What is BIAB? Here's the lowdown.
Say Hello to Your Best Nails Yet!
We LOVE Builder in a Bottle here at SOAK! But being one of the up and coming services in the industry, not everyone has heard of it. Builder (sometimes referred to as BIAB) is designed to provide a strengthening barrier to the nail while maintaining its natural flexibility, so they rarely chip or break when cared for correctly.
Our favourite feature of Builder in a Bottle is that an acetone soak off is not necessary when refilling the nails (sometimes referred to as re-balancing). Meaning your nails and hands are not subjected to strong chemicals for long periods of time.
“Think of BIAB like a ‘cast’ to the natural nail, providing the strength on top so that they can grow longer into your desired shape.”
There is a common myth that BIAB strengthens your natural nail, be careful not to believe this! Your natural nail will not change due to the beauty of the rebalancing process, you don’t have to soak off the product every-time you have a rebalance and no buffing of the natural nail plate is possible as it will still be covered. Therefore, BIAB shouldn’t make your nails any thinner, but it won’t make them stronger. Think of BIAB like a ‘cast’ to the natural nail, providing the strength on top so that they can grow longer into your desired shape. If and when you have it professionally removed, your nails should be at a perfectly normal, natural strength.
What do you need to do afterwards? Be gentle with them, although they are strong, they should be treated as precious jewellery you would take care of. Cuticle oil isn’t just for fun, cuticle oil hydrates the nail and prevents ‘lifting’ as with dehydration the nail can start to curl away from the BIAB. Take home one of our cocktail scented or squalane cuticle oils and keep it on your night stand! AM and PM people, AM and PM!!
Think of BIAB as a process, a journey, you may not get a full 4 weeks out of your BIAB the first time it's applied, especially if you have previously had other products on the nail that might make the natural nail more brittle. But once you give it a few goes, 3 or 4 weeks should be expected!
If you find your nails are too weak for regular or gel polish or if you live a hands on lifestyle but also want that cute mani you deserve, BlAB might just be your new bestie!