What Is Builder Gel & Why It’s Helpful for Brittle Nails

Are you dealing with constantly broken nails? 

It’s a frustrating cycle: You grow out your nails—which takes months—and then break your nail doing something totally mundane, which only takes seconds. Then the cycle starts again. Back to the waiting months. 

Well, there may be a solution to your weak and brittle nails if you’re open to using gel polish: builder gel. But what is builder gel, and how does it help your nails? 

What Is Builder Gel for Nails?

Builder gel is a gel polish with a thicker consistency than standard gel polish. It’s thick so any cracks or breaks in the nails get filled in. Builder gel contains ingredients designed to strengthen your nail by rebuilding its structure. 

It can be used as a base coat with a colored gel on top, but they also come in a variety of colors (mostly pale and pastel shades). A builder gel manicure can last around two to three weeks, but with touch-ups, it can last months.

Experienced nail artists have even used builder gel to create extensions or false nails, because when dried under a lamp, builder gel has a harder shell and more durability than standard gel polish. 

Why Should You Use Builder Gel?

If you’re struggling with weak or brittle nails, builder gel will help build up their strength. It has ingredients like vitamins B and C that are used to create stronger, smoother nails. 

Also, if you’re interested in creating extensions and fake nails, it may be better for you to practice with builder gel. Some nail artists find builder gel easier to use than acrylic because they’re able to apply it like regular polish. 

Is Builder Gel Hard to Take Off?

That’s going to depend on your experience level. Removing it can take time, so if you’re new to using gel polish, having a professional take the gel off for you may be best. If you have more experience, you should be fine, as long as you carefully read the instructions and take your time. 

Never peel off your gel polish—that’ll take layers off your nails and make them weak and brittle, which is what you’re trying to avoid! 

Give Builder Gel a Try!

Now that you know what builder gel is, you’ll finally break the cycle of growing out your nails only to break them, leaving you to wait again. 

Instead, you’ll get smooth, strong, and beautiful nails.