I have trained in both acrylic and Calgel and can assure you that the gel is much kinder to your nails. When you use Calgel you put a layer of gel over the natural nail before you apply the extension to the nail. This helps to protect the natural nail whereas when extensions are put on with acrylics the extension is applied to the natural nail. Also when you remove acrylics a lot of damage is done the natural nail whereas gels simply peel off. I would suggest to anyone that has Calgel tips put on that they should grow their nails with the tips and then remove them once the natural nail is long enough. They should then have Calgel applied over their natural nail to give them strength to continue to grow.

With all nail extensions though it is sensible to go shorter if you are not used to them.