Gel nails in Coral Gables, explained.
Which one is yours, how long it holds, what moves the price, and what happens the first time you sit down. Written by the person who does the work, not by someone selling it.
280 Alhambra Cir, Suite 23, Coral Gables · Gel only — no acrylic, no dip
Which gel is yours.
Almost everyone arrives asking for the wrong one, and it's not their fault: the names come from the products, not from what they do for you. Here they are by what you actually want.
Gel manicure — from $40 →
You want colour that lasts weeks instead of days, on the nails you already have. Nothing added, nothing built. Around an hour. If your nails are strong already and you just want them to look finished, this is the answer and the cheapest one.
Builder gel — from $50 →
Your nails peel, bend or break at the same length every time. This is a reinforcing layer over your own nail — not an extension. Colour is included. Most people who ask me for extensions actually want this.
Soft gel — from $70 →
You want length now, and you want it to feel light. Pre-shaped tips bonded with gel, also sold as Gel-X. The easiest of the extensions to take off, which matters more than people think.
Poly gel — from $80 →
You want serious length and you're hard on your hands. Sculpted onto the nail rather than stuck on, so it holds without snapping. The strongest of the four, and the longest appointment.
Not sure? Bring a photo of what you want and I'll tell you which one gets you there — including when the cheaper one is enough.
Gel or acrylic.
The short version: I don't do acrylic, so you're not getting a sales answer here. What follows is the difference, and you decide.
How it's applied
Acrylic is a powder and a liquid that harden in the air, and it usually needs the surface of your nail filed down so it grips. Gel goes on soft and cures under a lamp, and it bonds without that filing.
How it comes off
This is where most damage happens, not while you're wearing it. Soft gel soaks off. Acrylic is usually drilled off. The difference shows up months later, on the nail underneath.
How it feels
Gel is lighter and more flexible; acrylic is more rigid and holds extreme length better. If you've worn acrylic and hated the weight, soft gel is the opposite end of that.
If acrylic is what you want, you want a different studio — and I'd rather say that now than have you drive over to find out.
How long it lasts, honestly.
The gel keeps its shine well past three weeks. That's not what brings you back. What brings you back is the millimetre of your own nail that shows at the cuticle as it grows — and that happens on your body's schedule, not the product's.
If you have extensions
A refill from $50 every two to three weeks keeps the set going instead of starting over. It's cheaper than a new set and it's quicker, and it's how most of my clients work. See the full list →
If you have builder gel or a gel manicure
There's no refill on these: when it's grown out it's a fresh application. Builder gel from $50, gel manicure from $40. Same idea, different maths.
What actually damages a nail.
Gel doesn't ruin nails. Four habits do, and three of them happen in the chair.
Cutting the cuticle
The cuticle is a seal. Cut it and you've opened the door on the part of the nail that's still growing. Pushed back, it does its job and the finish sits cleaner anyway.
Filing the nail to make it grip
Sanding down the surface so product sticks is fast and it costs you thickness you don't get back. Prep should clean and dehydrate, not remove.
Drilling it off
Removal is where most of the damage people blame on gel actually comes from. Soaking takes longer for me and costs you nothing.
Picking at it yourself
This one's on you, and it's the worst of the four. When a set is ready to come off, come in — even if it's not your appointment.
What you can actually ask for.
Shape is free and changes more than colour does. Finish is where the price moves.
Shapes
Almond, oval, square, coffin and stiletto. Almond and oval survive daily life best; coffin and stiletto need length, which means an extension. Whatever you pick, both hands get matched — that's the part people notice without knowing why.
Finishes
Nude and classic French for every day. Coloured French, chrome, glitter and matte when you want it seen. Hand-painted design on request, from $10 on top of any service. See the designs →
Three things change the number.
Length
A short almond and a long stiletto are not the same job. More length is more product and more time shaping it.
Design
French, chrome and hand-painted art are separate, from $10. A solid colour is included in the service price.
What's on now
Removing someone else's set — especially a hard one — takes time before we can start yours.
Every price on this site is a starting price, and you'll know your number before I start. The full list →
What the appointment is like.
One client at a time, in a private suite at 280 Alhambra Cir. No reception, no waiting room, no second chair.
Bring a photo
It's the fastest way to get what's in your head. Send it on WhatsApp beforehand if you want and I'll tell you what it needs.
You'll know the time first
An hour for a gel manicure, an hour and a quarter for builder gel, an hour and a half for soft gel, two hours for poly gel. You're told before we start, and it takes that.
Parking, and the drive
Metered street parking around Alhambra Circle and paid garages within a block. Coming from the Grove it's about eight minutes. Coming from Coconut Grove →
Now you know what to ask for.
Booksy shows my live availability. The phone gets you me — no receptionist in between.
Not sure what to book?
Send me a photo of what you have in mind and I'll tell you which service it is and what it costs.
Message me on WhatsAppI answer these myself, usually the same day. For instant confirmation, use Booksy.