We can all agree that there’s just something so satisfying about perfectly painted, chip-free nails. While that typically implies getting a gel manicure to achieve the long-lasting wear we crave, there are plenty of gel nail alternatives to choose from—most of which will be a lot less damaging than our beloved gel.
To help you score a manicure that lasts for up to two weeks without any signs of wear and tear, we’ve rounded up gel nail alternatives you can pull off at home or in the salon, with tips from the experts.
![Red dip manicure.](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/u5G_KAOSIG2Wq_SApzIjUXCWock=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/dip-ef77e9769ce74892a09a7689688f72b7.jpg)
Gel Nail Extensions
![Rainbow ombre gel extension manicure.](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/HFi_h7lAUcJp0VELHaBstsXJSvo=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/extension-8802b96db0064893a93e337f959c6160.jpg)
Press-On Nails
![Blue and white press-on nails.](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/HKaihmtaCSMoRP9iUuIuvpJmVzk=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/kissnails-cae4a81e52094337b07cb4a32bfe124c.jpg)
Nail Wraps and Stickers
![Woman wearing glitter nail wraps](https://www.byrdie.com/thmb/srV-lVHXG-qxXVrrUKOklhNrttQ=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/sticker-5338ad9be6414fd69c3cf5daa9f33b99.jpg)