If you've tried extensions before and they felt like fake nails, you're not alone. Heavy, obvious, uncomfortable. You could feel them every time you picked something up or typed on your phone. They looked good but wearing them was a different story.
Soft gel tip extensions are the opposite of that. They're the lightest type of nail extension available. Pre-shaped gel tips that get bonded to your natural nail with gel adhesive and cured under an LED lamp. The result is added length that feels natural, flexes with your nail, and doesn't have that thick, heavy sensation that puts people off extensions.
At Aesthete Beauty in Dundee, every set of soft gel tip extensions is applied 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. All products are HEMA-free, preparation is done dry with an e-file, and the tips soak off with acetone when it's time for removal. No aggressive filing needed. Soft Gel Tips start from £50. Book online any time or call us on 01382 217888.
Soft gel tips are full-cover nail tips made entirely from soft gel material. Think of them as professional press-on nails, except they're properly bonded with gel adhesive and cured under an LED lamp so they stay put for weeks instead of falling off in the shower.
Each tip comes pre-shaped in a specific length and style. Radina fits the right size to each of your nails, applies gel adhesive to the underside of the tip, presses it onto your prepared natural nail, and cures it under the lamp. The bond is secure from the moment it's cured.
Because the shape is already formed, there's no sculpting involved. That makes the application quicker than polygel or acrylic extensions where every nail has to be built and shaped by hand. Less time in the chair, same great result.
The tips are made from soft gel, which means they're flexible and move with your natural nail rather than sitting rigid on top of it. That's why they feel so natural. They're also soaked off with acetone when it's time for a new set, which is gentler on your natural nails than the filing required for polygel or acrylic removal.
Once the tips are on, they can be finished with gel polish in any colour, French tips, chrome, cat-eye, or nail art.
Gel X extensions with nail art
People sometimes compare soft gel tips to press-on nails because the concept sounds similar. Both use pre-shaped tips. But that's where the similarity ends. Press-ons stick on with adhesive tabs or nail glue and last a few days at most. Soft gel tips are bonded with a gel adhesive that gets cured under the LED lamp, creating a chemical bond that lasts two to three weeks. The tip is then shaped and finished with gel polish, chrome, or nail art. It's a proper extension service, not a temporary fix.
Lightest extensions available. If weight is what puts you off extensions, soft gel tips solve that. They're significantly lighter than polygel and much lighter than acrylic. Most clients say they forget they're wearing extensions at all after the first day. That's how natural they feel.
Quick application. Because the tips come pre-shaped, the application is faster than sculpted extensions. There's no building each nail from scratch with product and forms. Radina fits, bonds, cures, and finishes. Less time sitting in the chair, same professional result.
Natural look and feel. Soft gel has a flexibility that mimics your natural nail. The tips bend slightly with your nail rather than sitting stiff and rigid. They look natural, feel natural, and don't have that obvious "fake nail" appearance that thicker extensions sometimes have.
Gentle removal. This is a big one. Soft gel tips soak off with acetone, similar to how gel polish is removed. There's no heavy filing down to the natural nail. That makes removal gentler and less likely to cause damage or thinning to your natural nails over time.
No strong chemical smell. The application uses gel adhesive only. No acrylic monomer, no strong chemical smells filling the room during your appointment.
Soft gel tip extensions
HEMA-free products. Everything used at Aesthete Beauty is HEMA-free, reducing the risk of allergic reactions and sensitivity.
Professional dry preparation. Every appointment starts with dry e-file cuticle preparation. No water soaking. This gives the gel adhesive a clean, stable surface to bond to from the start.
They stay on when they're done properly. The biggest complaint about soft gel tips online is popping off. That happens when the wrong size tip gets forced onto the nail, when the prep is rushed, or when the gel adhesive isn't cured long enough. At Aesthete Beauty, Radina checks the fit of every tip on every nail before bonding. The sizing has to be right or it won't last. Your nails get proper dry e-file preparation so the surface is clean and stable, and every tip gets a full cure under the LED lamp. No shortcuts, no guessing.
Radina is really lovely and welcoming, and so skilled in many different services; she's like a one-stop shop for everything you could need beauty wise! I've had lash lift and eyebrows, and gel nail infills for a few months, and have been so pleased with results every single time. It's a bright, pretty and clean salon, and is very accessible too with no stairs and plenty street parking right outside. Highly recommend!
Caitlin S
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★★★★★
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Google Review
All three add length. The difference is in how they feel, how they're applied, and how they come off.
Soft gel tips are the lightest and most natural feeling. Pre-shaped tips bonded with gel adhesive. Quickest application. Soak off with acetone for gentle removal. Best for clients who want extensions that feel like they're barely there and don't want aggressive removal.
Polygel is stronger and more durable. Sculpted by hand using a paste and slip solution, then cured under the lamp. More control over custom shapes and longer lengths. Filed off rather than soaked, which takes longer but the product handles more wear and tear. Best for clients who want maximum durability and precise shaping.
Acrylic is the strongest and heaviest. Mixed from powder and liquid monomer, sets without a lamp. Strong chemical smell during application. Most rigid, which means it can crack under impact. Filed off for removal. Best for very long, structural sets where maximum strength is the priority. Aesthete Beauty doesn't offer acrylics because polygel and soft gel tips give you the same length without the harsh chemicals, strong smell, or aggressive removal.
If you want extensions that feel natural and come off gently, soft gel tips are the one. If you need more strength for longer lengths or harder-wearing sets, polygel is the better option.
Soft Gel Tips start from £50.
Infills from £53, or from £55 if it's been more than four weeks. Nail Repair £5.
Soft Gel Removal from £15.
Add-ons: French tips £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.
Soft gel tip extensions at £50 lasting two to three weeks works out at roughly £3 a day. Less than a coffee. Add Russian manicure preparation and you'll get longer wear from the same set, bringing the daily cost down even further.
Want the best possible prep underneath? Add Russian manicure preparation for a perfectly clean cuticle line and maximum adhesion.
Really delighted with my nails, cant believe how good my hands look now, so good I've already booked my next appointment!
Gail Brown
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★★★★★
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Google Review
If you've never had soft gel tip extensions before, here's exactly what happens.
Vodex dust extraction runs during the e-file preparation on your nails. Even though soft gel tip application involves less filing than sculpted extensions, the cuticle prep still creates fine dust and the extraction system clears it from the air at the source. No dust cloud, no smell. Fresh disposable files and buffers for every client. Metal tools cleaned and sterilised between appointments. Radina wears gloves throughout. “A friendly, clean boutique salon” and “a very clean place” are the phrases clients keep using in reviews.
Every tool sterilised between clients
You'll get a digital consultation form by email before your appointment. It covers your nail health, what length you're after, and whether you've had extensions before. Takes a couple of minutes and saves time at the salon. Radina reads it beforehand so when you sit down the appointment goes straight into the fitting and prep.
Choose your finish colour from over 230 gel polish options. All HEMA-free. The full Lecente and OPI range is on display in the salon. Chrome, cat-eye, and ombre finishes available as add-ons.
Radina will check your natural nails and fit the right size tip to each one. She'll discuss the length and shape you want and make sure everything lines up properly before bonding starts.
Your natural nails get shaped and the surface is prepped with dry e-file cuticle work. No water soaking. A dehydrator and primer go on to make sure the gel adhesive bonds properly.
Gel adhesive is applied to the underside of each pre-shaped tip. The tip gets pressed onto your prepared nail at an angle, starting from the cuticle and pressing towards the free edge so the adhesive spreads evenly. Each tip is cured under the LED lamp to set the bond.
Gel polish in any colour, French tips, chrome, cat-eye, nail art, or left in a natural shade. The finish goes on after all the tips are bonded and cured.
Cuticle oil daily. Gloves when cleaning. Don't use your nails as tools. Don't pick or peel the tips off yourself. When it's time for a new set, come back and have them soaked off properly.
If any of these sound familiar, soft gel tips are the right choice:
Soft gel tips aren't the best choice if you need maximum strength for very long or heavy-duty lengths. Polygel is stronger and more durable for that. And if you just want colour without added length, gel polish is the simpler option.
Not sure? Radina will look at your nails and help you decide.
Soft gel tips aren't the right choice for every nail type. If your nails are weak, damaged, very short, or bitten right down, the tips won't bond properly and you'll get lifting or popping within days. The tips need a certain amount of healthy nail plate to grip onto. If that sounds like your nails, polygel or BIAB extensions are better options because the product is sculpted directly onto whatever nail you've got. Radina will check at your consultation and tell you honestly which type will actually work.
Radina is amazing, such a lovely welcoming, spotless salon. Radina is so professional, and takes great pride in her work. Will not go anywhere else, loving my candy cane nails.
Soft gel tips are pre-shaped full-cover nail tips made from soft gel material. They get bonded to your natural nail with gel adhesive and cured under an LED lamp. They add length and come in various shapes and sizes. They're the lightest type of nail extension and the closest in feel to natural nails.
Two to four weeks depending on your lifestyle and how much your nails are exposed to daily wear. Clients with dry e-file preparation at Aesthete Beauty tend to get longer wear because the adhesion is better from the start.
Soft Gel Tips start from £50. Infills from £53. Soft Gel Removal from £15. Add-ons include French tips (£10), chrome (from £7), and nail art (from £7). All current pricing is in the online booking system.
Soft gel tips are pre-shaped and bonded to the nail. Application is quicker, the feel is lighter, and they soak off with acetone. Polygel is sculpted by hand, stronger, more durable, and filed off during removal. Soft gel tips are best for a natural feel and easy removal. Polygel is best for maximum durability and custom shaping.
Not when applied and removed correctly. The bonding process is gentle and removal is done by soaking with acetone, not filing. Damage only happens when tips are picked, peeled, or ripped off. At Aesthete Beauty, all removal is done professionally to protect the natural nail.
Soaked off with acetone, similar to gel polish removal. The bulk of the tip is filed down first, then acetone wraps soften the remaining product so it can be gently removed without scraping or damaging the natural nail.
Yes. As your nails grow, the gap near the cuticle can be filled. However, many clients prefer a full new set every two to four weeks because the application is quick. Radina will advise which approach suits your nails.
Yes. French tips (£10), chrome (from £7), cat-eye (from £7), and nail art (from £7) are all available as add-ons.
The tips come in a range of pre-shaped styles including almond, coffin, square, stiletto, and round. Radina will help you choose the right shape and size for your nails.
Gel X is a brand name (by Apres) for soft gel tip extensions. The technique and product type are the same. At Aesthete Beauty, we use professional-grade soft gel tips that work the same way.
The three most common reasons are wrong tip sizing, poor nail preparation, and under-curing the gel adhesive. If the tip doesn't fit the natural nail properly, it creates air pockets and weak points that lead to lifting. If the nail plate isn't fully cleaned and dehydrated before application, the bond fails. And if the gel adhesive doesn't get a full cure under the lamp, it stays soft underneath and the tip comes loose. At Aesthete Beauty, Radina checks sizing on every nail, does full dry e-file preparation, and gives every tip a complete cure.
Not always. Soft gel tips need a minimum amount of healthy nail plate to bond to. If your nails are very short, bitten, weak, or damaged, the tips won't grip properly and you'll get lifting within days. For very short or bitten nails, polygel or BIAB extensions are better options because the product is sculpted directly onto whatever nail length exists. Radina will check your nails and recommend what will actually work.
Yes. All products used at Aesthete Beauty are HEMA-free. HEMA is a chemical found in many gel products that can cause contact allergies with repeated exposure. The products are also TPO-free. If you've had reactions to gel nails in the past, book a patch test at least 48 hours before your appointment.
Press-on nails use adhesive tabs or nail glue and last a few days. Soft gel tips are bonded with gel adhesive that gets cured under an LED lamp, creating a chemical bond to the natural nail that lasts two to three weeks. The tip is then professionally shaped, refined, and finished with your choice of gel polish, chrome, or nail art. They're a proper nail extension service, not a temporary cosmetic fix.
About 1 hour 10 minutes for a new set. Infills take about 1 hour 10 minutes within four weeks, or 1 hour 25 minutes if it's been longer. Removal takes about 20 minutes.
Gel X is a brand name by Apres for their soft gel tip extensions. It's become a generic term the same way people say “Hoover” for any vacuum cleaner. At Aesthete Beauty we use professional soft gel tips but they're not specifically the Apres Gel X brand. The result is the same: pre-shaped full-cover tips bonded with gel adhesive and cured under the lamp.
Yes. All gel products used at Aesthete Beauty are HEMA-free, including the gel adhesive used to bond soft gel tips. HEMA is a chemical in many nail products that can cause allergic reactions with repeated exposure. Removing it from the process reduces that risk.
Yes. The gel adhesive is fully cured under the LED lamp during your appointment so the bond is set before you leave. Showering won't affect them. Avoid soaking your hands in hot water for long periods in the first 24 hours, but normal hand washing, showering, and daily life are all fine from the moment you walk out.
Just got my nails done for Valentines and they look perfect. First time going and will be going back again. Also got some amazing nail health advice which I've never been told about before. Would recommend to everyone!!
Every set photographed in the salon. Soft gel tip extensions in a range of shapes and finishes.
All photos taken at Aesthete Beauty, 76 Bell Street, Dundee
If you want extensions that feel like they're barely there, soft gel tips are the answer. Lightweight, natural feeling, gentle removal, and a quicker appointment than sculpted alternatives.
We serve clients from across Dundee and the surrounding areas including the West End, Broughty Ferry, Newport-on-Tay, Monifieth, Carnoustie, and further afield.
