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Do Your Own Gel Nails

Curing Your Gel Nail Polish

How to Do Your Own Shellac Gel Nails

When it comes to drying your gel nail polish, curing is actually the most appropriate term. You cannot simply flap your hands in the air and hope for the best. Instead, they need to be cured.

Curing is a term that is used to describe the chemistry behind the process of toughening or hardening a material – in this case, the gel polish. You can cure your gel nail polish by using either an LED lamp or a UV lamp. If you’re using Bluesky products, we advise using the Bluesky lamp for best results .

It is easy to cure your gel nail polish. All you need to do is apply the polish, and then place your hand under the lamp, and press the on switch. Keep your hand still and leave it underneath the light until the lamp goes out. The gel nail polish lamps that are available today have been designed so that the light only stays on for the length of time required to harden the nail polish and not any longer.

With most of the lamps that are available on the market today, you will be able to cure your whole hand at once. There are then some models which, when used, you can do your fingers and thumbs separately.

The Gel Manicure Do’s And Don’ts:

DO: Give yourself enough time to neatly paint your nails before applying a gel top coat. There’s nothing worse than having messily painted nails for 2 weeks. Also, make sure you give enough drying time before applying the gel topcoat, otherwise it will go bubbly.

DON’T: Paint the polish on too thick – it will just make it easier for the nail varnish to peel. It’s better to do three really thin coats than one thick one.

DO: Pay attention to the tips of your nails, run the polish wand horizontally across the top edge of the nail to seal in the ends. This should prevent chips.

DON’T: Throw away all your non-gel nail varnishes. There are so many great kits out there that turn ANY nail polish into a gel, so invest in one of these and all of your favourites can be used in your gel manicure.

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Lifestyle expert Amy Goodman has already taught us how to remove a gel manicure at home, so thankfully our nails are looking healthy .

You’re probably missing the feeling of being pampered at the nail salon right about now, though, so Amy has the next best thing. She’s showing you how to do your own gel-like manicure while you’re staying home like a pro.

Watch her demonstrate in the video above and get the step-by-step below.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO GEL NAILS AT HOME:

  • Essential oil
  • Nail file
  • Cuticle pusher
  • Gel nail polish*

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Provide Your Skin Some Tlc After The Gel Manicure Is Removed

Its extremely crucial that the surrounding skin and also cuticle, along with the nail plate itself, be rehydrated with a thick emollient such as Aquaphor or an overnight mask-like Nails Inc.s Overnight Detox Nail Mask post-removal in order to rehydrate and also fix the surrounding skin, cuticle, and also nails, Dr. Adigun states.

How Much Money & Effort An At

How to do your own Gel Nails

In New York City, the best deal I could ever find on a gel manicure in a salon was $20 via Groupon. On average, they were $32-40 + 20% for tip. Yes, expensive

In Amsterdam, its even more expensive considering theres not a nail salon on every block like there is in NYC. I have yet to find a good salon that does gel nail manicures for less than 40! So being cheaper than cheap when it comes to beautifying my vacation life, Ive never got a gel manicure for vacation.

Just the other day, I ordered an at-home gel manicure lamp and nail polish to do my own gel manicures at home before vacation. Heres a breakdown of everything I own to do a DIY gel manicure before going on vacation:

Since the lamp, nail soak off clips, and nail polish can last you multiple numbers of DIY gel manicures, it ends of saving money in the long run. For example, if you get even just one gel manicure a month at an average of $35 including tip, its $420 a year. Think about how much that is when you get that year after year!

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Theyre Hard As Rocks And Dry As Soon As The Manicure Is Over

Also, I dont know about you, but Im a klutz. As soon as I step outside the nail salon, despite me not moving and nothing being around me, it just happens that somehow Ill chip my nails asap.

With gel nail polish, your nails are wonderfully hardened the second its done meaning that you can reach into your pocket, purse, and even eat chicken wings as soon as your manicure is done.

Selecting Is A Bad Concept

One thing thats rather usual among gel fans is the picking process. When the color begins to raise, you may be attracted to remove it, almost like you would a scab. As peeling and raising begin, water can seep right into the nail, says Jenna. This can nurture bacteria and also perhaps trigger fungi. Once the peeling phase begins, its hard not to choose at your gloss. If you rip it off, youre possibly taking some layers of your nail off with it. This kind of damage can take control of 6 months to fix. Dr. Adigun includes: In one research, nail plate density was determined both before and after just one gel manicure as well as thinning was observed. Its unclear precisely which component created the thinning, yet one or more factors in the gel procedure are to blame.

When used and gotten rid of appropriately, how to do uv gel nails step by step are secure to wear on an ongoing basis, adds Rita. Gels can certainly damage the nails if they are peeled off or pried off the nail, which can strip layers of the natural nail, or if the nail if over buffed before the gel application.

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My Favourite Polishes And Nail Art

The majority of my gel polishes are fromMylee and Bluesky which are two affordable but high-quality brands that sell their polishes for around £6 to £8, and have kits that you can buy if you want to build up your collection and reduce the price per bottle.

Another gel polish brand that I hear a lot about but have yet to try is The Gel Bottle Inc, their polishes are a bit more expensive at just under £15 each, but a lot of the nail artists I follow on Instagram use their polishes so it must be worth the price.

They also have a huge range of colours so I will definitely be making an order from them soon.

My nail colours of choice normally fall somewhere in the pink/red colour spectrum, with the odd appearance from a pastel-hue some of my favourite shades including Creekside , Piping Hot and French Cancan .

Ive also been saving some ideas to my that I will be trying out soon.

I plan to order some nail art brushes and tools so I can attempt some more intricate designs, but for the meantime here are a few ideas that Ive found that look easy enough to do with my limited amount of tools and skill.

Do you do your own nails at home?

How To Apply Gel Nails At Home

How to do your own gel nails at home | MYLEE GEL NAIL KIT REVIEW | first impressions & how to use

Jenni Draper talks us through how to do the ultimate at-home gel manicure in 10 simple steps :

1. Ensure cuticles are pushed back using a tool like Tweezerman Dual Sided Pushy Cuticle Stick, £16, but avoid using cuticle clippers. If the cuticles are cut incorrectly it can lead to infections and cause the skin to grow back thicker, so leave that to the experts.

2. File your nails to your preferred length and shape . Dont seesaw with your file, just go gently in one direction and back again the other way.

3. Using a soft nail buffer, go from the cuticle to the free edge , removing shine and leaving the nails with a smooth, ridge-free base. Theres no need to over-buff, just go gently, before brushing any excess dust off.

4. Using a lint-free wipe and a nail cleanser for gels, scrub over the nails to remove oils and dust, leaving them squeaky clean.

5. Apply a thin layer of specialised gel base coat, being careful to only apply to the nail, avoiding the skin. If any touches the skin, use a cuticle or cocktail stick to remove it straight away, before curing in the LED light box recommended for your gel system, for the recommended amount of time.

8. Apply your second coat of colour, perfecting your coverage. Repeat steps 6 and 7.

10. Finally, wipe over the nails with a cleanser from your kit and finish off with a nourishing nail oil and hand cream. I love DadiOil, £7.50, and Chanel La Creme Main, £45.

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The Supplies Youll Need For Gel Nails At Home:

  • Nail lamp. The one that I got a few years ago is no longer for sale, but I did my research and this one is a great option. It has hundreds of great reviews and is about 1/4 the price that I paid for mine.
  • Acetone to remove the polish. This is the kind that I bought that I love .
  • Gel nail polish search here for some favorite colors. I love this color, this color and this color a lot.
  • What You Need For Gel Nails At Home

    Getting gel nails done is unlike a traditional nail polish procedure where equipment is not needed. With gel nails, you will need a kit of tools in order to properly apply gel polish.

    What you need for a seamless at-home gel mani is:

    • LED lamp or UV Lamp
    • Glass or crystal files

    Without a curing lamp that emits UV light, you wont be able to cure your gel nails.

    Its possible to go au naturel by sunbathing your nails and taking advantage of the suns UV rays, but its not the most effective method for curing your DIY gel polish manicure because youd have to wait for the weather to be right.

    A UV lamp or LED curing lamp is the right choice here. However, our recommendation is to stick with a LED curing lamp as it omits less UV light and dries the gel polish the quickest.

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    Exactly How Does How To Do Your Own Gel Nails Work

    There is a distinction in between a gel manicure and also an acrylic manicure. Polymer nails are made with a powder dipped in solvent, which solidifies over the initial nail as well as could be formed as preferred. Furthermore, acrylic nails are likewise normally just include clear or all-natural tones. On the various other hands, gel nail gloss consists of a chemical, butylated hydroxyanisole , which is after that solidified or baked on with ultraviolet light after the gloss is used. Gels likewise can be found in an unlimited variety of lively tones and also shades. Just what is the very best Gel Polish Brands? So which gel gloss brand names are the most effective? We have actually assembled an extensive listing of the leading 10 ideal brand how to do your own gel nails names that have actually been examined by consumers, beauty salons, and also nail experts. So prior to you go with your following manicure, have a look at these leading 10 essential gel gloss brand names.

    Doing Your Own Gel Nails At Home: A Complete Guide

    Ever wanted to do your own gel nails? Read this!

    STEP 1:

    If you have gel polish on already, you need to cut your cotton pads into 4 pieces, and soak each of them with acetone. Buff the top of each nail, then cover your nail with the cotton pad and then apply the nail polish soak off clip to hold it in place. Keep it there for 15 minutes. This is a great time to watch a good show on TV!

    STEP 2:

    Remove the clips and begin scraping off the gel polish with the steel cuticle remover and scraper. The polish should be lifting up and it shouldnt be too difficult to remove at this point. If it is, apply another cotton pad with acetone for a bit longer.

    STEP 3:

    Apply the cuticle remover liquid onto your cuticles and rub in. Use the the steel cuticle remover and scraper to push down your cuticles and scrape them off your nail. Use the cuticle clipper to cut off the cuticles from your nail.

    STEP 4:

    Clip your nails to the length that you want them, use the nail file to shape them, and buff the tops of your nails to take off a bit of the top layer of your nail. This will help the gel polish to adhere to your nails better.

    STEP 5:

    Rinse your hands with water and remove all of the dead skin and dry well. Make sure the nails are completely clean. Paint on the PH Bond to help dry out of your nails.

    STEP 6:

    STEP 7:

    STEP 8:

    Apply the top coat then cure it under the lamp for 120 seconds.

    STEP 9:

    THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN DOING GEL NAILS AT HOME:

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    What Youll Need To Do Your Own Gel Manicure

    Gel nailsare a little different from regular nail polish. The polish is made of polymers and monomers that bind and harden only after theyre exposed to UV light. Because of that, you need to have a light source, the special nail polish, as well as a few other must-have manicure tools.

    We highly recommend purchasing a gel nail kit, like the Gel Polish Pro Kit from Red Carpet Manicure. The kit includes an LED lamp designed specifically to cure gel nail polish, a red LED nail polish, a base coat, a topcoat, a polish remover, a pre-manicure cleaning solution, an adhesion-improving nail dehydrating liquid, and cuticle oil.

    Alternatively, you can always purchase an LED light and nail polishes separately, along with an acetone-based polish remover, isopropyl alcohol, and a special gel base coat, and a topcoat.

    Finally, youll also need a few tools just to help you achieve a great manicure! These include a nail buffer, cotton swabs, cotton pads, and maybe even a cuticle remover if you want to go all out.

    Youre Leaving Gel Polish On Too Long

    Since gel nail polish can be worn for weeks on end without even the tiniest chip, stretching the life of your manicure is tempting. However, Hadley suggests removing a gel manicure after two to three weeks maximum to avoid damaging nail beds and cuticles. Harpring agrees, adding that overextending gel manicures can not only lead to weakened nails, but also introduce potentially harmful bacteria. It is important to remember that once the gel begins to lift, it does allow for moisture to get under the gel and possibly lead to bacterial growth, explains Harpring.

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    Try To Limit Your Exposure To The Uv Lamp

    A recent study from the American Academy of Dermatology revealed that gel manicures may not be a safe option for people who are highly sensitive to UV light. The UV dose that you receive during a gel manicure is brief, but its intense, Dr. Adigun said in the study. Over time, this intense exposure can add up to cause skin damage.

    “An additional concern is the rise in popularity of LED nail lamps,” Dr. Adigun notes of her own research on the safety of gel manicures. LED lamps have become popular as much for their faster curing times as the belief that they’re safer than UV lamps, but Dr. Adigun insists this is not the case. “Although many people mistakenly believe these lamps do not use UVA to cure, they in fact use higher intensities of UVA wavelengths in order to achieve the shorter curing times. This higher intensity of UVA irradiance means that it requires less time for these lamps to potentially harm the skin,” she explains.

    Instead, Dr. Adigun recommends bringing along your own pair of YouVeeShield gloves to protect your hands against UVA radiation . “It is the most protective material protects the entire digits and wrist,” Dr. Adigun says.

    But Not All Hope Is Lost

    HOW TO DO YOUR OWN GEL NAILS

    Im not saying youve gotta swear off gels for the rest of your life, but if you are worried about the possible nail damage, there are a few things you can try to mitigate the effects. Before the manicure, ask how the product will be removed and make sure that they wont be using a gritty file, sander, or other tool to vigorously scrape the product off, says Dr. Stern. Gel polish should come off easily after soaking in acetone, and these methods can cause tremendous, and sometimes irreversible, damage to the nail and cuticles.

    And, she adds, you need to be your own advocate in the salon, because nobody else cares as much about your nails as you do. If its not easy, something is wrong, and you should speak up.

    For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

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