BIAB nails in Vienna: how they differ from Shellac and gel on short natural nails

Anni Nails · 8 November 2026 · 7 min read

Short, round nails with a soft pink base and a narrow, milky white French on one hand resting on a white armrest, work by Anni Nails

BIAB and Shellac are brand names: BIAB is a builder gel made by The GelBottle and Shellac is a gel polish made by CND, and because both harden under a lamp, both count as gels. When it comes to BIAB vs gel polish, the difference lies in the material, because a builder gel lays a firmer layer over the natural nail that can be refilled at your next appointment, while a gel polish such as Shellac goes on in thin layers and mainly adds colour. So if you are looking for BIAB nails in Vienna, the first question is whether your short nails need a reinforcing layer or whether a thin layer of colour, or even classic nail polish, is enough for you.

What BIAB is

BIAB stands for "Builder In A Bottle", and according to The GelBottle only its own product is BIAB (The GelBottle on BIAB). Builder gels from other brands go by other names, so if a salon offers BIAB nails, feel free to ask which gel they use.

The manufacturer describes BIAB as a self-levelling builder gel that is applied with a brush, and recommends the original BIAB mainly as a layer over short to medium-length natural nails (overview of the BIAB formulas). It is said to be firm but still flexible, so that under pressure the nail bends rather than breaks. According to the manufacturer, most versions are soaked off in acetone, while the harder "Hard BIAB" is filed off with a drill.

The GelBottle also says that the natural nail can grow strong and healthy under BIAB, but that is a manufacturer's claim about its own product. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the professional association of dermatologists in the US, warns on its page about artificial nails, which also covers gel nails, that covering brittle, soft or damaged nails can make existing problems worse (the AAD on artificial nails).

What Shellac is

CND describes Shellac as a gel polish that is as easy to apply as nail polish, lasts a long time and hardly chips. In CND's instructions, the base coat, two colour coats and the top coat are each applied thinly, and every coat is hardened under the lamp (CND: applying and removing Shellac, PDF).

For removal, CND describes foil wraps, in which a cotton pad is soaked in an acetone-based remover and wrapped around the fingertip with foil. Depending on the top coat, the wrap stays on the nail for five to 15 minutes.

What "gel" can mean

In a nail salon, gel is an umbrella term for materials that harden under light, and according to the AAD gel nails need UV light for this, with LED lamps giving off less UV radiation than UV lamps and curing faster. Some gels can be soaked off in acetone while others have to be filed off, and the AAD advises asking for a gel that can be soaked off. According to the AAD, gel nails are more flexible than acrylic nails but can cause nails to become brittle, peel and crack.

BIAB vs gel polish such as Shellac: thickness, refills and removal

A gel polish remains a thin layer of colour, whereas a builder gel goes on thickly enough to even out the nail and make the surface firmer. Your nail keeps growing under both, and a bare strip gradually appears at the base of the nail.

At that point Shellac is usually taken off completely and applied again. A builder gel, on the other hand, can be refilled, which means the old gel is filed thinner and the regrown area is levelled with new gel, as the article Natural nail overlay with gel describes in more detail. For artificial nails the AAD mentions touch-ups every two to three weeks, but also warns that frequent touch-ups can seriously damage the natural nail.

Whatever the gel, removal should be done without force and without filing into the natural nail. If the polish starts to lift, the AAD advises against picking at it or prising it off with other nails or tools and recommends making an appointment to have it taken off at the salon (the AAD on gel manicures). How to look after your natural nail afterwards is explained in the article Gel nail removal.

What suits short natural nails

A gel polish is enough if your nails are strong on their own and you want a colour that lasts longer than nail polish. A builder gel is the better fit if your nails are uneven, you would like a smooth gel colour and regular refill appointments suit you. If your nails are already brittle, soft or damaged, the AAD warning mentioned above argues against covering them with gel.

If you keep having problems with your nails or are allergic to acetone, the AAD advises considering classic nail polish instead of gel polish, because removing gel polish requires acetone. It also recommends keeping gel manicures mostly for special occasions and going without any polish for one to two weeks or longer in between, so that your nails have time to recover. You can read more about this break in the article A break from gel nails.

UV light and allergies

According to the AAD, repeated gel manicures can increase the risk of skin cancer and premature skin ageing on the hands. It therefore advises applying a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to your hands before a gel manicure, or wearing dark, opaque gloves with the fingertips cut off.

According to Cleveland Clinic, gel polish contains acrylates and methacrylates, which can trigger allergic reactions such as a skin rash (Cleveland Clinic on gel polish). The GelBottle also writes that some people can develop a skin sensitivity to HEMA, a common ingredient in nail products, and therefore offers a HEMA-free BIAB. If your skin has reacted to gel before, talk to a dermatologist before you have gel applied again.

When to see a dermatologist

Do not have new gel applied, and see a dermatologist instead, if

a nail changes colour or lifts off the nail bed,
the skin around the nail turns red, swells, hurts or has pus in it,
your skin itches or develops a rash after a gel manicure.

According to the AAD, changes to the nail, swelling or pain can be signs of a serious nail problem (the AAD's tips for healthy nails).

What Anni Nails in Meidling offers for short natural nails

Anni Nails does not offer any treatment under the name BIAB or Shellac. The studio's gel service is called "Gel Refill + Manicure (short & medium length)", takes about two and a half hours and costs €60, and it includes a manicure, the gel refill, levelling and reinforcing the natural nail, and a single gel colour or a French. Anastasia works only with short nails (size S) for this and does not do extensions.

If you would rather not wear gel, there is "Nail Polish", classic nail polish in the colour of your choice, for €10 and about 20 minutes, as well as "Manicure (File / Classic)", a manicure with files and nail care, for €40 and about 50 minutes.

For taking gel off there is "Gel Removal", which takes about an hour and costs €25. About 70 per cent of the material is taken down to the base layer with a drill and the remaining 30 per cent is softened and removed carefully so that the natural nail is not damaged. Finally a nourishing serum treatment goes on the nails, and a manicure is not included.

Every treatment includes a personal consultation on caring for your nails and the skin on your hands, and please mention before the treatment if you have allergies, a skin condition or health concerns. If you are wearing BIAB or another gel from a different salon and are not sure which service suits you, you can ask beforehand by phone or WhatsApp on +43 677 61407186.

The studio is at Schönbrunner Straße 253, 1120 Vienna, and is open Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 8 pm, and on Sundays on request. You will find all treatments with prices under Services and prices, and a free slot under Book an appointment.