{"id":5659,"date":"2026-04-21T08:00:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T08:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/?p=5659"},"modified":"2026-04-23T14:57:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T14:57:24","slug":"all-you-need-to-know-about-biab-how-it-could-help-grow-your-natural-nails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/21\/all-you-need-to-know-about-biab-how-it-could-help-grow-your-natural-nails\/","title":{"rendered":"All You Need To Know About BIAB \u2014 & How It Could Help Grow Your Natural Nails"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As a beauty editor,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0my job to test beauty treatments, but there are only a handful that\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0really obsessed with. Sure, there are tons of interesting options out there, like\u00a0LED facials<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0injectable moisturizer<\/a>, but few are genuinely innovative and game-changing (in my opinion, the single most overused phrase in the beauty industry).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Without a doubt, one of those innovations and my can\u2019t-live-without product is builder in a bottle, which you may also\u00a0know\u00a0as BIAB nails.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0even bet money on you trying it and loving it.\u00a0Here\u2019s\u00a0everything you need to know about the new nail\u00a0treatment\u00a0sweeping salons everywhere.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What are BIAB nails?\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n

BIAB (also known as builder gel) was developed by the brand\u00a0The Gel Bottle<\/a>.\u00a0Creative nail expert and content creator,\u00a0Sadie Jordan,<\/a>\u00a0always uses BIAB on her clients:\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a [curable] gel nail enhancement designed to add strength and structure to your natural nails,\u00a0helping\u00a0them to grow out without breaking as easily,\u201d\u00a0says Jordan.\u00a0She\u00a0adds that BIAB is more viscous than gel polish. \u201cIt allows you to build an apex \u2014 the highest part of a nail enhancement, most visible from the side angle \u2014 which is what makes your nail more durable.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

BIAB\u00a0is layered\u00a0on top of your natural nail (whatever the length) to lend strength and prevent breakage. BIAB comes in\u00a0a range of\u00a0different\u00a0colors,\u00a0but the most popular tends to be clear or neutral pink. It can be used as a base coat (with gel polish layered over the top, including nail art) or applied on its own.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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A post shared by The GelBottle Inc\u2122 (@the_gelbottle_inc)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

What are the benefits of\u00a0BIAB nails?\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n

The main benefit of BIAB is the ability to grow your natural nails<\/a> underneath. Even long-term nail-biters,\u00a0or those whose nails are prone to breakage,\u00a0tend to\u00a0have success with growth.\u00a0What\u2019s\u00a0more, countless BIAB nail looks can be achieved without glue or plastic tips, says\u00a0Jordan. This\u00a0means you can have long-lasting manicures with\u00a0a similar\u00a0removal process\u00a0to\u00a0regular gel\u00a0by simply\u00a0filing away the top layer and soaking off\u00a0the product\u00a0with\u00a0acetone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another benefit of BIAB is that it can be used alongside\u00a0nail forms<\/a>\u00a0(a paper or foil\u00a0tip)\u00a0to repair chipped corners.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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A post shared by The GelBottle Inc\u2122 (@the_gelbottle_inc)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

What\u2019s\u00a0the difference between BIAB nails,\u00a0traditional gel,\u00a0Gel-X\u00a0nails,\u00a0and acrylics?\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n

It can be hard to\u00a0tell,\u00a0but there are differences between\u00a0BIAB,\u00a0traditional gel,\u00a0Gel-X<\/a>, and acrylics. <\/p>\n

Gel nail polish was developed by CND<\/a> under the brand name Shellac and is a liquid polish that is cured\u00a0and hardened\u00a0under a UV lamp. Curing makes gel polish chip-resistant\u00a0and gives it a longer wear.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

BIAB is a form of gel polish that has a stronger base \u2014 this is why it\u00a0assists\u00a0growth. An upside of BIAB is that it can be soaked off just like gel polish. Both gel polish and BIAB give that incredible, long-lasting shine that regular nail polish\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0achieve.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gel-X is a gel nail extension system developed by\u00a0Apr\u00e9s\u00a0Nails, where full-cover tips are bonded to the natural nail with gel and cured under a UV lamp, then shaped to your preference. BIAB\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0require\u00a0tips. Instead,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0applied onto the natural nail.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Acrylics are created using liquid monomer and powder polymer, which should be mixed carefully by your nail tech. Acrylics\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0need curing under a lamp and harden within a few minutes. If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0someone who loves\u00a0really long\u00a0nails, acrylics tend to be a sturdier\u00a0option.\u00a0One similarity between BIAB and acrylics is that once the nail starts to grow out, you can get an infill (where product is applied to the nail growth area).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

So\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0the best technique? It all depends on your budget, what your nail tech offers, the outcome and length\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0looking for, as well as your activity\u00a0level,\u00a0or how much you use your hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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A post shared by The GelBottle Inc\u2122 (@the_gelbottle_inc)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

How long do BIAB nails last?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Luxury nail artist and beauty professional\u00a0Charlotte Emily<\/a>\u00a0explains that most of her clients come in every three weeks to\u00a0maintain\u00a0their BIAB nails. But she\u00a0notes\u00a0that if there\u2019s\u00a0proper\u00a0nail prep, a BIAB set can last for much longer.\u00a0That said, keeping BIAB nails on for longer than four weeks isn\u2019t recommended, as lifting can allow water to get trapped beneath the gel and encourage bacterial growth. After three or four weeks, BIAB nails can either be infilled or soaked off.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Is there anyone who\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0have BIAB nails?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Both\u00a0Emily\u00a0and\u00a0Jordan\u00a0note that those with extremely damaged nails (for example, very thin, extremely brittle, and lifting away from the nail bed)\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0get BIAB nails. In some cases, those with conditions like psoriasis may also want to avoid BIAB nails. \u201cApplying BIAB directly to a severely damaged nail bed can cause heat spikes \u2014 a stinging sensation on the nail bed \u2014 and the product should not come into contact with skin,\u201d says\u00a0Jordan.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

A qualified nail tech will let you know whether\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0a suitable candidate for BIAB and can create a treatment plan\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0best suited to your nails.\u00a0Happily,\u00a0Emily\u00a0said\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0never had to turn anyone away from BIAB nails.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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A post shared by The GelBottle Inc\u2122 (@the_gelbottle_inc)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Are there any downsides\u00a0to\u00a0BIAB nails?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

\u201cBIAB does take a little longer to soak off compared to gel polish,\u201d\u00a0says\u00a0Jordan, but as long as the\u00a0top coat\u00a0is filed and broken down, this\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0a major issue.\u00a0\u201cIt can also make your nails grow out very fast,\u201d she adds,\u00a0\u201cso you may need to have manicures more frequently if you don\u2019t like the look of regrowth.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

At present, BIAB has no downsides for\u00a0Emily.\u00a0\u201cMy clients and I are happy with the\u00a0results,\u00a0and it has created a low-maintenance manicure which is great for a busy lifestyle,\u201d\u00a0she says.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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A post shared by The GelBottle Inc\u2122 (@the_gelbottle_inc)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Where can you get BIAB nails, and how much do BIAB nails cost?\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Today, BIAB is just as widely available as gel polish \u2014 if\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0unsure, simply call your local nail salon and ask specifically for the treatment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The cost of nails always depends on where you live, with cities being the most expensive. In New York and LA, for example, a typical price range for basic BIAB is between $40 to $80.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?<\/strong><\/p>\n

5 Tips That Helped Me Grow Longer, Stronger Nails<\/a><\/p>\n

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Blue Suede Is The Nail Combo Everyone’s Requesting<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a beauty editor,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0my job to test beauty treatments, but there are only a handful that\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0really obsessed with. Sure, there are tons of interesting options out there, like\u00a0LED facials\u00a0and\u00a0injectable moisturizer, but few are genuinely innovative and game-changing (in my opinion, the single most overused phrase in the beauty industry).\u00a0\u00a0 Without a doubt, one of those…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5661,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5659"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5659"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5662,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5659\/revisions\/5662"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}