12 Gel Nail Ideas That Look Gorgeous (And Last Forever)

Nail art is one of the great joys we have in life, so it’s a pity when you or your manicurist gives it your all, only for the design to be gone within a day or two. And while you already know gel manicures are a life-saver to those of us prone to chips, what you may not know is that gel polish can also be used to create even the most intricate nail designs.

“I actually prefer to do all of my nail art on my clients using gel instead of regular lacquer,” Brittney Boyce, celebrity nail artist and founder of Nails of LA, tells BAZAAR.com. “Gel tends to be more highly pigmented, allowing you to create fine lines and details.” Plus, she adds, the curing process means you don’t have to wait for polish to dry between steps. “You can cure each layer as you go.” But she admits it all comes down to preference. “Detailed work using regular lacquer is doable, but takes more time and patience. Betina Goldstein does very intricate work using only lacquer.”

And while gel polish is a great medium for complex looks, it’s also perfect for updating minimalist styles like a French manicure. “With regular lacquer, we go in with a dry brush dipped in acetone to clean up the lines and curves, so you can't have a base color underneath the tip,” explains Boyce. “With gel, you can have different colors underneath but still go in with a dry brush to clean up the top layer.” Need some inspo? Keep scrolling for 12 gel nail designs to add to your mood board, and tools to help you DIY them (if you're that confident in your abilities).