

Is There a Difference Between Infills and Overlays? Similar to nail extensions, an overlay is spread over your nail using a sculpting brush with a C-curve being formed for reinforcement.

Nail overlays use identical materials to nail extensions however, the process of application is different. Extensions are glued onto the wearer’s own natural nail and then overlaid with gel or acrylic, so they have a more secure finish.Įxtensions have tips which are glued onto the nail or, alternatively, with forms which act as a base for added material. Nail tips, otherwise known as extensions, are made from durable yet lightweight plastic that is trimmed to the wearer’s chosen shape, like coffin or almond. Extensions, meanwhile, will extend over its free edge. The primary difference between nail extensions and overlays is that overlays only cover your natural nail. What Is the Difference Between Nail Extensions and Overlays? Extra material must be left in this stress zone, so a slight and natural-looking curve is formed that tapers off at the nail’s free edge, close to the cuticle and at the side edges. Meanwhile, the overlay’s thickest point must be lengthwise, in the center of the nail’s natural bed, since this is the nail’s stress zone which requires reinforcement to guard against breakage. Rather, the free edge must be the nail overlay’s thinnest part unless extra material is being added to counterbalance a thin nail that tends to curl upwards. The overlay’s free edge shouldn’t be thick as if lots of material is piled onto the nail’s free edge they may break.

What Are the Main Features of Nail Overlays?Ī key element of overlays is avoiding adding any additional material to the nail’s free edge. This results in a neat and attractive look before being buffed for an attractive and glossy effect. Rather, it involves a hard-wearing, strong gel or acrylic being directly applied onto the natural nail and then shaped manually. Unlike extensions, a nail overlay won’t extend the wearer’s own nail. Two kinds of false nails exist – overlays and extensions.
