Gel polish process. Gel polish for nails how to use manicure devices at home. How long will it last

The technique of applying gel polish is quite simple if you use high-quality polymer materials and professional tools in your work, and the workplace is well-equipped with everything necessary for a full gel polish procedure at a professional level. Of great importance is the qualitative composition, properties, texture of gel polishes and special products:


Gel polish application technology: sequence and duration of stages

Depending on the chosen design and the appropriate materials (gel polish, decorative elements), how to apply gel polish on nails also depends.

  1. A degreaser is applied to standardly prepared polished nails.
  2. Then, as a primer layer, an acid-free primer is applied in a very thin layer, which increases the adhesion of the gel polish to the natural nail.
  3. With rubbing movements, a transparent base for gel polish is applied, protecting the natural nail plate from staining with highly pigmented polymeric materials. It is dried in a UV lamp for 2 minutes and the dispersion is removed.
  4. Several thin layers of gel polish are applied (depending on how saturated the shade should be). Each layer is baked in a UV lamp (2 minutes), followed by removal of the dispersion.
  5. The design is sealed with a top coat for durability and added shine. Polymerization in the lamp is 2 minutes, after which the dispersion layer is removed. Designs using rhinestones and voluminous decorative elements are fixed with several layers of the finishing top.

Instructions on how to apply gel polish may partially change when working with such non-standard polymeric materials as gel polishes of the Cat's Eye series or metallic gel polishes from the Kodi Hollywood collection, however, in general, the preparatory part of the procedure remains standard for any type of coating .

Gel polish: how to apply at home

To carry out the procedure for applying gel polish at home, you need the same tools, special tools and additional materials as in a beauty salon:

  1. Ultraviolet lamp.
  2. Gel polishes in assortment (the number and range of shades depends on the design).
  3. Brushes for nail design.
  4. Manicure tools with which it is more convenient for you to carry out preparatory hygienic treatment of nails.
  5. Additional materials (lint-free wipes, foil, orange sticks, etc.)
  6. Special toolsprovided by the technology of applying gel polish (primer, degreaser, clinser, etc.)

Many try to replace or skip this or that stage in the work, believing that it is not important.

This leads to a disastrous result, since each action of a professional master during a step-by-step procedure is aimed at creating a protective, sealing or increasing the visual appeal of the layer coating. To fully carry out the nail polish procedure at home, you can first attend special gel polish lessons that are regularly held at the KODI Style Studio Training Center or find professional master classes from other companies. The advantage of demonstration classes is that you will not only learn how to apply gel polish step by step, but you will also be able to consolidate the material received in practice in the presence of a master. Also, a huge amount of information on this topic can be found on You Tube, but it is necessary to carefully sift out really useful knowledge from non-practical advice.

Before you start to master the intricacies of gel polish on your own, you will get acquainted with the recommendations of practicing masters, whose experience has been gained in working with a large number of clients and their feedback on a particular method of work. And also learn some rules for applying gel polish, compliance with which will help you achieve good results in gel polish nails. Here are some practical secrets for a durable, hard-wearing gel polish:

Experiment and, perhaps very soon, you will share your own experience and knowledge gained in practice with beginners in the field of nail aesthetics.

The life of any modern girl and woman consists of many little things.

Such an insignificant but important detail as a manicure has one of the main roles and is able to complete the female image and set the mood for the whole day.

Girls have learned to emphasize their beauty, so they are trying to find a simpler and easier way to create a spectacular manicure.

As many people know, a manicure from ordinary varnishes is not able to stay on the nails for a long time.

In order for nail art to please more time, gel polishes are used. This is a fairly simple way to apply color coating, which has become available to every female representative.

What is the difference between gel polish manicure procedure?

The gel polish itself is no different from traditional polishes and is applied in the same way, but it does not dry as usual, it needs a UV lamp to dry. After drying, the coating becomes more resistant and reliable. Because of this, the varnish will last much longer, and the surface is reliably protected from scratches and discoloration. Another of the most important advantages of applying gel polishes is the creation of a strong framework for nails, as a result of which they break less, strengthen and grow faster. The gel has no special smell.

How to do a manicure with gel polish, what is necessary to complete the procedure:

Regular and polishing nail file.

Special degreaser.

Top and base coat.

Means for removing the sticky layer after drying the gel.

Disinfectant.

transparent base.

Color gel polish.

Primer to improve the adhesion of the nail and varnish.

An ultraviolet lamp, which is necessary to fix all layers of varnish.

Various thin brushes for manicure, as well as sequins, stickers, rhinestones or dots.

How to make a beautiful and spectacular manicure with gel polish: a sequence of actions

The first thing to start is to remove the old varnish, remove the cuticle and shape the nail plate with a file. In order for the gel polish to last longer, you should go over each nail with a special polishing file and make the surface of the nail rough.

After that, it is required to degrease the nail plate with a special tool. This is done so that nothing superfluous remains on the nails.

After that, a primer is applied, which serves to increase the life of the manicure.

After that, a top coat or a transparent base is applied.

After applying the gel on the nails, you must immediately place your hands alternately in an ultraviolet lamp for 30 seconds.

Gel polishes have the appearance of a regular coating and are applied with a brush.

When applying the gel, you must try not to go beyond the nail and not stain the cuticle.

The color coating is required to be applied in two thin layers, each must be dried.

The first layer of varnish must be fixed in a UV lamp for about a couple of minutes.

To give the manicure a final effect with gel polish, you need to apply a finish gel. After drying, remove the sticky layer so that excess villi and unnecessary particles do not get on it.

After the end of the procedure, apply oil, rub in thoroughly and remove residues.

What is needed to remove or remove gel polish?

You can remove such a manicure with cotton wool or discs cut into several parts soaked in a special solution. This is applied to the entire nail plate and wrapped in foil. Leave for a few minutes and remove the foil. The gel under the influence of a special solution will soften and begin to peel off. If necessary, you can remove the remaining gel with an orange stick or repeat the procedure.

No need to peel off the gel polish from the nail without first softening it. It will come off easily, but scratches and snags may remain on the nails, which not only spoils the appearance, but also, possibly, leads to peeling of the plate.

To speed up the process, you can walk on the nail with a buff. This will help remove the dispersion layer and remove the remaining gel particles. After the end of the procedure, it is necessary to apply a caring agent.

Features and advantages of the gel polish manicure procedure, unlike traditional varnishes:

If the manicure was performed by a professional master according to all the required rules, the gel will stay on the nails for up to 3 weeks. The only thing that will be noticeable is the regrown nail in the cuticle area.

The color of the gel polish will not lose its luster. The coating will not peel or crack.

When compared with extended nails, such a manicure looks more natural.

With the natural fragility of nails, gel polish strengthens them.

The gel does not contain harmful substances and is absolutely hypoallergenic.

To create really chic and spectacular nail art on your nails and turn the application of gel polish into a professional procedure, you just need to follow a few important tips:

Before starting the procedure, lay out in a conspicuous place all the necessary accessories. Choose a lighted place and a comfortable chair.

When using a white gel, you need to keep it in a UV lamp for one and a half minutes, not two, to get rid of the yellowed pigment.

When applying varnish, retreat from the cuticle by 1 mm so that the gel does not exfoliate.

Do not leave open bottles of varnish near an ultraviolet lamp.

After using the varnish, the bottle must be closed.

After the end of the procedure, wipe the neck of the varnish with a lint-free cloth.

There are corrective gel polishes on sale. Thanks to this, it is possible to tint the regrown part without removing the entire coating. This helps to refresh the manicure and perfectly align the nail plate.

Short nail design, trendy ideas

Speaking about gel polish manicure for short nails, there are several important areas: specific strokes, French manicure and gradients.

A fashionable gradient is made using a sponge. With gel polishes, this procedure is created differently. Color stretching requires special care and accuracy. After treatment with a primer, a base top is applied to the nails and dried under a UV lamp for one and a half minutes. Take two prepared colors of varnish and cover half of the nail, then cover the second half of the nail with a different shade. Repeat if possible. Finally, apply top coat and dry for 2 minutes.

All drawings and ornaments on short nails are arranged vertically along the nail plate. It enhances the shape. Sometimes stamping is used. It is not recommended to use acrylic modeling or rhinestones, since such volumetric elements will look ugly on a short nail.

Classic French manicure looks great on short nails. After applying the base coat, a smile is made from the end of the nail with a narrow brush with white varnish. French is made not only classic, but also colored. French design is a trendy and trendy gel polish manicure.

It has become possible to make a beautiful and lasting manicure not only for the clients of the salon, but also for girls without any professional skills. This nail art will last from 2 to 3 weeks.

Covering nails with gel polish at home is a simple process if you clearly follow the step-by-step instructions. Armed with the necessary tools and supplies, you can independently create a complex and beautiful manicure that will last more than one week.

Gel polish appeared not so long ago, but manicure with its use already occupies a large place in the world of beauty. You need to renew such a coating approximately every 2-3 weeks, a properly done manicure with careful wearing will last even longer.

The product is applied to the nails quite easily, the difference from conventional varnishes is the need to purchase an ultraviolet lamp for drying. Thanks to drying, the varnish turns into a dense coating that is not damaged by external influences, the brightness and saturation of the color of the manicure does not differ from the shade of the product in the bottle.

The advantages of using shellac include its ease of use, a manicure is easy to do at home and at the same time you can get a result that does not differ from a manicure in a salon. This coating protects the nail from negative external factors, it is absolutely safe and does not damage the nail plate.

Coating disadvantages:

  1. Expensive materials. The UV lamp, the gel polishes themselves, the base and other materials are not cheap, but they will last for a long time.
  2. Impossibility of long-term use. After the gel, the nails need to rest, otherwise they will become thinner, break and exfoliate.
  3. Difficulty in removal. To remove the coating, additional materials will be required, like a regular varnish, it cannot be removed.
  4. Possible harm from UV lamps. The fact of serious exposure has not been scientifically proven, but the risk of developing cancer cells exists.

The use of varnish has both its pros and cons, but with proper application, high-quality materials, it will not harm the nails.

Types of gel polishes

There are two types of gel coatings - single-phase and three-phase.

Single-phase includes three varnishes at once - base, main and fixer. For such a tool, you do not need a UV lamp, you can limit yourself to an LED lamp.

Single-phase shellac has a number of advantages, but at home, women prefer to use a three-phase product, since at each stage of the manicure you can adjust the varnish layer and make the coating smoother. In addition, beginners may have problems with perfect application, in a phased version of manicure it is much easier.

Three-phase varnish is naturally more difficult to use. Each phase will require a separate varnish - base, color coating and top. And this increases the cost of manicure. But such a varnish lasts much longer, now it is easy to use it at home.

Necessary materials

What is needed for coverage? Gel polish alone is not enough, you will need a lot of materials. It is very important that the cosmetics be of high quality, otherwise they will not stay on the nails for a long time and will only do harm. For a manicure you will need:

  • base coat;
  • gel polish;
  • degreaser or nail polish remover;
  • UV lamp;
  • soft nail file or buff;
  • fixative;
  • elements for decoration.

There are many options for manicure, color palettes and decorations. The method of applying manicure and the required materials depend on the intended design. The basic manicure technique will be the same for any gel polish coating option.

Step-by-step instruction

Shellac application is a multi-stage process that requires precision and care. Only if you follow all the rules will learn how to make a beautiful and durable manicure.

Important! Disinfect tools before use.

Preparing for gel polish

The first thing to do is carefully prepare the nails for coating. The final result depends on this.

  1. Make sure that there are no residues of other coatings on the nails.
  2. First, steam your fingers in warm water, so the cuticle will become softer and you can easily remove it. The water should not be very hot so as not to damage the skin. Soak your hands in water for 10 minutes. You can add essential oils to the bath or replace the water with herbal decoction.
  3. Slightly pushing the steamed cuticle with an orange stick or a manicure tool, remove it with a cutting device.
  4. The top layer of the nail plate needs to be grinded off a little, it is not necessary to remove the entire layer completely. This should be done with a soft nail file, without much damaging the nail plate. The surface of the nail should be slightly rough for better adhesion to the base.
  5. The nail file is given the desired shape and size of the nail, there are a lot of options, it all depends on individual preferences.

During the preparatory phase, it is important to perform all actions clearly, without skipping steps. If the preparation is of poor quality, when applying layers of varnish, defects will be visible, the work will have to be redone.

Base coat

How to properly apply the base? Before applying the base coat, degrease the nails, they must be absolutely dry. You need to moisten a cotton pad in a degreaser and wipe all the nails. After that, you can apply a base coat.

Interesting! The base protects the nails from the harmful effects of the gel polish itself.

When applying, it is important that the liquid does not get on the skin, in case of contact, immediately wipe off with a degreaser. The base layer must be dried in a UV or LED lamp.

For reference! Drying time depends on lamp power. It is better to clarify how long to keep the nails under the lamp when buying.

Applying colored varnish

After the base has dried, it is impossible to touch the nails, if this layer is damaged, there will be bumps and cracks. It is better to hurry with the application of the next coating, as dust can settle and the color will lie unevenly.

The varnish is applied as a normal coating, after which it is dried for about 2 minutes under the lamp. It is advised to apply at least two layers, so the color will be more saturated. Each layer is dried under the lamp.

When applying, you can use different stickers, change and mix colors. You can draw something, stick rhinestones. At this stage, you can show all the imagination and individuality. But it should be remembered that you need to cover your nails with gel polish carefully, without getting on the skin.

For beginners, it is better to refrain from small details, having previously honed your skills on simpler design options. And to master a complex manicure with gel polish at home, video tutorials will help you step by step.

Consolidation of the result

It is important not to forget about fixing the shellac, it will hold much less bases. A protective layer is applied at the very end. It also dries under a lamp. At the end, you need to remove the so-called sticky layer, this is done with the help of a degreaser.

It is better to moisturize the cuticle with a cream or a special tool for the cuticle. Hands should also be moistened, lamps can dry them out. After completion of the procedure, direct contact with water should be avoided for 2 hours. In the future, it is better to do housework with gloves.

How to properly remove gel polish?

The process of removing a gel coat is different from that of a simple coat. As a rule, women go to the salon to remove their manicure. But how to do the same at home? The most important thing is not to try to peel off the varnish, otherwise the top layer of the nail will be injured. Need to take.

In the process of learning to apply gel polish, certain mistakes are inevitably made that upset novice masters. Let's take a closer look at them so that your home experiments and creativity bring only positive results and impressions!

Preparing nails for a manicure with gel polish: what you need to pay attention to. Top 10 Newbie Mistakes.

Careful and high-quality preparation of nails will help the master quickly and correctly apply a color coating, as well as ensure good adhesion of the nail with subsequent layers of applied materials. Unfortunately, mistakes happen at this stage in the work of both experienced craftsmen and first-time buyers. What are the consequences of the shortcomings made in the processing of marigolds and the application of materials for degreasing, cleansing, dehydration and improving adhesion?
  • Mistake #1: the base for gel polish lay down with sagging.
Cause: you have not completely removed the old coating. It is necessary to carefully cut off or all the layers of the previous design, so that the layer of the new one fits perfectly on the nail and evens out all the grooves and cavities.

  • Mistake #2: microbubbles and mini-voids are visible in the layer of the polymerized base.
Cause: in the process of unedged manicure, you did not completely remove the cuticle, pterygium and eponychium. During the baking process, microgaps formed between the layer of the nail and the particles of the skin remaining on the nail. When wearing this design, detachments at the cuticle and cracks may form due to water getting under the base layer.
  • Mistake #3: the color coating peeled off the nail, starting from the base layer.
Cause: this is due to the fact that the master could skip the step of removing the upper keratin layer. Buffy nail, it is important not to damage it. Do not exert significant force when pressing the tool on the nails and observe the correct direction of movement. Correctly buff from the cuticle to the free edge, with light movements.
The same picture is observed if instead of a buff, . He will make the nail instead of rough - smooth, and the coating on the nail simply will not hold.

  • Mistake #4: under a layer of gel polish, cracks formed in the nail plate, which led to the breaking of the nail.
Cause: the result of cracks and chips of the nail was the thinning of the natural nail due to too intensive grinding. Another extreme - insufficiently good treatment of the nail with a buff - can be peeling of the coating due to peeling keratin scales not completely removed by the master.
  • Mistake #5: gel polish peels off with a whole plate.
Cause: particles of pterygium remained unnoticed on the nail, and delaminations were not removed on the free edge. With the subsequent regrowth and exfoliation of the pterygium, the gel coating also departs from the keratin of the natural nail. The ongoing delamination of the natural nail in depth (under the gel polish) leads to detachment of the manicure from the side of the butt.

  • Mistake #6: shellac and gel polish chip off a lot a few days after coating.
Cause: this phenomenon can have three reasons at once - the periungual ridges and the surface of the nail are bad; the application step was skipped; you touched the nail after degreasing and before removing stickiness from . How to solve this problem?
  • Degrease the nail in stages: disinfect your nails and hands with a spray or foam. Next - remove the fat from the nails, and at the end, treat the nails and side rollers;
  • Do not skip the application of an acid-free primer. It is advisable to use the product of the same manufacturer as the base for gel polish. Thus, you guarantee maximum adhesion of the base and the natural nail;
  • Try not to let your fingers touch the treated nails. If such an incident occurs, re-treat the surface with a lint-free puff.
  • Mistake #7: the coating cracks and breaks off in small pieces.
Cause: you could not sufficiently clean the nail from dust (sawdust), dirt and sebum (the surface was poorly treated with a degreaser or a substitute containing oil was used instead).

  • Mistake #8: in natural nails, even without blows, cracks formed up to the flesh.
Cause: nails suffered from overdrying. You or the master may have used improper preparations (alcohol, acetone, thinner) for cleaning and degreasing. Their regular use without subsequent treatment of nails or leads to weakening, deep dehydration and thinning of natural nails.
  • Mistake #9: when using the base directly on the dried primer (the quality of both preparations is good and the expiration date has not expired), after a few days your coating is still chipped and peeled off.
Cause: if you have gone through all the other options and excluded, remember: do you remove the remnants of the degreaser from the nail with ordinary cotton pads. You can't do this. The disks leave villi invisible to the eye, which worsen the application of coatings and lead to losses in the aesthetics of the manicure. Residual traces of oil or cream that have not been removed are also contraindicated in gel polish (they also need to be thoroughly “washed off” from the nails with a gentle degreaser). Also check the quality of degreasing. If you applied the base, dried it and see bald spots, repeat the application of the base and be sure to seal the end of the nail.

  • Mistake #10: your client has long, but thin nails, the length of which you mutually decided not to remove.
Cause: gel polish certainly shields nails from external negative influences, but cannot 100% eliminate the risk of cracks and chips. The coating retains elasticity on the nail. And if the nail plate bends and breaks, the same will happen with the nail. Hence the deep cracks of the nail and the shellac itself. The way to fix the problem is to pre-strengthen the nails or correct the length.

The process of creating a design with shellac and gel polish. TOP 10 common mistakes and how to fix them.

If you managed to carry out the process of preparing nails for shellac, avoiding all the pitfalls, do not lose vigilance! Creating an image and decorating it with a design also has its own subtleties and interesting life hacks.

  • Mistake #1: you carefully painted your nails with a thin layer, but after drying in the lamp, you found cured streaks.
Cause: when you or the client put your hand into the lamp, you could keep your fingers tilted all the time drying. Capricious or very liquid gel polishes in this case could flow into the side rollers and onto the cuticle. You can solve this problem with gel polish remover, a lint-free wipe, and a bevelled edge. When you paint a nail, paint over the surface, avoiding lateral ridges and cuticles, but do not allow gaps.
  • Mistake #2: The new gel polish is chipping and cracking, although the design is covered with a heavy top.
Cause: this phenomenon may be due to the use of an expired top, a conflict of coatings (color and top), the use of a finish of poor quality.

  • Mistake #3: colored shellac deformed after drying, bubbles and voids are visible in the coating. The shelf life of the gel polish is in order, purchased from a reliable seller with a quality guarantee.
Cause: the coating was applied too thickly or did not dry long enough in or . Remember: the main rule of manicure with resistant polymer coatings is the imposition of thin layers, squeezing the brush with excess on the throat of the bottle, following the recommendations of manufacturers on the timing of polymerization of materials.
Another common reason is that you vigorously shook the bottle of gel polish before application, which led to the formation of air bubbles in the thickness of the material. The correct way to lift the color pigment from the bottom is to roll the gel polish vial between the palms.
  • Mistake #4: your manicure is chipped and cracked, although you know for sure that the gel polish is of high quality and is stored in compliance with all rules and sanitary requirements.
Cause: if the culprit is not shellac, look into your UV or LED lamp. If your machine is brand new, there may be a manufacturing defect. For a device that has been used for a long time, it makes sense to check and replace them if the useful life is exceeded.

  • Mistake #5: when applying layers, you do not smear the free edge of the nail with a brush.
Cause: The secret of longevity of shellac manicure is the tightness of all layers. If you neglect to seal, any of the layers of the applied base, color, top can peel off under the influence of water, housework or careless handling of the manicure.
  • Mistake #6: you love creating manicures by mixing colors and creating unique shades. However, despite all the tricks, the coating lasts less than 14 days.
Cause: Mixing colors from different brands, or using a base, top, color, primer and dehydrator from different manufacturers may differ in poor wear. It is not in vain that brands recommend a “family” approach to buying materials for gel polish manicure. The fact is that the formulas of all products for manicure with shellac are designed in such a way that their components complement each other and ensure maximum durability of the design.

  • Mistake #7: your manicure shows record wearing times, but decor elements quickly chip off, become cloudy or peel off.
Cause: the secret of high-quality fixing of the decor is fixing the second layer of the top, which is often not done by beginners. For, especially large ones, it will be good to smear the gaps between the crystals with the top. And for or it is extremely important to observe the terms of drying in the lamp. A thick layered design should not dry for less than 3 minutes on the final layer of the top. An excellent solution for the master will be such well-proven top coatings as well as. Their thick rich texture is specially designed for extra-strong fixation of decor and reliable protection of manicure.
  • Mistake #8: you use both brand new finishes and expired and near-expiring materials in the same design.
Cause: it is undesirable to use old gel polishes in manicure. From the time the bottle is opened, the texture of the product changes, shellac can be applied in thick layers. When they dry, air pockets form, leading to inevitable detachments.

  • Mistake #9: you apply gel polish and shellac on nails with a length of "under zero", and clients soon complain about chips and cracks.
Cause: practicing masters advise not to apply gel polish on nails that are too short. Either increase the minimum length by , or advise the client to come for a manicure as soon as at least a small free edge grows. The fact is that the contact of the edge of the nail with the pillows of the fingers is fraught with the transfer of subcutaneous fat, traces of household chemicals and sweat from them. If the nails themselves do not wear shellac well, such contact with sweat-fat secretions will inevitably lead to detachments.
  • Mistake #10: your client has little time to design and you are in a hurry to create a ready-made image quickly, without respecting the required number of layers, their drying time and the density of the applied materials.
Cause: an image created in a hurry will not please you with longevity. Nails need to be painted slowly and carefully, lightly coat the ends on each layer. If you are working with a UV lamp, dry the layers for at least two minutes each. For greater durability (especially with problematic nails), the base and color should be applied in two layers each, and with a voluminous and textured decor, re-cover the manicure and top.

How to properly handle gel polish nails immediately after creating a manicure: do's and don'ts.


Like a lacquer design, a manicure with shellac and gel polish requires care, care and attention. A high-quality, creative, complex design can cost a client a considerable amount, depending on the skill level of the nail-master and the place of his work. So how can you enjoy the image in pristine beauty and not end up prematurely with broken nails, a cloudy coating or an image with cracks and peeling?

It is possible and necessary after creating a gel polish image to do:

  • Regular cuticle massage with liquid or cream or lotion. This is especially true when manicure "under the cuticle." Neat and well-groomed periungual skin will help your hands look beautiful, neat and well-groomed. The slow growth rate of the cuticle and pterygium will also have a good effect on the durability of the design. Contrary to popular belief, care products will not adversely affect the wear of the coating after being completely dried in the lamp.
  • Do housework in, including cooking with foods that have a strong color pigment (beets, carrots, etc.). If you wear light shades of shellac, covered, then one day you may encounter cloudiness or the fact that the shade is dirty. The situation will be saved by a lint-free cloth and alcohol. Wipe your nails gently and enjoy renewed beauty.

  • Have you taken off your manicure and are faced with the fact that your square-shaped nails began to curl at the tips? If the problem is permanent and reappears after treatment, you will need to change the shape of the nails. However, never do this while wearing the design. Cutting or filing nails with shellac, you risk damaging your nails and restoring them for a long time.
  • Even the owners of strong and rapidly growing nails, many practicing masters advise after 3-4 designs to allow the nail plate to recover. Practice for a few weeks, or. Strengthened, moisturized and nourished nails will delight you again with high-quality wearing of shellac design, without peeling and breaking nails.

Along with the positive aspects of a persistent manicure with gel polish, there are several significant prohibitions regarding this coating.

What absolutely can not be done if you decide to dress your hands in gel polish for 2-3 weeks?

  • Try to limit skin and nail contact without gloves with harsh household chemicals, facials with acids in the composition, as well as with hair dyes and products containing acetone. The components of these products can adversely affect the wear time of a manicure, as well as cause clouding of the gloss or significantly change the color of the coating.
  • Treat the cover with the utmost care. Do not use gel polish nails as an opener or screwdriver, toothpick or scraper. Remember, nails under shellac retain their elasticity and increased mechanical stress is harmful to them.
  • Don't sunbathe for too long. The more intense the sun's rays, the greater the risk of fading bright shades of gel polish.
  • Do not try to adjust the regrown design yourself. This type of coverage, unlike , does not imply point correction. After 2 weeks, it is better to completely update the manicure than to tint and polish the overgrown nail space.

How to properly apply gel polish on natural and artificial nails: technology, master classes and video training.

The step-by-step gel polish manicure procedure at home is not too complicated and requires only regular practice. We invite you to get acquainted with our library of training articles and master classes that reveal all the subtleties and details of design with gel polishes: Beginning to master gel polish, amateurs and inexperienced masters ask themselves: is the technology for performing manicure on natural and extended nails the same? We answer and share secrets.

What is the difference between performing a manicure with shellac on extended nails (on acrylic, gel, tips).

In practice, the processes of creating an image on natural and artificial nails are quite similar. The main thing you DO NOT do with extended nails is:
  • Do not use primer. High-quality degreasing and cleaning already guarantee strong adhesion of the base and acrylic or gel. Don't forget to buff the nail just a little.
  • Apply gel polish on artificial nails only once, as it will not be possible to remove the design from them to the base. And you will inevitably have to make a correction.

  • Create artificial nails as thin as possible so that the subsequently applied gel polish does not create the appearance of excessively thick and unaesthetic nails.
  • Choose designs in colors that are close to the natural color of natural nails. So visually you can briefly, but delay the day of changing the image.
  • Apply the coating in thin layers, pressing the brush against the nail. Unlike natural nails, the correction of flaws on artificial nails is fraught with violations of their adhesion to the surface of the native nail. If your experience with extended nails is not enough, it is better to entrust such a manicure to the hands of a professional.

We hope that now the bright, beautiful and alluring world of gel polishes and shellacs has become clearer and closer to you. Stylish and durable manicures for you!

Today, making a beautiful manicure at home is not difficult even for a beginner. There are a lot of auxiliary tools for this, for example, such as stickers, stencils, etc. However, until recently, home manicure had one significant drawback - it was very short-lived. Everything changed with the advent of shellac (gel polish in a different way). It's a cross between regular nail polish and gel. The main advantage of shellac is that it lasts more than 2 weeks. At the same time, it can be used even at home. In addition, gel polish manicure has a very beautiful rich glossy shade.

So, the benefits of gel polish are obvious. It remains only to find out how to apply it at home what is needed for this, and how to remove it later .

What is necessary:

  1. base coat,
  2. Color gel polish,
  3. Top coat (fixer or top),
  4. degreaser,
  5. Ultraviolet lamp,
  6. Cuticle oil,
  7. saw blades,
  8. cuticle remover,
  9. Orange stick.

Working process

Step 1. Put your nails in order: give the desired shape, clean them, remove the cuticle. Next, polish the nail plate with a buff file. This is necessary for better adhesion of the coating to the nail. Pay special attention to the edges and base of the nail.


Sand the nail plates with a buff file

After that, wipe the nails with a cloth moistened with a degreaser beforehand. By the way, if this is not the case, then you can use alcohol or nail polish remover.


Step 2. Now start applying the base coat. Apply it in the thinnest possible layer. Paint the plate well from the outside and inside, this is necessary in order for the manicure to last longer. Then place your nails under an ultraviolet lamp for 1-2 minutes (if the lamp power is less than 36 W, then you need to dry longer).


When creating a manicure with gel polish at home, it is recommended to use a 36 W UV lamp. However, this coating can dry out even in less powerful lamps. (For example, I used a 3 W lamp, the coating is also fixed, however, I increased the polymerization time.)


UV lamp for drying manicure gel polish 3 W

A little later, I bought a 36W lamp, the difference is very noticeable. Drying time has been reduced, and the coating itself is much stronger. I ordered a 36 W lamp on Aliexpress for 750 rubles. Oddly enough, the old 3 W lamp was more expensive - 900 rubles, but it was bought in a Russian online store, like all other manicure products from this article. (shop - nailtishop). Lately I also order gel polishes on Ali, it also comes out much cheaper (within 70 - 100 rubles per bottle) and the quality isn't any worse. For comparison, the varnishes presented here were bought for 260 - 280 rubles (now they have become a little cheaper). On Ali, you can order files and orange sticks. To compare prices below, I published a screen with my order in Nailshop. I repeat, now varnishes in the Nailshop have become cheaper. For the sake of interest, go to Ali, compare prices.


My order of tools and products for manicure with gel polish A 36 W lamp with a timer, ordered on Ali for 750 rubles.

Step 3. The next step is to apply colored gel polish. The first layer of shellac should be thin. It should be applied very carefully, without touching the skin. If the varnish gets on the skin, remove it with an orange stick. It is not necessary to paint over the inside of the nail with colored varnish. Then place your hand under a 36 W lamp for 4-5 minutes.


Step 4. Next, apply a second color layer. It may be slightly thicker than the first. The second layer will make the color more saturated and vibrant. After applying it, also polymerize the manicure under ultraviolet light for 5 minutes.

Step 5. Now cover your nails with a fixer. It is thanks to this top product that the nail polish lasts a long time and firmly + it will acquire a beautiful glossy shade. Carefully paint over the nail plate with it, “sealing” the manicure from the inside of the nail. It is advisable to apply two layers of top, drying each of them in a lamp, in which case the manicure will last a very long time. Dry each layer of top under the lamp for 2-3 minutes.


Step 6. The final step is to remove the sticky layer from the nails with a degreaser. If not, you can use alcohol or nail polish remover.

Step 7. As a final touch, pamper your fingers with cuticle oil. Apply it to the skin at the base of the nail and rub it in.


To make the gel manicure last longer, remove the excess gel polish protruding from the sides of the nail with a regular metal nail file.


How to remove gel polish at home

To remove shellac, you will need the following:


Separate the cotton pads into two halves, fold each of them in half and cut. Apply liquid to the resulting triangles, attach the discs to the nails and wrap tightly with foil. The foil is necessary so that the solution does not evaporate.

After about a quarter of an hour, remove all this uniform and remove the remnants of the gel polish with an orange stick.

If the coating does not come off well, repeat the procedure with the foil again. Minor residues of shellac can be removed with a polishing file.

Gel polish: design (manicure options with shellac)

We have studied the technology of applying and removing shellac J Now let's look at design options from gel polish. So, for example, the easiest option is to decorate your nails with rhinestones or stickers. A more intricate manicure will turn out if you supply it with, or.


Manicure with water stickers (how to glue -)
Gel polish without decor - a universal option and color

Do not forget about the drawings. So, traditional or will look very advantageous. And you can try to draw flowers, hearts and other patterns on your nails.

I did some googling, and here are some interesting photos of the shellac design that I found: