Best Gel Nail System

[GlitterBelle]

I love Gel nails, but haven't taken the plunge into buying a whole system as I have so many standard nail varnishes.

I know you can use them with gel top coats, but they don't last as long as gel varnishes.

Someone recently told me about Geltox by Ciate which you use with standard nail varnishes and it makes it last longer. My concerns are:

1. You have to wait half an hour after applying the nail varnish to cure it. I can't keep still that long for medical reasons, and normally use a drying spray which helps a lot. I'm not sure if I could use the drying spray, and why there's such a long wait!

2. The top coat costs £30 to replace.

3. I'm not sure if you can use standard gels with it? I would like to be able to mix and match.

Should I buy a normal gel set and just use standard nail varnishes with it? Does anyone know how long they'd last before chipping with a gel top coat?

Also recommendations of the UV lamp etc appreciated.

Thanks!

I'm not sure I can answer your questions, but I have just bought the SensatioNail gel nail polish kit, which you use at home and has a UV lamp. I've had it for two weeks and am very happy with it. It's protected my nails so that they can grow. Plus, it's extraordinarily resistant to chipping. I am extremely hard on my nails, and this is the only thing that has stopped my nails breaking and my nails chipping. It's quite an outlay £££ wise (look at the Boots website for pricing), but unless something goes very wrong, I'll use it from now on instead of regular polish.

The drying time under the UV lamp takes 30 seconds for the base and top coats and 60 seconds for the coloured coats. I haven't tried using normal coloured polish with it (called a "gellie" sandwich), but I understand that it's fine to, with any of the gel brands, just as long as the normal polish is perfectly dry, first.

I use the same one as Belinda. Over time the gels will make your nails deteriorate but it is a great kit and as good as any gel kit.

I also have the same as the 2 previous posters and would recommend.

IfYourHappy - why does the gel make your nails deteriorate, do you think? It's the only thing that I am worried about.

Sorry, SensatioNails uses LED not UV.

I'm not sure why Belinda. Google might tell us but I haven't looked . Chemicals in the varnish, acetone removal, the process of getting the stuff off?

The kit is great.

But I'd say that you will need to use it one or two times and then rest the nails for a while before trying again.

According to Google, it's because people:

1. overly buff / sand the nail before applying (I don't);
2. use pure acetone (I don't - the SensatioNail acetone remover has vitamins and eucalyptus oil added to counter some of the effects of the acetone);
3. soak their fingers in acetone (I don't - I wrap them in foil w acetone soaked pads);
4. vigorously scrape their nails to remove the gel (I don't); and/or
5. peel or sand the gel off (I don't).

Also, there is mention of the dangers of a UV lamp, which don't apply as SensatioNail uses a LED lamp.

I'm hoping that since I don't do any of the above, it will be OK. I guess I was just wondering if there is some other reason that I don't know about. I've read mention of fungal infections [jeepers], but I don't know how they occur or if that's a common problem.

Can you use any gel varnishes with the SensatioNails or because it's LED does it have to be special polishes?

I'm pretty sure any gel will cure in an led lamp. However some polishes are led cure only.

I managed to grab a sensationail kit for 11 pound. My bargain of the year.

I do use the cheapy gel polishes from ebay though. They last around 2 weeks on me and they are only a fiver a bottle.

Youtube has lots of good tutorials if you fancy a look.

Belinda, I don't do any of the above and my gel polish hasn't damaged my nails at all.
I only use the primer on the tips, not over the whole nail, and I don't buff.
My nails have never been stronger. Fungal nail infections are common with the acrylic fake gel nails that are stuck on and only done in a salon.

I use baby doll pink colour and add my own polish after I've cured them all.

I take the nail polish off with the non acetone polish, leaving the gel polish underneath.

The gel polish easily peels off after a week to 10 days I find, following a light buff and a wrap with acetone polish remover, especially as I don't buff or over use the primer. I put vaseline around the cuticles and fingers before I wrap them.

I love my SensatioNail Kit and it was well worth the outlay- especially as I got mine on a half price deal in Boots!

Also if you do find the acetone drying just pop some cuticle oil on. Counteracts it

Excellent, thanks Venus and passthewine. It's details like those that make the difference IMO.

Another vote for Sensationail - Boots will often do half price deals on the kit meaning you get it for £45 or thereabouts. I'm still using the primer etc that comes with it 14 months on.

If you know anyone going to the States, ask them to pick up some gel colours - over here the bottles of Sensational are £15 but over there, they are $12-15 so a bit of a saving.

I find the cheapie polishes on ebay etc aren't that great but that just could be me.

At the moment I'm wearing a Sally Hansen gel polish (from the US) and its lasting well with me!

I find my nails grow really well when I have a gel polish done.

Another vote for Sensationail - been using for nearly 3 years now and I swear by it, it is so easy.

Boots has got the offer greendiary mentions on at the moment too! (45 for the kit and polishes on 3for2)

No damage to nails as long as you remove properly - my nails are better than ever.

If you are worried, there has been some posts on their fb page recently about special shields coming out so you could look at those.

Thanks, have ordered the Sensationail from Boots.

Can someone confirm it will also dry Gelish and other brands please?

Never had my nails done but have just ordered the cialte geltox kit off their website, It should have been £99 but martin lewis had a code so they give you it for £30 if anyones interested, Ordered it for my mum for mothers day so hope she likes it

Yes it will dry gelish :)

I'm awaiting a Ciate MSE bargain too. I had my eye on it anyway as I like that you can use your own nail polish. Hope it lives up to expectations.

Great, thanks! Hoping my order arrives for Sunday as well. :)