Your nails are growing out. There's a gap at the cuticle where your natural nail is showing through, the structure has shifted forward, and the whole set is starting to feel unbalanced. You don't want to take everything off and start again. You just want them tidied up, rebalanced, and looking fresh.
That's exactly what an infill does. Instead of removing your entire BIAB overlay or extensions and starting from scratch, the existing product gets reduced, the regrowth area is filled with fresh product, and the structure is rebalanced. Your nails go from grown-out to freshly done without the stress of full removal on your natural nails.
A BIAB infill at £49 every three weeks works out at roughly £2.30 a day. Less than a coffee. If you add Russian manicure preparation for longer wear and stretch to four weeks between appointments, the daily cost drops even further. Full new sets cost more and take longer. Regular infills are the smarter option for your wallet and your nails.
At Aesthete Beauty in Dundee, infills are carried out by Radina Ignatova, a professional nail expert with over 11 years of experience whose work has been featured in Scratch Magazine and Who What Wear UK. Infills are recommended every three weeks to maintain correct structure, balance, and retention. With Russian manicure preparation and correct aftercare, infills can last four to six weeks. BIAB Infills start from £49. Book online any time or call us on 01382 217888.
I've been seeing Radina regularly for the last few months and cannot recommend aesthete beauty more! She's such good chat and always does the most incredible job! My nails have never looked this good. Definitely the best place in Dundee for all your nail needs 🙂 Thanks Radina xx
Sudhara Niriella
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★★★★★
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Google Review
As your natural nails grow, the product on top grows with them. The apex shifts forward, the structure loses its balance, and a visible gap appears near the cuticle where bare nail is exposed. This is completely normal. It's not a sign that anything has gone wrong. It's just growth.
An infill corrects all of that. The existing product is carefully reduced using an e-file. The regrowth area near the cuticle is cleaned and prepared. Fresh product is then applied to restore the structure, rebalance the apex, and blend seamlessly with the existing enhancement. The result is a nail that looks and feels like a fresh set without having to remove everything and start over.
Infills are available for BIAB overlays, polygel extensions, and soft gel tip extensions. The process is the same principle for all of them. Reduce, rebalance, restore.
Radina uses clear, semi-transparent, or coloured cover products for infills. Clear and semi-transparent options allow full visibility of the natural nail at every appointment, so you can see the condition of your nails underneath. Coloured cover products provide a slightly quicker finish while still maintaining full structural integrity.
If your nails are in good condition and the existing product hasn't lifted or broken down, there's no reason to strip it all off and start again. Infills are the better option for your nail health.
Less stress on your natural nails. Full removal means buffing or soaking off the entire product, then reprepping the nail surface and applying everything fresh. That's a lot of work on the nail plate every few weeks. Infills avoid most of that because the existing product stays on. Only the grown-out area gets touched.
Less acetone exposure. Acetone dries out the natural nail and the skin around it. The less your nails are soaked in acetone, the healthier they stay long term.
Maintains structural integrity. Keeping a thin layer of product on the nail at all times means the natural nail is always protected. Full removal leaves the nail exposed and vulnerable between sets.
Cost effective. An infill costs less than a full new set because there's less work involved. You're maintaining what's already there rather than rebuilding from nothing.
Quicker appointment. Less product to apply means less time in the chair.
Prevents lifting and breakage. Leaving the gap too long allows moisture to creep under the product, which causes lifting. The shifted apex also puts stress in the wrong places, which can lead to breakage. Regular infills prevent both.
BIAB with glitter finish showing visible regrowth at the cuticle after three weeks of wear. The structure has shifted forward and is ready for an infill.
Radina is always so lovely and welcoming. My nails are always done to a high standard and look beautiful every time!
Radina recommends infills every three weeks to maintain correct structure, balance, and retention. This is the point where the regrowth is enough to need attention but not so much that the structure has become compromised.
With Russian manicure preparation and correct aftercare, infills can stretch to four to six weeks depending on lifestyle and how well the nails are maintained between appointments. But three weeks is the recommended baseline for the best results.
Signs you need an infill:
Natural nail growth visible at the cuticle after three weeks. The structure has shifted forward and the set is ready for an infill.
Don't leave it too long. The further the apex shifts from its correct position, the more work is needed to rebalance it. Overgrown nails are also more likely to catch on things and snap. Regular maintenance is easier, quicker, and better for your nails than waiting until there's a problem.
Radina recommends a full removal and fresh application after every four to five infill cycles. This is when she takes everything off, checks the condition of your natural nails underneath, and starts clean. Some people try to stretch infills indefinitely without ever getting a full removal. That's a mistake. Without periodic removal, product builds up in layers that can't be properly assessed, and any issues with the nail plate go unnoticed. One person online had continuous infills for seven months without a single removal and ended up with brittle, damaged nails. Regular infill cycles with a planned full removal built in is how you keep your nails strong year-round.
One of the benefits of infills is that you're not locked into the same colour every time. Each infill is a chance to change things up.
Clear or semi-transparent cover. This leaves the BIAB in its natural shade so you can see your natural nail through the product. It's a clean, understated look and it lets Radina assess your nail health at every visit. Good for clients who prefer a natural appearance or want to monitor their nail condition.
Coloured cover. A tinted cover product that provides a slightly quicker finish with a soft, even tone. Still a structural product, not just colour. Available in a range of natural shades.
Gel polish. Full colour applied over the infilled BIAB or extension. Any colour, any finish. This is the most popular option because you get to pick something new every three weeks.
Add-ons. French tips, chrome, cat-eye, nail art. All available on top of your infill just like they would be on a fresh set.
Over 230 gel polish colours to choose from at every infill. All HEMA-free. The full Lecente and OPI range is on the shelves in the salon. An infill is a chance to try something completely different without committing to a whole new set.
Semi-transparent BIAB after infill and rebalance. Clean structure, correct apex placement, and a natural high-gloss finish.
Same client, same BIAB base, completely different finish. Glossy black gel polish applied over a freshly infilled and rebalanced set.
Two finish options side by side. Shimmer overlay on the left, natural pink cover on the right. Same BIAB base, different look.
Holographic glitter finish on the left, glossy black gel polish on the right. You can change your finish at every infill appointment.
She's very meticulous and always leave my nails how I expect them to be. Also the place is clean and bright, and the customer service is great.
BIAB Infills start from £49. BIAB Infills beyond four weeks from £55. BIAB Infills with Russian Manicure from £79.
Extension Infills (polygel, soft gel tips) from £53. Extension Infills beyond four weeks from £55.
Nail Repair £5-£6.
Add-ons: French tips £5-£10, chrome from £7, cat-eye from £7, nail art from £7.
All current pricing is in the online booking system. Pick your service, choose your time, done. You can also call us on 01382 217888 or message on WhatsApp.
If you've never had an infill before, here's exactly what happens.
E-file work during infills creates dust as the existing product gets reduced. The Vodex extraction system pulls it from the air at the source so the room stays clean and there's no chemical smell building up over the course of your appointment. Fresh disposable files and buffers for every client, metal tools cleaned and sterilised between appointments, and Radina wears gloves throughout. Same standard whether it's your first set or your tenth infill.
If it's your first visit, you'll get a digital consultation form by email before the appointment. It covers your nail health and any concerns. Returning clients don't need to fill it in again unless something has changed with their health or medications.
Radina checks the condition of your existing product and natural nails. She'll look for any lifting, damage, or areas that need extra attention before starting.
The existing gel polish colour is removed using the e-file, and the underlying product is carefully reduced to a thin, even layer. This is controlled and precise. The goal is to thin the old product without touching the natural nail underneath.
Dry e-file work to clean up the cuticle area and prepare the regrowth zone. No water soaking. This creates a clean surface for the new product to bond to.
New product is applied to the regrowth area and blended with the existing enhancement. The apex is repositioned to its correct placement and the overall structure is rebalanced for strength and proportion.
Keep the same colour, change it completely, or try something new like French, chrome, or nail art. Infills are a fresh start for the finish every time. Aftercare: cuticle oil daily, gloves when cleaning, don't pick. Book your next infill in three weeks.
Your infill will last longer and your nails will stay healthier between appointments if you follow a few simple habits.
Cuticle oil every day. This is the single most effective thing you can do. A drop of cuticle oil on each nail morning and night keeps the product flexible, prevents shrinkage, and reduces the chance of lifting at the edges. Dry product cracks. Hydrated product stays put.
Wear gloves when cleaning. Household chemicals, hot water, and prolonged soaking all weaken the bond between the product and your natural nail. Rubber gloves take ten seconds to put on and save you a repair appointment.
Don't pick at lifting. If you notice a tiny bit of lifting at the cuticle edge, leave it alone. Picking pulls healthy product off the nail plate and can tear the top layers of your natural nail with it. A small lift is a quick fix at your next appointment. A picked nail is a bigger problem.
Watch for warning signs. Soreness after an infill is not normal. If your nails feel tender or the nail bed looks red, that's a sign the natural nail was filed too aggressively during prep. Green or yellow discolouration under the product means moisture has been trapped and bacteria have started growing. Both need professional attention straight away, not a wait-and-see approach.
Book your next appointment before you leave. Three weeks goes quickly. Getting into a regular cycle means you never end up with overgrown nails that need extra correction work.
An infill is a maintenance appointment where the grown-out area near the cuticle is filled with fresh product and the existing enhancement is rebalanced. The old product isn't fully removed. Instead, it's reduced, the structure is corrected, and new product is applied to restore shape, strength, and balance.
Every three weeks is recommended for correct structure, balance, and retention. With Russian manicure preparation and good aftercare, some clients stretch to four to six weeks. Radina will advise the best schedule for your nails.
BIAB Infills from £49. Extension Infills from £53. Infills beyond four weeks from £55. BIAB Infills with Russian Manicure from £79. All pricing is in the online booking system.
Yes, for nail health. Infills avoid the repeated full removal and reapplication cycle, which means less buffing, less acetone, and less stress on the natural nail. They're also quicker and more cost effective.
Yes. The gel polish gets removed as part of the infill process, so you can choose a completely new colour, finish, or design every time. You're not stuck with the same look.
Clear, semi-transparent, or coloured cover products. Clear and semi-transparent allow visibility of the natural nail at every appointment. Coloured options provide a quicker finish. Gel polish colour goes on top of whatever base is used.
The structure shifts forward as your nails grow, moving the apex out of balance. This makes the nails feel top-heavy, increases the risk of breakage, and allows moisture to get under the product causing lifting. The longer you leave it, the more correction work is needed.
It depends on how well the product holds up and how your nails are maintained. Most clients get three or more infill cycles before a full removal and redo is needed. Radina will advise when it's time based on what she sees at each appointment.
Yes. Infills are available for BIAB overlays, polygel extensions, and soft gel tip extensions. The process is the same principle: reduce, rebalance, restore.
No. Infills are actually gentler than full removal because the natural nail plate is never fully exposed or re-buffed. The existing product acts as a protective layer throughout the process.
No. Soreness means the natural nail was filed too thin during the preparation stage. At Aesthete Beauty, Radina uses controlled e-file work and checks the nail plate throughout the process. If your nails have felt sore after work done elsewhere, let her know. She'll adjust the approach for your nail type.
A BIAB infill maintains an overlay on your natural nail. The product is thinner and the process is quicker because there's less structural work involved. An extension infill maintains added length from polygel or soft gel tips. Extensions need more product, more time, and a full structural rebalance including apex repositioning. Both follow the same principle of reduce, rebalance, restore.
If your product is still bonded, not lifting, and the structure is intact, you need an infill. Lifting on multiple nails, cracking, discolouration through the product, or wanting a completely different shape? New set. Radina will check at your appointment and tell you honestly which option makes sense.
Yes. If one or two nails have broken or chipped, Radina can repair those individually as part of your infill appointment. Nail repairs are £5 to £6 per nail. If most of the set has broken, a full new application might be more practical than repairing every nail separately.
Yes. All products used at Aesthete Beauty are HEMA-free and TPO-free. HEMA is a chemical found in many gel products that can cause contact allergies with repeated exposure. If you've had reactions to gel products in the past, book a patch test at least 48 hours before your appointment.
It depends on the condition of the existing product and your natural nails. As a general guide, three to four infill cycles works well before a full removal and fresh application. Radina assesses this at every appointment. If the structure is sound and there's no lifting or trapped moisture, you can keep going. If she spots anything that needs attention underneath, she'll recommend a full redo. It's not a fixed rule. It's based on what she sees on the day.
Minor shape adjustments are fine. Going from round to slightly more almond or squaring off rounded edges can be done during the filing stage of an infill. Major shape changes like switching from square to stiletto usually need a full new set because the entire structure and apex placement needs to change.
Book a single nail repair. It's £5 and takes about fifteen minutes. Radina will fix the broken nail so it matches the rest of your set until your next full infill. Don't try to glue it at home and don't pull the broken piece off. Both of those make the repair harder and risk damaging your natural nail underneath.
Love my nails. The attention to detail and time taken at each appointment is the reason I go.
If your nails are growing out and the structure needs attention, an infill is the smart choice. Maintain what you have, protect your natural nails, and walk out looking freshly done every three weeks.
We serve clients from across Dundee and the surrounding areas including the West End, Broughty Ferry, Newport-on-Tay, Monifieth, Carnoustie, and further afield.
