Q: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYBRID GEL & POLY GEL?

A: Poly Gel and Hybrid Gel are both types of nail enhancement systems, but they have some key differences in formulation, application, and performance:

Formulation
• Poly Gel: This is a combination of acrylic powder and hard gel, providing a putty-like consistency. It’s thicker than regular gel but lighter than acrylics.
• Hybrid Gel: Often combines the best of gel and acrylic systems but with more flexibility and strength. HYBA Beauty’s HyGEL Professional Nail System is an example of a hybrid gel, designed to be healthier, odor-free, and long-lasting.

Application
• Poly Gel: Comes in tubes or pots and is applied with a spatula onto the nail, then shaped with a brush dipped in slip solution. It requires curing under a UV/LED lamp.

• Hybrid Gel: Typically, hybrid gels are thinner and more flexible than poly gels, making them easier to apply in layers. Like poly gel, they also need UV/LED curing.

Consistency and Texture
• Poly Gel: Thicker, more paste-like, and easier to sculpt into shapes. It doesn’t self-level, so it holds its shape during application.

• Hybrid Gel: More self-leveling and thinner, so it may feel more like applying gel polish, with more flexibility and less bulk.

Strength and Flexibility
• Poly Gel: Known for being strong but lightweight, offering the durability of acrylics but with less bulk.

• Hybrid Gel: Designed to be flexible, making it less prone to cracking or lifting, while still offering strong adhesion.

Removal
• Poly Gel: Can be filed off like acrylics or soaked off, though soaking can take longer.

• Hybrid Gel: Usually soaks off more easily, making it a quicker removal process.

Odor
• Poly Gel: Low odor but still present due to acrylic components.

• Hybrid Gel: Typically odor-free, especially in professional systems like HyBa Beauty’s HyGEL, which focuses on a healthier salon environment.