Hello,this is Amia-a four year experience nail technician from China. Many people think that doing gel nails at home only requires a little bit of gel polish and a UV lamp, but that’s not the case. Because gel polish has relatively stricter conditions, to ensure we get a fairly durable and beautiful manicure, we need to prepare quite a few tools.
1.the necessary stuff you need to do gel nails at home
1)A desk lamp for lighting
A bright lamp is required to clearly see the details of the nails and check whether they have been cleaned and prepared properly.It is better to choose a white-light lamp with a wide illumination area.
2)a UV nail lamp that can cure the entire hand
A uv lamp is necessary to cure the gel nail.Choose a high-powered nail UV/LED lamp to ensure that the gel polish cures completely, with as few hard-to-reach areas as possible.
3)a 2-piece prep set
1)A cuticle pusher
2)a dead skin cutter/nipper
A clean prep is important for gel last.
4)a nail file/emery board
Prepare a 180 and 240 grit nail files for nature nails.
5)95% alcohol and cotton pads for cleaning
95% alcohol can help remove the sticky layer from the nail surface while evaporating quickly and leaving the nails dry again. We do not recommend using lower-concentration alcohol, as it has weaker cleaning power and evaporates more slowly.
6)essential functional gels
1)Base gel coat
2)the builder gel/extention gel(optional)
3)Top coat
7)color gel or design materials
Prepare the color gel or speacial design elements you like.
2.Store in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight.
All gel polishes are photosensitive, and sometimes 1–2 seconds of UV exposure can cause the gel polish to cure slightly. Many gel polish bottles are not completely opaque to light, so we should try to store them and do our nails in a place away from direct sunlight. It is worth mentioning that some spotlight fixtures can also cause the gel to cure.
3.Easy DIY nail steps at home
1)shape the nails into your preferred shape
Using the 180grit nail file can efficiently shape the nature nails.
Don’t forget to turn your hand over while shaping the nails to check whether both sides are symmetrical, and make adjustments as needed.
Tips:When shaping the sides of the nail, make sure the connection along the bottom of the nail surface remains smooth and even. Otherwise, the nail may be more prone to breaking later.
2)Use the cuticle pusher to loose the dead skin
Hold the cuticle pusher at about a 30-degree angle to the nail surface and gently push back the cuticle along the edge of the nail, making it easier to trim.Push from the nail surface toward the cuticle area.
Tips:Do not press directly against the cuticle while pushing, as this can easily scratch or damage the skin
3)buff the nail surface
Use a slightly coarse nail file to buff the nail surface until there are no reflective spots, creating some tiny grooves on the nail surface to allow the subsequent base coat to bond better. Be careful not to thin out the nail; just create a rough and dry surface.
4)cUT THE DEAD SKIN AND CLEAN THE NAILS (Important)
Use the cuticle nippers to trim the cuticle as close to the base as possible. Pay attention to the angle of the nippers and the length of the cutting edge.
Keep the blades only slightly open, with no more than 3 mm of the cutting edge exposed at a time.
Keep the nippers as parallel to the cuticle line as possible. After each cut, position the blades along the previous cut and continue trimming to avoid creating a jagged or uneven cuticle line.
5)Base Coat
Apply a thin layer of base coat on the nails,try to cover entire nail surface without getting the product onto the cuticle area or surrounding skin.
(Cure under the lamp for 30 seconds)
6)Color Gel
When applying color gel polish, pay attention to keeping the edges smooth and even. Don’t focus too much on covering every part of the nail. If you’re a beginner, simply aim for an even and neat application.
(Cure under the lamp for 60 seconds)
7)Top Coat
Apply the top coat at the end of the process.If there are any uneven areas on the nail surface, you can apply the top coat to those areas separately. Adding a little extra gel and turning your hand upside down can help level and smooth the nail surface across the entire hand.
(Cure under the lamp for 90 seconds)
4.Appropriate hand care
At the end,caring your hand can prevent the hands from being dark to some extent especially if you get manicures frequently.
For example, apply a little hand cream after washing your hands, but avoid getting it on freshly finished nails, as it may make the manicure look cloudy or less glossy.
Q&A:
What do I need to do gel nails at home?
At minimum, you’ll need a desk lamp, a UV/LED nail lamp, a cuticle pusher, cuticle nippers, nail files, 95% alcohol and cotton pads, base coat, color gel polish, and top coat. Builder gel or extension gel is optional depending on the type of manicure you want.
Do I really need a desk lamp for doing gel nails?
Yes. A bright desk lamp makes it easier to see the nail surface and small details around the cuticle and edges. A white-light lamp with a wide illumination area is especially helpful for checking whether the nails have been properly cleaned and prepared.
What kind of UV/LED nail lamp should I use at home?
Choose a sufficiently powerful UV/LED nail lamp that can cure the entire hand evenly. It should minimize areas that are difficult for the light to reach so the gel polish can cure properly.
What grit nail file should I use for natural nails?
A 180-grit file is useful for shaping natural nails, while a 240-grit file can be used for gentler preparation and smoothing. Avoid excessive filing, as over-buffing can make natural nails thinner and weaker.
Why do I need to push back the cuticles before applying gel polish?
Pushing back the cuticle area helps expose the nail surface that needs to be prepared and makes it easier to clean away dead skin. A clean nail surface can also help the gel manicure last longer.
Why does my gel manicure peel or lift quickly?
Common causes include insufficient nail preparation, remaining dead skin or oil on the nail surface, gel touching the skin or cuticle, applying layers that are too thick, or incomplete curing.
