Home gel nails - starter list and advice

[Rollerbird]

I am thinking of getting starting to do my nails at home.
I am fed up with normal polish chipping and wearing and fancy trying home gel.
I've been googling and think I need:
A led lamp at least 36w
(saw this one on amazon? www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08H8TKT47/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A2WH39O7GWJFWQ&psc=1)&tag=mumsnetforu03-21
The actual gel base coat and colour and top coat (recommendations?)
I read that a builder base might be a good idea?
And a strengthening top coat?
Also remover. Cuticle sticks

What else do I need and can you give me loads of handy tips please?

No advice but watching with interest! I'd love DIY gel. Having to not use my hands for 2 hours in case I smudge my nail polish is such a faff. And then it invariably smudges overnight on the sheets, leaving a weird pattern...

I'm looking at the poly gel as it's looks a lot easier to do than painting gel nails

Modelones Poly Nail Extension Gel Kit with LED Nail Lamp, 2PCS Clear Pink Poly Nail Polish Nail Enhancement Builder Gel with Slip Solution All-in-one French Nail Art Design Beginner Starter Kit DIY https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08YDFBH8K/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcJVK16CG77943AG8AHPVX??encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Anyone have any suggestions

I do my own and from experience you absolutely do need some wipes to stop you nails from feeling tacky even when top coat is applied. I have these but there are loads similar…Bluesky 200 Cleanser Wipes for Gel Polish Nail Prep & Sticky Residue Remover, Removes Tacky Layer of UV.

My lamp was from lidl! I use a lot of Bluesky products, base, top coat and colours but just out of convenience as they are on Amazon and they have lots of choice. The one thing I don’t do is file the nail to create the rough surface like they do in salons because this was ruining them and so I started to do my own. It means they only last 10 days but they are not as damaged. And take the base, colour and coat over the end of the nail and under if your nails are long enough.

I bought this four years ago

https://www.amazon.co.uk/15-Second-Convex-Curing-5-Finger-Drying/dp/B0749NNMDK/ref=mpssa113?dchild=1&keywords=mylee+nail+lamp&qid=1629145876&sprefix=mylee+na&sr=8-3

I use any old base coat and no wipe top coat and often blue sky gel polishes. Lint free wipes and acetone remover for prepping. Metal cuticle pusher. Think that's it. You can get little plastic clips for your nails to put acetone soaked cotton pads around your nails to help with the removal too.

Watch videos on how to apply polish if you aren't great already. Don't get it on your cuticles etc else it will peel so fast. Home gels never last like salon ones for me but I'm usually bored of the colour within 10 days anyway.

@AlbertBridge have you tried seche vite? As I do gels I don't use it anymore but that sets so quickly.

I got the Mylee complete starter kit for Xmas from DH. I’ve learned that prepping your nails is so important, cutting cuticles and using the prep liquid.

I’d say start with a single colour and build up thinner coats to begin with. also too coat is much thinner, so only use a small amount!

I bought a Mylee lamp and starter kit from amazon. I use mostly Mylee colours and Mylee base and too coat, some Blue-sky ones. I've just
bought a bottle of Mylee builder gel as my nails have always been very weak and I am hoping it will help them grow a bit and last longer.

Do my own all the time:

PREP WORK/REMOVAL:

• Acetone
• Cotton pads
• Foil (normal Tin foil will do) for soaking off with cotton and acetone above
• very good nail files, I would buy from Sally's - some strong grit ones to remove polish for soaking and some soft normal filing ones
• metal cuticle pusher and cuticle removing gel

POLISH:

• Blue sky base coat gel £5/6
• Blue sky colour gels £5/6 each
• Blue sky top coat no wipe top coat (stops the tackiness) £6/7

• OPTIONAL:
• Glitters and brush, chrome powders, for flair
• Blue sky hard gel to add extra strength and bulk to nail
• cuticle oil as nails always look better when oiled (afterwards!) can use olive oil tbf
• Nail drill file (makes removing it so much easier but maybe hold off till you're more experienced)

UV/LED lamp (combined lights not one or the other) I would spend around 30-50 for a mid range decent one - if you get either UV or LED make sure your gel polishes correspond to the curing light so UV gel polish for UV lamp etc

Definitely get the wipes to remove tackyness. I use this to remove the gels instead of foil: amazon.co.uk/dp/B08NPSV5T6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_2ZGQRJE3KJX1PPSXNAC5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1]]

I think the initial cost can be pricy, but you save money really quickly. My nails haven't been wrecked at all

Jumping on this as I am interested too! Some great tips on here so far!

I use the blue sky no wipe top coat and it's fab as no need to wipe once finished.

I recommend paying special attention to 'capping' the ends of your nails with the polish (so you make sure the end of your nail is covered) so that water doesn't get under and lift it quickly.

I re do mine every 2 weeks, I find it's not as nice when kept on longer.

Always fix any chips/damage ASAP!

Don't prepare/buff your nails and then wait till later to paint- paint them as soon as you've finished the prep.

Don't get it on your cuticles/skin, leave a tiny gap and it'll last longer.

I got the sensational kit from boots a few years ago and still use it now as the lamp is very good. I actually saw a full sensational starter kit for £29.99 in Aldi last week. It comes with all the wipes/cleansers etc so a good way to begin. I got a second lamp set for my birthday which was much more expensive and came with lots of colours but the actual lamp isn't great hence me still using the sensational one.

Sensational should say Sensationail

This is all really helpful!!

@wizzywig your link won't open

@galaxygirl24
Why the combined light?
I read that the led only is quicker to dry?

@ellemenopee I've run out of Seche Vite! Definitely need to buy more if I don't go down the gel route.

Didn't used to have this problem but I started taking collagen tablets a month ago and my nails have gone NUTS! From bitten little stumps to strong, long talons. Amazing.

I used combined because there were occasions where I'd see a gel I loved but it was UV cure only. However you'd be fine on LED cure lamp as a lot are now made LED.

On a side note, I suffer from eczema that clears up in strong summer sun. I wonder if the reason I never get hand eczema is the UV lamp use?

It's so confusing looking at all the lamps available... And the mixed reviews.

Which led lamp @whattodoaboutnothing?

I learned how to do my own last year. My last salon manicure was in September, now I have a great kit and change my polish every ten days.

YouTube is your friend. The back to basics videos from Naio nails are very helpful. Watch lots of videos on prepping and applying polish so you are prepared. Also join the U.K. based nail tech groups on Facebook, Love for Premier Gel is good.

Get the best lamp you can afford. The cheaper ones on Amazon will not cure properly. This one is great. It's exactly the same as the one that The Gel Bottle sell for 3x the price. Its great because it has a low power mode, which stops heat spikes. It's often on offer. I've seen it as low as £29.99

Led Nail Lamp, SUNUV 48W Professional Nail Dryer for Gel Polish Curing Light Machine, with Automatic Sensor and LCD Display for Home and Nail Salon https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XRN87XJ/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcK5S6RES0DVBAD4SV0X55??encoding=UTF8&psc=1

You will need some wipes to remove the tacky inhibition layer Mylee 200pcs Gel Polish Prep & Shine Wipes, UV LED Gel Nails Soak Off Varnish & Sticky Residue Remover, Cleanses Nail Plate Pre-Manicure Pedicure and Removes Sticky Inhibition Layer https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B019NCIZDO/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcD1283ZTA1BRRDP0B8SVF

Get a load of files of varying coarseness. Again you can get these cheaply on Amazon. The Chinese brands are fine / just check reviews. You will also find little tools like cuticle pushers/snips, tweezers, brushes and a bottle of acetone helpful too.

After a few months I bought myself an efile and some decent bits. This makes removing the polish and prepping the nails super fast.

I almost exclusively use Premier Gel polishes. They're good quality and the range of colours is brilliant. The facebook group is great for seeing the colours on real hands. Only buy Premier Gel on the weekend! They do weekend sales with 40 or 50% off. I do a layer of builder gel, two colour coats and a topcoat. I've also brought a loaf of foils and nail art supplies which I experiment with occasionally.

Thank you!

I bought one of the kits linked upthread and loved it for ages

BUT huge warning alert - you have to be really careful not to get the varnish on your fingers, I’ve made myself allergic to gels now from being a bit sloppy. Make sure you keep the varnish on your nails only and don’t let it cure on the edges of your fingers too

Buy a kit off ebay, lamp and a selection of polishes, then have a practice.
Buy a bottle of nail prep to use before and after to get the sticky off the polish and buy some lint free nail wipes to use with the nail prep.
Don't file the polish off when you want to re do your nails, soak it off using acetone on cotton pads and wrap each nail in tin foil then push the gel off each nail, Google the tool you need, looks like a little shovel.
Then buff your nails and use the nail prep before applying gel polish.
Always use a top coat and base coat.
I'm as cack handed as hell and I do my own nails.
You can also buy nail art from ebay, sting like gems, flowers, hearts etc you put these on top of your final coat of colour then put top coat on to secure them, I find 2 thin coats of top coat is better than one