Experimented with BIAB Nails, the Labeled Nail Art as "Protection for Your Fingernails"
Ditching the conventional nail salon routine was a drag, what with the pesky polish chips and the rough treatment of gel manicures. Acrylics were a no-go for me anyway, so I was mile high without a parachute until I stumbled upon BIAB nails. And boy, did these darlings reel me back in after a six-month manicure hiatus!
BIAB, or Builder in a Bottle, is a game-changing concoction from nail-care brand The Gel Bottle. This superstar on TikTok, known for its staggering duration (four weeks minimum!) and beneficial effects on nail growth, blew up in Europe and then stormed the US.
Eager to see what all the fuss was about, I took a trip to Julie Kandalec's "Nail Artelier" in NYC to give BIAB a whirl. Known for her work with celebs like Pink and Jessica Chastain, Kandalec is the queen of the BIAB kingdom. Here's what I dug up on the benefits of BIAB manicures and my personal experience with them.
Meet the gang:
- Anissa Campos: A Chicago-based nail artist
- Julie Kandalec: A NYC-based manicurist
- Mona Gohara, MD: A board-certified dermatologist from Yale School of Medicine, Conn.
- Giorgia Cappella: A UK-based nail tech and head educator at The Gel Bottle
- Kelly Dobos: A Cincinnati-based cosmetic chemist
What in tarnation, you ask, is BIAB?
BIAB is a versatile, thick builder gel. While builder gel is usually found in a pot and used to reinforce weak nails, it often gets topped with traditional gel polish for a structured (or hard gel) manicure. BIAB, on the other hand, packs in primer, base coat, builder gel, and color—all in one bottle. So, it boasts the hefty protection of an acrylic manicure but delivers a lightweight, natural finish akin to gel.
Hot tip: The GelBottle offers over 50 shades, mainly soft nudes and pastel pinks, but you can also add embedding materials such as charms, chrome powder, and airbrush designs for a unique touch.
BIAB is exclusively for professional use, so you'll need to pop into a salon for a BIAB manicure if you ain't a licensed technician.
Uh-mazing benefits of a BIAB manicure
From typing to gym gear, daily activities can weaken nails over time. But with BIAB, you can restore, reinforce, and stimulate growth for those brittle babies—perfect if you're aiming for longer nails. "Think of BIAB as a protective shield for your nails," says Julie Kandalec. "It provides extra safeguarding, reducing the chances of chipping, cracking, and breakage. Ooh, it also helpfully resists the urge to nibble those digits if you've kicked the nasty habit."
Because BIAB is thicker than regular gel polish, you won't be able to gnaw through it—a boon for nail-biters, you betcha. Its texture also smooths over ridge lines, splits, and discoloration, giving your nails a polished look.
BIAB won't transform the actual nail structure, though. "Smoothin' out ridges is tricky business," says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mona Gohara. "Gene pool, daily activities, and time are the real culprits behind ridges, so unless you opt for a medicated topical lacquer, the results may be modest."
BIAB versus gel manicure: the showdown
Both BIAB and gel manicures shield your nail plate, but BIAB packs a punch when it comes to durability. That's thanks to a Bis(methacryloyloxyethyl) phosphate, a monomer often found in dentistry to build up dental fillings, bonds, sealants, and crowns that can withstand repeated polishing and chewing. Gel polish, in contrast, offers less heavy-duty protection owing to a lower concentration of monomers and oligomers.
In the end, BIAB is all about both beauty and nail health, whereas standard gel manicures focus on aesthetics and wearing down gradually.
The versatile Builder in a Bottle (BIAB) serves not only as a fashion-and-beauty essential for nail care but also proves beneficial for home-and-garden enthusiasts seeking stronger, healthier nails. With its integration of primer, base coat, builder gel, and color, BIAB offers a robust protection akin to acrylics but maintains a lightweight, natural finish, similar to gel. This five-in-one nail solution is a game-changer, particularly for those aiming to cultivate an improved lifestyle.
