comes in different colors but clear, nude and light pink shades are the most common shades in comes in. Builder gel can be used like your average nail polish, or you can apply a layer to strengthen your nails (called an overlay) and top it off with a traditional gel or nail polish to add color or trendy nail art. It can also be used to create short gel extensions or as a glue to bond pre-shaped gel extensions to the natural nail.

Hard gel is another type of builder gel that typically comes in a pot and creates a rigid layer over the nail. It comes in many different colors and finishes. The biggest difference between builder gel in a bottle and hard gel is that the latter has to be filed off, it cannot be soaked off. Hard gel is similar to acrylic, it feels strong on the nail, though hard gel has more flexibility so it’s less likely to crack. 

Be sure to ask your nail tech, what they’re using on your nails!