“Acrylics require a liquid monomer to hold the acrylic and the nail together," says Joy Terrell, owner of L.A.-based salon Powder Beauty Co. “Acrylic coheres to the nail plate, forming a chemical bond with the nail itself.”

Therefor you can use nail forms to shape the acrylic into whatever look you want, like square, coffin, flare, and round, ballerina, as well as add embellishments or nail art. Normally acrylic nails can take an hour up to 2 hours, depending on the complexity of the design.

The Dip Powder System doesn’t need nail lamp to cure, which can avoid
making your skin black. It's a faster way to paint your nail.

“Unlike a traditional polish manicure, dip powder preparation is done completely dry because dehydrated nails are required for the strongest adhesion of the product,” Terrell says. “Use of added moisture from water or oil can cause lifting and a shorter life span for the dip powder manicure.”

Gel extensions wears the same amount of time as acrylics, if not longer. The main difference between the two is in the flexibility.

Minerva says while gel extensions are pliable and have a little bit of give, acrylics are brittle and break more easily. Besides the extensions are a bit thinner than the acrylics so they fell more like natural nails.