I used to love applying nail polish. In the past, I had a pretty vast collection of nail polishes and nail conditioners or serum…however, over time, I started to run out of my own time for doing manicures frequently. The traditional polish needed to be replaced every week (with a high-quality hardening top coat) and as you all know, I had to wait for the polish to be completely dry. I often ended up with my pillow imprinted on my new nails – or even worse – the polish sometimes got all ‘wrinkled’ and I had to remove it and do it all over again. Very frustrating.
Then, came the moment when I stopped doing my nails at all. My weekly mani was limited to removing cuticles and filing the nails shorter. From time to time, I reached for a conditioner/serum or an oil…and that was all. However, as you all probably think, nails without a nice manicure do not look very good. I am a woman and I like to keep my hands well-kept, therefore, I started looking for alternatives.
The remedy for my struggles came with gel nails!! ♥
What does a gel mani look like? (It is often referred to as gel hybrid or hybrid manicure) It looks pretty the same as a regular manicure. The only difference is that gel mani lasts a looot longer than regular polish. What is more, in order to do the hybrid mani, you need special polishes that need to be cured under the UV/LED lamp, thanks to which they dry in no time and their durability is prolonged. If I was asked to explain what a gel manicure is, I’d say that it is a combination of the best features of a regular nail polish with a gel that comes in a pot and acrylic nails. Hence the name ‘hybrid’, and here are its most important advantages:
- maximum durability up to three weeks,
- high resistance to chipping,
- a wide range of colours,
- the ability to create various nail designs,
- easy soak-off removal.
How to apply gel nails at home? Of course, the most important thing are appropriate accessories. The most popular brands that sell gel nails polishes also offer sets (mainly for beginners). Such kits include all necessary accessories to begin the journey with the hybrid nail polishes. All those things can be purchased on their own to create your perfect set. To do your hybrid mani you will need:
- a file and a buffer,
- a base and a top coat,
- a hybrid nail polish in your favourite colour,
- a nail cleaner,
- UV or LED lamp.
This is the most basic set you will need for starters. It is best to use the base coat, top coat and the polish of the same brand – this way it is guaranteed that they will work together perfectly. It is forbidden to use regular nail polishes due to fact that they do not contain the components that are drying under a lamp. Once you have all the tools prepared you can go ahead and get started.
Gel manicure step by step:
- Prep your nail plate and cuticles as usually: file the nails to obtain the desired length and shape.
- Use the buffer to even out the nail bed (I cannot stress this enough: BE VERY GENTLE!!!)
- Wipe your nails with the nail cleaner (from now on you cannot touch your nail plate with anything that’s not one of the special tools).
- Apply a thin layer of the base.
- Cure it under the lap, usually 30 s (LED) or 120 s (UV).
- Apply the first thin layer of the coloured polish and cure.
- If you are not entirely satisfied with the coverage, you can add another layer of the colour and cure once more.
- Apply a thin layer of top coat and cure under the lamp.
- Now, wipe each nail with the cleaner carefully.
- Use the cuticle oil to moisturise and nourish nails and cuticles.
Would you like to hear a few tips? I have two! First of all, use the cleaner twice, in the beginning, and in the end. It is important as the first step to de-grease the nail plate, thanks to which the products will hold on to it better and longer. However, it is necessary as the last step because it helps remove the dispersion layer (tackiness) that is left on the nails. Secondly, when applying the colour, make sure to seal-in the free edge by painting across the tip of each nail. This way you will secure the tip of the nail and prevent air from entering which could reduce the durability of the hybrid nail polish.
How to remove gel manicure? Unfortunately, a regular nail polish remover will not be enough in this case. Once our nails have outgrown, it is the time to remove the manicure. In order to do that, you will need: a soft file, some lint-free swabs, a special gel nails polish remover (acetone), tinfoil (or a set of removal foils) and orange tree sticks. Removing hybrid nails is quite easy yet time-consuming.
- Remove the top coat with a file (gently!!!)
- Soak the swab in the remover and coat your nail with it.
- Secure it with a tinfoil.
- Do the same on every nail.
- Wait up to 15 minutes for the polish to soak and soften.
- Take off the tinfoil and remove any remaining gel with the wooden stick (gently).
Why is gel manicure chipping off? You must be aware of the fact that the only cause of chipping nails is us. We tend to make many mistakes that influence the durability of the manicure. Here are the most common mistakes that contribute to hybrid nail polish damaging:
- using poor-quality hybrid nail polishes,
- preparing the nail plate inappropriately,
- messy application of the hybrid nail polish – applying it to the cuticles,
- applying too thick layers,
- wiping each layer with the nail cleaner,
- not securing the free edge,
- too short curing time,
- using products of mixed brands,
- applying gel to nails of poor condition.
Before you start your journey with gel manicure, please, look for online tutorials (available on the official websites of the brands). Only having a complete set of information on this topic, you can go ahead and start doing it yourself, the probability of making mistakes will be lower.
Can gel manicure damage your nails? I often come across such opinions and wonder what kind of beautician or products these girls had used that they tell such nonsense. The properly applied hybrid manicure does not damage your nails, in some cases, it can strengthen them and even help to grow them out. Everything is harmless as long as you avoid the following mistakes:
- omitting the application of a base coat that shields the nail plate (from staining, for instance)
- using cheap products of poor-quality,
- filing the polish instead of soaking it off,
- pealing or even tearing the hybrid nail polish from the nails,
- lack of breaks between doing the manicure.
Summary
Sometimes I get asked ‘what do you like gel manicure for? I always answer that question truthfully: I love it for durability and reliability. I know that when I apply a hybrid polish to the nails and cure it under a lamp, no house chores are a threat to the look of my hands. My nails will be just as beautiful every minute, and I do not have to waste a lot of time on it.
Leave a Reply