Gel nails are the exciting new kid on the block in the world of nail art. It’s a bit of a complicated process when compared to traditional nail treatments, and is usually performed at a nail salon, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it yourself at home! The gel nails process is nearly the same at home as it is in the nail salons as long as you have the correct equipment and the patience to learn how the process works.
The first thing you are going to need is a quality gel nail polish kit, of course! A proper kit will provide you with all the supplies you need to apply and remove your gel polish. Gel nails differ from the regular nail polish procedures which don’t require any extra equipment. Gel nails do need you to have a gel nail polish kit so you can properly apply your gel polish!
OK, you have your kit, now it’s time to do your home gel manicure! Here is an easy step by step guide to walk you through it!
Prep Your Nails – You need to do this before any polish is applied. Prep your nails by first trimming them to create a uniform look.
Shape Your Nails – Shape your nails with a nail file into the desired shape. Pointed, oval, round, square, or almond, it’s up to you!
Push Your Cuticles Back – Use a cuticle pusher to gently push back the cuticle to reveal the base of your nails so your nail bed will be more exposed to the gel polish.
Buff Your Nails – Smooth nails make the applied gel look better, and prevents peeling and chipping because the gel can bond evenly. Nail buffers have three sides, the rough, smooth, and shiner side. Use the rough side to gently buff your nail’s surface, moving from your nail base to the edges. Don’t overdo it and make your nails too thin! Once the surface is even, use the buffer’s smooth and shiner sides to finish buffing the nail.
Rubbing Alcohol Wipe – Use rubbing alcohol to clean any debris from the nail. First wash and dry your hands, then gently apply the alcohol with a cotton pad. Alcohol dries fast, so it won’t take long for each nail to dry.
Apply Gel Base Coat – You need a gel base coat so your gel nail will adhere properly to your nail bed. Apply a thin layer evenly across the whole nail. Once the gel base coat is on, cure the nail with a UV/LED lamp for 45 to 60 seconds. If your kit doesn’t come with one, they are fairly inexpensive and you will get plenty of use from it! The gel base coat will be sticky after curing, it’s supposed to be.
Apply Gel Polish – Here’s the fun part! Apply a thin layer of gel polish carefully without mistakenly touching your cuticles. Apply evenly on all of your finger nails!
You will finish up by UV curing the nails one last time. Admire your fabulous new gel nails and be proud you did it all yourself!
