Soft gel tips are flexible, full-cover salon tips that are bonded to the nail with gel, cured under a UV/LED lamp and soaked off, giving a gel extension with little or no filing. M1 Nail & Beauty Supply stocks full boxes and single-size refill bags in almond, round, square, coffin and stiletto from Aprés Gel-X, DND, OPI GELevate, Cre8tion and iGel Beauty.
Types of soft gel tips
How to choose soft gel tips
- Match the curve. Use the Gel-X Natural line on flatter nail beds and the Sculpted line on curved ones; a tip that is flatter than the nail lifts at the sides.
- Box first, then refills. A box gives you every size; single-size refill bags replace the middle sizes, which run out first.
- Stay in one system. Each brand designs its tips around its own adhesive gel, so use that brand's gel and prep as it directs.
- Not a press-on. Soft gel tips are blank and applied by a technician with gel and a lamp; for ready-to-wear decorated sets, see press-on nails.
Related: Adhesive gel, Nail lamps, Plastic tips, Press-on nails, All nail tips & forms
Guides
- Nail Tips Guide: Plastic Tips vs Soft Gel Tips
- Nail Shapes Guide: Every Shape, Which Suits You and How to File It
Soft gel tips FAQ
Gel-X Natural or Sculpted: which one should I use?
Look at the client's nail from the end. Flatter, wider nail beds suit the Natural line; nails with a strong arch suit the Sculpted line, which has a deeper curve and a higher apex. If the sides of the tip stand off the nail, try the other line.
How do I size soft gel tips, and what are half sizes?
Measure each nail from sidewall to sidewall and choose the tip that covers it exactly; lower numbers are wider. Half sizes such as 4.5 and 5.5 sit between two regular sizes, so less filing is needed. Sizes differ between brands, so measure again when you switch.
How are soft gel tips removed?
They soak off. File through the top coat and most of the colour, then soak the nails in acetone, or wrap them, until the adhesive gel softens and the tip slides off. Push the softened gel away gently, never pry the tip, and finish with cuticle oil.
Order online for in-store pickup at our Markham, Ontario store, usually ready in 2 to 4 hours, or have your order shipped anywhere in Canada.