What makes Gel X different
A traditional acrylic tip covers part of the nail and is blended in with product and filing. A Gel X tip covers the whole nail from cuticle to free edge in one piece, bonded with gel and cured. That means far less filing on your natural nail at the start, no sculpting, and a set that comes off in a soak rather than being filed down.
The result sits lighter than acrylic and looks thinner at the cuticle, which is why people who have never liked how acrylic feels often stay with Gel X once they try it.
Who it suits
- Anyone whose nails have been over-filed before. Prep is a light buff rather than an e-file pass.
- People who want length without the weight. Gel X at a modest length feels closer to your own nails than acrylic does.
- Anyone who removes their own sets badly. Soak-off is gentler and faster than acrylic removal, which makes the whole cycle safer.
- First-time enhancement clients. It is the least committing way to try length.
Who it does not suit: very long tapered shapes, and anyone hard enough on their hands that an acrylic set is already breaking. Soft gel has a lower strength ceiling, and we will say so rather than build something that fails in week one.
How the appointment runs
- Nails are shaped and lightly buffed — no drilling into the nail plate.
- A tip is sized to each nail individually. Getting this right is most of the job; a tip that is a fraction too wide lifts at the sidewall.
- Gel goes inside the tip and on the nail, and the tip is pressed on and cured.
- The set is shaped and refined, then color, art or a plain gloss goes on top.
Because the tips come pre-shaped, the shape is chosen before anything is applied. Bring a photo — it is the fastest way to land on the right length and shape together.
Wear, fills and removal
A Gel X set runs three to four weeks, the same as acrylic. A fill is $48, which rebalances the regrowth rather than replacing the set. Removal is a soak-off — the top layer is filed back and the tips come away in acetone, which is gentler than acrylic removal.
What ends a set is usually the sidewall rather than the tip, so if you notice one corner lifting, come in before it catches on something. A repair is far cheaper than a rebuild.
Gel X with color and art
Anything that goes on a gel surface goes on Gel X: chrome, cat eye, French tips and hand-painted art. Because the surface starts smoother than a sculpted acrylic set, mirror chrome in particular looks better on it.
If you want a built ombré rather than a painted one, that is an acrylic service — the fade is blended into the powder while it is workable, which a pre-formed tip cannot do.
Gel X Nails pricing
| Gel X60 min | $65 |
| Builder Gel60 min | $60 |
| T.A.P Gel60 min | $60 |
| T.A.P / Builder Fill In60 min | $48 |
| Fill In — Almond / Coffin / Stiletto60 min | $55 |
These are the live prices from our booking system. Length, shape and art can add to the total, and we quote before we begin. See the full price list.
