Gel polish and BIAB
Colour on your own nail, with no extension. Gel polish or BIAB from €35 in Ljubljana.
If your own nails are strong enough and you do not want extensions, there is gel polish and BIAB. Both go onto your own nail and last far longer than ordinary polish.
A few pieces from the studio. Every photograph is in the gallery.
Gel polish or BIAB — which to choose
Gel polish is a long-wear polish: colour applied to the natural nail and cured under a UV lamp. It neither strengthens nor extends the nail — it gives it colour and shine that last far longer than ordinary polish.
BIAB (builder gel in a bottle) is a thicker material that adds colour and also strengthens the natural nail. It goes on in a thin layer across the whole nail and supports it. If your nails break, bend or split easily, BIAB is what you are looking for.
Gel polish costs €35, BIAB €40. Extras such as French or nail art are charged as on the price list.
Gel polish
Colour on your natural nail
- Length
- your length
- Strength
- Wear
- 2–3 weeks
- Best for
- Healthy nails that want colour
- Price
- from €35
BIAB
Builder gel that strengthens the natural nail
- Length
- your length, slightly longer
- Strength
- Wear
- 3–4 weeks
- Best for
- Soft, brittle or bitten nails
- Price
- from €40
Extensions
A new gel nail, length S to XL
- Length
- S – XL
- Strength
- Wear
- infill every 3–4 weeks
- Best for
- Length and shape nature did not give
- Price
- from €55
What happens
We work the cuticle by the Russian method, shorten and shape the nails, prepare the surface, then apply colour or builder. You choose the shade. Allow about an hour and a half.
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Consultation
Colour and shape; for brittle nails we suggest BIAB.
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Russian manicure
We remove the dead cuticle (never the living eponychium), then shorten, shape and buff the nail.
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Base
For gel polish a thin base, for BIAB a builder gel that strengthens and levels the nail.
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Colour in thin layers
Each layer is cured on its own. Thin, fully cured layers are what makes it last.
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Top coat and oil
A top coat for shine, then cuticle oil.
How long it lasts
Gel polish holds for two to three weeks, BIAB for three to four. The difference is not the colour but that a thicker layer takes everyday wear better. After that the colour does not lift — what shows is the grown-out part at the cuticle, and that is your cue to come in.
TPO-free and HEMA-free gels
Every gel we use is free of TPO, a photoinitiator the EU has not allowed in nail products since 1 September 2025, and free of HEMA, the ingredient that most often causes gel allergy.
HEMA-free lowers the risk of an allergy; it does not remove it. If you have ever had itching, redness or swelling around your nails after gel, tell us before your appointment. How we prevent an allergy is explained under safety and allergies.
When BIAB, and when extensions
BIAB works with your own length — it does not add any. If you want longer nails, the right choice is nail extensions. But if you like your own length and just want your nails to hold and not crack, BIAB suits better, costs less and is kinder to the natural nail. For toenails see pedicure.
The Russian manicure underneath
Before applying anything we work the cuticle by the Russian method: dry, with an e-file, with no soaking and no nippers. The edge is cleaner for it, the colour goes right up to the skin, and the nails look fresh for longer.
What we remove, what we never touch and why the method is safe is on the Russian manicure page.
The visible nail, made of keratin. Once it grows out from under the skin it is no longer living, which is why gel cannot "suffocate" it.
Colour changes and repairs
If you go off the colour before it is due, we change it for €20. Repairing a single nail costs €3 with gel polish and €5 with gel. All prices are on the price list.
Care between appointments
How long it lasts depends partly on you: a drop of oil on the cuticle every day, gloves for cleaning, and nails that are not used as tools. It is all collected under nail care. Why gel does not ruin natural nails is explained under does gel damage your nails?
Booking
Book gel polish or BIAB online or call 064 277 047. The studio is at Dunajska cesta 13 in Ljubljana; how to get here is on the contact page. If this is your first time with us, read how your first visit goes.
Frequently asked questions
How much is gel polish?
Gel polish (gelish) is €35, BIAB €40, a colour change €20. All prices are on the price list.
What is the difference between gel polish and BIAB?
Gel polish is colour on the natural nail; BIAB is a thicker gel that also strengthens the nail and suits thinner or softer nails. Gel polish lasts two to three weeks, BIAB three to four.
What is a Russian manicure?
Dry cuticle work with an e-file instead of soaking and cutting. The edge is clean and the colour lasts longer — with us it is the basis of every service. More on the Russian manicure page.
How long does gel polish last?
Two to three weeks, BIAB three to four, depending on how fast your nails grow and how you care for them. Cuticle oil and gloves for cleaning make it last longer.