Anatomy
Apex
The highest, strongest point of an enhancement — the structural peak that gives a nail its strength and natural-looking arch.
The apex is the area of an acrylic or gel nail where the product is built up thickest, usually about one-third of the way down from the cuticle. It acts like the keystone of an arch, distributing pressure so the nail resists breaking.
A correctly placed apex is what separates a flat, weak enhancement from a strong, beautiful one. Techs check it by looking down the barrel of the nail from the fingertip.
Why it matters
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