Nails.... (edit)

I don't know about the gel. But, I have acrylic nails - I keep them short and they look real. People are often surprised to find out they aren't my own nails.

To my understanding gel is just anothe kind of nail paint. It lasts longer.

Random but - shellac and gel? Are they the same thing?

If you can get your nails to grow back in time - definitely spring for shellac. It lasts for 2-3 weeks without chipping.

Okay thanks all. This is kind of what I thought but then my mom and sister were telling me something different and I have been walking into nail salons all over nyc asking. And of course getting strange looks. I think my mom and sister have no clue on what they get done, love them dearly but they can be a little clueless at times.

If you get shellac or gel now, your nails will grow out in time. Actually...they'll grow out in time just fine either way but shellac/gel will protect them. They are essentially the same thing but different brands. Also called no-chip.

Might be a regionalism? In Pittsburgh, the type of tips my mom gets put on to make her nails look longer are called gel tips.

I agree with Mackenzie M. I think you are looking for gel tips (I'm in the Chicago burbs), I had them a few years back and they are more natural looking In comparison to acrylics (IMO). I don't know another name for them though....

They're called solar gel nails around here (Houston)...however I think they're what most people refer to as acrylics. I think they look more natural...or maybe my nail lady is just spectacular.

Gel and shellac are not really the same thing. Gel is like a cross between shellac and acrylic for lack of a better way to put it. They go on similar but gel can be more harmful to your nails than shellac. I think gel looks more fake like acrylic, I prefer shellac.

Gel nails don't add length. I get gel nails all the time - they just go over your natural nail. Acrylics look fake, gel more natural. Not sure what shellacs are that Jillian is talking about. I usually get french tip.

When I get shellac, it isn't damaging to my nails (if you get it taken off correctly and don't try to chip it off yourself) and will actually add to the strength of your nails so that they can grow out without breaking. Then of you get shellac again for the wedding, they will be longer and should last 2 to 3 weeks. I love shellac, it's basically a much stronger nail polish.