Halsey’s Nail Artist Shares Her Secrets

For years, people have created length and shape with acrylic nails (or they invested in a good ole press on). And a healthier version recently hit salons, and quickly gained traction among celebrities like Ariana Grande and nail artists alike: Gel-X extensions.

“It is a fairly new product on the market,” says celebrity nail artist Jolene Brodeur. Brodeur, who has worked with everyone from Busy Phillips to Halsey, has welcomed the new trend. “I love trying new things [especially] when it has to do with nails,” she says.

With polishes and studios shifting toward nontoxic formulas and concern for manicurists’ safety, Brodeur loves the fact that Gel-X, as opposed to acrylic, is odor-free. And also unlike acrylics, they do not cause damage to the nails. The manicurist will not file the natural nail, says Brodeur, and to remove them, all you have to do is soak them off with acetone. With acrylic nails, on the other hand, there is a chance of allergic reaction due to the methacrylate monomers in acrylic that could lead to redness, swelling and nail bed pain, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The application is simple and quick, but how exactly does it work? First, says Brodeur, you have to start with a clean nail. Then, apply a thin layer of gel to the nail and cure with light. Next, apply a thin layer of gel to the Gel-X nail tip, apply the Gel-X extension to the already cured nail tip and cure the whole nail under the light so it holds. The extensions should last “a good two weeks,” says Brodeur, but it all depends on the client, with the appeal in how easy they are to remove.

Brodeur recently did a set of Gel-X extensions for Halsey for the American Music Awards and says the manicure was voted one of the best on the red carpet. “I was happy to see that other people enjoyed it as well,” she says. While Brodeur charges $65 for the Gel-X extensions, she will not perform the technique on children. “I don’t like when I see young girls with any type of artificial nails on that are [semi] permanent,” she says.

With trends changing constantly, Gel-X offers a new opportunity. “I see it as another tool in our toolbox,” she says. “It allows us to have more options to offer our clients.”