Want to get nail extensions and wondering whether to work with tips or with forms? Both techniques give you beautiful long nails – but they differ in effort, look and the amount of practice needed. Here you'll find out which method suits you, what you need and how to extend your nails step by step.

Nail extensions: the two classic methods at a glance

With a nail extension, the natural nail is artificially "built" forward. To do this you need a base on which gel or acrylic can be sculpted beyond the tip of the nail:

• Tips: Pre-shaped plastic tips are glued onto the front third of the natural nail with tip glue, cut down, blended and then overlaid with gel or acrylic.
• Forms: A self-adhesive paper or foil form is placed under the free edge of the nail. You then sculpt the extension freely on it with gel or acrylic. After curing, the form is removed.

Which option is better depends mainly on your experience, the shape you want and how much time you plan to spend. If you're still deciding whether to work with gel or acrylic at all, our comparison Acrylic nails or gel nails – which is better? will help.

Tips or forms? The direct comparison

Nail extensions with tips: materials and guide

Tips are the easiest way to long nails. Make sure the tip size matches the nail width exactly – from sidewall to sidewall, not wider.

What you need

• Tips in a suitable shape, e.g. the BNC Tip Box 500 PROFI TIPS American shape, the BNC Classic-Clear Tips with large contact area (suitable for every system) or, as a refill, the BNC Optimal Tips 50-piece refill bag with reinforced sides
• BNC Tip Glue in a brush bottle 7.5 g – with brush cap for precise application
• A file with two grits such as the BNC Zebra File straight 100/180
• A bonding agent, e.g. BNC Primer Ultra Bond (acid-free, air-drying)
• Builder gel or acrylic for the overlay – you'll find a large selection under Builder Gels

How to proceed

1. Prepare the natural nail: push back the cuticle, lightly buff the surface, remove dust.
2. Select the right tip size for each finger and set them out.
3. Put a little tip glue in the contact area, place the tip at an angle and press briefly – without air bubbles.
4. Cut the tip to the desired length and file the edge flat towards the natural nail until no step can be felt.
5. Apply primer and overlay the nail with gel or acrylic, build the apex, then cure or let it dry.
6. File into shape and finish with colour or a top layer.

Read more about BNC Glamour Tips in the article BNC Glamour Tips – perfect fit meets salon quality. The BNC Glamour Tips are available in a 50-piece refill bag.

Nail extensions with forms: materials and guide

With the form technique, the extension is made entirely from gel or acrylic. The result looks particularly natural and light, but requires a good feel for material and shape.

What you need

• Self-adhesive forms, e.g. the BNC Horseshoe Nail Form Roll (for every system, flexible and stable) or the narrow BNC Gold Nail Form Roll 500
• A firm builder gel such as the BNC Professional Builder Gel clear – thick, self-levelling and, according to the manufacturer, ideal for the form technique
• Gel brush, file, primer and cleaner

How to proceed

1. Prepare and prime the natural nail as usual.
2. Peel the form off the roll, bend it to fit and stick it under the free edge so that there is no gap. Align it straight – check from the front and from the side.
3. Apply a thin bonding layer to the natural nail and cure.
4. Place the gel on the form in several small portions, sculpt length and shape and flash-cure.
5. Build the apex and cure completely. BNC Professional Builder Gel clear cures in 120 seconds in a UV or UV/LED lamp and develops a lot of heat while doing so – it's best to work in thin layers.
6. Remove the form, refine the underside and shape with the file, then finish the design.

Want to use gel for strengthening without an extension? Then take a look at our article Builder Gel & BIAB: what is it and how is it applied?

The right colour for your extension

Once the shape is done, it's time for the look. Popular choices are:

• French: With the opaque BNC French Gel White you can draw a clean smile line – find more in our French gels.
• Nude & rosé: A delicate pink like the BNC Make Up Gel light pink is, according to its product description, ideal for visually extending the nail bed and looks especially natural.
• Colour & effects: You'll find a large selection among our colour gels and effect gels.

Common mistakes when extending nails

• Tips that are too wide: They press on the sidewalls and come off more quickly.
• Form with a gap: If gel runs under the natural nail, the underside becomes uneven.
• Missing apex: Without reinforcement at the stress zone, the extension breaks easily.
• Too much length at once: Especially with short natural nails, start moderately.
• Gel layers that are too thick: They can become uncomfortably warm during curing.

If your nail enhancement lifts after a few days, you'll find causes and solutions in Gel nails and shellac lifting. You'll also find everything on the topic in the category Nail extension / repair.

FAQ: Nail extensions with tips or forms

What's easier for beginners – tips or forms?

Tips are usually easier to start with because shape and length are already predefined. The form technique requires more practice in free sculpting.

Do nails sculpted on forms last as well as tip nails?

Yes, as long as the extension is sculpted cleanly and the apex is built correctly. Good nail preparation and a suitable, firm builder gel are key.

Can I also use forms with acrylic?

Yes. According to the product description, the BNC Horseshoe and Gold nail form rolls are suitable for gel and acrylic extensions.

Which gel is suitable for the form technique?

Ideally a thick, firm builder gel that doesn't run – for example BNC Professional Builder Gel clear.

How do I find the right tip size?

The tip should reach exactly from sidewall to sidewall. If it's too wide, trim it slightly at the sides or choose the next smaller size.