The GelBottle BIAB Formulas Compared: Original vs HEMA-Free vs All-In-One vs Hard vs Fibre
By Edmond Lin, M1 Nail & Beauty Supply, Markham, Ontario. Last updated 8 October 2026. Formula details are taken from The GelBottle's product listings and its compliance page.
The GelBottle makes five BIAB (Builder In A Bottle) formulas: Original BIAB, BIAB TPO & HEMA-Free, All-In-One BIAB, Hard BIAB and Fibre BIAB. They differ in thickness, in how they come off, and in whether they contain HEMA. Four of them soak off; Hard BIAB has to be filed off. This guide puts the manufacturer's specifications side by side and lists the shades we stock in each formula.
In this guide
BIAB formulas at a glance
| Formula | Best for | Base | Viscosity | Removal | HEMA and TPO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original BIAB | Short to mid-length natural nail overlays | Built-in base, self-levelling | Medium | Soak-off | Contains HEMA (17%) and TPO |
| BIAB TPO & HEMA-Free | All nail types, and clients who are sensitive to HEMA | Pair with Rubber Base or Bond Base | Thin | Soak-off | TPO-free and HEMA-free |
| All-In-One BIAB | DesignEx Pro extensions and short to mid-length overlays | Built-in base | Thin | Soak-off | Contains HEMA (about 8%); TPO-free |
| Hard BIAB | Sculpted extensions, nail repairs, long natural nails and clients who are hard on their nails | Pair with Rubber Base or Bond Base | Thick | File-off (it does not soak off) | TPO-free and HEMA-free |
| Fibre BIAB | Natural nail overlays and extensions; compatible with DesignEx Pro | Use on the natural nail or over a TGB base coat, depending on the client | Medium | Soak-off | TPO-free and HEMA-free |
A few shades are listed with a different viscosity from the rest of their formula. Each product page on our site shows the value for that shade.
Which BIAB formula should you use?
- Natural nail overlay on short to mid-length nails: Original BIAB. It has a built-in base and soaks off. Example: Teddy.
- Client is sensitive to HEMA: BIAB TPO & HEMA-Free over Bond Base, finished with Glow Top. Example: Ballet.
- Soft gel tip extensions (DesignEx Pro) or a quicker overlay: All-In-One BIAB. It is thinner and has a built-in base. Example: NU03.
- Sculpted extensions, long natural nails, clients who break nails: Hard BIAB. It is thick and file-off. Example: Teddy.
- Extra structure with soak-off removal: Fibre BIAB, reinforced with Nylon-66 microfibres. Example: Clear.
Is BIAB HEMA-free?
Not all of it. According to The GelBottle's compliance page, Original BIAB contains 17% HEMA and All-In-One BIAB about 8%, and the brand states that all of its products are under 20%. BIAB TPO & HEMA-Free, Hard BIAB and Fibre BIAB are listed as TPO-free and HEMA-free. For a client with a confirmed HEMA allergy, The GelBottle says to use a fully HEMA-free system, including Bond Base, Glow Top and HEMA-free colour. Formulas get updated, so check the ingredient list on the bottle.
Shades we stock, by formula
| Shade | Colour | Original BIAB | BIAB TPO & HEMA-Free | All-In-One BIAB | Hard BIAB | Fibre BIAB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Soft pink-peach | View | ||||
| 17 | Peachy nude | View | View | |||
| 18 | Pink-terracotta nude | View | ||||
| 19 | Blush-infused beige nude | View | View | |||
| 20 | Warm blush neutral | View | View | |||
| Angel | White with iridescent glitter | View | ||||
| Au Lait | Milky white | View | ||||
| Aura | Soft cream with fine glitter | View | ||||
| Aurora | Soft pink with silver glitter | View | View | |||
| Baby | Cool-toned pastel pink | View | View | |||
| Baked | Creamy beige nude | View | ||||
| Ballet | Milky pink with a cool undertone | View | ||||
| Bella | Soft off-white | View | View | |||
| Bonbon | Creamy pink | View | ||||
| Bubble | Milky pink with a silver-white shimmer | View | View | |||
| Bunny | Creamy nude pink | View | View | |||
| Chai | Warm cinnamon nude | View | ||||
| Charm | Cool mauve | View | ||||
| Choux | Sheer cool mauve | View | ||||
| Clear | Clear | View* | View | |||
| Cloud | Sheer off-white with a warm pink undertone | View* | ||||
| Cutie | Creamy baby pink | View* | View | |||
| Demure | Ultra-sheer soft pink | View | View | |||
| Dewy | Shimmer beige | View | ||||
| Dolly | Light pink with a hint of white | View | View | |||
| Dreamer | Milky pastel pink | View | View | |||
| Enchanting | Purple shimmer | View | ||||
| Fancy | Pastel pink with a jelly-cream finish | View* | View | |||
| Fleur | Pale pink with a cool undertone | View | ||||
| Grace | Sheer dusty rose | View* | ||||
| Hunny | Deep brown | View | ||||
| Jello | Pastel lavender with shimmer | View | ||||
| Juliet | Warm pink with a gold shimmer | View | ||||
| Kiss | Sheer pink | View* | ||||
| Lady | Cool pink with a delicate shimmer | View | View | |||
| Lollipop | Pastel peach with a coral undertone | View | ||||
| Love | Crimson red | View | ||||
| Luna | Sheer pink with silver-blue glitter | View | ||||
| Merci | Light pink with a cool undertone | View | ||||
| Milky | Sheer glassy white | View | ||||
| Mindful | Cool-toned pink | View | ||||
| Minty | Cool pastel green | View | ||||
| My Boo | Soft pink with iridescent sparkle | View | ||||
| NU01 | Warm-toned nude | View | ||||
| NU02 | Blush pink with a hint of mauve | View | ||||
| NU03 | Sheer pink | View | ||||
| NU04 | Dark blush pink with a warm undertone | View | ||||
| NU05 | Opaque pastel pink | View | ||||
| NU06 | Pink with shimmer | View | ||||
| NU07 | Pale pink | View | ||||
| NU08 | Vibrant creamy pink | View | ||||
| Pudding | Rich cool-toned brown | View | ||||
| Rosy | Vintage rose pink | View | ||||
| Skye | Cool-toned lavender | View | ||||
| Slushy | Icy pastel blue | View | ||||
| Soft | Sheer peachy beige | View* | ||||
| Sorbet | Pastel yellow | View | ||||
| Sugar | Pink with white and silver glitter flecks | View | ||||
| Teddy | Warm rose nude | View | View | View | ||
| Toffee | Warm brown nude | View | ||||
| Tulle | Silky nude | View | ||||
| Whisper | Luminous golden nude | View | ||||
| White | Pure bright white | View |
A link means we carry that shade in that formula; live stock is on each product page. * The GelBottle now lists this barcode under the formula shown, and older bottles may be an earlier formula, so check the label.
Which base and top coat go with BIAB?
| Product | What it is | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Rubber Base | Flexible gel base coat | Nails are flaky, brittle, thin or splitting; under BIAB TPO & HEMA-Free or Hard BIAB |
| 2-In-1 Base Coat | Base coat and primer in one, no pH bond needed | Under gel polish on healthy nails, to save a step |
| Bond Base | HEMA-free base coat that flexes with the nail | Building a HEMA-free set; cure 99 seconds LED in low heat mode |
| Glow Top | HEMA-free glossy top coat | Finishing a HEMA-free set; cure 60 seconds LED |
| Extreme Shine Top Coat | High-gloss top coat, file-off | Standard glossy finish; cap the free edge |
Questions nail techs ask
Does BIAB soak off?
Original BIAB, BIAB TPO & HEMA-Free, All-In-One BIAB and Fibre BIAB are soak-off. Hard BIAB is a file-off system.
What lamp cures BIAB?
The GelBottle's Light The Way lamp cures its gels in 60 seconds, or 99 seconds in low heat mode, which the brand recommends for BIAB and Rubber Base.
What is the difference between BIAB and Hard BIAB?
Original BIAB is a medium-viscosity soak-off builder gel for short to mid-length overlays. Hard BIAB is thick, has to be filed off, and is meant for sculpted extensions and long nails.
Where can I buy The GelBottle BIAB in Canada?
M1 Nail & Beauty Supply stocks 80 BIAB shades across all five formulas in Markham, Ontario, with in-store pickup and shipping across Canada. See the full The GelBottle range.
Every The GelBottle BIAB, gel polish, top coat and base coat M1 has in stock.
Shop The GelBottleViscosity, removal, base pairing and HEMA and TPO status are The GelBottle's own, taken from thegelbottle.us in October 2026. HEMA percentages are from its compliance page.
