Apply gel polish to your nails at home. Gel polish for beginners, all about shellac coating

Gel polish is a system that combines a varnish coating and the durability of a gel. To polymerize (dry) you need a UV or LED lamp. Gel polish is worn on nails for an average of 14 days, as over time the natural nail grows near the cuticle area. However, if desired, it can be worn longer.

How is this coating different from gel?

Unlike gel, gel polish is considered a softer system, as it is easily removed with liquid, but if desired, it can be removed using sawdust.

Why did he become so popular?

Literally 5 years ago no one had heard of this varnish. With the advent of the gel polish system, the nail industry began to develop rapidly. All manufacturers have supported the boom of a new product in manicure - a hybrid of gel and nail polish, which is applied as simply as polish, but lasts and retains its gloss like a gel for 2-3 weeks - this is just every girl’s dream! Consumers quickly appreciated the advantages of a simple and beautiful coating: easy application, the ability to apply and remove at home, and the easiest possible removal of the material, unlike gel coating.

In addition, this is an excellent alternative to regular nail polish, you just need to dry the gel polish in a special lamp (from 30 seconds to 2 minutes), and no smeared varnish, you don’t need to wait for it to dry, and who, if not us girls, is well aware of the problem forever smudged varnish.

Is it harmful to use gel polish?

It is believed that nails become brittle after gel polish, but this is not true. Wearing gel polish does not affect the nail plate in any way; it becomes thinner and deteriorates only if the technology is violated, or the material is incorrectly applied and removed.

What are the advantages:

• Easy to apply, almost as easy as regular nail polish;
• wears like a gel (3-4 or more weeks);
• is much easier to remove than gel;
• can be removed with sawdust or liquid;
• lighter and more gentle material than extension gel;
• has a huge palette of colors and brands;
• has an amazing gloss that lasts throughout the entire wear;
• strengthens weak nails, prevents nail breakage and cracks;
• medicinal compounds (for example IBX) can be easily applied under gel polish, unlike varnish coatings;
• the coating will not smudge or deteriorate;
• You can easily remove it at home with a special liquid.

The only downside is that polymerization requires a special drying lamp, however, once you purchase it, you can use it for several years and show off a stunning, long-lasting manicure every 2-3 weeks!

Types of systems: one, two or three stages.

Which system is better to choose?

The three-phase system is the most stable and is suitable for absolutely everyone.

The single-phase system is recommended for home use, however, due to the lack of a separate base and top coat, it is less durable and is not suitable for thin, brittle and weak nails - they will require strengthening with an Ibx treatment agent or strengthening with a rubber base. The single-phase system can be used with base and finish to increase wear time.

What to look for when choosing gel polish?

Many people wonder which gel polish is better? Which one should I choose so that it is safe and non-allergenic, durable and has a beautiful glossy shine?

Most existing colored varnishes meet all these criteria; the main thing is to carefully choose the finish and base.

Most manufacturers advise using base + color + top of the same brand, but this is not so important. You can use any color coating, it is important to choose the right base and top, then the wear will be long.

If you have strong and good nails, then additional strengthening is not required, which means you can choose any base. If you have thin, brittle, brittle nails, you need to pay special attention to the choice of base. It is better to choose rubber bases; they perfectly strengthen nails. You should not opt ​​for the base + top 2 in 1, such a product will not provide strengthening.

It is also recommended to use a primer or for thin nails. They ensure adhesion of the coating to the natural nail, working as double-sided tape. But you shouldn’t use a primer from one brand and a base from another. The problem of base and primer compatibility is quite common; many people purchase an excellent base, but do not pay enough attention to the primer and choose the cheapest one, which is often not compatible with an expensive and high-quality product.

There are extremely universal bases, tops and primers (for example, Kodi, Irisk). They combine well with drugs from other brands and do not cause allergies.

The choice of top and base should be approached with special attention if you are going to make different designs, use sliders and stickers, and rhinestones. Then you should have several different tops in your arsenal. For example, to combine rhinestones and decor, it is better to use thick tops; you can also use a thick base, for example, Kodi. It holds any designs and stickers perfectly. You apply the base to the design, and then simply cover it with a top coat. Also, many designs require the use of a topcoat without a sticky layer.

It is better to select products for gel polish as carefully as possible and not skimp on their choice. There are a lot of very cheap primers from unknown brands. It is better to take a primer that is more expensive, but from a well-known and high-quality brand, since the largest percentage of allergic reactions arise precisely from the use of low-quality primers and liquids.

Maceration.
When soaking, we file down the surface of the coating, namely the top, (approximately 80/100 grit), apply it soaked in gel polish remover, and cover it with foil. Within 15-20 minutes, the liquid dissolves the coating, after which we remove the remaining coating, removing it with a soft orange stick. You should not immediately use iron pushers - they can damage the nail plate, since beginners often cannot distinguish where the base layer ends and the natural nail begins.

Sawdust.
When filing, you can use a rough file, but completely cutting off the coating from the nail will be quite problematic and time-consuming, so many masters file the coating down to the base, leaving it on the nail (You file off the color as soon as a translucent coating becomes visible from under the color - this is the base, there is no need to cut it down). Next, the base coating must be soaked using the same technology. This saves time and does not injure the native nail with sawdust.

There is also a method for removing gel polish completely with sawdust - removal is done using. This method is performed only by professionals with extensive experience and requires special training, since it is easiest for them to damage the nail plate.

How to choose an online gel polish store?

Of course, each person chooses exactly the online store that he likes and meets his personal needs, however, there is a set of factors that are worth paying attention to when choosing any online store, even not in the nail industry.

What to pay attention to:

• Availability of certificates.

An online store must have product quality certificates confirming its originality and safety of use. It is necessary to have positive reviews, not only on the products of the online store themselves, but also on work, service and resolution of conflict situations.

• Quality assurance and customer support.

We provide quality guarantees for all our products, as well as guarantees of customer support in any controversial situations. Unfortunately, even in the most expensive and high-quality brands there is a possibility of defects, there is nothing to worry about, the main thing is to contact the support service in time, provide the necessary documents about the purchase of this product, as well as photographs of the product with the fact of defect or the product itself for exchange.

• Partial redemption.

In our online store there is a relatively new partial redemption service, which allows you to select only the goods you need directly upon receipt of the parcel at the point of delivery and refuse shades and goods that turned out to be not what you imagined.

• Keeping track of trends and new products.

Also a very important factor when choosing an online store is the timely arrival of new products and new trends in manicure. We monitor the latest new gel polishes and carefully select the best and most popular gel polish companies for our clients. Every year we bring out the fashionable shades of the season so that our customers can be in trend.

• Taking care of clients.

We put together the best nail design ideas, we ourselves describe each shade of gel polish by density, texture and, based on this data, we create a convenient filter for choosing shades, and also, which is important for our clients, we provide the most reasonable prices for products. ;)

Every girl dreams of having gorgeous looking marigolds. At the same time, I really want the resulting beauty to stay on the nails for as long as possible. Until recently, to get the perfect manicure you had to turn to specialists in this matter. Today everything is much easier! Gel nail polish is just what you need, and it’s easy to apply yourself.

Are there any disadvantages to gel polish?

Of course, if we talk about the chemicals that are contained in any varnish, then we can say that there is a small amount of harm in it. However, there are much fewer of them in gel polish than in regular varnish.

Gel polish lasts a long time on your nails, so you can enjoy your manicure much longer (about two to three weeks) than with a manicure based on regular polish. It only needs to be updated if the nail plate has grown sufficiently long.

Well, don't forget about the price. Gel-based polishes are a little expensive, but it's worth it!

Let's take a closer look at what every girl should be able to do in order to perform a manicure based on gel polish on her own at home?

Preparing the marigolds

Before applying gel polish, nails must be cleaned and prepared. This process cannot be neglected; accuracy must be in everything. For this:

1. We thoroughly clean our hands with soap and wipe them dry.
2. Using a nail file, we give the nail plates the required shape.
3. We remove the cuticle. It can be trimmed with tweezers or removed using a cuticle softening cream.

Using a buff, you need to polish the surface of each nail.

Do I need to file my nails?

It all depends on the brand of gel polish you purchased.

Before application, you must file your nails if you purchased gel polish brands that require this.

If gel polishes do not require this, then filing is not necessary.

The nail plate is filed using a soft file designed for grinding.

Degrease the nail plates

This process is very important and if you skip it, the gel polish simply will not stay on your nails for long.

At home, a professional degreaser can replace alcohol or acetone-based nail polish remover.

When degreasing the nail, you need to make sure that the procedure touches the entire nail plate, especially at the junction of the nail and the skin.

Applying the base

The base coat is also necessary for reliable fixation of gel polish on the nail plates.

In stores and boutiques selling manicure accessories and varnishes, you can choose the required brand of base. This could be CND Base Coat or any other brand.

UV lamp

Before creating a gel manicure, purchase a lamp with ultraviolet rays. Pay attention to its power. If it is less than 36 watts, then drying will take longer.

In any case, remember that you need to dry the base coat for at least 25 seconds.

While using the lamp, do not forget to replace the light bulb once every six months.

Gel polish application procedure

After we are done with the base coat, apply the gel polish. Shake the bottle of varnish thoroughly before applying.

After the varnish is applied to the nail plates, we send them to polymerize in an ultraviolet lamp for two minutes.

The layer that you apply for the first time should be very thin; if you skip this moment and paint your nails with a thick layer of varnish, then after drying it will swell.

After this, apply a second, thicker layer of varnish and again expose it to ultraviolet rays for two minutes.

We fix the manicure

In order for the manicure to last for a long time, it must be fixed. For this purpose, coatings of various companies and brands are used. There are a lot of companies that produce fixatives and you can choose absolutely any brand of fixative at your discretion.

Removing the sticky layer

After applying the fixative, a sticky layer forms on the nail plate, which must be removed.

Remove it using napkins that do not leave lint on the nail. You can use alcohol, but in this case the gel polish may lose its shine.

Manicure is ready! How can you remove it at home?

Removing gel polish from nails

Removing it is as easy as applying it. For this we need:

1. Prepare cotton pads and pieces of foil to fix them.
2. We wet cotton pads with acetone or nail polish remover based on it.
3. We place the discs on the nail plates, trying not to touch the skin, and secure them with foil.
4. Keep the discs for about 20 minutes. After this, remove everything and clean the softened varnish with a cuticle remover.
5. Treat your nails with nourishing oil.

This is how easy it is to remove nail polish!

Do your own manicure at home, experiment with colors, complement your manicure with decorative elements (beads, rhinestones, butterflies and flowers) and enjoy the beauty of your nails.

Video on the topic of the article:

Everything in a person should be beautiful: his soul, his thoughts, and even his nails. A well-done manicure with a perfect finish is a decoration for every girl.

But what to do if nature has deprived you of a beautiful shape of your nails, because of their fragility it is difficult to grow even a small length, but you don’t want to do extensions? Gel nail coating without extensions will come to the rescue.

It will help you grow the desired length and, if necessary, slightly adjust the shape of your natural nail. Very often, girls confuse strengthening nails with gel with gel extensions. However, in fact, they have only one similarity: both procedures help make nails beautiful and well-groomed.

The differences between them are significant:

• for nail extensions the nail bed is lengthened and the shape of the natural nail may change, while with conventional strengthening it is impossible to increase the length of the nail;
• when covering nails with gel without extensions, a small amount of material is applied to the natural nail, which means there is no thinning or weakening of your own nails;
• strengthening nails with gel helps improve the condition of the nail, reduce its fragility and prevent delamination of the plate.

Strengthening nails with gel is an excellent option for those who do not want to resort to extensions, but want to have long and beautiful nails.

Advantages and disadvantages of gel nail coating

The advantages of gel nail strengthening include:

Despite all the advantages, this procedure has enough disadvantages:

• The need for regular correction. As the nail grows, the border between the natural nail and the strengthened gel becomes noticeable. The frequency of correction depends on the rate of nail growth, on average it is once every 2-3 weeks.
• Duration of the procedure. When covering nails with gel in a salon with a manicurist, the procedure takes from 1 to 1.5 hours; if you strengthen it yourself, the duration increases by at least 2 times or more.

What is better to use gel or biogel to strengthen nails?

To determine what is best for strengthening nails, you first need to understand how these two materials differ. The gel is a synthetic glass-like polymer; it hardens when polymerized in a UV lamp.

Biogel –It is a rubber-based polymer being a very elastic material.

Type of coverage	Advantages	Flaws
Gel nail strengthening	1. Nails covered with gel, even without extensions, are very strong. 2. The gel allows you to increase any length. 3. Duration of wear is about 3 weeks. 4. Overgrown nails can be corrected by correction, without completely removing the old material	1. Using the gel requires cutting down the natural nail before applying it. 2. The thickness of an artificial or strengthened nail is much greater than that of a nail coated with biogel. 3. Nails lose their elasticity, as a result of which they are susceptible to chips and cracks. 4. Cannot be soaked with special liquids; material is removed by sawing off (the exception is gels with a soak-off formula).
Biogel nail coating	1. Nails coated with biogel are much more elastic, bend easily and are less susceptible to chipping. 2. Positively affects the natural nail plate. 3. Does not require cutting down the natural nail before coating. 4. Easily removed by soaking in a special liquid. 5. Does not require a large layer thickness when applied.	1. Relatively short duration of wear (no more than 2 weeks). 2. Impossibility of correction without removing old material. 3. It is necessary to prevent contact of nails strengthened with biogel with acetone-containing liquids and alcohols.

Thus, for those who do not want to lengthen the nail plate, but want to strengthen natural nails, biogel is the ideal material. It will cause the least harm to your nails and give them a beautiful and well-groomed look.

Materials and tools needed to strengthen nails with gel

To cover your nails with gel you will need the following materials:

Gels come in several types: single-phase and three-phase. In the case of a single-phase gel, only one gel is needed; in the case of a three-phase gel, a base and top coat are also required.

Be careful: When carrying out the procedure of covering nails with gel without extensions in the salon, it is necessary to ensure that all the instruments that will be used to perform the trimmed manicure are sterilized, since there is a high risk of infection from non-sterile instruments.

Gel nail coating without extensions: step-by-step instructions at home

Covering nails with gel without extensions at home is not so difficult. You just need to follow the correct sequence of all actions and practice a little in order to reduce the time for the procedure.

It is important to know: If the gel does not dry out, the lamps must be replaced. When using LED gels, they can be dried in a LED lamp, then the polymerization time will be reduced to 30 seconds.

1. Application of gel. The application rules are the same, each layer is dried in a lamp for 2 minutes.
2. If any design is required, you need to remove the sticky layer from the gel and cover your nails with gel polish or decorate them with decorative elements.
3. Application top coating.
4. Removing the sticky layer. When using a topcoat without a sticky layer, this is not necessary.

Design ideas for gel nails

One of the most common designs when covering nails with gel is the French manicure. This option is universal, it will suit any look and style. In addition, when the natural nail grows out, the transition will not be noticeable for much longer.

A manicure made with plain gel polishes with some design on the nails of the ring fingers will look interesting.

Recently, various nail pigments and mirror rubs have become increasingly popular, making nails look as if they are covered with metal.

The ombre or gradient design, in which the nail is covered with two contrasting or, conversely, similar colors, and the border between them is shaded, is also in demand.

How long does gel nail polish last?

The durability of the gel coating depends on what material was used for strengthening. If it is a simple gel, then this coating will last at least 3 weeks, after which correction will be needed. However, this is more likely due not to the fact that the coating will deteriorate, but to the fact that overgrown nails look very unaesthetic. When using biogel, the coating lasts about 2 weeks.

Note! In addition to the type used to coat the material, the durability of the gel coating is influenced by the following factors:

• insufficient preparation of the nail plate;
• insufficient time for gel polymerization in a UV lamp;
• contact with chemicals, such as detergents and disinfectants, as well as acetone-containing liquids without gloves.

In order for extended or gel-coated nails to retain their original appearance for as long as possible, it is recommended that all housework be done with gloves.

Strengthening nails with gel: price in the salon

The cost of covering nails with gel without extensions in salons varies, but if you take the average amount, it will be about 1000 rubles or more. The final amount will depend on the chosen coating, the complexity and quantity of the design completed, as well as the popularity of the particular salon and manicurist.

It should be remembered that there is no need to save on such things, since this can lead to the fact that a cheaper master will ruin his nails or cause some kind of infection by performing a manicure with an untreated tool.

Useful tips from experts: how to perform high-quality nail strengthening with gel

1. In order to avoid detachments, A few hours before applying the gel, you should not use moisturizing creams or oils.
2. To ensure that the coating lasts as long as possible, Manicure should be done dry, without soaking. If you need to steam your hands before a manicure, it is best to apply the coating the next day.
3. In order for the nail plate to be perfectly smooth, Additional leveling can be done using a rubber base.
4. For perfect coverage, It is necessary to remove the pterygium from the surface of the nail as thoroughly as possible.
5. Do not allow the base to leak on the cuticle and side ridges, this will lead to detachment of the gel.
6. Be sure to seal the end of the nail at all stages of material application to avoid chipping.

Gel coating allows you to keep your nails in order, giving them an aesthetic appearance. Moreover, their strengthening can be done not only in the salon, but also at home, having previously stocked up with all the necessary materials.

Gel nail coating without extensions: useful video

Covering nails with gel at home without extensions in this video:

White French at home. Covering nails with gel without extensions in this video:

Correct application of gel polish will make your manicure neat. The coating will last longer and your nails will remain in excellent condition for at least a couple of weeks. With this article you will learn how to apply gel polish at home.

With the advent of gel polish, the need for frequent nail painting has disappeared. This coating combines the ease of application of conventional varnish with the strength of gel. In addition, nails decorated with gel polish acquire strength and additional volume, look natural and do not cause any inconvenience.

Initially, gel polish was available only in specialized salons. Later, the opportunity to purchase all the necessary components at affordable prices made it possible to apply gel polish yourself. However, many girls do it wrong, making basic mistakes and shortcomings. To avoid this kind of misunderstanding, today we will consider in detail the question of how to apply gel polish at home correctly.

Is gel polish harmful?

Many people are interested in the question: how safe is this product? You can be sure that gel polishes are completely harmless. But they are harmless only if you use high-quality materials and follow the exact application sequence.

There is an opinion that gel polishes strengthen nails. This statement is wrong. The nail plates under the coating grow quite long, but due to the density of the alternating layers of gel polish, they can become fragile and brittle. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to use complexes of vitamins and strengthening elements after removing the gel polish. But this is a topic for another article.

How is gel polish different from regular polish?

No matter how expensive the polish is and no matter how carefully you take care of your nails, regular polish will not last longer than 4-5 days.

Gel polish appeared relatively recently. This is a kind of combination of traditional nail polish and gel. The creators wanted to get something in between and they did it perfectly. In terms of its main characteristics, gel polish is not much different from regular polish. It comes in a jar with a brush, which can be used to create various designs. This varnish can be coated with rhinestones, designs, foil and other decorations.

One of the differences between gel polish and regular polish is that gel polish is always dried in an ultraviolet lamp. This is always worth remembering before purchasing material.

Also, gel polish is somewhat thinner than regular polish, which is why it can flow behind the cuticle and nail plate. Therefore, it is best to apply it separately to each nail and dry immediately. This will increase the procedure time to 1-1.5 hours.

What is the difference between gel polish and gel extensions?

The gel is used to increase the length and strength of nail plates. Gel polish is applied to the manicure and extends its service life. In addition, the application technology for both products is fundamentally different.

Photo: classic manicure with gel polish

Difficulties in applying gel polish at home

The price of gel polish in a salon greatly depends on the class of the establishment, the quality of the materials used and additional services. If you apply gel polish at home, the whole procedure will cost you several times less.

Possible difficulties when applying gel polish yourself:

1. The need for a one-time purchase of materials and tools for a tidy sum.
2. Long procedure period. While one hand is polymerizing, you cannot use the other at all. If you paint only 1 nail at a time, the time spent on the procedure will be quite decent. In this case, it is preferable to purchase not a UV lamp, but an Ice lamp (the polymerization time in a UV lamp is 3 minutes, in an LED lamp – 30 seconds).
3. Not everyone can apply the coating themselves.
4. Craftsmen in salons use various designs and decorative elements. Self-application is limited to 2-3 gel polish color options.
5. In the salon you can relax and unwind - the master will do everything himself. If the outcome is unsuccessful, he will accept the complaints and fix it himself.
6. Most purchased materials will dry out before you fully use them.

Materials and tools

Below is a list of materials and tools necessary for a high-quality manicure using gel polish:

• nail file (preferably with a sharp tip);
• buff – a block of solid porous material. It is necessary for polishing the nail plate;
• nourishing vitaminized cuticle oil - used at the final stage after applying materials and drying;
• lint-free wipes or small pieces of soft cloth. It is best not to use cotton pads as they leave hairs behind;
• orange sticks or pusher to push back cuticles;
• nail degreaser. You can purchase a professional degreaser or use liquid boric acid;
• acid-free primer (not always required, read the instructions for the gel polish);
• base;
• color coating;
• top It is recommended to use base, finish and color from the same developer;
• clinser - will be needed to remove stickiness at the final stage.
• UV or LED lamp

Photo: materials for applying gel polish

How to apply gel polish at home - step-by-step instructions

The procedure for applying gel polish can be divided into 7 steps:

1. Preparatory work
2. Primer application
3. Applying the base layer
4. Adding Color
5. Adding decorative elements and designs
6. Applying top
7. Final procedures

Preparatory work

Initially, you need to do a regular manicure. Push back the cuticle and remove any excess. File down the top edge of the nail, giving it a neat shape.

After this, remove the top keratin layer of the nail using a buff. This is necessary so that the varnish adheres better to the nail plates. During filing, the tool must be moved strictly in one direction: this creates some roughness on the surface. If you move the buff in different directions, there is a risk that you will polish the nail. Then degrease the plates using a degreaser, alcohol or liquid boric acid.

Primer application

After polishing, the nails become thinner and softer. To seal them, apply a bonder/primer. Also, this product degreases, dehydrates and promotes better adhesion of the varnish to the plates. Modern developers produce bonders without adding methacrylic acid, so you don’t have to worry about it damaging your nails.

This step is not necessary and depends on the brand of gel polish you choose.

Applying the base layer

How to apply the base correctly? Take a small amount of product with a brush and apply to the nail, starting from its tip. Next, distribute it evenly over the plate. Make sure that it does not flow inside the cuticle from below and on the sides, otherwise the manicure will turn out unsightly. You need to finish the base at the top, going slightly into the inner surface of the plate: this way you will seal it.

Photo: applying base coat to nails

The drying time for the base layer depends on the type of lamp and the brand of product you choose, but usually it takes about 30 seconds in an Ice lamp, about 2-3 minutes in a UV lamp.

Adding Color

The next step is to apply the color coating. It must be distributed over the plate as thinly as the base. Depending on the consistency of the varnish, use 2-3 layers, each of which polymerize separately.

Photo: applying color coating to nails

Based on how liquid the polish is, apply it to several nails at once or paint each one separately. After this, immediately put your nails under the lamp. When adding the first layer, refrain from painting all the nail plates evenly, especially if this is your first time. This can be done on the second and subsequent layers. The material will no longer be so fluid, it will be held in place by a sticky layer, and you will be able to make a neat coating. The sticky layer, by the way, cannot be touched or removed until the very end of the procedure.

Adding decorative elements and designs

After applying the color, try to make a basic design. While you have not yet mastered the technique of applying gel polish, it is better to refrain from complex compositions, but simple elements are quite within your power.

You can easily diversify the coating by gluing several rhinestones. Patterns made with dots also look beautiful: just place neat dots along a line, in segments or in waves. Drawings made from dots of various shades look original.

Another simple technique for decorating nails is sliders. They are a thin film with a ready-made pattern. To glue the slider, just put it in water for a couple of minutes, and then place the peeled film on the plate. This film slides easily, so you can easily correct its position if you initially placed it incorrectly.

Foil is a beautiful decorative element that will make your fingers look royally luxurious. To make such a design, it is enough to place pieces of special thin foil on the surface of the sticky layer. They will stick right away. You can purchase such foil in specialized stores for nail decoration.

The French design invariably remains a classic design option. To create it, apply a base to the surface, draw a “smile” along the line of the overgrown nail and secure with a top coat. If the colored varnish runs a little, it's okay. Using a brush dipped in degreaser, you can easily remove imperfections.

Applying top

The final stage is adding a finish or top. Apply it in a thin layer, starting from the top, then walk along the plate and finish with the top, slightly extending beyond the inner surface. This way you will “seal” the work, protecting it from premature delamination and erasing.

Caring procedures

Remove the sticky layer with a degreaser. Apply nourishing oil to the cuticles and lightly rub it into the skin.

Your manicure is ready, but there are still some nuances left. Do not wet your fingers for at least 2 hours, as the material is still in the “shrinkage” stage. Also refrain from going to the sauna or lying in a hot bath for 2 days.

If you still have questions, watch the following video.

How to apply gel polish at home and keep the coating for a long time?

• Do not wet your fingers after applying the coating for at least 2 hours. Otherwise, it will begin to peel off after a few days.
• The product can only be applied to healthy plates, without delamination and other “troubles”. The material will not last long on sore nails.
• There are rare situations when the coating does not adhere to healthy nails; cracks and chips form on it. In this case, you just have to accept that this gel polish manufacturer is not for you.
• Do not try to remove the material yourself, even if it begins to chip. Along with the coating, you will remove the top layer of the nail and completely ruin the plates.
• To remove the coating, use only products specifically designed for this purpose. This is the only way to ensure that the plates remain healthy and ready for subsequent applications of gel polish.

As you can see, it’s not at all difficult to learn how to apply gel polish at home. By following the above step-by-step recommendations, you will decorate your nails no worse than they would do it in a salon. Of course, you have to spend a little money at first, but it's worth it!

25 Apr 2018, 15:09

Most girls who want to get a manicure with gel polish go to a specialist’s home or to a beauty salon.

There is an excellent assortment for this - on the CosmoLac page. In this article you will learn how to apply gel polish yourself at home. It ranks 1st in popularity of materials for manicure. Which is quite logical, because the varnish is distinguished by its practicality. Firstly, it makes the manicure durable (the coating lasts for at least 2 weeks). Secondly, nails become stronger and stronger.

Required Tools

Before creating a manicure, you need to make sure that all the required tools and materials are prepared:

• UV lamp - manicure is impossible without it, as it ensures the hardening of the varnish. It is important to dry the gel well; lamps with a power lower than 36 W are not suitable. A more convenient model would be an LED lamp, which dries nails many times faster;
• The base is one of the most important materials, which is responsible for the strength of the manicure and the protection of the nail plate;
• Top coat - it is applied at the very end, when the manicure is completed. There are 2 types: matte and gloss;
• Gel polishes of all colors and shades;
• Degreaser – a product that removes fat from the surface of the nail;
• Manicure scissors, files, buff, orange stick or pusher;
• Various rhinestones, bouillons, stickers, stencils, sparkles;
• Small lint-free wipes. If they are not there, take a soft cloth or other material. Cotton pads will not work, as pieces of cotton wool will stick to the gel;
• Cuticle oil applied to soothe and nourish irritated skin around the nail.

It’s not worth buying a lot of materials at once, especially at a high cost. Not all are suitable, the best of them are selected with experience.

Preparing to apply gel polish

Let's proceed to a detailed consideration of the procedure for coating a nail with gel polish. To ensure that the manicure does not differ from a salon one and is of good quality, the surface of the nail plate must be well prepared:

First, the old coating is removed. Then the cuticle is removed with scissors or a special liquid. The free edge of the nail is also treated. It is given the desired shape using a nail file; it is used to remove the exfoliated areas of the nail plate;
The keratin layer is removed from the surface of the nail to ensure strong adhesion to the gel polish. This is done using a buff or a sanding file. Any remaining dust should be wiped off with a small brush or cloth. After this step, it is better not to touch your nails with your hands;
There are often cases when natural plates, after removing artificially extended nails, become very thin and soft. Nail plates of this type will not be able to provide strong contact with the gel polish and will quickly break. In this situation, a primer that does not contain acids and is safe for the body will help. It is applied to the main part of the plate and to the end to avoid the occurrence of detachments.
The base coat is applied first. You should not allow a thick layer to form on your nails, otherwise it may simply not dry out. Therefore, all excess is removed on the edge of the bottle. As close as possible to the cuticle, and then carefully apply the base over the entire nail, without touching the skin of the side ridges. The layer should be even, without roughness. It is dried in a lamp;
Now apply gel polish using the following technology:

Step-by-step instructions for gel coating

• A drop of varnish is placed just above the center, which is pushed as close to the cuticle as possible without touching the skin;
• Next, apply a stroke in the middle of the nail plate to the free edge. Two more strokes lead from the base of the nail to its edge, but on the sides, left and right;
• The last step is to seal the end. They simply go over it with a brush, painting over the gaps;

1. Turn on the lamp with a timer for 2 minutes, dry the nails. Each new layer of varnish must be dried, so it is made the thinnest. To make the gel polish look noble, it is applied in at least 2 layers;
2. After obtaining the desired color saturation, you can complete the manicure. To do this, cover the nail with a top coat, not forgetting the ends. The application technology is the same as for the base. The finished work is dried well in a lamp;
3. Finally, you need to get rid of the dispersion layer using a degreaser or alcohol. Apply cuticle oil to the skin around the nail.

Removing old coating

The coating is removed when the manicure no longer looks neat and the nails have already grown a lot. Cotton pads soaked in nail polish remover are not enough to remove stubborn nail polish. The process of getting rid of manicure coating is quite labor-intensive and long, and it will take 15-30 minutes. Here everything depends on the experience of the master, the number of layers of varnish on the nail surface, and the time of wearing the manicure.

Removal is performed as follows:

• Using a nail file, remove the shiny surface from the base and end of the nail, i.e. glossy layer;
• The remover is applied to a cotton pad cut into 4 parts. Each nail is covered with a moistened piece, which is fixed firmly on top with foil;
• After 10-15 minutes, the foil and cotton wool can be removed from the nails. After this, the polish swells and comes off the nail on its own. You can use a pusher to remove any remaining gel. Everything must be done carefully, since at this stage the surface of the natural nail is exposed;
• If the varnish has hardened while other nails were being processed, then the procedure is carried out again.

A freshly done manicure is much easier to remove than one done a few weeks ago.

Manicure ideas

If you like an original and beautiful manicure, then the perfect solution would be to create various patterns on top of the base. Here are some nail decoration ideas that you can easily do at home:

• Fashion lovers will love the design, which combines different shades. Here one nail may stand out, contrasting in color with the rest. You can combine two or three colors on your finger at once. Patterns made with a thin brush will be very useful;
• Rhinestones or stones, which are suitable for both multi-colored and plain manicures, will help make your manicure even brighter and more unusual. The decorations are attached to the surface of the nail using special glue. If it is missing, then you can glue them onto a sticky layer of varnish that has not yet dried. Then all this is dried in a UV or LED lamp and a top coat is applied;
• Rubbing will give your manicure a neat look. It hides unevenness and other imperfections. The design will look modern with the use of neon shimmer;
• Glitter powder. With a thin brush, you can apply crumbly small glitter in the form of some kind of pattern or simply cover the entire nail with it. The powder is applied before the gel polish has dried, then it is secured with a top coat.

Instructions for painting with gel polish on nails

The use of dots greatly simplifies the task of creating designs on nails. This thin stick is an excellent option for beginners who are learning to make clear and beautiful drawings. With its help you can carefully draw any monograms or ruffles. The technique for using dots when applying gel polish will be as follows:

1. Take a dots of the appropriate size;
2. Dip the tip into gel polish;
3. A small dots will allow you to draw the smallest details; here it can act as a brush. The pattern is drawn starting from the center. In this case, the instrument is moved as if the gel is being slightly pushed;
4. The completed design must be covered with a top coat.

Compared to the option described above, a more difficult task will be to apply gel polish in the form of a pattern using a brush. You are already familiar with the plan for the basic coating of the nail plate with gel polish and painting with dots. In the case of a brush, everything happens similarly. Only, in addition to other tools, you will additionally need a brush with medium and long bristles.

The difficulty with applying gel polish yourself with a brush is that the polish can be liquid, which can cause it to smudge. And if the pigmentation density of the varnish is low, then the patterns may not be visible at all. It is important to remember these points, therefore, in order to achieve an ideal result, you need to buy gel paints or varnishes with a high level of pigment.