Soft Gel Tips vs. ABS Plastic Tips
- Angela Scott
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Is there really a difference — and does it matter?
When it comes to nail enhancements, there’s often confusion around soft gel tips versus ABS plastic tips. While both are popular options, they are not the same, and understanding the differences can help you choose the best product for your services and your clients.
First, let’s clear something up
‼️ Any nail enhancement is technically a form of plastic once cured.
Acrylic, dip powder, hard gel, Polygel, and soft gel all create a durable, plastic-like end result. The real differences come down to how they’re made, how they behave, and how they perform.
So… is there a difference?
💡 Yes — and depending on how you work, it can matter.
Key areas where soft gel tips and ABS plastic tips differ include:
Application
Removal
Wear
Strength
Material matters
ABS Plastic Tips
Made from synthetic materials
Commonly used for traditional nail tips and press-ons
Known for flexibility, but also lower heat resistance
Soft Gel Tips
Made from natural resin
Created in molds using the same type of resin found in soft gel builders
Designed to cure and wear more like a gel enhancement
Heat & curing differences
Through hands-on experience, we’ve found that ABS plastic tips are more prone to shrinking, bending, or deforming due to their lower melting point.
This becomes especially noticeable when:
Applying builder gel or products that generate heat in the lamp
Fully curing enhancements over ABS tips
⚠️ The result?
The nail can come out of the lamp looking different than it did going in.
For press-on services, this means:
Tip sizes may shift
Fit and structure can be affected after curing
Soft gel tips: a more stable option
Because soft gel tips are made from resin designed to work with gel systems:
They maintain their shape better during curing
They offer more consistency in structure and fit
They integrate seamlessly with builder gels and overlays
👑 Fun fact:
LEGO bricks — along with many everyday items — are made from ABS plastic. Durable, yes… but not always ideal under curing lamp heat.
Our honest take
From a professional standpoint, we find the overall quality of soft gel tips to be superior when compared to ABS plastic tips — especially in terms of stability, performance, and consistency.
✨ Now we want to hear from you:
Have you worked with both soft gel tips and ABS plastic tips?
Which do you prefer — and why?
Your experience matters, and the conversation helps us all grow as nail professionals.
Comments