On the hunt for a product that will help your nails grow stronger and longer? You're in the right place. You probably already know the basics - from regularly applying Cuticle Oil to avoiding using your nails as tools - but one of our Bluesky Hero products is an absolute must-have if you struggle with brittle, breaking nails.
How do you strengthen your nails?
Our go-to gel nail strengthener has and always will be Hard Gel! Slightly thicker than normal gel polish, its formulation allows it to add additional strength to the nail. This enables it to keep your nails strong and protects them against breaking or snagging, meaning your natural nails are able to grow stronger and longer too!
It’s a great product for not only using under gel polish for your normal manicure, but it can also be used without a colour coat for a super natural look too. It comes in a bottle and is applied with the brush, just like your gel polish.
Hard Gel comes in four different colours for you to choose from:
- Clear - perfect for any and every manicure
- Pink - great for using on its own too
- Soft Clear Pink - one of our most-popular Hard Gels
- White - also perfect for adding underneath neon and pastel shades to make them pop!
How to use Hard Gel?
Simply apply your Base Coat, then 1-2 coats of Hard Gel. Continue with your gel polish colour coats and finish with your Top Coat.
Plenty of our Bluesky users also love adding an extra coat of Hard Gel before the Top Coat, so you can experiment with what works best for you and your nails to ensure they stay stronger for longer.
You can also use Hard Gel without a colour coat for a natural finish. For this look, simply apply Base Coat, 2 coats of Hard Gel and then your Top Coat. We love this look using our Pink or Soft Clear Pink Hard Gel for a super quick manicure that looks effortless.
Do you need a Base Coat when using Hard Gel?
We always advise using a Base Coat at the beginning of every gel manicure. This is because it provides the perfect base layer for all following coats to adhere to. While we can’t guarantee best results if you miss this step out, many of our Bluesky users find that applying Hard Gel with no Base Coat works well for them, and they experience no peeling or lifting at all.
So while we do always advise using a Base Coat before applying your Hard Gel, if you find it works fine without then go for it!
How do you remove Hard Gel?
Like all Bluesky products, Hard Gel can be soaked off using an Acetone Remover. You can use our Remover Wraps or Acetone and Foils to soak off your Hard Gel, just like you would with your normal gel polish manicure.
We always recommend filing off as much of the product on your nails as possible beforehand, especially when you've used Hard Gel. This is because there are now 2-3 additional layers for the acetone to soak through, so we advise making sure your nails are properly filed down and prepped for removal to cut down on the soaking time.
Can you infill with Hard Gel?
Plenty of our Bluesky users love infilling Hard Gel as it means they don't have to completely remove the product!
To infill, file off the Top Coat and the colour until you reach the Hard Gel. You can then use the same colour of Hard Gel for your infill. After you have finished curing, buff over the nail to smooth down the product. You can then wipe with cleanser and go ahead with your new colour coat and Top Coat.
Is Hard Gel and Builder Gel the same?
When it comes to Bluesky products, these two products have different uses! Hard Gel is best used as a nail strengthener – either underneath your gel polish colour coats or on its own for a natural-looking manicure.
Builder Gel is perfect for gel nail extensions and can be used with nail forms to sculpt medium to long nail extensions. We have plenty of tips for how to apply Builder Gel as well as a tutorial video you can follow if you’ve not used the product before.
Now you know exactly how to help your nails grow stronger, don't forget to take a look at our 8 Top Tips For Stronger Nails - including more of our favourite products!
Deborah
I have started using hard gel under my colour (without base coat so far) and is has been amazing. My nails are incredibly weak and have never reached above my finger tips before but now Ihave to file them down. It is amazing and I am thrilled with the results.