ibd Hard Gel, LED/UV Builder Gel - Clear, Strong Acrylic Finish, Perfect for Nail Extensions, Sculpting & Overlays, Professional Quality, 2 oz, 1-pack

I started using this a few months ago, and i bought the trial size (the smaller container on top) and even that lasted me through around a dozen set of nails. I have pretty long nails already so i like to use a competitive form (the gold foil ones) to extend a little past my natural nail, but ive also experimented with poly forms and this gel works great for both. I’ve tried a few other gels since i first started but i finally committed and bought the big tub. Out of all the gels i’ve tried this one remains my favorite as it’s so simple to use and since it’s a thicker gel it’s much more forgiving. I recommend this to anyone who asks where i get my nails done as well as to those who complain about brittle nails. As long as you extend a few mm past your free edge these will not crack or budge, Im a stable hand and to a lot of other work with my hands and i’ve never had these break on me.

Works great, easy to use, self leveling

This has so many uses! I used it to build an overlay atop full cover press ons, and now the strength on them is amazing. Hard as rock! Oftentimes before even if I glued my nails on well, the nail itself would break. I'm telling you now I won't have that problem anymore! It's a little sticky after curing which helps with gem gluing and overcoat. I don't like dip or acrylic for how difficult it is to remove; I think I've found the easy solution. Take a flat brush and put as much as you need, the versatility is wonderful!!

The product is nice and works well but for beginners it’s hard to get nice and smooth application because it’s a thick consistency and it doesn’t self level like I thought it would . Also removal is annoying since you can’t just soak it off you have to drill it all off.

Easy to use and durable. much cheaper than getting it from a nail store.

I've been using IBD builder gel for a couple years and it's a great product. It works great for applying full cover tips and as a builder gel with forms. I'll keep buying it because it does it's job

So I’ve been painting and taking care of my nails since I was around 11. I’ve always kept them nice and went through seasons of salon acrylics during high school and then later on gel polish. I don’t now what my hang up was in buying my own gel polish set up, maybe the price? I believe at home gel lamps are exponentially more common and cheaper than back when it was new. I dye yarn for a living and my hands are often wet and even the best quality regular polish just can’t stay nice long because wet nails are softer and bend and then it chips and it’s downhill from there. When my baby was born, now toddler- that was the first time in my life since I was little that I wasn’t painting my nails and I was 39. Finally during this pandemic I had a real moment one day and got a little mad where I said “You know what screw mascara and buying all the salon nail stuff too!” I went with natural looking false lashes and declared no more with the nail neglect. Pretty nails make me feel like I’m at least trying even if I’m picking up goldfish crackers off the floor 50% of the time. It’s a self care thing.ALLLLL that to say that the pandemic led me to want to DIY the gel polish and wow I didn’t even know hard gel existed until YouTube learning. I needed something to combat the wet hands from my job. I got a $16 LED lamp here also and even an efile for refills. I bought this IBD gel and thought it was going to look terrible but was willing to try. I just wanted a hard overlay on my own nails. It was so easy. You have to be patient but anyone can do this. I owe it all to IBD’s great product. I use the IBD clear builder gel first and then the non builder clear gel for my apex but you don’t need both. Learned about apex along with everything else I’ve learned from Liz at Nailhub on YouTube. Go watch and leave a comment that some weirdo blabber mouth in an Amazon review sent you.-IBD is great. The price is great. If you take the time to watch videos and how to create great adhesion and prevent lifting then you will eventually have to refill them because they have all stayed on so long and grown out.BUY IT. and maybe some chrome powders and glitter. Life is too short not to do exactly what you want with nails and exactly what I want is sparkles ❤️Nails look white here because I have white gel polish UNDER the hard gel so I will know when to stop using the efile and soak the rest off. I choose to do this until I am comfortable with my efile skills because I don’t want my natural nails affected. At all.

wouldnt change one bit great consistency and thickness