Hard Gel Confusion? Let’s Break It Down!

With so many options, understanding hard builder gels can be tricky. Let’s simplify it for you: there are four main types of hard builder gels at Gellifique, each unique in consistency, texture/ viscosity (choose your preferred term!), hardness (literally how much it resists bending), and suitability for different services.

Light Structure

The Light Structure Gel is a medium-viscosity, self-leveling gel with high adhesion and light hardness. It’s best suited for natural nail overlays in shapes like almond and oval, especially in medium lengths. This gel provides full coverage and excellent strength for natural nail protection. Ideal for infills, this formula cannot be soaked off with acetone.

• Available in light and ultra-light options.
• Strength: 3.5/5
• Perfect for natural nail overlays in short to medium lengths.
• A great BIAB alternative in a hard gel formula.
• Excellent adhesion and flexibility make it ideal for natural overlays but less suited for corrections or repairs.

Watch a video of Light Structure in action.

WARM SATIN 50g - £25.00 BUY NOW

Pro Care Gel

The Pro Care Builder Gel is a self-leveling gel with a medium texture and an ultra-hard structure, perfect for nail extensions on lower or dual forms. It provides excellent strength and resilience, particularly for square-shaped nails and medium-to-long natural nails. This professional-grade gel is ideal for infills but cannot be soaked off with acetone, ensuring long-lasting durability.

• Medium viscosity that is slightly thicker then Light Structure
• Strength: 5/5
• Perfect for overlays on square nail shapes, ensuring strong enhancements with corners that don’t lose shape.
• Suitable for medium to long natural nails with a natural-looking yet opaque finish—just top coat and go!
• Compatible with all nail forms (including dual forms), though too hard for pinching.

Watch a video of Pro Care Gel in action.

NUDE - £30.05 BUY NOW

Speed Sculpt

The Speed Sculpt Gel offers thixotropic properties with a mousse-like consistency that smooths during application. This 100% gel alternative to acrylic gel allows for quick and easy corrections of nail architecture, repairs, and extensions on any form. Designed for speed and precision, it is perfect for sculpting and infills but cannot be soaked off with acetone.

• Jelly-like texture with thixotropic properties (slightly self-leveling, unlike polygel).
• Strength: 4.5/5 which means it is not too hard and can be used for natural nail overlays as well if needed (for full nail extensions for example)
• Its ideal for strengthening natural nails, repairing cracks at stress points, correcting nail architecture (downward or upward), and nail extensions with any type of forms.
• Can be pinched.
• Offers excellent adhesion.
• Unique texture allows for quick or slow work—it doesn’t run!

Watch a video of Speed Sculpt in action.

SPEED SCULPT BUILDER - ROSE WHIP 50g - £30.00 BUY NOW

Acrylic Gel

The Acrylic Gel/Polygel is the ultimate UV/LED curable solution, combining the flexibility of hard gel with the strength of acrylic. It’s perfect for weak or brittle nails that require strengthening or extensions. With zero exothermic reaction, this gel is gentle on thin or overly damaged nails, offering maximum comfort during application. Cannot be soaked off with acetone for long-lasting wear.

• Paste-like texture
• Strength: 4/5
• Same as Speed Sculpt but better suited for clients with sensitivities due to its chemical structure and no heat emission during polymerisation—perfect for sensitive or damaged nails.
• Ideal for nail technicians transitioning from acrylic systems.

Watch a video of Acrylic Gel / Polygel in action.

ACRYLIC GEL - SILK VEIL 50gr - £25.00 BUY NOW