Gel nails at home

[onetomanytotake]

I have gel shellac nails at the salon but I want to take off the gel and have varnish on my nails and then use a gel lamp and varnishes at home ever week or so. Can anyone recomment a good lamp and gel varnish. I have seen the one on Ebay which is Mylee and is £79.99, link is here www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07NVWKYPR/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AYGGMWI8Z0G1N&psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Also, recomendations on best nail gels - bluesky seems to get good reviews.

I am a bit ignorant on all of this so advice welcome. Many thanks.

I have not had gel nails for well over 15 years and I don't understand anything you are all talking about now it sounds so different? What are these foil things? I would love to try and do my own!

@bobstersmum I think the foil is to help remove the gel, I’m not sure if they have to be used though as I’ve read some forums say yes they’re needed to remove the gel and others so no they aren’t needed

Bluesky for polishes. Look on the diva world website.

I do my mine at home with the sensational peel off base and blue sky gels. I'm not doing them at the moment though as the peel off base is sticky and I'm concerned it could make properly cleaning hands harder.

Absolutely @eurochick best to have bare nails for good infection control!

I've been using gelish base, colours and top coat.
Are there other makes that are good but a little less expensive?
Also as others have said I use styfile gel polish remover clips, makes removal much easier. Got mine from Tesco.
Am removing mine atm even though I'm not going out.

I use a mixture of the mylee ones that are about 5 or 6 quid each, and opi (couldn’t resist when I saw my fave ordinary polish in gel format)
Have honestly seen no difference between them, nor between the shellac I had done at the salon
I think the main issue issues are probably related to getting the application right, which can take time and practice

ElizabethMainwaring & eurochick - can I ask are you pretty good already about doing your nails ?

I am not great at painting my nails with normal polishes - does the sensational peel off coat give good results only if you are good at nails IYSWIM?

also do yo use their brand LED lamp - I think led is supposedly better than uv ? Did you buy direct from them online

sorry about all the Qs - just trying to occupy some downtime after wfh

I got fed up with removing my gel polish (I also have a Mylee LED lamp and use Mylee or Blue Sky polishes) using foils so I got plastic clips, which were better, then I tried the magic remover which is not a miracle but it is cleaner, easier and quicker than acetone and wraps. I leave it on longer than the time it says because it isn't as fast acting as they claim, but it does enable me to gently scrape off the polish after about 15 mins and I dont have my hands covered in foils or clips.

@emsyj37 please could you link to the magic remover?

@Grabbner this is the one I got www.amazon.co.uk/Remover-Professional-Removes-Soak-Off-Degreaser/dp/B07VGL7J1C/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=magic+remover+gel+polish&sprefix=magic+remover&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1587057262&sr=8-3

It's not a miracle 1 minute removal like they claim, but it is very effective if you leave it on 15 mins or so. You need to buff the shine off the nail first, same as with acetone wraps. Dont get it on your skin or it will hurt. Its like a weird jelly consistency so easy enough to avoid getting it on your skin.

Oh that was quick - thank you very much! :)