25 brush-on builder gels to extend & enhance nails
Products
Bottled brush-on builder gel: it’s the professional product on everyone’s lips, never mind nails.
Designed to add strength to nails, enhance length and perfect nail shape and structure, both nail pros and clients are raving about the product’s speedy application and durable finish. Available in a range of colours to suit different skin tones and nail desires, each formulation offers properties to benefit various nail needs.
Image courtesy of The GelBottle Inc/TGB, showcasing BIAB™ in Ambitious, available via www.thegelbottle.com
Sara Pinto, Andreia Professional product director notes: “Brush-on builder gel allows for quick, precise enhancement of the nail, and its strong adhesion, durability and lightweight feel have helped to make it an essential product in many nail kits.
“Due to its popularity, many people assume that brush-on builder gel is used as a standard for nail enhancement services, but this isn’t the case.”
She continues: “Brush-on builder gel doesn’t suit clients seeking extreme length or a highly rigid structure, or those with oily nail beds or nails prone to lifting.”
Image courtesy of Glitterbels, showcasing Builder-bel Gel™, available via www.glitterbels.com
Scarlett Senter, multi award-winning nail artist & Kirsty Meakin brand ambassador, adds: “Brush-on builder gel combines strength, flexibility and ease of application in one product. For clients with brittle or weak natural nails in need of extra protection, the product can create strong yet lightweight enhancements and short to medium extensions to help aid growth.”
Scratch shares brush-on builder gel product picks below – and click here to check out application and removal tips.
“Andreia Professional's One Bottle Builder Gel has a low-viscosity, self-levelling formula with high resistance and a creamy texture,” says Sara Pinto. “It features a short, rounded brush to ensure precise product placement.” Shade shown: Soft Lavender. Available via www.salon-services.com / www.andreiaprofessional.com
The CND™ PLEXIGEL system offers Builder shades to suit a variety of skin tones, including this cool-based mocha hue designed for medium to dark skin. Its thicker viscosity allows for control when building up the natural nail, over tips or sculpting forms. Shade shown: Milky Mauve. Available via www.sweetsquared.com
Part of OPI's recently launched GELevate™ extension system, the 4-in-1 Builder is designed to adhere, overlay, build and fill. The vegan, HEMA-free formula can be used to build short to medium-length extensions, and its Clear version can adhere tips. The product's Intelli-Brush™ offers precise application. Shade shown: Pink Over-slay. Available via uk.wella.professionalstore.com
Glitterbels' Hema Free Builder-bel Gel™ is designed to create long-lasting, durable nail finishes. It can be applied over natural nails or enhancements, and its strong self-levelling properties reduce time spent refining shape. Shade shown: My Annabel. Available via www.glitterbels.com
The GelBottle Inc offers a rainbow of hues in its popular Builder In A Bottle™ (BIAB™) formula, helping techs to get playful with colour while creating strong enhancements. Shade shown: Minty. Available via www.thegelbottle.com
With a uniquely designed brush length allowing for maximum product control therefore faster application, the cruelty-free and vegan Gelish Brush-On Builder is available in Clear and a variety of neutral shades. It offers over 21 days’ wear. Shade shown: Beige Nude. Available via www.gelishmorgantaylor.co.uk
Light Elegance's JimmyGel Building Base Gel is easy to shape and requires minimal filing. HEMA-free and vegan-friendly, it creates fast, strong and flexible extensions and can be used for nail repairs. Formulated for use under hard gel or soak-off gel colours, JimmyGel offers up to four weeks' wear. Shade shown: Clear. Available via www.lightelegance.co.uk
Pros can choose from traditional and HEMA-free options in Halo’s EasiBuild brush-on builder gel range. The user-friendly formula doesn’t require a primer, offering quick application, and 8ml and 15ml sizes are available for some shades. Shade shown: HEMA-free Pink Glitter. Available via www.purenails.co.uk
The cruelty-free and vegan Artistic Brush-On Builder Gel formula, with shades ranging from milky sheers to classic nudes, aims to help techs achieve the ‘clean girl aesthetic’ with a durable finish. A specially designed brush length allows for ease of application. Shade shown: Rose Beige. Available via www.sweetsquared.com
Ideal for use as a structure base coat under a gel polish overlay, The Manicure Company Builder Base can also be used to encapsulate nail art and create 3D designs. Pros can extend nails using the product and tips or forms. Shade shown: Tutu. Available via www.themanicurecompany.com
From the Hara Professional range comes this HEMA-free, vegan-friendly Builder Gel offering a mirror-like shine. A variety of neutral shades are available, alongside bold red, Passion, for a strong and stylish finish over natural nails or extensions. Shade shown: Nude. Available via www.astonandfincher.co.uk
The TrueBuild formula from Home Of Nail Art (HONA) has been formulated with strength and durability in mind, and is free from HEMA, Di-HEMA and more. It doesn't require a base coat and has a thick viscosity to offer sculpting control. Shade shown: Milkshake. Available via www.homeofnailart.com
NSI's vegan Builder Gel is designed to help pros perfect short tip and sculpted extensions with ease, as well as provide a tough base for gel polish designs. Shade shown: Soft White. Available via www.nsinails.co.uk
Create The Length (CTL) is the brush-on builder gel creation of London nail brand, Gel Junkie. Offering ‘a smooth, even nail surface that is resistant to chipping, cracking and lifting’, the formula serves to strengthen and lengthen nails. Shade shown: Milky White. Available via www.geljunkie.co.uk
Glitterbels’ Brush On Builder Gel supports natural nail growth with its strong formulation, and can be used to craft short enhancements. The product helps to perfect nail shapes with stylish and colourful coatings. Shade shown: Peach Shimmer. Available via www.glitterbels.com
The Cuccio LED/UV Brush-On Builder with Calcium formula can be used to create lightweight, flexible overlays for natural nails or before application of Cuccio nail systems. The brand offers the product in a variety of sizes. Shade shown: Clear. Available via www.cuccio.co.uk
The GelBottle Inc's HEMA-free range of Builder In A Bottle™ comprises hues inspired by best-selling BIAB™ shades. They are designed for use with TGB’s HEMA-free Bond Base and Glow Top. The product boasts three to four weeks' wear. Shade shown: Choux. Available via www.thegelbottle.com
The HD Pro Nails FLEX IT! Hema Free Flexible Build & Base Gel is designed to provide a strong and even nail base, as well as create flawless shape and structure on natural nails - before use of HD Professional Nail Systems’ other gel systems. Shade shown: Skyline Sparkle. Available via www.hazeldixonnails.com
The Zero Builder Gel™ range from The Manicure Company is hypoallergenic and free from HEMA, Di-HEMA and more. It boasts strength for a minimum of three weeks. Shade shown: Warm Tan. Available via www.themanicurecompany.com
Nail Order's AnGel Builder Gel is HEMA-free and produced in the UK, and has received positive reviews for its durability and ease of use. No base coat is required prior to application. Shade shown: Clarity (Clear). Available via www.nailorder.co.uk
The HEMA-free SOBIAB formula from INK London is designed to offer maximum strength while maintaining soakable properties. It boasts strong adhesion to the natural nail, tips and sculpted forms, allowing for the effortless creation of natural overlays and salon-length extensions. Shade shown: Signature. Available via www.inknails.com
Nailchemy offers a variety of brush-on builder gels for nail pros, including its original formula in natural tones and a clear, and this HEMA-free Titanium formula with advanced adhesion and self-levelling properties. Shade shown: Cover Pink. Available via www.nailchemy.co.uk
Lecenté Fusion Builder Gel combines the flexibility of rubber gel, strength of fibre gel and durability of builder gel to create a long-lasting nail finish. Shade shown: Au Naturel. Available via www.lecente.com
A variety of hues make up multi award-winning nail artist, Kirsty Meakin’s Sculptify range of brush-on builder gels, boasting smooth application due to the fine hair fibres of the brush. Shade shown: Sarah. Available via www.kirstymeakin.com
Available in a standard 15ml size and 100ml refill, en Vogue's ‘strong yet flexible' CBS Build formula allows pros to build beautifully coloured enhancements. Shade shown: Peach. Available via www.envoguenails.eu
Show us your nail art
Send us your nail art for a chance to be featured in one of our nail art galleries. Post via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #ShowScratch or here.
Read the latest issue
