Gel nails are the best things to happen to the nail industry in years. Gel nails are beautiful and come in a lot of colors. The shine is salon perfect every time and they last for up to 14 days! This means you can easily do your nails at home days before your big date and never miss a stroke.
We are going to share with you some pro gel nail tips to help you feel more comfortable with this process. It may seem a bit tricky at first, but you will get the hang of it. Before you begin, forget everything you know about conventional nail prep and painting. The only think gel nails and traditional nails have in common is they both are applied to the fingernail. Other than that, it is a new experience.
5 Do’s for gel nails
Learn the process
Gel nails are not like a standard manicure. You have to take the time to learn how to prepare the nails and apply the products correctly in order to get the full effect. Read the instructions, watch a few YouTube videos, and watch your friends. But understand how to do it before you begin.
Take your time
Gel nails set very quickly. If you prepared the nails correctly, the pain will set under the lights in a couple of minutes. But take your time to paint each nail correctly. The gel product can be a bit difficult to clean up if you end up with a less than a smooth finish.
Clean your nail lights
While the lights in your gel nail kit never go out, they can become ineffective if they are not kept clean. A little alcohol on a cotton ball will remove nail dust and soil from the bulbs.
Use quality polish
The number one problem gel nail addicts run into is buying low-quality polish. Invest in some great colors and take advantage of sales and specials. Low-quality polish ensures low quality nails. Get a couple of your favorite colors and get your collection started. Then you can add to it over time.
Apply lotion around finger and across cuticle
We all have those little accidental swipes with the nail polish. Clean yours up easily by adding lotion to your finger and cuticle before you begin. This ensures that you can wash away any mishaps with the nail polish brush.
Photo site: https://pixabay.com/en/manicure-nail-design-dry-unit-1365552/
5 Don’ts for gel nails addict
Don’t pick at or peal your polish.
When the polish is nearing time to remove and reapply, remove it properly using pure acetone and cotton balls.
Overpaint
When you apply gel nail polish, you will apply 2 coats. The first coat will be see-through and the second coat will give you the coverage. You will then put on the top coat and set it under the lights as you did the paint coats. You have a perfect nail at that point. Applying too many coats makes the color too thick. When it is too thick you are more susceptible to chipping the polish.
Rush the removal
Removing gel nails is not like removing regular nail polish. It is going to take about 10 minutes. (Wet the cotton ball with remover, place it on the finger and wrap it in foil. Let it set for 10 minutes and remove). Picking at the nail polish or pealing it will damage the nails. Every flaw will show up when you paint.
Paint the end and seal it
Gel nails seal around the nail. When applying gel nail polish it should be applied around the end of the nail to form the seal. Stop short of painting to the cuticle. Until you get used to applying gel nails, be sure you put cuticle oil or cream on the cuticle with a cotton swab to ensure the paint doesn’t stick to it.
Bonus tips
Chips
- No matter how well you do your nails and how great the products are, there is a chance that you will ship a nail. If you chip the end of the nail and you do not have time to redo the nail, use an emory board (not a nail file that is too rough) to file the end of the nail. Be careful not to file into the nail. Use the nail gel polish to put a thick coat of paint on the nail. Be sure you run the brush under the tip. Dry under the UV light and add a thin coat of sealant, and dry again. Gel nails show repairs less than any other product.
Decoration & style
- You can use gel nails for French manicures. Be sure to use gel nail products. If you are going to apply decorations on the nails, be sure your nails are finished drying.
Removal:
Removing the gel polish is very easy. Use pure acetone. You can buy it at department stores or beauty supply stores. Soak a cotton ball in acetone. Place it on the finger nail and wrap the end of the finger in foil. Repeat this until all the nails are soaking. Allow the cotton to stay on for 10 minutes. Remove the cotton and use the cotton to gently wipe away any polish. If you used a base coat you may have to file it away with an emory board. Once it is gone, make sure the nail is smooth and clean before repainting.
It is recommended that you remove your nail polish before repainting them. As stated a thick nail is easier to damage. However, if you are in a bind and want a temporary fix, you can paint a darker color over the lighter colors. This will not last you 14 days and it will not be perfect if your nail has grown since you applied the first set. However, for a quick fix, it is possible.
Once you have tried gel nail polish and experience the longevity and beauty of them, you will never go back to acrylic or standard nail polish. It is easy to see why gel nails are the beauty trend of the year.