BIAB Nails in London — Builder Gel Manicures at Selfish
BIAB — Builder in a Bottle — is a flexible builder gel applied over your own nail. It is not an extension and it does not sit on a tip. It adds a thin, strong layer that stops the natural nail bending, splitting and peeling, which is usually the only reason your nails never get past the fingertip. It is the most requested treatment at both of our London salons.
Who BIAB is for
If your nails snap the moment they grow past the finger, flake at the free edge, or have thinned after years of acrylic, BIAB is the fix. It is also the treatment to book if you want a natural-looking manicure that survives four weeks of typing, the gym and washing up without lifting at the cuticle.
How a BIAB appointment works
E-file cuticle preparation
Every BIAB set starts with dry, e-file cuticle work — the Ukrainian technique our artists are trained in. Skin is cleaned back rather than cut, so the builder gel can be applied flush to the base of the nail. That flush application is what stops lifting.
Read about our Ukrainian manicure technique
Building the apex
The builder gel is floated on and cured with a slight apex over the stress point. Get this right and the nail stops flexing; get it wrong and it snaps in a week. It is the part of the treatment that separates a good BIAB from a cheap one.
Colour, or no colour
BIAB can be worn on its own in a natural or nude shade, or topped with gel colour from our wall of more than 600 shades. Nail art can be added to any set.
BIAB prices in London
- New set, nail plates under 2cm — from £56
- New set long, nail plates 2cm and over — from £61
- Infills, up to five weeks' growth — from £60
- Infills long — from £70
- Gel colour on top — from £13
- Heated mask with massage — £18
- BIAB removal followed by another treatment — from £17
- BIAB removal only — £40
BIAB infills, not new sets
Booked every four to five weeks, infills keep the same set growing rather than starting from scratch. The grown-out area is refilled, the apex is rebalanced and the length is kept where you want it. Clients who stay on a four-week cycle almost never need a full new set.
Where to book BIAB in London
Both salons offer the full BIAB menu, seven days a week, with late appointments until 8pm on weekdays.
BIAB at our Shoreditch salon · BIAB at our Spitalfields salon
BIAB FAQs
Does BIAB damage your nails?
No, when it is applied and removed properly. The damage people associate with gel comes from peeling it off or filing too aggressively on removal. Book removal with us and the natural nail stays intact.
How long does BIAB last?
Four to five weeks between infills for most clients. Some go longer, but the further the apex grows away from the stress point, the higher the risk of a break.
Can I get BIAB over bitten or very short nails?
Yes. BIAB is one of the better treatments for nail biters because it gives an immediate strong surface with nothing to pick at.
Is BIAB the same as acrylic?
No. Acrylic is a hard, rigid product usually used to build length. BIAB is a soft gel that flexes with your natural nail and is designed to protect it.
Should I have BIAB or extensions?
BIAB works with the length your own nails can reach. If you want length beyond that, book extensions instead.