Gel nails help

[GunpowderGuido]

My sister wants a beginners set to doing gel nails at home for Chrsitmas (not necessarily a formal set, could be a collection of the items).

She has only ever used 'normal' nail polish before now but it always chips so she wants something she can do at home (getting out is hard for her) but that is longer lasting.

But I am clueless! I am allergic to most polishes so only ever use clear varnish myself. Can anyone give me some pointers as to what she might need, what some good brands are etc?

What would a beginner need to know or have to start doing gel nails herself?

Please help me 😩

Hi @GunpowderGuido . I got myself a set dur8ng lockdown but it’s actually very difficult to do well yourself as the polish layers need to be really thin and even.
However you may have seen some of the stuff in the press earlier this year about gel manicures being very bad for chemical allergies which can stop you having joint replacement ops in the future and there is no fix/workaround. This is much more likely if doing them diy as professional products are much less damaging, so I now wouldn’t do them myself.

may be worth looking at nailkind as their polishes are apparently long lasting or getting the stick on gel polishes, they are quite good.

Thanks @Keepingthingsinteresting - that does, indeed, make things interesting and puts me off getting her a gel set as a present. Maybe I'll try and steer her towards something else!

Get her normal polishes and the Seche Vite professional top coat from Amazon. It makes my nails last forever. It’s magic.

Thanks @Ostryga - I'll take a look but that sounds like a good alternative!

I got a kit like this to start out and do my nails every 10-14 days.

Nail Gel Polish Kit 4 MYGEL Colours Top Base Coat UV Lamp Starter Kit Mylee prep + wipe remover (Kit with Black Lamp) amzn.eu/d/0Trphq3

It's really not difficult, she'll be fine with practice if she takes her time and does 2-3 thin layers.

I love how my nails look, and could never afford to keep them done by a professional.

I’ll second the Mylee kits had my kit a year now I’ve save a fortune and I get lots of compliments on them. People are amazed when I say that I do my own they think I’ve been to a salon.

Just in case you see these kits and are tempted as an alternative to gel:

I wanted to have longer lasting nails but was worried about the UV exposure from using a lamp if I was using it regularly. My nails grow well and are reasonably strong so didn't need false tips or anything.

I got a powder dip kit thing. You paint some stuff on, then dip your nail in coloured powder, repeat, then brush on hardener. Sounded simple.

I did it once, the smell was horrendous, literally made my eyes water, the finish was not good (no doubt would be better with a lot of practice, but it was really, really bad) and then I couldn't get the bloody stuff off! Soaked in acetone with tinfoil for god knows how long to no avail. In the end I had to file it off. My nails were ruined till they grew out.

I've since heard people have the same issue with gel / the removal (not sure which) damaging their natural nails, although not tried it myself. Trying to get the powder (acrylic?) stuff off mine has put me off trying anything but polish!

Mylee gel polish base and top coat doesn’t ruin natural nails mine are soaked off. I have lovely long nails that are not damaged in anyway.

Lots of people have had bad allergic reactions to mylee so just be careful.

I've been looking at Sistaco. Not took the plunge yet. Anyone else tried it?

Ah - thank everyone for their ideas and comments and I'm glad some of you have lovely gel nails

It looks like home gel is possible but I feel a bit worried about being the person who gives her the kit to do it, so I think I might stick to a 'safer' present option.

I got a bluesky kit so recommend them.