Anyone do their own gel nails/Shellac or similar?

[QueenofallIsee]

So, I love having nice nails and mine are brittle and crap unless I have gel polish on. I have a Shellac remove and reapply every 2/3 weeks and have been increasingly wondering if it is worth investing in the lamp etc? If so, is it CND/Shellac or nothing? Anyone do their own and find it easy etc?

The stuff you use to wipe the tacky layer off at the end isn't acetone, it's a very similar alcohol based liquid though. I have a mylee kit and it's called "prep and polish"

The "daylight cure" varnishes are awful - they still take ages to "cure" and don't have the shine or longevity.

This kit has everything you need other than the actual gel colours. I get them from www.blueskynails.com (SO MANY COLOURS!)

I also buy loose glitters from www.glitzyglitters.co.uk if you're into a bit of sparkle

www.amazon.co.uk/Bluesky-Starter-Quality-Manicure-Pedicure/dp/B01AZOHUG2/ref=sr_1_13_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1502525057&sr=8-13&keywords=Gel+nails+kit+bluesky&tag=mumsnetforum-21

Sorry forgot link to kit.

I have a UV LED lamp, cost about £20 and its great, with LED i cure for 1 min per coat, use cheap polish from ebay/Amazon such as Elite99 and Ukiyo, both fine, glossy finish and no lumps, cant comment on durability as I remove after a week as i get bored

Elite99 with matt top coat, practice makes perfect

I use elite99 and bluesky. Elite99 have started doing 1 step gel, no Base or top coat needed. I have found that I need an extra coat though.
Bonus tip. I use a small paint brush dipped in acetone to go round the edges to tidy up before I cure.

Yep you buy a pack of Mylee prep and polish wipes - it is alcohol not acetone

I also do that dontpokethebear, it's a really handy tip!

I have a Sensationail set that I got on offer from Boots. Cost me abut £35 instead of £20 for each set of toenails.
I really recommend it.

Long time nail fanatic here. I love doing them so much that some years ago, I trained professionally and now am qualified to buy the real deal (NOT fakes) from legitimate suppliers. There are LOTS of fake products on sale.
Look up the Shellac training with Sweet Squared. Two day course, plus home study, for the same approximate cost as buying ALL the kit and supplies you will need. When you arrive for the course, you are given everything, LED lamp, gels, tools, prep stuff etc etc. You won't regret it.

PS I dont work for them!!!!

Last week the sensationail red starter kit with the lamp etc was reduced to 12.50 in asda so I bit the bullet... will never look back. I didnt like the bright red so bought a few different colours in boots, fav so far is the mauve - I have a long way to go until I get good at them but love the shine, how quick they cure and the longevity!

Gels WRECK my nails but there are loads of amazing gel style polishes out there. Seche vite top coat is incredible, dries so fast, glossy and lasts for a week. you can use it on top of regular polish. essie do a good 2 coat 'gel' system too that'd doesn't require UV or wreck your nails.

Missclark thank you.

I wonder if I can use vodka instead until I can get some alcohol wipes? 😂

Am keen to give this a go now!

This was only the 2nd time I did mine and I usually make a huge mess with normal polish when I use bright or dark colours. I'll never go back to normal polish now... the bonus for me is how much stronger it makes my nails when it's on; I've not had one break in the 6 weeks or so that I've been using gel which is unheard of for me usually!

thats it, ordering the kit!

I got a kit for xmas and finally got it out about a month ago - and I love it! First time I did them was a bit rubbish (I'm not the best nail painter) but getting better every time!

Several things though....

1. Do your thumbs last, mine didn't cure properly due to the angle in the lamp.
2. The layers are supposed to be tacky after each cure.
3. The first coat of colour is pants - coat 2 is way better 😁.
4. Removing them takes ages, but it is worth the wait as I'd had gel nails done before where they don't wait long enough then have to sand the rest off - that's what damages my nails.
5. Make sure you buy polish that works under the type of lamp you use - I'm not actually sure if this is true but it was mentioned in an Amazon review/question type thing. I think most will be ok under either UV or LED, but double check.
6. Don't let your 7yr old DS choose your colours for you (I'm just sayin.... 😝)

Yes, ditto all the above. I use bluesky, elite99 and kiarasky. All are fab. The most vulnerable/rubbish are strong pinks. I have no clue why.

I buy from Amazon so I can see other users photos of the finished polish.

Some do peel easier than others, but its trial and error. Most are 1-2 weeks wear.

Maybe a thread should be set up with the polishes and numbers/names/photos for comparison, I know I'd appreciate it!

That is a wicked idea Alabasterangel6 after all, the perfume experts and beauty junkies have their own threads!

UV lamps on 'deal of the day' on amazon right now..its fate

Has anyone else had shrinkage with Gellish brand? It's put me right off buying it again, it wasn't cheap either. It literally shrunk before my very eyes, was quite bizarre! I hugely rate NYK1 polishes though... I have a fabulous red called Paint The Town which is gorgeous and went on like a dream!

has anyone used the sensationail nail shields? Love the idea of being able to peel off the polish when bored

oncewasawarrior said up thread that the nail shields were immense
I have not heard of them before

I have the Sensationail kit and highly recommend it, although some colours seem longer lasting than others. Mine are chip free after over two week's although the there is obviously regrowth.

You have to make sure you paint the top of the nail with each coat, and I find the polish sometimes 'slides' off a bit as I paint each nail, so I have to redo the tops before sticking my hands under the lamp (if that makes sense). It's easier to make it look perfect than normal polish as it doesn't dry till you cure it, and I find normal polish really hard to apply now!

weeks not week's!