BIAB vs Gel vs Acrylic: Which Is Right for You?
Guide
Three very different treatments
BIAB, gel polish and acrylic get talked about as if they're interchangeable, but they behave quite differently on the nail. Choosing the right one comes down to what you want: colour, strength, length, or protection for nails that break easily.
Here's how each works in plain terms, so you can walk into your appointment knowing what to ask for.
Gel polish: colour and shine
Gel polish is a coloured coating cured under a lamp. It gives a high-shine finish that resists chipping far better than regular polish, and it's the simplest of the three.
What it doesn't do is add meaningful strength. If your nails are prone to splitting or peeling, gel polish will look lovely but won't stop the underlying problem.
BIAB: strength with a natural look
BIAB stands for Builder In A Bottle, a soak-off builder gel applied as an overlay over your own nail. It adds a layer of structure that supports the nail as it grows, while staying slim enough to look natural.
It's the middle ground many people are actually looking for: noticeably stronger and longer-lasting than gel polish, without the bulk of acrylic. It's also soaked off rather than filed or drilled away, which is gentler over time.
It's the treatment we particularly specialise in, see our BIAB nails service.
Acrylic: maximum length and durability
Acrylic is a harder enhancement, mixed and shaped onto the nail, traditionally used to add significant length. It's very durable, but it's also thicker and less flexible, and removal is more involved.
We don't offer acrylic at Therapy. Our focus is on BIAB and gel, which suit clients who want strength and a natural finish rather than maximum length.
Which should you choose?
A rough guide, though we'll always advise properly in person:
Consider:
- Want colour and shine, nails already healthy: gel polish
- Want strength, protection and a natural look: BIAB
- Nails that break or peel easily: BIAB, as an overlay to support them
- Want a little added length: BIAB with tips
- Want dramatic length: acrylic, which we don't offer
If you're unsure, mention it when you book and we'll talk it through before starting.
Looking after any of them
Whichever you choose, the same habits help: use cuticle oil regularly, wear gloves for cleaning, avoid using your nails as tools, and have overlays removed professionally rather than picking them off.
Regular infills also matter. Leaving an overlay too long is the most common cause of lifting and breakage.
Ready when you are
Not sure which suits you?
Our nail technicians will talk it through with you. Book online or contact our Canterbury salon and we'll help you choose.
FAQs
Common Questions
It depends what you want. Gel polish is about colour and shine; BIAB adds real structure that supports the natural nail, lasts longer and suits anyone whose nails break easily.
No. BIAB is a soak-off builder gel, lighter and more flexible than acrylic, and removed by soaking rather than filing or drilling. Acrylic is harder and mainly used for significant added length.
Acrylic and BIAB both outlast gel polish. BIAB typically goes two to three weeks before an infill, though it varies with your nails and daily wear.
Any of them can be fine when applied and removed correctly. BIAB is often chosen for nail health because it's soaked off rather than drilled, and the overlay protects the nail as it grows.
No, we don't offer acrylic. We specialise in BIAB and gel, which suit clients wanting strength and a natural finish.
Please note we don't remove or infill nail products applied by other salons, so any existing product would need removing by the salon that applied it before your appointment with us.