Well-groomed hands – business card every girl. A neat and beautiful manicure will always help you look more confident and complement any look. Sometimes it is not always possible to do it in a beauty salon, so it is worth learning this procedure yourself. Doing a manicure with your own hands is not the same anymore difficult task, especially if you follow the step-by-step instructions.
What is gel polish?
Gel polish is a fairly new invention in the beauty industry, which is very popular. It is a nail polish with a special structure that is dried under an ultraviolet lamp.
Due to its composition, it has a number of advantages over conventional coating:
- Persistence. Properly applied gel polish can last up to 3-4 weeks.
- Availability. It is not difficult to apply to the nail plate, and drying takes from 40 seconds to 3 minutes, depending on the quality and power of the lamp.
- Durable texture. Helps strengthen brittle nails.
- Safety. Gel polish has no contraindications during pregnancy, lactation and in the presence of chronic diseases. In addition, it does not penetrate deep into the pores of the nail plate, which means it does not harm its appearance and health.
Necessary tools and equipment
Before you start manicure at home, you need to purchase everything necessary tools. They are usually sold in specialized stores.
Let's look at what you need for a manicure:
- steam bath nail plate and cuticles with soap or sea salt and oils;
- files and sharp scissors to give nails the required shape;
- polishing buff;
- lint-free wipes;
- metal tweezers and cuticle spatula;
- cuticle softener and remover;
- hand cream.
To apply the coating you will need:
- colored gel polish;
- base coat;
- fixative;
- primer;
- specialized degreaser or acetone;
- alcohol;
- an ultraviolet lamp with a power of at least 36 W to quickly and efficiently dry all layers of varnish;
- cuticle oil;
- nail file, brush and other tools for creating a manicure.
Step by step instructions
At home, you can do a trimmed or untrimmed manicure. In the first case, the cuticle is completely removed using metal tweezers, and in the second, it is moved to the very edge of the nail using a stick. commit cosmetic procedure costs in stages:
- First of all, you should give the desired shape to the nail. To do this, use sharp scissors and files. If the nail plate is dense enough, then sharp shapes are suitable, and if it is brittle, then square shapes will be the best option.
- Next you should prepare the cuticle. In this case, use baths with warm water with the addition of soap or sea salt. To whiten your nails, add a few drops of lemon oil. Keep your hands in the bath for about 10 minutes and then start working with the cuticle, taking out your fingers one at a time.
- Push back the cuticle using a wooden or metal stick and remove any remaining pterygium underneath. If necessary, clean everything with tongs.
Advice! To remove cuticles, you can use special solutions that soften rough skin. It is better to apply such products to each nail separately, as they dry quickly.
- After this, sand the nail plate using a buff file for better adhesion to the polish.
- Soak wipes in degreaser or acetone and wipe all nails to remove any remaining grease and dust. After this procedure, you should not touch your nails, otherwise it will have to be repeated again.
- If you have brittle claws, then apply a primer before the base coat, which will further strengthen them. It is also dried in a lamp for about 2 minutes.
- Now you can start applying the base coat. Try to apply it in a thin layer on the outer and inner side nail This will help your manicure last as long as possible. Next, place your hand in the lamp for 1-2 minutes.
Advice! If you are using a lamp with a power less than 36 W, then hold your hands in it for about 2-3 minutes so that the coating has time to dry.
- Next, apply the colored varnish in a thin layer, without touching the skin. If this happens, the residue can be removed using an orange stick. Then place your hand in the lamp for 3-5 minutes.
- The varnish can be reapplied in a thicker layer to make the color of the manicure more saturated. Place it in the lamp again for 4-5 minutes.
- Now we apply the fixative, carefully painting the outer and inner sides of the nail plate. For greater durability of the manicure, you can use it twice, carefully drying each layer in a lamp for 2-3 minutes.
Advice! Don't forget to sand the outer corners of your nail to prevent your polish from chipping in the future.
- Remove the sticky layer using degreaser, alcohol or acetone.
- Apply a little oil to the cuticles, gently rubbing it in with massage movements.
How to remove gel polish?
Since gel polish has a denser structure than regular varnish, then deleting it will take you some time. For this you will need:
- gel polish remover or regular acetone;
- cotton pads;
- orange stick;
- foil or special clips.
The procedure will not take much time. You should act carefully so as not to damage the nail itself and the skin around it:
- Cut the cotton pads into two and soak them generously in nail polish remover.
- Place them on your nails, pressing them firmly against the nail plate.
- Wrap with foil or secure with special clips. This is necessary so that the product does not evaporate so quickly. Wait about 15 minutes.
- Repeat the procedure with all nails.
- Then remove and remove the polish using an orange stick.
- If the coating does not come off well, repeat the procedure a second time.
- Minor gel polish residues can be removed with a polishing file.
- To strengthen the nail plate after removing the coating, it is recommended to carry out nourishing procedures using baths or cream.
Design examples
Sticking to current trends this season, you can quickly tidy up your nails and create a unique design. Remember simple rules and the surrounding girls will follow your hands with admiring glances. In 2017-2018 it is recommended:
- choose pastel shades;
- combine matte and glossy finishes;
- use moon jacket;
- emphasize the most natural shape of the nail.
All of you have probably heard about such a nail coating as Shellac. So, he is just the very first called and popular representative of the new line of polymer and durable coatings for nails - gel polishes.
Let's compare the pros and cons of this manicure
Gel polish looks like regular polish on nails and is applied in the same way, but it dries only under the rays of an ultraviolet lamp, and after drying it becomes much more durable and wear-resistant.
Due to this, the gel stays on the nails longer than usual - from a week to three, while its surface does not scratch, does not wear out, and the color does not fade.
Another plus is that it creates a strong frame for nails, which is why they break less and, therefore, grow faster. At the same time, it has virtually no odor.
The disadvantages of using such a manicure at home include the fairly high cost of a basic set of equipment and products. On average, from 3 to 6 thousand rubles, half of which is the price for an ultraviolet lamp, as well as color coatings that are not cheap, their cost ranges from 300 to 1000 rubles.
Another inconvenient thing about varnishes is that the nails cannot be quickly touched up if suddenly a chip appears in some place due to the nature of the procedure, which means that the chipped varnish must be completely washed off immediately.
Materials and tools
To perform a manicure at home you will need:
Step-by-step guide from our expert
If some points remain unclear, we suggest you look detailed video with a master class from a professional master:
How to remove and remove gel polish
This manicure can be removed using cotton wool soaked in special. solution, which are applied to the nails, then wrapped in foil and left for several minutes. The varnish softens and peels off under the influence of the product.
Do not try to remove pre-softened gel polish from your nail.
You may be able to remove it easily, since it comes off completely in the form of a film, but unpleasant hooks and irregularities may remain on the nails, which will spoil appearance nail
Watch a detailed video of this process:
Unlike regular varnish, after completing a manicure, you can immediately get on with any business without fear that the coating will be scratched or torn off. Therefore, for those who have such a problem, gel polish is an excellent solution.
This set is recommended for busy women. For those who are at work late or sit with a child, and therefore do not have the opportunity to get to a beauty salon to see a master and often renew their manicure.
But for those who, on the contrary, like to change and match their manicure to the color of their clothes or mood, this option is unlikely to suit them.
To avoid getting tired of the same shades, alternate gel polish manicure with a regular one.
Beautiful and healthy
For a manicure to be beautiful, your nails must be healthy. Gel polish is not applied to thin, fragile and flaking nails. Most coatings simply won't stick to them. In addition, gel polish can even be harmful to such nails. There is only one allowed for problem nails.
You can maintain healthy nail plates in different ways. It is best to combine:
Taking good vitamins
Regular manicure
Home care treatments
Constant care for your nails will soon bear fruit. And to make it easier for you to navigate this difficult issue, get acquainted with ours. In addition, it would not hurt to study recipes and also find out. Don't forget what you buy at the pharmacy.
If your nails have already lost their former beauty, use high-quality medicinal varnishes. They have it too.
What is important to know before starting the procedure?
There are a few basic things to remember before even starting the procedure. They will help you create the perfect manicure that will stay with you for a long time.
The first and most important rule: the workplace must always be clean. Although gel polish is very resistant to chips and abrasions, it still has a weak point. When a speck gets between the layers, the structure of the coating is disrupted. As a result, chipping and peeling of the coating may appear within the first week after a manicure.
The reason for the violation of the structure of a manicure with gel polish can even be sawdust after processing the nail plate.
Therefore, professional craftsmen equip their workplace with a special vacuum cleaner.
If you are performing the procedure at home, thoroughly clean the work surface. put away any loose cosmetics and tie your hair into a ponytail.
Collecting tools
If you are going to do a manicure with gel polish for the first time and have not taken any training courses, it is important to choose good tools. The quality of a manicure depends not only on the materials you apply to your nails, but also on the tools. Cheap files will ruin the structure of the nail plate; due to bad lamps, the layers of gel and varnish will not dry out. Even the wrong wipes can lead to peeling and cracking!
How to choose a file?
The file must be selected in accordance with the condition of the nails.
There are different degrees of abrasiveness of files. Fine-grained files are softer. they can be used for thin, damaged nail plates. Rougher tools will work better on thick nails.
There is no need to take iron files - they inevitably lead to delamination of the nail plate.
If you don't like the classic soft options, consider glass instruments. They delicately file the nail without harming the structure.
Buff for polishing
In addition to a regular nail file to shape the nail plate, you will need a polishing tool. This can be a special soft file or buff.
A buff is a three-dimensional block with an abrasive surface on each side. They can be different: some are rougher, others are soft. But there are buffs whose sides have the same abrasiveness.
You need a soft tool that you will use for delicate polishing.
Why do you need a pusher?
A cosmetic pusher is needed to work with cuticles.
It is a short rod with a beveled tip.
A cosmetic pusher is convenient to use to push back the cuticles from the nail plate.
For home use, it is better to take soft models made of rubber and plastic - they are less traumatic. The cosmetic pusher can be replaced with an orange wood stick.
How to choose a lamp?
The durability of your manicure and the duration of the procedure will depend on the lamp. There are three types of lamps: LED, UV and CCFL. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. We described recommendations for choosing lamps in more detail in.
What else might you need...
In addition to the standard set of tools, you may need:
Brushes. Firstly, you may not like the base brush of the product. Some companies do not approach this stage of product manufacturing very carefully. It may be too wide or thin. Sometimes the cut of the pile turns out to be uneven and as a result the varnish is applied sloppily. Secondly, brushes will be needed for nail art.
Required funds
In addition to tools, you will also need some supplies. Although for the coating itself you only need a base, color and top, you can’t do without the other components either.
Cuticle remover
cuticle remover is the cost of our persistent attempts to persuade you to have an unedged manicure. Remover consists of fruit acids and alkalis. It literally dissolves dead cuticle cells. Even more about this useful tool you can read.
Degreaser
The degreaser cleanses the nail plate of dirt and removes excess moisture. As a result, the base coat adheres to the nail better and the manicure lasts much longer. We have already written a detailed one. It will help you choose the right product.
Base, color and top
You can choose the base, color and top from any manufacturer. But, if this is your first time doing a manicure with gel polish, it is better to give preference to products from the same line. It could be or. At first, before you get the hang of it, even . Once you have experience, you can safely combine products from different manufacturers.
Klinser
Cleanser is a very important tool when creating a manicure with gel polish. It is needed to remove the sticky layer from the nail. This step may seem like a waste of time to you. But by missing it, you reduce the quality of your manicure and damage its longevity. about the importance of clinser and draw your own conclusion: do you need this product or not.
Cuticle oil
Only at the last stage will you need cuticle oil. Gel polish is not compatible with fatty substances, so moisturizing follows the removal of the sticky layer. The oil makes the cuticle moisturized and healthy. This way you will protect your nails from infection and deformation of the nail plate. On our website you can find information about this.
As a complement to other means, you can use. This is a special liquid tape that is applied around the nail plate and prevents you from staining the skin with polish.
The nuances of applying layers
Having prepared all the necessary tools, you need to study the nuances of applying layers. The correct technique for creating a manicure with gel polish is very important. Without following the consistency and features of the technology, you can’t count on a durable and beautiful coating.
Lacquer square
The first nuance you need to get acquainted with is the varnish square. It is not at all necessary to do it, but it significantly increases the period of wearing a manicure.
To make a varnish square, you will need clear varnish. The most common one, not gel.
The polish square should be done after you have shaped the nail plate, removed the cuticles and cleaned the nails with a degreaser.
Just step back from the edges of the nail plate 2-3 millimeters on each side and paint the inner area (that is, the middle of the nail plate) with clear polish.
Once it's dry, you can move on to base coat your nails.
Layer thickness
When creating a gel polish coating, each layer must have its own thickness.
There are three main means, as we mentioned earlier. This:
Color coating
The features for each of them are:
The base should be thin. Professional manicurists advise putting just a drop of the product on your brush. A ball of gel the size of half a match head will be enough. It needs to be carefully distributed over the entire nail in a thin layer. A thick base will not adhere well to the nail and color coating. As a result, the manicure will simply peel off.
Next comes the color coating. It also needs to be applied in a very thin layer - otherwise it will not dry out. The drop size of the color coating is the same as for the base product. You apply the color in a thin layer and distribute it over the entire nail plate. It’s better to make several translucent layers, dry them thoroughly and get a bright, durable coating than to be upset about a bad manicure.
The last layer is applied the base. And this layer should be denser than the previous ones. Since nothing else is applied on top of the base, you don't have to worry about adhesion. At this stage, it is more important for us to create a dense “shell” that will literally protect the nail from impact and friction. In addition, a voluminous layer of top gives the manicure a beautiful glossy shine.
End sealing
In a manicure with gel polish, it is very important to seal the ends.
The end is the very tip of the free edge of the nail plate, which you can rest against the pad of another finger. When you apply layers, they all end here.
Until sealing, the layers of products look like sheets of paper stacked on top of each other. They do not unite, but simply attach to each other.
Sheets of paper can be folded into a folder. She will unite them into a single block.
The same thing happens when sealing layers. To do this, the top product is lightly applied to the end of the nail. It seems to envelop the edges of all previous layers, fastening them together.
Lamp drying time
But don't forget that the beauty of manicure is not only about complex effects. A beautiful coating is impossible without compliance correct technique its creation and healthy nail plates.
With the help of which you not only maintain a well-groomed appearance of your hands, but also show your individuality. Unfortunately, the coating on the nails does not last more than a week, in addition, it can smear before it has time to dry. Therefore, it is necessary to update your manicure very often, which is quite tedious. Gel polish coating helps solve the problem. The photo below shows what the nails look like after this procedure.
Applying gel polish is easy, and since a UV lamp is used for drying, you don’t have to worry about the coating smearing. In addition, gel polish forms a strong base for nails, which protects them from damage and allows them to grow faster. Decorative gel polish coating retains its appearance for a long time, does not fade over time, and does not form scratches. The technology for applying gel polish is simple, the main thing is to take into account some important points.
What is gel polish?
Gel polish has a unique structure; when dried under an ultraviolet lamp, it turns into a durable coating that is not subject to damage or abrasion. Currently, many companies produce gel polishes, the difference between which is the polymerization time, viscosity, amount of color pigment, etc.
Durability, strength, and simple application technology are the reasons why this type of manicure, such as gel polish, is becoming increasingly popular among women. The photo shows that the color range of such varnishes is quite diverse, from traditional to extraordinary tones.
The coating applied to the nails dries under the influence of ultraviolet rays in a lamp for two to four minutes. The drying time depends on the consistency of the product and the power of the lamp.
Advantages
Among the advantages of such a coating, one can note its durability compared to conventional varnishes, ease of application (if you have special devices, a manicure can be done at home), durable texture, which helps strengthen the nail plate. The gel polish coating remains shiny; when applied correctly, it does not form cracks or chips, so there is no need for additional correction. Nails look natural after applying gel polish. In addition, the use of gel polish is not harmful to health, is safe for pregnant and lactating women, it does not penetrate the pores of the nail and does not affect the condition of the nail plate.
The disadvantages include the complex procedure for removing the coating, as well as the relative high cost of such a manicure. But still, there are much more advantages, which is why many women choose gel polish coating.
What do you need to buy?
In order to be able to do such a manicure at home, you need to purchase a special set, which consists of gel polishes (transparent and colored), an ultraviolet lamp, a degreaser, a bond, a primer, a top coat, a nail file and a polishing buffer, an orange stick, lint-free napkins. A gel polish coating kit can be found in a specialty store.
When choosing gel polish, keep in mind that inexpensive remedy may be of poor quality and may damage your nails if used continuously. Therefore, it is advisable to give preference to branded devices.
Without an ultraviolet lamp it is impossible to apply gel polish to your nails. The photo shows what such a lamp looks like.
Its power must be at least 36 W so that the nail coating is securely fixed. Otherwise, your manicure may turn out to be faded and sloppy. The special lamp for gel manicure has a timer, which makes it convenient to track the time.
Wipe the nail plate with a degreaser. To save money, you can use regular medical alcohol for this purpose. Bond is necessary to dry nails. The primer provides better adhesion of the coating to the nail.
Manicure technique
The procedure consists of several stages. Let's look at each of them in detail.
1. Nail preparation
Covering nails with gel polish begins with their preparation. First of all, using a nail file, you need to give your nails the desired shape. For thin nails, the most optimal length will be a short one, which will allow you to maintain your manicure longer. Before the start of the session, you can make a relaxing hand bath with the addition of essential oils. Nails should be allowed to dry thoroughly, as soaked manicure will not last long.
Then you need to push back the cuticle using an orange stick. All nails are filed to the required length. Use a fine-grained polishing buff to remove the natural gloss from the nails so that the surface becomes matte. Delaminations must be removed very carefully, otherwise the coating will begin to chip off along with them. Particular attention should be paid to the edge of the nail plate, removing all cracks and detached parts. Then, using a brush, you need to brush off the dust that has formed during the process.
After this, the nails are degreased, being careful not to touch them until the end of the procedure to avoid chipping the coating in the future. A thin layer of transparent bond is applied to the nail plate, and then a primer. This procedure allows you to preserve your manicure longer.
2. Applying gel polish
Gel polish coating is a simple procedure, but you must follow some rules. First, the nails are coated with a base transparent varnish and placed in a UV lamp for 30-60 seconds. You should not touch your nails so as not to contaminate the surface, this may affect the quality of the manicure.
Then a thin layer of colored varnish is applied. It is important that it does not get on the skin around the nail, otherwise it will not last long. All excess can be easily removed before polymerization. Place the nails in the lamp for two minutes; if desired, you can repeat the procedure two or three times, then the color will be brighter. Do not apply the varnish too thickly; bumps and peeling may appear.
3. Applying top coat
If desired, you can apply any patterns or decorations under the top layer. Polymerization lasts 2-3 minutes. When applying the coating, do not forget to seal the end of the nail, which will give the manicure durability and keep it longer. At the end of polymerization, you need to moisten a lint-free cloth in a degreaser and wipe your nails to remove the top sticky layer. To maintain gloss, change the napkin every 3 nails.
Then nourishing oil is applied to the cuticle to moisturize. This completes the coating of nails with gel polish. The photo shows what the nails look like after this procedure.
Now you can do normal things without fear of ruining your manicure.
How to remove gel polish?
After two to three weeks, the coating must be removed, since during this time the nail grows significantly, and this spoils the entire manicure. Gel polish coating is not so easy to remove and an incorrect procedure can significantly worsen the condition of the nails. The best option You will contact a salon where this will be done professionally. Under no circumstances should you tear off or remove the coating like a film, since the top layer of the nail can be torn off along with the varnish.
To carry out this procedure at home, you need to prepare foil, cotton pads, a special coating remover or a regular acetone-based product, an orange stick.
First you need to wash your hands. Then a cotton pad is applied to the nail, which is pre-moistened in nail polish remover, wrapped with foil on top to avoid evaporation of the solvent. After 10-15 minutes the varnish softens. After massaging the nail plate, remove the cotton wool and foil along with the coating.
The remaining gel polish can be removed using an orange stick. If not all of the coating was removed, the procedure must be repeated. Do not remove any remaining polish, as this will damage the nail plate.
Possible problems
You can often hear complaints that the gel polish coating turned out to be unstable, lasting no more than a week, or began to chip off after a few days. If all points were taken into account and the procedure was carried out correctly, the reason may be individual characteristics nails You can try using gel polish from another company or switch to more expensive products.
For women who do not have enough free time to do manicures often, but at the same time want to have well-groomed hands, covering their nails with gel polish will become a real find and will delight you for a long time, maintaining an attractive appearance. In addition, for those who have brittle and weak nails, this method will help them grow to the required length.
A beautiful, bright, and most importantly, long-lasting manicure is what many women dream of. But often the coating peels off the nails within two or three days. But it was like that before. Now everyone has the opportunity to perform a manicure with gel polish, which will allow you to create a bright, beautiful and very durable nail art of nails to your taste.
photos
Coating features
Nail manicure using gel polish is becoming more and more popular every day. It allows you to create a beautiful, long-lasting manicure even on your own at home. In addition, unlike nail extensions or covering them with acrylic, gel polish is safer for the structure of the nails. The variety of shades, the possibility of applying a pattern or rhinestones on top of this coating make it possible to create a manicure for every taste and occasion.
The main feature of gel polish is its durability and the absence of such a defect as cracking on the surface of the nail. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about the safety of your manicure and feel free to do household chores such as laundry, washing dishes and wet cleaning.
photos
Being the opposite of standard varnishes and acrylic coating, this product not only does not injure the nails, but also helps to strengthen them and enhance growth. Therefore, this type of nail art is ideal for women with thin and brittle nails.
Also, such a coating will best choice for those who love a bright and beautiful manicure, but cannot or do not want to do it themselves every day. The unique formula of this product allows it to maintain the brightness of the colors, their shine and safety on the nails for more than 14 days. Therefore, this nail design is perfect for those who go on vacation or a long business trip.
But perhaps the most important feature gel polish is the need to use specific equipment when applying it.
The process of covering the nails with it is not difficult, but it can become completely impossible due to the lack of necessary tools. Therefore, before proceeding directly to the manicure, you should purchase all the necessary attributes in advance.
Those who decide to try doing a manicure with gel polish on their own need to stock up on the necessary equipment, and first of all this applies to special ultraviolet lamps. There are two types of such lamps on sale - UV and LED. It is best for beginners to give preference to the first option, as it has a lower cost and is easier to use.
You will also need special files of various sizes and a special file for grinding the nail plate - buff. In addition to the gel polish itself in various shades, you will also need a special base and fixer. Particular attention must be paid to ensure that these two products are intended specifically for gel coating; those used for nail extensions are not suitable. After using them, the gel polish begins to crack within a few hours. As a last resort, you can cover the gel with regular clear varnish, but in this case you should not count on long-term durability of the manicure.
You will also need such components as special lint-free cotton pads or napkins, degreasers, orange tree sticks and emollient cream or cuticle oil. But it’s not enough to acquire all the necessary tools; you need to learn how to use them correctly.
First of all, you need to undergo special training. It is preparation for further work that plays an important role. Not only its appearance and durability, but also the opinion of you as a specialist depends on how correctly the manicure is performed.
This can be done either at specialized courses or by asking good specialist show you a master class. It’s even better to take private lessons periodically, this way you can avoid many problems at work and, if necessary, immediately receive competent help. The instructions for working with gel polish itself are very simple, all the steps are accessible, understandable and described in detail, but it is still better to see once than to read or hear several times.
An important role in the work is played by the neatness of both the master himself and his working area. Therefore, it is very important that your desktop is always in perfect order. The first impression is the most important thing, even if you plan to do manicures only for yourself and your friends.
Simply applying gel polish to your nails in one color quickly gets boring. Therefore, it is recommended to constantly improve your professionalism. The easiest way is to purchase special stickers, rhinestones and stencils to create drawings and patterns.
Experienced manicurists strongly recommend that all beginners, even those who plan to apply gel polish exclusively for themselves, create a portfolio of their work. This will allow you to clearly see the progress of your activities or spot some mistakes.
In addition, in the future this will allow the client to have a clear choice of possible nail designs.
How to apply at home
But you can learn how to paint your nails with gel polish efficiently, beautifully, correctly and accurately only by practicing regularly. Therefore, first of all, you need to understand in detail how to properly paint your nails with gel polish at home yourself.
Getting a manicure with my own hands without leaving the walls of your home, there are two ways. They differ in the materials used and the type of lamp. In the first case, to perform a manicure you will need a file, buff, base and top coat, UV lama, gel polish the desired shade, degreaser and disinfectant. In the second case, similar tools are used, but a primer is also added to them, and the UV lamp is replaced with an LED lamp.
The instructions for the first method contain the following steps:
- Filing the edge of the nail to give it the required even shape and removing the keratin layer from its surface using a regular file and a buff file. The buff must be used with caution; it is enough to make only a few movements with this tool to remove shine from the surface of the nails. This is necessary for better bonding of the coating to the nail.
- Then you need to trim the cuticle, using special tweezers.
- Degreasing the nail bed is a mandatory step in a manicure with gel polish.
- After this, the surface of the nail bed is covered with a special gel base. It is best to apply it to each finger and dry it in a lamp. In UV the drying time is two minutes.
- After this, a thin layer of the selected shade of gel polish is applied to the dry nails. Please pay special attention that the first layer should be translucent. We also recommend applying it to each finger in turn, and each next one should be painted after the previous one has dried.
- We apply a second layer of gel polish, which should be much thicker than the first. We also dry the tips of our fingers in a UV lamp.
- Finally, a top coat must be applied to all nails, which should also cover the end of the nails. It must also dry completely under ultraviolet rays. After time, the sticky layer from the nail is removed using a disinfectant.
If we talk about the second method of performing a manicure at home, then the sequence of actions is similar to the method described above. The difference lies in two things:
- After degreasing the nail bed, a primer is first applied to it, which is dried in a lamp, and only then the base for the gel polish is applied. Further manicure techniques are performed in the same step-by-step manner as in the first method.
- Unlike an ultraviolet lamp, an LED lamp allows you to dry the coating not in two minutes, but in only 15-20 seconds, which can significantly reduce the procedure time.
Although in the first version of the manicure, an LED lamp can also be used. It all depends on financial capabilities and personal preferences. The technology for performing a manicure with gel polish does not necessarily imply the use of a primer. But experienced masters say that this particular product allows you to extend the life of your manicure and has a positive effect on your nails.
Performing a manicure step by step, you can add some of your own changes. For example, before applying the top coat, you can decorate your nails with colored threads, rhinestones or any design. It should be remembered that additional decorations can be applied only after the gel polish has dried in the lamp.
After decorating the nails, they must be especially carefully coated with a fixative to fix the elements on the nails and dried in a lamp for about three minutes or 30 seconds, it all depends on its type.
When doing a manicure with gel polish, you need to pay special attention to the accuracy of applying all types of coating to the nails. You should carefully ensure that the gel polish or fixative does not get on the skin ridges around the nails and the cuticle. Firstly, they can provoke irritation or an allergic reaction, and secondly, such a manicure will look untidy and careless.
How to do a manicure with gel polish at home, see the video below.
But making nail art using this product is only half the battle. Sooner or later it will need to be removed from the nail plate.
Withdrawal rules
This type of nail polish cannot be removed the same way as regular nail polish. Some masters remove it from the nails with a file, that is, they file it off, just like acrylic coating or extended nails. But this is absolutely wrong. Firstly, it is a waste of time, and secondly, such a procedure can significantly damage the nails.
To remove gel polish from the surface of the nails, you can use a special cleaning solution, which can be purchased immediately complete with the gel. You can also use regular nail polish remover, but provided that it contains acetone.
In addition to the liquid itself, you will also need cotton wool discs or balls, orange tree sticks, as well as regular kitchen foil.
The discs are generously moistened in the selected solution and applied tightly to the fingertips, and wrapped with foil on top. The hands remain in this position for an average of 20 minutes. If used special remedy, then the time of its influence on the gel polish is 15 minutes. If you used regular nail polish remover, leave it on your nails for half an hour.
Then the foil with cotton wool is removed from the fingertips. The nail covering underneath should swell greatly and rise above the surface of the nail itself. Using an orange stick, carefully lift it to the end and move it to the edge of the nail, then remove it completely. Under the influence of liquid, the varnish turns into a thin film, which can be easily and simply removed from the surface of the nail without damaging it.
Of course, you should understand that the longer this product was on the surface of the nails, the more difficult it will be to remove it, and the procedure may take much longer. Therefore, the optimal time interval between application of this coating and its removal is considered to be 14 days.
After removing the gel polish, you need to give your nails a rest for at least a couple of days. It is best to make special herbal baths or baths with sea salt, this will help them recover faster after the procedure.
Master classes
Using gel polish, you can create a manicure in any style and color. And so that you don’t have to rack your brains and look for the most suitable options, we have prepared for you 3 master classes on nail design with gel polish. Among them, you will definitely be able to choose the most suitable option for yourself.
The first master class will help you create the most elegant and popular French manicure of all times. You can choose not only classic colors for this design, but also any others to your taste.
- Prepare a lamp, buffer, nail file, primer, primer, base, gel polish of two selected shades, fixative, disinfectant, cotton pads and special strips for french manicure.
- We file the edges of the nails and treat their surface with a buff.
- Apply the primer in one layer and put the nails in the lamp for 2 minutes or 10 seconds, it all depends on its type.
- We cover the entire surface of the nails, including the ends, with a base for gel polish, and apply a thin layer of primer to the tips of the nails. We send the marigolds one by one into the lamp for a similar period of time.
- Apply two layers of base shade gel polish to the entire length of the nails. Do not forget that the second layer can be applied only after the first has dried.
- We glue special strips to the nails, with which we limit the painting area with the second shade. Paint the tips of the nails with a second, more dark color, again in two layers, sending your hands into the lamp each time.
- Finally, coat all nails with a fixative, dry them in a lamp and remove the sticky layer using a disinfectant.
Your French manicure, done yourself at home and in your favorite colors, is ready.
See the video below for 3 ways to apply French manicure with gel polish.
Lovers of rhinestones and sparkles should definitely like quilted manicure . And the following master class will tell you how to do it yourself:
- Prepare rhinestones, special super glue, light-colored gel polish, degreaser, base, fixative, lamp, manicure thread, file and buff.
- Prepare your nails for coating using the same tools, as in the previous master class.
- Apply a layer of base to your nails and place them in the lamp for 30 seconds to one minute.
- Remove the sticky layer and lay out the manicure thread over the entire surface of the nails in the desired order.
- Apply successively two layers of the selected gel polish to the entire surface of the nail. Drying each of them for two minutes or 30 seconds in a lamp.
- We remove the threads from the nail and apply small drops of glue to its surface where we plan to apply the rhinestones.
- Place the decorations on super glue, pressing them lightly.
- Finally, apply the fixative and leave the nails to dry for another two minutes.
A beautiful iridescent quilted manicure is ready. You can apply glitter not to every nail, but only to a few. The same applies to applying a pattern using threads.
How to make a quilted manicure with gel polish, see the video below.
The so-called partial manicure is also very popular. It consists in the fact that 3-4 nails on the hand are painted with gel polish of the same tone, and the remaining ones are decorated at your own discretion - you can use stickers, you can create any design or borrow elements of a quilted manicure. This nail art is very easy to make.
- Prepare a lamp, file, buffer, degreaser, fixative, base, primer, gel polish, stickers with patterns, disinfectant.
- Prepare your nails for the procedure, as in the two previous cases.
- After degreasing the nails, apply primer to them and place them in the lamp for 2 minutes. When performing this manicure, each layer of product should be dried for two minutes or 30 seconds in a lamp.
- Apply gel polish base to all nails and dry.
- Next, apply gel polish to all nails except ring finger on one hand, and the little and middle fingers on the other hand. Dry it in a lamp.
- We glue the prepared stickers to the unpainted nails. They can be color, black and white, with images of flowers, and so on. It all depends on your taste. We cover all nails with a fixative and send them to the lamp.
- Remove the sticky layer with a disinfectant.
