What are soft gel tips made of?

Soft gel tips are made of soft gel, the same family of material as soak-off gel, molded into a full nail shape. Each tip covers the whole nail, side to side, so there is no tip line to blend. Because the tip is gel, it bonds to a gel adhesive and soaks off in acetone like a gel set.

At C8 Nail Supply in Garden Grove, we carry over 150 items on our soft gel tips shelf, from Aprés, Cre8tion, iGel, Kupa and more. The Aprés shelf alone has over 50, on the apres nails page.

Aprés Gel-X Tips 2.0, Natural Almond, 600pcs $29.99Extra Short to Long 14 sizes, now with half sizes 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5. Aprés made the base end thinner and the free edge thicker in the 2.0 redesign. Our most ordered Aprés tip box online this month. See the Natural Almond box, $29.99

Cre8tion Soft Gel Tips, Almond $22.95a box of 602, four lengths Pre-buffed soft gel in 14 sizes. Cre8tion pairs it with its own Extend Adhesive Gel. See Cre8tion Almond, $22.95

How do soft gel tips go on?

A soft gel tip set goes on in four steps: prep the nail, pick a size for each finger, glue each tip with adhesive gel, then cure. Follow the maker's directions for your exact system, because primers and cure times change from brand to brand.

1. Prep. Push back the cuticle, buff the shine off the natural nail, and clean the dust. Then apply the dehydrator or bonder and the primer your system lists.
2. Size. Pick a tip for each finger before you glue. It should cover the nail from one side to the other without pressing on the skin.
3. Glue. Put adhesive gel inside the tip and on the nail, press the tip on at an angle, and flash cure for a few seconds while you hold it.
4. Cure and finish. Do a full cure, then shape, add color and seal with a top coat.

Cre8tion Soft Tips Extend Adhesive Gel, 0.5oz $12.95 Adhesive and extension gel in one, low heat, cures under UV or LED. The soft gel tip product techs order most from us online this month. See Extend Adhesive Gel, $12.95

Aprés Non-Acidic Gel Primer, 0.5oz $8.99or 6 for $50.94 Aprés uses it after its pH Bonder. It leaves a tacky surface so the tip grips, and it is acid free. See the Aprés primer, $8.99

Cre8tion Tip Extension Primer for Soft Gel Tips $8.950.5oz, or $50.95 for 8oz Cre8tion says to lightly file the underside of the tip, then apply one coat to the clean natural nail before you set the tip. See Tip Extension Primer, $8.95

Kiara Sky Beyond Pro Rechargeable Flash Cure LED Lamp $79.99white or pink A small cordless lamp on a flexible neck for the flash cure while you hold the tip. Kiara Sky lists 12 LED bulbs and 5 to 8 hours of battery. See the flash cure lamp, $79.99

For the full cure, use a lamp your adhesive gel lists. We carry 47 lamps on the led nail lamp shelf. The step-by-step version with photos is in how to apply soft gel tips in 9 steps.

What sizes and shapes do soft gel tips come in?

Most soft gel tip boxes hold 14 sizes in one shape and one length, such as almond, coffin, square, round or stiletto. Natural tips have a thinner, flatter curve. Sculpted tips have a built-in apex, so less building is needed. Having the right size for every finger matters more than the brand, because a tip that is a size too small lifts at the sides.

iGel PRO-X Soft Gel Nail Tips, Natural Almond, 600pcs $17.99Medium or Long Sizes #00 to #9, with half sizes. iGel shapes the base to follow the cuticle curve. See iGel PRO-X Almond, $17.99

Kupa Soft Gel Tips, Coffin, 550pcs $14.97 Pre-roughened by Kupa, so the inside of the tip is ready for adhesive. 12 sizes. See Kupa Coffin, $14.97

Cre8tion's full line of shapes and lengths is on the Cre8tion soft gel tips page.

How long do soft gel tips last?

A soft gel tip set lasts until the nail grows out and the client wants a new set, and that depends on prep, sizing and a full cure. Makers give their own numbers: Aprés says its tips applied with its Extend Gel can wear 4 weeks or more, and iGel lists up to 3 weeks for PRO-X.

Are soft gel tips better than acrylic?

Soft gel tips are not better or worse than acrylic; they are faster to shape. The tip already has its shape and length, so there is less filing. Acrylic is sculpted by hand, so a tech can build any shape and length.

For the side-by-side on materials, read gel vs acrylic vs dip powder.

Can you do soft gel tips at home?

Yes. Soft gel tips are popular for at-home sets because the shape is already done. You need tips, a bonder and primer, an adhesive gel and a UV or LED lamp. Practice sizing on one hand first. No license needed to shop.

Cre8tion Soft Tip Starter Kit $85lamp included Two boxes of assorted tips in almond, stiletto, square and coffin, pH bond, tip primer, soft gel, extension top, files, a buffer and a Mini Touch Lamp. See the starter kit, $85

How do you take off soft gel tips?

To take off soft gel tips, file off the top coat and most of the color, then soak in acetone until the gel softens. Aprés says its tips soak off with acetone. Our older guide, how to remove gel tips and polish, shows each step.

Soft gel tip questions