The Sculpted Nail Manicure Could Be Your New Go-To At The Salon

Simply put, sculpted nails are similar to gel nail extensions in that they build off of your natural nails, giving you the opportunity to add a length of your choosing. Per Byrdie, nail artist Brittney Boyce says, "Gel extensions are done using builder gel, like Orly's Builder in a Bottle." Plus, it is neither sticky nor messy, which is just an added bonus for everyone. 

Boyce says that to ensure the extension binds to the nail properly, it must be cured the same way a regular gel manicure would: using an LED or a UV lamp. Once the nail is cured, more builder gel will be added to continue the process of sculpting the nail. Per the Byrdie article, those who have a bit of a natural tip would have an easier time getting the sculpted nail manicure (per Byrdie), as the technician will use your real nail to begin sculpting the new, upper nail extension. 

There actually is a major difference between sculpted nails and acrylic nails, per Nail Design Code. Sculpted nails can be made by your technician to fit your nail accurately, while acrylics are factory-made pieces of plastic that could sometimes be more difficult to perfectly fit the shape of your unique nail bed. The manicure costs will vary depending on where you go and what they charge, but costs typically look to be around $100, with the new set of nails lasting for around three weeks.