Jelly nails are also referred to as glass nails due to their transparency. Differing from regular fake nails, which have a block of colour, jelly nails are see-through. Sometimes they can be clear, or coloured with a translucent effect.
Jelly nails are the lip gloss of manicures. The look features nails coated with a sheer, ultra-glossy wash of color that leaves them looking like, you guessed it, jelly.
But where did it originate? Vogue nail expert Lauren Murdoch-Smith thinks she first saw jelly nails via Unistella, and also Dior's spring/summer 2014 make-up collection for an at-home take on the trend.
If you'd rather head to the salon, ask your nail technician for “crystal” or clear tips, which are key to the jelly nail look. You can get them any length you want, but keep them long enough to clearly see the demarcation between the nail tip and your nail bed for the best effect.
Gel nails are more expensive than acrylics. That's because gel nails require more equipment, such as a UV or LED light, a gel top and base coat, in order to be applied properly. Not all gel nail polish kits come with tools to remove gel polish however -- keep that in mind too.
Cost. The cost of gel extensions can range anywhere from $80 to $125. However, this also depends on your location and nail salon.
The biggest benefit of gel manis is how long they last. "Gel manicures could last up to two weeks with proper nail prep and at-home care, such as cuticle oil and hand lotion," says Duguay-Gordon. And if you're careful, they can last up to four weeks.
What are Gel Nails? Gel nails are a type of acrylic nails, they have a more glossy appearance than acrylic nails which tend to be sturdier. Acrylic nail manicures tend to cater to those who want to go for a more creative and dramatic look by enhancing their nails with artificial nails.
“The jelly nail trend actually stems from the mid-80s and the '90s when girls wore jelly sandals,” explains Resort Nails manicurist Diamond Tiarrah Walton. “Jelly sandals were very popular back then because of the translucent that was sometimes fused with glitter.”
Just recently, Korean jelly nails started to trend. Different from the American ones, Korean nails are usually short, clean, and have a neutral color that blends with their tone. Popularized by K-pop idols, this soon turned out to birth numerous nail technicians offering this service.
While gel polish is fantastic in its own right, it lacks the rigidity of a hard gel—rigidity that's necessary for lengthening and sculpting nail extensions. According to Ornellas, “Hard gels are used for strength and structure,” whereas “gel polish is just for color and art, and a little strength."
Turns out, if you have nail polish (the brighter the color, the better) and a bottle of top coat, you can do jelly nails on your own. They can be done on both fake and natural nails, and with regular polish or gel polish. You'll be rocking this look in no time!
Where did the trend come from? The trend stems from the shoe of the 90s - the jelly sandals. A staple for most kids growing up in that decade, the buckled shoe had a translucent finish, and some were glittery.
Jelly: A colored polish that has a transparent finish that may show the nail line. Jelly polishes are not the same as gel polish.
Posting a “how-to”, TikTok user @uuy4mkish explains that the formula for jelly nails is basically a mix of clear nail polish with added color to it. (Talk about easy to do!) The possibilities are endless and the result is a glass-like and transparent look.
So for instance, if you apply a new set of soft gel tips, they can last a very long time (4-6 weeks). After which time, the entire set of nails will have to be removed via a soak-off and then of course you would re-apply.
Gel nails, while durable, aren't as strong as acrylic nails. They are more flexible than acrylic nails and less resistant to chipping or breaking. In general, acrylic nails are more durable than gel nails, but gel nails have a more natural look.
Do you have to use a UV lamp after getting a gel manicure? Yes. The UV rays help the gel polish polymerize, or harden, which is what makes the formula so durable, and dry so quickly.
After prepping with a base coat, apply one to two coats of a sheer, jelly polish to each nail. Allow time to dry.
It has never been proven in a controlled and scientific fashion that gelatin does anything to strengthen nails. Nails also contain no calcium so there is no rationale for taking calcium to strengthen nails. Several studies have been done with the vitamin biotin that showed some usefulness in making nails stronger.
Choose soak-off gel nails instead of acrylic nails.
While gel nails can cause nail brittleness, peeling, and cracking, they're more flexible than acrylic nails. This means your own nails are less likely to crack. You'll want to ask for gel nails that soak off rather than ones that must be filed off.
Acrylic nails are generally cheaper than gel nail application.