Self gel nail kit.
Things You'll Need
UV nail gel
Nail primer
Things You'll Need
UV drying light
Coating Your Nails
1
Apply the primer. This removes the remaining moisture and oils from your nails to get them ready for the gels. The primer comes with a brush, which you use to put a thin coat of primer on each nail from the cuticle to the top of the nail.
Use long, even strokes and cover the entire nail. Primer should be applied in a thin layer.
Let the primer dry completely before proceeding.
2
Brush an even coat of UV nail gel onto each nail. Use the brush that comes with the UV nail gel. Use long strokes, covering the whole nail surface. If you get any gel onto your finger or cuticle bed, remove it with the cuticle pusher. When you have coated all of your nails, put your hands under the UV drying light. Normal drying time is between 1 to 3 minutes.
3
Repeat with a second coat of UV nail gel. Brush on a second coat of the UV nail gel and place your hands back under the UV drying light until your nails are dry. The second coat may take longer to dry than the first, about 2 to 4 minutes.
Things You'll Need
Nail brushes
Nail file and buffer
Cuticle pusher
Q-tips
Cuticle oil
Nail brushes
Nail file and buffer
Cuticle pusher
Q-tips
Cuticle oil
Things You'll Need
UV nail gel
Nail primer
Things You'll Need
UV drying light
How to Apply Gel Nails
Gel nails provide the same strength and natural look as acrylic nails, but without the odor, nail damage and lifting commonly associated with acrylic overlays. You can get a full set of gel nails applied at a local beauty parlor or nail salon, but if you have the time and access to supplies, you can apply them yourself at home. To learn how to apply gel nails, use the following tips.
Getting Your Nails Ready
1
Take off old nail polish. Gel nails need to be applied to clean nails, so the first step is to remove your old polish. Use nail polish remover to take it off, or go to the salon to have your old gels or acrylics removed.
2
Trim your nails. Use a nail clippers or nails scissors to trim your nails to a manageable, even length. Use a nail file to smooth the rough edges.
3
Push back your cuticles. You want the gels to adhere to your natural nails, not your skin. Apply a small amount of cuticle oil with a cotton swab. Gently push each cuticle back with a cuticle pusher. Wash your hands after this step because your nails must be clean and dry before you apply the primer.
Use a cuticle pusher, usually made from metal or wood, to carefully push back each cuticle. If you don't have one, a wooden popsicle stick will also do the trick.
You might want to soak your fingers in warm water for a few minutes before pushing back your cuticles; they're easier to push when they're soft and wet.
4
Buff the top of your nails. Removing the top layer of your nails to take away their natural shine provides a better surface for the gels to stick to. This important step ensures your gels won't fall or peel off after you put them on.
Gel nails provide the same strength and natural look as acrylic nails, but without the odor, nail damage and lifting commonly associated with acrylic overlays. You can get a full set of gel nails applied at a local beauty parlor or nail salon, but if you have the time and access to supplies, you can apply them yourself at home. To learn how to apply gel nails, use the following tips.
Getting Your Nails Ready
1
Take off old nail polish. Gel nails need to be applied to clean nails, so the first step is to remove your old polish. Use nail polish remover to take it off, or go to the salon to have your old gels or acrylics removed.
2
Trim your nails. Use a nail clippers or nails scissors to trim your nails to a manageable, even length. Use a nail file to smooth the rough edges.
3
Push back your cuticles. You want the gels to adhere to your natural nails, not your skin. Apply a small amount of cuticle oil with a cotton swab. Gently push each cuticle back with a cuticle pusher. Wash your hands after this step because your nails must be clean and dry before you apply the primer.
Use a cuticle pusher, usually made from metal or wood, to carefully push back each cuticle. If you don't have one, a wooden popsicle stick will also do the trick.
You might want to soak your fingers in warm water for a few minutes before pushing back your cuticles; they're easier to push when they're soft and wet.
4
Buff the top of your nails. Removing the top layer of your nails to take away their natural shine provides a better surface for the gels to stick to. This important step ensures your gels won't fall or peel off after you put them on.
1
Apply the primer. This removes the remaining moisture and oils from your nails to get them ready for the gels. The primer comes with a brush, which you use to put a thin coat of primer on each nail from the cuticle to the top of the nail.
Use long, even strokes and cover the entire nail. Primer should be applied in a thin layer.
Let the primer dry completely before proceeding.
2
Brush an even coat of UV nail gel onto each nail. Use the brush that comes with the UV nail gel. Use long strokes, covering the whole nail surface. If you get any gel onto your finger or cuticle bed, remove it with the cuticle pusher. When you have coated all of your nails, put your hands under the UV drying light. Normal drying time is between 1 to 3 minutes.
3
Repeat with a second coat of UV nail gel. Brush on a second coat of the UV nail gel and place your hands back under the UV drying light until your nails are dry. The second coat may take longer to dry than the first, about 2 to 4 minutes.
4
Apply a third coat of UV nail gel. When you apply the third coat, make sure you cover any thin spots and even out the gel before drying. Not applying the gel evenly can cause nails to appear uneven. Put your hands under the UV dryer and let them dry for up to 5 minutes. The more gel on the nail, the longer the drying time will be.
Finishing the Gels
1
Use the buffer to finish off the shaping. Inspect your nails for uneven gel or any tiny bumps or bubbles. Gently buff your nails to make them even and fix any issues with the shape of your nail.
2
Wash your hands with gentle soap. All the filing and buffing may have caused gel powder to accumulate on your fingers. You need to wash your hands to remove it and clean the nails before applying any polish.
Apply a third coat of UV nail gel. When you apply the third coat, make sure you cover any thin spots and even out the gel before drying. Not applying the gel evenly can cause nails to appear uneven. Put your hands under the UV dryer and let them dry for up to 5 minutes. The more gel on the nail, the longer the drying time will be.
Finishing the Gels
1
Use the buffer to finish off the shaping. Inspect your nails for uneven gel or any tiny bumps or bubbles. Gently buff your nails to make them even and fix any issues with the shape of your nail.
2
Wash your hands with gentle soap. All the filing and buffing may have caused gel powder to accumulate on your fingers. You need to wash your hands to remove it and clean the nails before applying any polish.
How to Remove Gel Nails
Gel nails are durable, painted-on nails that closely resemble real nails. Most people go to the salon to have them removed by a professional, but you can skip this step and take them off at home. Read on for information on how to remove gel nails three ways: soaking, filing and peeling them off.
Method One: Soak Off the Gel Nails
1
Fill a bowl with acetone. Acetone is a chemical that reacts with the gel nail to loosen its adhesive and free it from your natural nail. Acetone is a common ingredient in nail polish remover, but in order to remove gels, you need a concentrated amount of pure acetone.
Cover the bowl of acetone with plastic wrap or foil. Use a rubber band to hold the cover in place.
Place the acetone in a larger bowl of hot water, so the acetone warms up. Let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes.
2
Protect the skin around your nails with petroleum jelly. Acetone can dry out and damage your skin, so its important to protect it with a layer of jelly. If you don't have plain petroleum jelly, use a lotion or balm that lists it as an ingredient.
Dip a cotton swab in the petroleum jelly and use it to apply the petroleum jelly around the edges of your nails. Cover the skin on your fingers down just below your top knuckles.
Don't get too much jelly on your nails, since the acetone needs to be able to dissolve the gel.
3
Wrap your nails in acetone. Dip a cotton ball in acetone to completely saturate it, then hold it against your nail and wrap it in a strip of aluminum foil to fix it in place. Repeat with your remaining nails. Let your nails soak in acetone for 30 minutes.
If acetone doesn't irritate your skin, you can dip your nails straight into the bowl instead of using cotton balls and aluminum foil. Make sure not to soak them like this for more than 30 minutes.
You can use tape or another material to fasten the cotton balls to your nails if you don't have aluminum foil.
4
Remove the foil and cotton balls. Remove the foil and cotton ball from one nail first. The gel should come right off when you swipe it with the cotton ball. If it does, repeat the process with your remaining nails.
You may have to help the gel come off by peeling it back a bit.
If the gel on your test nail is still firmly in place, replace the acetone-soaked cotton ball, wrap it up in foil, and let your nails sit for another 10 minutes before trying again.
5
Condition your nails. Rinse off the acetone and then shape your natural nails with a nail file. Buff them with a nail buffer to remove rough edges. Moisturize your nails and hands with lotion or cosmetic oil.
File only in one direction, so you don't damage your nails. Avoid using a sawing motion.
The acetone may have dried out your nails. Treat them gently for the next few days. You might want to wait a week or so before applying another set of gels.
Method Two: File Off the Nail Gels
1
Trim your nails. Use a nail clipper to clip off the part of the nail that extends past your finger. Trim them as short as possible. If they are too thick to cut with a nail clipper, use a course file to file them down.
2
File down the surface of the nails. Use a coarse-grit file between 150 and 180 grit. File gently and in crosshatches to keep the work even, moving the file to different areas so that you don’t feel a burning sensation in one place.
The filing process might take a long time. Resist the urge to work quickly or unevenly, which can damage the natural nail underneath.
Wipe dust away frequently. This will allow you to clearly see how much more gel there is to go before you hit natural nail.
3
Look for signs that you are close to the natural nail. You don't want to keep filing once you get down to the natural nail, since you could damage it. Signs that you're close to the natural nail include the following:
A big reduction in dust that is produced from filing the gel.
Visibility of the natural ridges in your nails.
4
File the remaining gel with a finer-grit file. Work slowly and gently to make sure you don't file the surface of your natural nail. Though damage is hard to avoid when working with regular gel nails, working gently will minimize it. Continue until the gels have been completely filed away.
5
Condition your nails. Use a buffer to smooth the surfaces of your nails, which may have become scratched from the filing process. Moisturize your nails and hands with lotion or oil, and keep them away from chemicals and other harsh substances for a few days. Wait a week before applying another set of gels.
Method Three: Peel Off the Nail Gels
1
Wait until the nails are mostly chipped away. Gels tend to chip off after a week or two, and its best to wait until they're mostly gone to start peeling them yourself, so you reduce damage to the surface of your nail.
2
Insert a cuticle stick under the surface of a gel. Work it gently under the gel until the gel is slightly raised around the edge. Don't dig too hard under the gel, or you may damage your natural nail.
3
Peel off the gel. Use your fingers or a tweezer to grasp the edge of the gel and peel it back. Repeat with each finger until the gels have been completely removed.
Don't rip off the gels. A layer of your natural nail will come up with them.
If the gels are tough to peel, consider using another removal method.
4
Condition your nails. Use a file to smooth out the edges, and use a nail buffer to smooth out the rough spots on the surface of your nails. Rub lotion or oil on your nails and hands. Wait a week before applying another set of gels.
Gel nails are durable, painted-on nails that closely resemble real nails. Most people go to the salon to have them removed by a professional, but you can skip this step and take them off at home. Read on for information on how to remove gel nails three ways: soaking, filing and peeling them off.
Method One: Soak Off the Gel Nails
1
Fill a bowl with acetone. Acetone is a chemical that reacts with the gel nail to loosen its adhesive and free it from your natural nail. Acetone is a common ingredient in nail polish remover, but in order to remove gels, you need a concentrated amount of pure acetone.
Cover the bowl of acetone with plastic wrap or foil. Use a rubber band to hold the cover in place.
Place the acetone in a larger bowl of hot water, so the acetone warms up. Let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes.
2
Protect the skin around your nails with petroleum jelly. Acetone can dry out and damage your skin, so its important to protect it with a layer of jelly. If you don't have plain petroleum jelly, use a lotion or balm that lists it as an ingredient.
Dip a cotton swab in the petroleum jelly and use it to apply the petroleum jelly around the edges of your nails. Cover the skin on your fingers down just below your top knuckles.
Don't get too much jelly on your nails, since the acetone needs to be able to dissolve the gel.
3
Wrap your nails in acetone. Dip a cotton ball in acetone to completely saturate it, then hold it against your nail and wrap it in a strip of aluminum foil to fix it in place. Repeat with your remaining nails. Let your nails soak in acetone for 30 minutes.
If acetone doesn't irritate your skin, you can dip your nails straight into the bowl instead of using cotton balls and aluminum foil. Make sure not to soak them like this for more than 30 minutes.
You can use tape or another material to fasten the cotton balls to your nails if you don't have aluminum foil.
4
Remove the foil and cotton balls. Remove the foil and cotton ball from one nail first. The gel should come right off when you swipe it with the cotton ball. If it does, repeat the process with your remaining nails.
You may have to help the gel come off by peeling it back a bit.
If the gel on your test nail is still firmly in place, replace the acetone-soaked cotton ball, wrap it up in foil, and let your nails sit for another 10 minutes before trying again.
5
Condition your nails. Rinse off the acetone and then shape your natural nails with a nail file. Buff them with a nail buffer to remove rough edges. Moisturize your nails and hands with lotion or cosmetic oil.
File only in one direction, so you don't damage your nails. Avoid using a sawing motion.
The acetone may have dried out your nails. Treat them gently for the next few days. You might want to wait a week or so before applying another set of gels.
Method Two: File Off the Nail Gels
1
Trim your nails. Use a nail clipper to clip off the part of the nail that extends past your finger. Trim them as short as possible. If they are too thick to cut with a nail clipper, use a course file to file them down.
2
File down the surface of the nails. Use a coarse-grit file between 150 and 180 grit. File gently and in crosshatches to keep the work even, moving the file to different areas so that you don’t feel a burning sensation in one place.
The filing process might take a long time. Resist the urge to work quickly or unevenly, which can damage the natural nail underneath.
Wipe dust away frequently. This will allow you to clearly see how much more gel there is to go before you hit natural nail.
3
Look for signs that you are close to the natural nail. You don't want to keep filing once you get down to the natural nail, since you could damage it. Signs that you're close to the natural nail include the following:
A big reduction in dust that is produced from filing the gel.
Visibility of the natural ridges in your nails.
4
File the remaining gel with a finer-grit file. Work slowly and gently to make sure you don't file the surface of your natural nail. Though damage is hard to avoid when working with regular gel nails, working gently will minimize it. Continue until the gels have been completely filed away.
5
Condition your nails. Use a buffer to smooth the surfaces of your nails, which may have become scratched from the filing process. Moisturize your nails and hands with lotion or oil, and keep them away from chemicals and other harsh substances for a few days. Wait a week before applying another set of gels.
Method Three: Peel Off the Nail Gels
1
Wait until the nails are mostly chipped away. Gels tend to chip off after a week or two, and its best to wait until they're mostly gone to start peeling them yourself, so you reduce damage to the surface of your nail.
2
Insert a cuticle stick under the surface of a gel. Work it gently under the gel until the gel is slightly raised around the edge. Don't dig too hard under the gel, or you may damage your natural nail.
3
Peel off the gel. Use your fingers or a tweezer to grasp the edge of the gel and peel it back. Repeat with each finger until the gels have been completely removed.
Don't rip off the gels. A layer of your natural nail will come up with them.
If the gels are tough to peel, consider using another removal method.
4
Condition your nails. Use a file to smooth out the edges, and use a nail buffer to smooth out the rough spots on the surface of your nails. Rub lotion or oil on your nails and hands. Wait a week before applying another set of gels.
