DIY gel nails, any one?

[OnlyWantsOne]

I'd like mine done but can't get an apt at either local salon before Christmas.

Amazon sell the lamps. I can paint my nails and shape them myself, so any tricks? Recommendations of products?

I've got a UV lamp and use a combination of Gellux and Blue Sky products. If you have a Sally's or similar near you then they should sell everything you need. You'll need a good file, some lint free wipes, some prep liquid, base/top coat and obviously a colour. It takes a couple of goes to get the hang of it yourself, the trick is going over the edge of your nails to seal it all and make sure it doesn't chip.

Used to do it myself and get shellac off ebay.

CND have lots of video tutorial son youtube that run through the process.

Cuticle pushing and squeaking the nail are pretty key.

Toothpick to run round the cuticle after painting if I'd fudged it helped.

Take as lot longer to do it yourself because you can't do one hand whilst the other one is in the lamp IYSWIM. So you're as well doing all one hand, then the other rather than alternating. Doing one hand at a time helps a bit with doing the hand you write with actually, as by the second coat you've got the hang of it a bit more.

Oh, remember to seal the free edge and don't put it on too thick.