Does anyone do their gel manicure at home? Hints and tips?

[ShowingOut]

Once I realise that the remover for gel manicures is just normal nail varnish remover, I started removing mine at home. I can be gentler than a salon as there's no rush.

However, I've not done the actual gel manicure, with UV light etc, at home. Does anyone here do that, and have some advice? What brand to buy - maybe Ciate?

My friend does her own, I don't have any tips but it took her a while to get them perfect. When she started they looked good from a distance but not great up close. Now she can do them so they look amazing. So I guess my tip would be perseverance if they don't look salon perfect the first time.

Cool! If you get the chance, could you ask her what brand varnish and drier she uses? Thanks!

I do my own, top tip would be to take your time. I can't do removal and polish in less than an hour, if I'm making it look halfway decent!

Also, on the second colour coat, don't forget to wipe the brush along the top side of the nail. The gel 'shrinks' under the light and otherwise you end up with the thinnest white line which is hugely aggravating. Makes it last longer too 👍

Great tips! Thanks. I'm not planning to do removal and polish on the same day, so I can do a nail treatment/oil overnight.

What brand(s) do you use?

I do my own. I forget the brand but it was popular on Amazon, with good reviews.

My tip would be to not expect to get them perfect first time, it takes a few goes. And keep your layers of varnish thin.

I use the Mylee UV lamp - get UV not LED - from Amazon and some of their polish included with it as a starter kit. It’s bloody brilliant.

As a PP said, practice makes perfect. Mine were ok to start with but I am a pro now and my nails always look really good even if I do say so myself

Sorry am I stupid? Normal nail polish remover takes off gels?

I use blue sky from amazon. They're great and a good price.
Another tip would be to push cuticles back before you start. I've done mine at home for a while and they are never absolutely perfect but I'm not a particularly patient person.

Don't put your brush right to your cuticle to start. Start about a quarter of the way up and 'push' the varnish down towards your cuticle making sure you don't touch it. Keep a wee, clean brush handy and correct any mistakes before curing.

@Twinkie01 yes but you need to soak them for a good 20 minutes. I tend to pick and peel mine off

@Twinkie01 yes but you need to soak them for a good 20 minutes. I tend to peel mine off

@Twinkie01 yes but you need to soak them for a good 20 minutes. I tend to pick and peel mine off

@Twinkie01 yes but you need to soak them for a good 20 minutes. I tend to pick and peel mine off

@Twinkie01

Sorry am I stupid? Normal nail polish remover takes off gels?

No, it has to be acetone.

I got the Bluesky kit at the beginning of lockdown and have been doing them ever since

I have even managed to repair broken ones with builder gel...so I am very proud of myself. First couple were a bit hefty, but I have got to grips with it now....it doesn't help that it's usually my right hand nails I break but I only have one with a repaired crack in it just now

Thin layers of polish and if you get any on your skin get it off before you put them under the lights ... i did a stamping pattern once and forgot, looked like I had some dreadful black mould on the ends of my fingers ...had to really scrub it with a pumice to get it off!

Lighter colours are more forgiving if you miss an edge or don't get quite as close to the cuticle as your nail tech would

I use the primer, then base, then sometimes the builder gel...my nails have always been flimsy, or sometimes hard gel then polish/colour then top coat.

Do a whole hand from beginning to end then the other, and go from little finger back to thumb then you are not working over what you have just done

I am still fairly slow ...it's a good couple of hours but I listen to podcast/audio books and no one disturbs me and I get the chance to spy on the neighbours while sitting at my desk in the upstairs window

I usually file off the colour and buff to get a good surface then redo primer/base/colour/top coat and then every third or fourth time I soak them right off and add in an extra layer of hard or builder gel

My top tips are:
Lots of alcohol wipes
Use builder gel not base coat
Buff the builder gel after curing under lamp
This gives the gel polish better staying power
Use extra strength top coat
I like cnd products including their duraforce top coat