DIY Gel nails

[FortyFacedFuckers]

I’m really trying to reduce my expenses and my gel nail appointments are adding up. Does anyone do their own gel nails at home and have product recommendations or helpful tips?

I don’t know how to do these but worked with someone who did this.

I use Manucurist Green Flash and I'm finding it works really well.

No, I would never risk it. I did switch to normal gel rather than builder for a while which was cheaper but doesn't last as long.

@GreaterCassowary oh this looks interesting, thank you!

I have tried loads and the best ones for me are the holy gels wrap uv ones

Extensions or just gel polish?

I do both at home and have for years.

Ive done my own gel nails every single fortnight for the last 12 months. They always look really glamorous and smart and I feel so put together. I bought a Mylee kit or about £120, which came with the UV machine, and a selection of polishes, remover, pads, tools and so on.
The polish would last 3 weeks, but my nails grow quickly, so after 2 weeks there's a lot of regrowth and i need to redo them. You can also put your feet in the machine, so I do my own pedi's too, and always have matching fingers and toes.
Ive never had my nails done by anyone else, so dont have a higher standard to compare it to, for context.

@Losingitalloveragain thank you I will look in to this

@theemmadilemma just gels

@OneWorthyLemonCat I actually had this kit years ago and never used it, really wish I had kept it it now!

I would second the Mylee kit. I love it and my nails look amazing! It's easy to do and obviously gets better with practice.

Looked at Manicurist too but the reviews were very mixed.

Oh then if you can paint your nails you can do gel. It's really no different.

Key is a reasonable quality lamp: https://www.amazon.co.uk/QUEMISS-Professional-Polish-Automatic-Display/dp/B0G6FRV9DT/ref=sr_1_5_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QNwyyFEg7GD2OHT_TsfH7W-HupA7fT7SzmDigT-jfR_jrpPKoR92Ya2w472MGycV1lfA2ePFEc4vxTSXzrdfbqmP8a7OBrDbAuKxbXOwY3aSHWEw0B6IUmhETcKQQSybhPCQLyvhFynjs_QXR7zqUsFQ9jZvfsLtz5wISEgUDHDQPoxM7MMSumsoPeGrImtLxabGEqjhFcb514bqExoaBRjPqSPvd2FxlSLwdybA_l1_l0cG3vL5qm4YoiIgksOAEdQn5EejNAYc5PSzmjboXHGzXH-uLxamV8Zh5GF7sME.aFvHpMmPcEzV7nmEb4b5_Jqi8q87_fuKpDZx74CGqas&dib_tag=se&keywords=nail+lamp&qid=1772101660&sr=8-5-spons&aref=rqximMvazW&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

380w you want high wattage.

Make sure you use base coat and a non wipe top coat is best. I tend to use Bluesky gel polish. But you can use their base and top coat with othert brands too.

It's really simple.

I do mine at home and it’s saved loads — a decent LED lamp and good base/top coat make all the difference for longevity.

Prep is key too: lightly buff, clean the nail properly, and don’t flood the cuticles or they’ll lift quickly.

I just paint my nails with ordinary polish, then put a clear gel top coat over it and cure it.
It lasts two weeks and probably costs pennies.

I do my own now using the Holy Gels wrap stickers. I initially bought a starter set which includes the UV light. I find them easy enough to do, doesn't take me too long and they last me 2 to 3 weeks. The individual packs can seem a bit expensive I find, so I've been getting the mystery packs, so it works out cheaper. I love them now and wouldn't bother going back to getting them done professionally and spending a fortune.

thank you all, I have been getting gel nails & toes for 25 years but it’s so expensive now I just can’t justify the cost anymore, so this is really really helpful.

This is a really simple way to potentially give yourself a lifelong allergy to acrylates!

The lamp you use has to fully cure the gel that you are using and you can’t tell levels of curing by eye. Just because gel is hard to touch doesn’t mean it’s fully cured. Mix and matching products hugely increases the risk of under curing.

If uncured gel touches your skin you are exposing yourself to allergens and an allergy to acrylates will have an impact on future dental work or some bone surgery. It’s also unsightly and means you will be allergic to nail products forever.

Applying gel polish isn’t technically difficult but you should understand the products you are working with. Qualified Nail Tech’s learn more than nail painting skills when they pay £££’s for their training

If you do gel at home how do you remove it?

I use the mylee kit too, think I paid £60 around christmas in the black friday sales. Works great, last ages. Highly recommended.

I really struggle to paint my own nails neatly so I have started use Glaize gels, which are made to measure and stick on. They are amazing, dont wreck my nails and last at least 2 weeks.

I am too scared to do mine at home after reading horror stories about allergies. My sister used to do hers and her friends' too though and was fine

I can't speak for other types but the Manucurist system comes off really easily with their nail polish remover. You just soak for 10 minutes and it slides off.

Same! The fact you can cure them means you get the strength without the faff of having to paint loads of layers.
Stick on, trim, cure, file.
Removal is easy with oil and no damage.

I did this too - the Mylee kit was on offer on Amazon a while back. Came out really nicely once I got the hang of it.

I use the Mylee kit. If I leave them for a full 2 weeks, I can generally lift up an edge on each nail and peel them off. In theory it damages your nails, but my nails are as strong as steel and Ive not had a broken nail in the last 12 months! Or if they wont budge, I soak my nails in remover (on a pad, squashed onto the nail with tin foil wrapped around each finger). It takes 20 mins per hand.