BIAB & Builder Gel
Introducing your newest obsession: builder gel, also known as BIAB or builder-in-a-bottle. If you've ever wanted longer nails but are not keen on stick-on nail extensions, BIAB gel is the solution. Add extra strength and extension without the bulk with a builder gel from our collection. You can use builder gel for nails that need support to grow. Use a clear, pink or natural BIAB gel to give yourself healthy, natural-looking nails. They can also be used as the perfect foundation for nail art, or use a coloured builder gel to extend your nails and paint them a colour simultaneously. Shop our top builder gel brands at Nail Polish Direct like Glitterbels and Aprés.
Whether you want to reinforce your natural nails, add a slight enhancement, or create 3D designs, our builder gel collection offers only the highest quality products.
What's the difference between builder gel and gel polish?
Builder gel differs from standard gel polish because it allows you to sculpt shapes and extensions beyond the tip of your nails. It also helps to strengthen your natural nails, giving you more protection from breakages. Builder gel is thicker and stronger than your average gel polish, and it can create beautiful overlays or sculpt short extensions without needing tips or forms.
Our collections offer a range of products from user-friendly builder-in-a-bottle or brush-on builders that apply like a regular gel polish but perform like hard gel. These are the best for home use. You will also find builder gels in pots, for which you will need gel brushes. These are typically used more in professional settings.
Achieve natural-looking results with brush-on builder gels that are easy to apply and self-levelling. Our professional-grade builder gels provide durability and flexibility, allowing for long-lasting and flawless manicures. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced nail technician, our selection of builder gels and builder-gel-in-a-bottle is perfect for creating salon-quality gel nails.
How to use a builder gel
Using builder gel is easy. The first step, as always, is to prep the nails by removing the surface shine using a nail file or buffer. Then, with a nail wipe or cleanser, remove dust and oils from the nail plate to ensure maximum adhesion. Follow with a nail dehydrator and primer. A gel polish basecoat is always needed when working with any gel. Apply one thin layer of gel polish basecoat and cure in and UV/LED lamp. Now, you can start your builder gel application. If you want to extend the length of your nails, apply a nail form to each finger. You won't need a nail form if you just want to strengthen your nails. To begin, apply one thin layer of builder gel to form the shape. Cure in a nail lamp, then follow with a second layer and start sculpting the C-curve of the nails. It is easier to achieve this if you turn the nail upside down for a few seconds before curing. Cure and apply gel colour and gel polish topcoat as usual.
For more gel nail products, shop our polygel and soft gel tips to vary your at-home or salon manicures.