Overlays for natural nails
Builder gel nails & tap gel in Plymouth, MN
Two ways to give your own nails strength and a smooth, even shape. Builder gel reinforces the nail you already have; tap gel adds a firm structure over natural nails or tips when you want more length.
Prices
Gel color, chrome and nail art can be added · Russian cuticles +$15
Builder gel
What is a builder gel overlay?
Builder gel is a thicker gel that is brushed over your natural nail and shaped before it cures. Unlike thin gel polish, it builds a supportive layer with a gentle curve, the apex, that takes the stress when your nails bump into daily life.
It suits nails that bend, peel or break before they reach the length you like. Your own nail stays underneath, keeps growing, and the overlay grows out with it.
- Your natural nail Lightly prepared so the gel can bond.
- Builder gel The strength: a smooth layer, thickest over the stress area.
- Gel color Any shade, cat eye, chrome or nail art.
- Top coat Shine and protection, glossy or matte.
Tap gel
And tap gel?
Tap gel is a firm gel structure. It can be applied over your natural nails, or over tips when added length is desired, which makes it a flexible middle ground between an overlay and a full extension.
At the consultation, Sam looks at your nails and the look you are after and recommends builder gel or tap gel. Both are priced the same, and longer length adds +$10.
Side by side
Builder gel or tap gel?
A quick way to see the difference. Final advice always comes at the consultation, after looking at your nails.
| Builder gel overlay | Tap gel | |
|---|---|---|
| Applied over | Your natural nails | Natural nails, or tips for length |
| Length | Your own length, no added length | Your own length, or longer with tips |
| Best for | Thin, bendy or peeling nails that need strength | A firm structure, with the option of more length |
| Price | $70 · longer +$10 | $70 · longer +$10 |
Your appointment
How an overlay appointment goes.
01
Consultation
Your nails, your habits and the look you want decide between builder gel and tap gel, plus color or art.
02
Prep
Cuticles are tidied and the nail is gently prepared so the gel adheres evenly.
03
Build and cure
The gel is laid down, shaped into a smooth apex and cured under an LED lamp.
04
Refine and finish
Shape and surface are refined, then color, cat eye or art and a top coat finish the set.
Overlay questions
Builder gel, answered.
Is builder gel the same as gel polish?
No. Gel polish is a thin color layer. Builder gel is thicker and structural: it strengthens the nail and gives it shape, and gel color can go on top.
Will builder gel damage my nails?
Applied and removed with care, builder gel protects the nail rather than harming it. Problems usually start when an overlay is picked or peeled off, which pulls away layers of the natural nail. Let the studio remove it, and see how to remove builder gel without damaging your nails.
Can I grow my natural nails with builder gel?
Many people use an overlay for exactly that: the reinforced nail is less likely to break while it grows. How fast it grows is up to you, the overlay just protects it.
Can builder gel add length?
Builder gel works with your natural length. For more length, tap gel over tips, Gel-X or dual form extensions are the options.
How long does an overlay last?
Most people come back after about three to four weeks, when the growth at the cuticle starts to show.