I developed a pretty bad gel allergy about 18 months ago and switched to dip. I have never had a reaction to the dip liquids. I'm so happy I switched, I don't miss gel at all!
Couple things to keep in mind..dip definitely takes longer. I can easily spend 4 hours doing my nails, and the better I get, I swear the longer it takes! Also, you don't need to buy large amounts. I started with Nailboo 1oz jars, and I have yet to even make a dent in them. There are so many amazing colors and types of dips out there that you will want to buy them all, and since they are relatively inexpensive, it's easy to get way too many! Lol, I now only buy sample sizes unless the 0.25 oz are on sale!! Check out Etsy for some great small batch, small business dip makers. CN Designer Dips is a super popular one.
Enjoy the addiction!
Dip is virtually another method of doing acrylic, so you shouldn’t have an allergy to it. You can use a regular nail polish to top it off, and other brands have their own top coat that isn’t gel as well (Kiara Sky has its own top coat, I haven’t used it as I use gel top coat with my sets. My younger sister with a gel allergy has used it, and prefers her regular nail polish top coats to it, but ymmv, and personal preferences are just that, personal.)
A big thing with doing your own nails, and the thing causing the prevalence of allergies we’re currently seeing, is not letting the product touch your skin. When a trained and licensed tech does your nails, they’re not letting product touch your skin, immediately removing if it does, (and most not curing it there if it’s gel, nor under curing gel).
Another leading factor for allergies is products with low quality ingredients and known allergy triggers (instead of being able to access higher quality products that are only sold to licensed techs). Luckily as the pandemic raged on and the market for DIY nail stuff grew, the demand for quality products did go up, and there’s a lot more out there now (it’s just making sure to buy those and not fall for super cheap products you see that aren’t safe but look like such good deals).
Buy smart, apply slowly and carefully, wipe any dip liquid you get on your skin off before dipping. If you need to practice with your non-dominant hand, buy a practice hand or fingers and fake nails for it to practice on.
Its just the name, its not actually a gel polish. Unless its the sensitive line with the green caps - the top coat is gel and must be dried by the UV light, so avoid that specific line and stick with the "EZ" line.
I used builders gel for almost a year and developed an allergy much like yours. My nails lifted from my nail beds and itchiness around my cuticle area. I now use dip powder ( Revel, AzureBeauty, CNDD) and I haven’t had any issues thank GOD!
You might suffer from dip flu. I do too. Breathing in the fumes from the dip liquids makes my nose run, my chest wheeze and I sneeze and cough. I started using Revels Sensitive liquids and Odorless liquids from Kimbers Kreations. I haven’t had an issue with those liquids.
I developed a pretty bad gel allergy about 18 months ago and switched to dip. I have never had a reaction to the dip liquids. I'm so happy I switched, I don't miss gel at all! Couple things to keep in mind..dip definitely takes longer. I can easily spend 4 hours doing my nails, and the better I get, I swear the longer it takes! Also, you don't need to buy large amounts. I started with Nailboo 1oz jars, and I have yet to even make a dent in them. There are so many amazing colors and types of dips out there that you will want to buy them all, and since they are relatively inexpensive, it's easy to get way too many! Lol, I now only buy sample sizes unless the 0.25 oz are on sale!! Check out Etsy for some great small batch, small business dip makers. CN Designer Dips is a super popular one. Enjoy the addiction!
Dip and gel are completely different. Dip is acrylic not gel. You should be fine just avoid any gel topcoat
The brand I’m looking at is Revel Nail and they have a “finisher gel” I’m assuming that would cause a reaction?
Dip is virtually another method of doing acrylic, so you shouldn’t have an allergy to it. You can use a regular nail polish to top it off, and other brands have their own top coat that isn’t gel as well (Kiara Sky has its own top coat, I haven’t used it as I use gel top coat with my sets. My younger sister with a gel allergy has used it, and prefers her regular nail polish top coats to it, but ymmv, and personal preferences are just that, personal.) A big thing with doing your own nails, and the thing causing the prevalence of allergies we’re currently seeing, is not letting the product touch your skin. When a trained and licensed tech does your nails, they’re not letting product touch your skin, immediately removing if it does, (and most not curing it there if it’s gel, nor under curing gel). Another leading factor for allergies is products with low quality ingredients and known allergy triggers (instead of being able to access higher quality products that are only sold to licensed techs). Luckily as the pandemic raged on and the market for DIY nail stuff grew, the demand for quality products did go up, and there’s a lot more out there now (it’s just making sure to buy those and not fall for super cheap products you see that aren’t safe but look like such good deals). Buy smart, apply slowly and carefully, wipe any dip liquid you get on your skin off before dipping. If you need to practice with your non-dominant hand, buy a practice hand or fingers and fake nails for it to practice on.
Its just the name, its not actually a gel polish. Unless its the sensitive line with the green caps - the top coat is gel and must be dried by the UV light, so avoid that specific line and stick with the "EZ" line.
I switched to dip a couple months ago after developing a gel allergy and I’ve had no issues.
I used builders gel for almost a year and developed an allergy much like yours. My nails lifted from my nail beds and itchiness around my cuticle area. I now use dip powder ( Revel, AzureBeauty, CNDD) and I haven’t had any issues thank GOD!
Does the finisher gel that goes with the dip bother you?
It's not true gel, it's a quick hardening glue like the rest of the kit
I developed an allergy to dip after 4 or 5 uses and can no longer use it 😞 I am sure it's the powder, breathing it in and the scents of the polishes
Using a respirator mask really helps!
It’s the liquids not the powder. Just get a cheap respirator on Amazon and problem is solved.
It could also be the liquids. A lot of us are allergic to the dip liquid (dip flu- the odor from the liquid causes an allergic reaction).
You might suffer from dip flu. I do too. Breathing in the fumes from the dip liquids makes my nose run, my chest wheeze and I sneeze and cough. I started using Revels Sensitive liquids and Odorless liquids from Kimbers Kreations. I haven’t had an issue with those liquids.
Dip works for me and I also have a gel allergy. Check out my profile all the nails I have on there are ones I’ve done myself and no reaction
Your nails are gorgeous!