Gel nails at home...

[Dogdo]

Hi,

I really want to start doing my own gel manicures at home. I used to have my nails done regularly and I loved it, but I can't justify the cost any more.

My natural nails are pretty good and strong, and will grow pretty long by themselves. But I miss the colour and the more polished look you get with a lovely manicure. I have yet to find regular polish that wears for more than a few hours without chipping, but my gel manicures used to last really well.

I've been eyeing up the Beetles starter sets (with lamp) on Amazon and they seem to get good reviews and would have everything I need in to get an idea of whether I can do them myself at home, without spending a fortune. I was planning to add on a bottle of builder gel for extra strength.

Having done some research I know prep is vital, not to get the gel on my skin, seal the free-edge, nails are jewels not tools... etc... is there anything else I need to consider? I had to remove a couple of my professional gel manicures in the past, due to lockdown, so I know how removal works.

I won't be doing anything fancy like extensions, just painting my own nails. I'm relatively competent with normal polish, although I know gel might be a bit of a learning curve.

I keep havering because I worry it's going to be too difficult and I'll end up wasting money. I tried dip powders once and I found it really tricky. Nails were thick and lumpy. And I didn't enjoy doing it so didn't really persevere (and the smell was horrible!). I'm hoping gel polish will be a bit easier to master than dip powder...... but I don't want to waste another £35-40.

Any home-gel folks can offer some guidance or words of wisdom?

Thanks!

Well I got over excited and ordered the Beetles set (the one with the colours I wanted was reduced). Fingers crossed I don't get lots of comments now telling me they're rubbish! 😂

I don't know about the beetles set but I got a Mylee starter set a few years ago and use all sorts of polish brands with the lamp now. It's just as easy as painting your nails normally. I find more expensive polishes better to work with in terms of even coverage and OPI are my favourite but so far so good for me

You're supposed use the same brand polish as light because different gels have different curing times and incorrectly cured nails can start allergies

I’m not sure I could take BIAB off at home. I remove ordinary gel but the BIAB is a different beast altogether.

That's a good point. I don't think I've removed builder gel at home before.

I didn't get the builder in the end anyway, might try it at some point but didn't see the point in spending money on additional stuff when I have no idea if I'll actually use it.

I soak off builder gel as usual with acetone.

Anyway no idea about beetles gel but use mylee and bluesky. As a pp said it's like painting your nails normally. Prep is key and I find a primer keeps my gel on longer along with wiping with acetone beforehand.

You can buy a tool to remove builder gel - it's like an electric sander: https://www.amazon.co.uk/DiiDa-Electric-Manicure-Acrylic-Pedicure/dp/B084QHZ4BT/ref=asc_df_B084QHZ4BT/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=394280372605&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9061717313684117997&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006933&hvtargid=pla-883778803429&psc=1&mcid=bed50b0605113da88824103b5f025d98&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=79271777942&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=394280372605&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9061717313684117997&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006933&hvtargid=pla-883778803429

If you arent confident with using gels, dont be rushing to buy an e - file

After a horrific start to gels - yes I peeled them, yes I scraped them off, I now treat my nails with kid gloves ( and yes I do have an e-file now )

BIAB can also be soaked off, but Id personally advise anyone new to home gels to fine tune removal of gels first

If you are going to damage your nails its going to be during removal , its as simple as that.

Before using home gel kits, do spend some time learning how to look after your nails and get them gel fit. If your nails are weak, flaking , split, gels will just make all that worse

I use two different companies. Sistaco , which is mineral powders put on a gel base coat and topped with a gel top coat, And Niao which is a professional brand sold to the public

I have bought cheaper brands from Amazon but tbh its a false ecommany

Do use the lamp thats advised for whatever brand you are going for. I actually have maybe 5 lamps here and they could all be the same ( what do I know, Im a home user) but it really is best practice

I got the Mylee gel polish starter kit for Christmas.

So far I've been quite impressed with it. I manage to get about 2 weeks wear out of gels I do at home on my fingers and about 4 to 6 weeks on my toes.. I've bought some Halo polishes (that's what they used at the salon I used to go to) and I find they are a much better consistency than the Mylee ones which seem quite thick.

I always allow myself plenty of time to do them so I can spend time on prep and being careful with application.

I make sure I use plenty of cuticle oil (CcND Solar oil) each night to keep them healthy and also take regular breaks from having gel to help my nails recover.

Thank you for the advice all.

Definitely don't think I am ready for an e-file 🤣. But will bear in mind if this is something I do keep up regularly going forward.

My kit arrived and I did my nails for the first time. Pleased on the whole!

The kit seems like really good value for money and all the bits seem pretty good quality. Nice file, buffer, nail trimmer, cuticle snipper, and a few extra bits like toenail separators, a dusting brush, and an extension handle for the gel bottle lids. I love the lamp, very easy to use and big enough not to risk bumping nails on the way in. Also came with a bottle of cuticle oil.

I used some cuticle remover and was amazed how much cuticle there was! It just kept coming, even though my nails don't look like they have much cuticle at all.

After filing, buffing and cuticle prep, I used an IPA wipe to prep/dehydrate.

Base coat was nice and easy to apply.
The polish itself is on the thicker side (expected) and was a bit trickier. I also wasn't overly keen on the brushes. They are square-ended and quite soft bristles. I generally prefer a tapered brush shape as I have very round nail beds. The shape of the brush coupled with my nail shape, and the fact I didn't want to get any gel on my skin, meant that on some of my nails I didn't really get as close to the cuticle as I would have liked. I might look at getting some different brushes to use with different shapes but will see how well this manicure wears before rushing to make any further purchases.

I used a pale pink and I did find it a bit patchy. But I think maybe a better brush and just more practice will help. Thankfully the kit had a lovely shimmery fine glitter polish. So I did two coats of the pink, and final coat of the glitter (I find glitter on nails hides a multitude of sins, I do this with regular polish too) and I am pleased with the end result.

Top coat nice and easy (I went with glossy but kit also has a matte one, which is a nice touch). Tricky getting the free edge due to not wanting to get gel on my skin, but think I managed it.

IPA wipe again at the end to remove sticky residue, although they didn't feel particularly sticky. Then lots of cuticle oil and hand cream.

On the whole, it was easier than I had hoped, but I definitely need a bit more practice. But it didn't take too long, so I would be happy to invest that time approx every two weeks (assuming it lasts that long!!). The finished result feels nice, smooth, doesn't seem too thick. I was careful to do thin coats but also I am never sure how thin it really needs to be and because it seemed a bit patchy/uneven I found myself wanting to put a bit more on.

Fingers crossed it wears well as I will be a happy woman if so! Infinitely easier than dip powder. I am definitely not eyeing up other colours already...

Photo of my efforts attached. ☺️

That photo of my hand is hugely unflattering!! 😂

If your gel polish is thick, warm it. I warm mine by sticking it under my arm pits or behind the knees ( I sit crossed legged) but a wee dish of hot water works well

With gels, the thinner the better

Great tip, thank you I didn't think of that! 🙂