Gel polish what am I doing wrong?

[JaceLancs]

I bought a 36w uv lamp recommended on Amazon and cnd shellac base coat, top coat and colour
I have tried putting as thin a layer of base coat on and it still stays tacky
I wondered if it would improve so put colour on them top coat and still wouldn't set
I tried 2 minute timer and then redid so 4 minutes each layer
Is led better? Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

[Kummerspeck]

I bought a kit so you first wipe the nails with a cleanser that also removes moisture and grease. Then there is a tacky first layer that makes the others stick to the nail, then the base coat, cure for 30 secs, first coat of colour, cure for 1 min, second coat of colour, cure for 1 minute, clear topcoat, cure for 30 secs then wipe again with the cleanser.

Any coat feels tacky after curing, that's what allows the next coat to stick. It is only when you wipe over the last coat with the cleanser to take that off that you get the hard shiny finished article.

Hope that makes sense

[DuchessofHC]

Are you using CND Disperse at the end? You need to do this to remove the tackiness and make your nails shiny.

[CurlsLDN]

Yep what kummer said, all the layers are supposed to stay tacky until you wipe alcohol over the top coat after the final cure (I use vodka or gin!)

[notapizzaeater]

It needs the "tack" to stick. Till the end when you wipe it if with the cleanser stuff.

Not thought of using vodka (have a really cheap bottle brought abroad that you could strip paint with it)

[JaceLancs]

Thank you - I've just ordered some alcohol wipes - which will hopefully do the same job as the disperse or gin!