Gel Nail Extensions – Materials, Forms and Tools for Every Technique
Gel nail extensions add length and a new shape, while overlays strengthen the natural nail so it grows out without breaking. Both start with the same question: which material suits your technique, your client's nails and the look you want? This collection brings together builder materials of every texture, together with the forms, tips and brushes you need to work with them. All builder gels, acrygels and other extension materials are TPO-free and notified in the CPNP, the EU cosmetic products portal.
Which Material to Choose
- Builder gels: the most versatile choice for extensions on forms or tips, overlays and repairs. Clear, camouflage, milky and color shades in jars, with textures from self-leveling to thick. See all builder gels.
- Bottle builder gels: builder gel in a bottle with a brush. They level themselves and are ideal for fast strengthening, repairs and short extensions, such as HEYLOVE Smart Gels and TOUCH Builder Liquid. The full range is in bottle builder gels.
- Polygels and acrygels: they combine the strength of acrylic with the comfort of gel, without a strong odor. Dense acrygels stay exactly where you place them, while liquid acrygels spread more easily for overlays. See polygels and acrygels.
- Iron and jelly gels: very dense, firm gels for strong architecture, long nails and sculpted shapes that need to hold their C-curve. See iron and jelly gels.
- Acrylic and monomer: the classic powder-and-liquid system for technicians who prefer acrylic sculpting. See acrylic and monomers.
Forms, Tips and Brushes
Lower (paper) forms suit classic sculpting, while reusable upper forms and soft gel tips let you build the shape faster and with less filing. You can find them in nail tips, forms and tweezers. For even application and clean architecture, choose a brush matched to the material: flat and oval brushes for gels, stiffer brushes for acrygel and acrylic. See all brushes.
Extensions or Strengthening?
If the natural nails are long enough but thin or brittle, an overlay with builder gel, bottle gel or liquid acrygel adds strength without extra length. If you want to change the length or shape, or correct a short or damaged nail, sculpt an extension on a form or build it on a tip. Good prep matters in both cases: degrease the nail and use a dehydrator and ultrabond for reliable adhesion, then cure every layer in a UV/LED nail lamp.
Extension Materials by Brand
- DARK: builder gels in many shades, iron gels, polygels and nail forms.
- DNKa': builder gels, acrygels and liquid acrygels, jelly gels and brushes.
- HEYLOVE: FRAME builder gels, Smart Gel bottle gels, jelly gels, soft gel tips and upper forms.
- LUNAmoon: builder gels, light acrygels and jelly gels.
- TOUCH: builder gels including CREMA, Builder Liquid, polygels, jelly gels and forms.
- Kodi: acrylic powder and monomer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between builder gel, polygel and acrygel?
Builder gel is a gel that flows and levels itself before curing. Polygel and acrygel are denser hybrid materials that combine acrylic strength with gel curing, so they don't run and can be shaped precisely. Liquid acrygels sit in between: they spread more easily than dense acrygels and are well suited to overlays.
Can I do gel nail extensions at home?
Yes. You need a UV/LED lamp, nail forms or tips, a builder material, prep liquids, a brush and a file. For a first try at home, bottle builder gels and liquid acrygels are the easiest to work with.
Upper forms or lower forms – which should I use?
Lower forms are placed under the free edge, and the extension is sculpted on top of them. Upper forms are filled with material and pressed onto the nail, which gives a ready shape with less filing. Upper forms are faster; lower forms give more freedom in shaping.
Can I combine materials from different brands?
Yes. Builder gels, acrygels, bases and tops from different brands usually work well together, as long as every layer is cured in a UV/LED lamp. When combining brands for the first time, try it on one nail first.
Are your builder gels and acrygels TPO-free?
Yes. TPO has been banned in the EU since 1 September 2025, and all extension materials we sell are TPO-free.
