How to Save Money When Switching Nail Brands
- Maya
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
How to Save Money When Switching Nail Brands
(and How to Choose a Professional Brand Without Wasting Yours)
Switching nail brands is one of the most expensive decisions a nail tech can make, especially when it is done emotionally instead of strategically.
I have made mistakes in the past. I have bought too much, too fast, convincing myself that a bigger setup meant a better business.
So when I recently decided to switch brands again, I approached it very differently. This time, the focus was not trends or hype. It was ingredients, performance, and sustainability, both for my nails and my finances.
Why I Decided to Switch Brands
The decision started when I looked more closely at the chemical structure of the brand I was using. I wanted a healthier option, not just for my clients, but for myself too. Long-term exposure matters. But healthier products often come with a higher price tag, and I was not willing to invest blindly without knowing how the products would actually perform.
Retention, wear, removability - all of that still matters. A product can be gentle, but if it does not last, it is not usable in a real salon environment.
I Started With the Boring Products (On Purpose)
Instead of buying colours or full collections, I started with the basics:
one soft gel
a rubber base
a regular base
one pot of hard gel
That was it.
These products carry your work. If these do not perform, colours will not save it.
I tested these products quietly on a small number of clients over a couple of months. Because the brand uses fewer harsh chemicals, I expected the behaviour to be different, and that is exactly why I did not rush. I paid attention to retention, lifting, flexibility, wear time, and how the product behaved during infills.
Only once I was confident did I move forward.
Colours Were Added Slowly and Intentionally
After about three months, I introduced colours. I chose sets, not singles. My chosen brand had really good offers on sets.
I will be honest - I was worried the sets would include shades no one actually wants. That did not happen!
My first set was reds, which are notoriously difficult to formulate well. Reds show everything. Pigmentation, streaking, consistency. They performed beautifully from the first application.
The second set was dark burgundy shades for autumn. Every single colour was used. None became dust collectors. My clients loved them.
That alone confirmed I was doing the right thing by not rushing.
Seasonal Buying, Not Impulse Buying
A couple of months later, festive glitters were released. That made sense, so I bought them.
About six weeks after that, I added January shades - blues and nudes. I already had glitters, so there was no reason to rebuy what I did not need.
My collection was not complete, and that was intentional. Pastels came in spring. Neons in summer. This approach kept my spending under control and avoids shelves full of unused products.
Smaller Colour Ranges Make Life Easier
Having hundreds of colours does not impress clients. It overwhelms them.
A smaller, seasonal collection:
speeds up appointments
makes decisions easier
looks more curated and professional
Along the way, I slowly added a couple more BIAB shades and explored more of the brand’s hard gels and polygel. Months later, I still rely on the same core extension shades. Consistency beats excess every time.
At the moment I have 93 colours, that is mixed with my old brand. You can mix colours within brand to create desired colour.
How to Choose a Professional Nail Brand Properly
Many brands offer more than one system. Some do gel polish, hard gel, polygel. Others focus on acrylic, files, or nail art accessories. This does not mean that if a brand does one thing well, everything else they offer will be just as good.
A brand can have an excellent gel polish system and very average hard gels.
Every system has its own advantages and disadvantages. You have to test them individually.
How to Test a New Brand Without Risking Clients
Start on your own hands.
If the product lasts well on you, try it on one or two clients. Do not roll it out to everyone at once. Ideally, you should complete:
-a full set
-one or two infills
The second appointment is the real test.
When we do a full set, nails are often thicker. At the infill, we refine and make them thinner. That is where weak systems fail. If it performs well at that stage, you can trust it more confidently.
Study the Products Before You Buy and Before You Use Them
This step is non-negotiable.
Many brands use different names for similar-looking products. One brand’s base coat is not the same as another brand’s base coat. The same applies to soft gels, rubber bases, and BIAB-style products. They may look similar, but they can behave very differently.
Each product usually has a specific purpose:
some bases are designed for thin overlays
some are designed for structure
some are flexible, others are not
The same applies to primers.
One brand may not require a primer at all. Another system may rely on one to perform correctly. Adding or skipping steps because “this is how you have always done it” is how retention issues happen.
Study the system, read the instructions, and follow the brand’s guidelines. You cannot judge a product fairly if you are not using it as intended.
Send your chosen brand email, and ask, they will be happy to help. They might have set up how to sheets for new customers.
Join Facebook group and ask away others opinion.
Track Everything You Use
If you are testing products, you need to know exactly what you applied:
regular base or rubber base
primer or no primer
which system (hard gel, soft gel)
which colour
I strongly recommend keeping client records. Every time my client comes in, I record what products and colours I used.
Clients often ask: “Do you remember what colour I had last year when I went on holiday?”
No. I do not remember what colour I did first thing this morning. But I can check my records.
Client records are not the same as consultation forms. Every client should have a consultation form for insurance purposes, and all data must be stored in line with GDPR regulations.
What to Look For When Choosing a Brand or System
When researching a brand, consider the following:
Is it a professional brand used in salons?
Is it curable in UV or LED? (most are LED now)
Does the brand offer multiple systems and tools?
Is it vegan or cruelty free? Some clients care about this.
Is it HEMA free, or what percentage of HEMA does it contain?
Is it TPO free? That is latest ban on chemicals, came in force in 2025 in Europe, we expect this ban in 2026 in UK. (You can read on it in my other blog post)
How is the product removed?
Do they offer training, and is there a trainer near you?
Do they provide MSDS or SDS documents? These must be available on request or via their website.
Many brands also have Facebook groups where you can share work, ask questions, and learn how others use the system. That support is part of the investment.
The Sustainable Way to Switch Brands
If you are thinking about switching brands, this is my honest advice:
start small
test properly
add colours slowly
buy seasonally
Brand loyalty does not pay your bills. Smart decisions do. If you are not happy, switch your brand.
A Simple Colour Guide by Season
This is what most salons actually need:
January / February - blues, glitters, nudes
Spring - pastel shades
Summer - neons
September - darker shades and nudes
October - greys, black, burgundy
December - reds and glitters
Nothing excessive. Nothing wasted.
So, What am I actually using? Gellifique - have a look on their products
Gellifique is a smaller but powerful brand. Not one of the loud, overhyped ones - and that's exactly why it caught my attention.
I watched them quietly for a few months before switching. No rush, no impulse buying. Then a fellow nail tech started using their products, and that was the push I needed to finally try them.
Once I did, I didn't go back.
I still own a few colours from my previous brand. Every brand has those standout colours that become their signature hits.
But when it comes to performance, consistency, and trust in my kit, Gellifique earned its place. And that is what I use today.
Download this manual
if you need more help with equipment decisions
Maya xx
