Self-applying gel polish. Sequence of applying gel polish at home

Photo of Bluesky shellac: Gel polish is available only in opaque bottles

- universal nail coating. That is why the application of gel polish occupies a central place in the range of services of nail salons. The trend is supported by practicality: it is easy to paint your nails with gel polish, it lasts for 2 weeks, can be removed in 15 minutes, allows you to improvise with the design, allows for correction and can be worn for another 10 days. Comfort and time saving! Modern women and girls have long appreciated this. And the availability of materials is so high that you can easily master applying gel polish at home.

The success of the procedure requires strict adherence to the sequence of steps. When the old varnish is removed, the length of the free edge is filed, the burrs are cut off, i.e. The hygienic manicure is completed - the nails are ready for the next stage of treatment under nail polish.

Materials for manicure with gel polish

The materials and tools for manicure with gel polish at home are the same as for the procedure in a beauty salon; the technology does not allow improvisation.

• Gel polish of the selected color, plus a set of base and top (finish) coating - the so-called base gel polish and top fixer. It is not necessary that all three vials be from the same company. Everything fits together perfectly from different manufacturers.
• Buff file with abrasiveness 220-240 grit, pusher, dehydrator, liquid for removing the dispersion layer, optional primer.
• A brush to remove dust; if gel polish is done at home, an old toothbrush will do.
• To polymerize (dry) gel polish you need a special lamp: UV (ultraviolet) or LED (diode). If we talk about gel polish manicure at home, then the lamp is the main cost item, the cost starts from 1,700 rubles, but this is an investment in beauty, not an expense.
• Lint-free wipes - for removing residual oil and moisture from the natural nail and removing the sticky layer from the top coat.
• Wooden toothpicks or orange pusher sticks in case the gel polish bleeds onto the skin.
  More details about the starter kit, see the list for conditions. The design will require painting brushes, rhinestones, stickers and much more; there are many materials for decoration.
  

  Preparing nails for applying gel polish

  
  

  Important: Stages 1 and 4 in nail preparation are the most critical for shellac wearability. Not the quality of the material, nor the manufacturer of the gel polish, but the proper preparation of the nail plate! The pterygium must be removed, the dust must be thoroughly removed, the surface of the nail must be degreased and dehydrated.
  

  Gel polish coating step by step
  

  Consider coating your nails with gel polish step by step. If you are applying gel polish to another person, start correctly with the little finger and alternately reach the index finger; if you apply it to yourself, do what is most convenient.
  Peculiarity: the thumb is painted and dried in a lamp separately from the other four, because it is impossible to place all five phalanges so that the light of the lamps falls equally intensely and evenly from all sides on all nails - the thumb will be in a slightly different plane, the gel polish will be baked on top of it, and from below it will flow under the cuticle. We'll have to redo it.

  • Applying base gel polish. The base is the same gel polish, only transparent and more liquid than the colored and finishing polish. It protects the nail plate from the penetration of coloring pigment inside. The main nuance of the base gel polish is a super thin layer, eliminating contact with the skin, sealing the sides and end of the nail.
  • Colored gel polish is usually applied in 2 layers. If the pigments are light– white, pale pink, beige and other nude shades – 3 and sometimes 4 layers of varnish are required, each must be dried in a lamp, in an ice lamp for 30 seconds, in a UV lamp for 120 seconds, the stickiness is not removed! If the color of the gel polish is dark- black, burgundy, etc. — layers dry 1.5 times longer. Apply the first layer of colored gel polish extremely thinly. It will not look completely dense and even - it’s not scary, it’s better to have more thin layers than fewer, but thick ones. We also paint the end of the nail.
    After drying, apply the gel polish again, but more generously. If it gets on or under the side rollers, immediately remove it with a wooden stick or toothpick and put it in a lamp for polymerization. So that when applying gel polish to the next finger, it does not spread on the previous one - apply the following "live hack": painted one finger - in the lamp for 10 seconds - fix the composition thoroughly, painted the next - both in the lamp for 10 seconds, applied to the third - dry all three for 10 seconds, painted the fourth - place all four in the lamp for 30 seconds / 2 minutes ( LED/ultraviolet). This way the shellac is fully dried, saving time and lamp life.
  • The final stage is applying the top (finishing) layer. Carefully cover the entire painted surface and ends, otherwise the unprotected colored gel polish will slowly wear off and smudge. As a result, detachment will begin in this place. The gel polish coating must be airtight.
  • If the finish has a sticky layer, after drying it in a lamp, remove it, otherwise the nails will quickly become covered with dust and lint from clothes. The dispersion layer is washed with a lint-free cloth soaked in a special liquid. Often this can be the same degreaser that was used to wipe your nails during the preparation stage (read the label on the bottle, it should be explicitly stated). Some people use pure alcohol, but this is unprofessional.

  Finally, as icing on the cake (especially if you plan to make money as a manicurist), it is customary to apply moisturizing cuticle oil around the nail bed. For beginners, covering nails with gel polish is a bit complicated at first; the procedure along with a manicure takes up to 3 hours, but with practice the time is reduced and should take 1-1.5 hours.
  

  Cost of manicure with gel polish.

  At manicure courses, the price for students for models is 300 rubles, in provincial cities for masters “at home” - from 500 rubles, in salons from 750 rubles, in Moscow - from 1500 rubles.

  How to apply gel polish on nails

  The technique of applying gel polish directly to the nails is radically different from painting with a simple varnish. We are talking specifically about technique - hand placement, hand movement pattern.

  
  

  The advantage of gel polish is that you can move the brush endlessly until we achieve an even distribution of the substance over the nail; it does not dry out.

The list of what you need for a gel polish manicure at home is quite long. Most women prefer a salon precisely because understanding all the bottles and tools seems to be a difficult and lengthy process. And the cost of some products is scary. In fact, everything is simple, you need to carefully study the list and calculate the price of materials and tools, the advantage of doing your own manicure will immediately come to light. And simple video lessons, of which there are plenty on the Internet, will help you master the skill.

As the name implies, gel polish is a high-quality combination of the brightness of the varnish with the durability of the gel. In addition to its undoubted convenience, gel polish also has the properties of a nail strengthener: it protects nails from chips and breaks, and also fixes nail delamination. The convenience of using gel polish is obvious, because repainting your nails every 2-3 days is replaced by applying gel polish once every 3 weeks.

The downside of the coating is that you can’t just paint your nails with gel polish; you need a lot of auxiliary products, careful preparation of the nail and a lot of time for each procedure. The procedure is repeated every 2-4 weeks, depending on the growth of the nails or simply the desire to change the design.

As for the equipment with which you can do manicures with gel polish, you need to carefully understand the manufacturing companies. If you go to a professional store, your eyes will widen at the variety of files and sticks!

You should not buy everything at once; you should first prepare a list of what is needed for the first time, and then supplement it as needed.

Essential list

When buying something for the first time, everyone strives to minimize the risk of unnecessary spending. First of all, you need to know that most gel manicure materials have a long shelf life. And due to the growing demand for such products, resell them will not be difficult. It is also equally important to find the ideal price-quality ratio.

Base

Base coat is the first layer that is applied before the gel polish itself. There are a lot of types and manufacturers, and the best option can only be found by trial and error on certain nails, but there are general recommendations. The base is:

1. Regular.
2. Vitamin.
3. Rubber.
4. With effects (black, color and so on).

A base with effects is not suitable for the first experience; it is better to buy it when you want something new. A vitamin base is necessary for strengthening and care, but for permanent manicure a regular or rubber base is better. What is the difference?

Rubber has a denser texture and is suitable for leveling and thickening the nail plate if necessary. The regular base is thin and more liquid, making the manicure more elegant due to the almost invisible first layer.

Prices for bases differ mainly depending on the company. Two of them have proven themselves well: Kodi Professional and Bluesky. For your first experience, you should start with the least expensive option, that is, Bluesky Base Coat or Bluesky Rubber Base (rubber).

Interesting! Many leading companies have a single product that performs both base and top functions. Despite its apparent convenience, manicurists do not recommend using it.

Gel polish

Gel polish is a layer of color. It comes with or without glitter, the color palette is literally mesmerizing. With a good base and top, it can be any brand, but the most even application is provided by Global Fashion, Bluesky and Kodi.

When choosing a color, you need to remember that the lighter the shade, the more layers of application it will require, and accordingly, the faster it will end. For your first experience, you don’t have to order everything from one company; you can try different ones and compare.

Top

Top layer (top) - top coating. Also available in regular and rubber. The top secures the entire manicure and protects the color coating from abrasion and chipping. It is the top that helps the gel polish stay on the nails for more than 2 weeks!

Nuance! It is advisable to buy the top from the same company as the base, but not necessarily the same type. That is, the base can be rubber, and the top can be ordinary, or vice versa.

Drying lamp

Gel polish dries only under the influence of special lamps. They come in three main types:

1. Ultraviolet (UV) lamp. On the plus side, the price is very reasonable, there are different sizes, that is, you can dry both hands at once. Another important advantage of this lamp is that it dries absolutely all types of gel polish. There is one minus, but a significant one: the drying time even at maximum power (36 W) is at least 2 minutes. If the lamp has a lower power, then there is a risk of not drying the bottom layer. In this case, the manicure will not last even a week. There is an opinion that the UV lamp dries the skin of the hands.
2. Light-emitting diode (LED) lamp. This type provides quick drying (up to 30 seconds), which significantly saves time. Does not harm the skin. But not all gel polishes dry with an LED lamp.
3. Combined (CCFL + LED) lamp. The ideal combination of the advantages of UV and LED lamps - dries all types of gel polish quickly. But most often the price bites.

Proper drying is a very important factor for a good manicure; you should not chase a low price, neglecting quality.

Interesting! Some manufacturers produce gel coatings that are insensitive to ultraviolet radiation, meaning they can be dried without a lamp.

Cuticle Remover Tools

Why is it necessary to remove the cuticle? For a more durable manicure, since when any layer gets on the skin, this layer begins to come off.

The cuticle is carefully pulled away from the nail and trimmed. To do this, you will need a pusher - a metal spatula with a sharp end. Helps to push back the skin and detach it from the nail. Orange sticks are intended for the same thing, but when using them there is less risk of damaging the nail plate. As a rule, after moving back, the cuticle is cut off with tweezers.

Liquid for degreasing nails and removing the sticky layer

Degreasing nails is a mandatory stage of manicure; the liquid removes dirt and grease from the nail and dries the nail plate for stronger adhesion to the base. The sticky layer is removed after the base, color and top.

There are separate liquids for each process, but the combined preparation is much more convenient for use at home, especially for beginners, so as not to get confused in the means.

The Severina company produces a good and inexpensive liquid; for the first experience it is enough to purchase a bottle of no more than 100 ml.

Nuance! This liquid must be used with lint-free wipes; cotton pads are not suitable for this purpose.

Buff

A buff is the same as a nail file, but the buff is much softer and is most often sold in the form of a block, which is very convenient for use. This tool is used to straighten nails before the procedure and also helps remove gel polish from nails.

Gel polish remover

Regular acetone will not work, and the procedure for removing gel polish differs from removing a regular coating. You also need to prepare foil and cotton pads along with the liquid.

To begin with, you should buy a small volume of liquid to try it with this particular base and top. A good universal liquid is produced by Severina; it is soft, does not harm the nail, but easily softens all layers.

Also, special kits are sold for beginners to make it clearer how to do a gel manicure: the photo shows that such kits usually include everything you need, but it’s better to check the list.

Stages of manicure with gel polish

How to do a gel manicure correctly? The first pancake is not always lumpy! In the case of a manicure at home, the main thing is to know how to properly do a manicure with gel polish - and then the result will be excellent.

1. Remove cuticles using a pusher (or orange sticks) and tweezers.
2. Degrease your nails by simply wiping with a napkin with a special liquid and let dry for 20 seconds.
3. It is easy to polish the nail plate with a buff, eliminating obvious irregularities.
4. Degrease your nails again to remove nail dust.
5. Apply the base in an even layer. If the base gets on the skin or in the fold between the skin and the nail, carefully remove the product from there before drying. The same goes for applying gel polish and top coat. Dry in a lamp (UV 36 W – 2 minutes, LED or CCFL – 30 seconds).
6. Wipe off the sticky layer. You can skip this step if nothing touched your nails after drying in the lamp.
7. Apply gel polish. If two or more layers are applied, each of them is dried in a lamp for half the required time. Dry in a lamp. Wipe off the sticky layer.
8. Apply top coat. When applying the top coat, you should “seal” the feet by running the brush along the tip and lightly along the back of the nail. In this case, the manicure will last much longer. Dry in a lamp (UV 36 W - 4 minutes, LED or CCFL - 60 seconds). Wipe off the sticky layer - be sure!

The hands of a real woman should look well-groomed, otherwise they are not hands, but the paws of Chewie from Star Wars, and the owner of neglected nails herself turns from a mystery girl into a slob from work who is used to washing with her hands, not arousing any sexual interest.

Therefore, you should not be lazy and look for excuses for yourself, you need to learn to be beautiful and natural. For starters, you can at least paint your nails. The manicure procedure takes an hour at most, even using gel polish at home it will take two hours.

You can devote two hours a week or two to your nails, because they signal to the whole world about a woman’s attitude towards her beloved. But the world doesn’t need to know that a girl walks around at home disheveled, cooks only in the presence of a man and often forgets to wash off her makeup before going to bed - in short, that she doesn’t really love herself very much...

How to properly apply gel polish to your nails at home

What tools and supplies will we need?

Before starting the procedure, you should make sure that you have all the tools and accessories for manicure or that an equivalent replacement has been found. Which materials are definitely needed, and which can be neglected? To get a manicure, you need everything from this list (what’s missing can be put in, and what’s superfluous can be put aside):

If all the manicure products are ready, you can begin the application procedure itself. Below it is discussed step by step. The application sequence must not be violated.

Stages of the procedure step by step

Preparation

Before applying gel polish or first you should prepare your nails. You need to carefully clean them of the previous coating, trim the cuticles along the edges, adjust the free edge and be sure to disinfect the nail plate!

Disinfection is the prevention of fungal diseases under the varnish, since it removes fat, excess moisture and bacteria from the nail. Also, the disinfectant simply cleans the nail from dust and dirt so that the shellac adheres better.

Professional preparations that come in sets with gel polish can be used as disinfectants, but regular alcohol is suitable for manicure at home. Moreover, it is pure alcohol, and not vodka, not perfume or lotion! There are simply too many additional components in these products that prevent the varnish from fixing to the plates and can erase it. Plus, alcohol has a long period of activity and works even under shellac.

Before starting the procedure, you must once again make sure that the nail is cleaned of the previous varnish. To remove cuticles, you need to use a special product or oil, but you cannot steam your nails, as they can peel.

In fact, when preparing, you should do a regular soft hygienic manicure as a base, but do not immediately apply varnish. Moreover, you don’t have to shorten the nail too much; shellac usually strengthens the nail plate, but everything needs to be sanded, otherwise the gel base will lie unevenly. Polish the nails with a buff, holding it along the nail plate. Removing the top keratin layer of the nail helps the shellac to better adhere to the plate. You will have to remove it, although it seems that this causes great harm to the nail, but this is not so. Then the nail is degreased and a primer is applied.

As a little trick: the skin of your hands can be protected from the harmful effects of shellac by applying regular sunscreen or baby cream. Otherwise, the effect of ultraviolet radiation may dry it out ahead of time.

Applying base coat

A transparent shellac base is needed for better adhesion of the product to the nail plate. The weaker the nails, the worse the polish will adhere to them, so they are strengthened with a base coat. You can’t skimp on shellac base, even at home, because a bad base will ruin the entire manicure. The base shellac must be applied carefully and evenly to the nails in a thin layer and begin to dry in a UV lamp, then repeat the painting again, and apply the top coat immediately after the base.

Application of topcoat

The top coat of shellac is also called the topcoat because it seals the entire coating. It is done at the very end on fully prepared and treated nails. The brightness of the color and the neatness of the nails depend on the correct coating.

Immediately after application, you should use a dryer, and after two minutes, you should evenly lubricate the area around the nails with hand or lip balm so that the skin does not dry out or crack.

If you follow the classic concepts of gel polish, then nothing is glued or applied to the top. Exceptions may be large elements, for example, rhinestones, but if possible you should avoid this, since a manicure or pedicure will look untidy due to such sealing. This is one of the many secrets of manicure.

Final stage

After properly applying the top coat and drying it in a UV lamp, blot your nails with a napkin containing liquid to remove the liquid. After this, the hands are lubricated with moisturizing cuticle cream and the shellac coating procedure is considered complete.

Differences between primer, bondex, and clinser from each other

Shellac terminology is full of unfamiliar words, the meaning of which a novice manicurist can only guess. At least some of them should be considered. Below is a step-by-step comparison of three key shellac products.

• Primer It is used to prepare the nail for adhesion, but it does not adhere anything, but only removes everything unnecessary on the plate. It can be compared to priming walls for wallpaper. It restores the pH of the nail plate, cleans everything so that the product adheres as correctly and firmly as possible. The degreasing primer does not require additional drying under an ultraviolet lamp.
• Bondex– a gel-like substance used to increase adhesion between the nail plate and shellac. Thanks to this product, the nails do not peel off, and the artificial material stays on the nail plate for as long as possible. Its action can be compared to double-sided tape, when it tightens both the nail and the shellac. Bondex should not be applied to the skin or cuticles; if the product gets on your fingers, they should be washed with running water. These two products (bondex and primer) are often confused.
• Klinser– aqueous-alcoholic solution with fragrances and oils. Removes the sticky layer at the very end of applying gel nail polish at home, a fixative, although it can replace the primer if necessary, since it is a good antiseptic.

These three different manicure products are a must-have for any woman who takes care of her nails and doesn't mindlessly try to grow them. If possible, you should purchase them from the same brand, for example, Ingarden, Bluesky, to avoid chemical incompatibility and deterioration of adhesion. Proper care guarantees healthy nails and a beautiful appearance of shellac.

How to make designs on nails with gel polish?

Nail art is a type of manicure in which, in addition to the standard classical treatment of nails, various designs are also reproduced on them according to the technique. Shellac quickly gives freedom to decor, which is why there are entire trends in nail design where images are applied to a ready-made coating. You can make absolutely unimaginable pictures on your nails, it all depends on the artist’s imagination, but you need to understand that individual bright patterns will look more impressive on long nails, and their use on short nails is unacceptable. Examples are shown below.

Nail painting techniques.

There are many techniques for painting with gel polish professionally, but only a few of them can be used at home:

• painting technique with a thin brush;
• dotting technique (a special tool with a small ball at the end);
• dot manicure technique (somewhat reminiscent of children's drawing using dots with the described order);
• “wet” technique: the varnish moves freely on the nail plate using a toothpick or needle;
• liner manicure technique.

Before starting to use any of the techniques, you should observe the master and his manicure sequence. If you can’t go to a salon, you can get the necessary tips from videos on manicure lessons on the Internet. But to gain experience, you still need to work and improve yourself.

Rose gel polish: step-by-step instructions

Rose gel polish is one of the simplest designs, so it can be reproduced even by beginners. The entire procedure from scratch can be divided into several stages.

First you need to choose the right colors. Most often they choose white for the background and red and green for the flower, but this is not necessary. You can play with the colors and choose something unusual. For example, on a matte natural beige tone, a glossy rose is slightly visible. Or paint your nail with black polish and make the rose itself from rhinestones. It all depends on personal preferences and clothing range. And a colored matte manicure with a large abundance of small roses looks very beautiful.
Then the nails are coated with the main color, and all at once, and not one by one, are dried in a UV lamp, this gives additional durability. The dryer allows you to seal the color for a long time.

When the varnish has dried, use the tip of a needle to make several dots on the nail with the colors you like and connect them to create the image of a rose.

Butterfly gel polish

Butterfly is a universal design, as it is suitable for both short and long nails. It looks most impressive on a classic French manicure or just white nails, when insect wings contrast with the background.

You can draw a butterfly yourself using a liner or a brush, or you can simply buy a sticker and attach it to your nail. This won't work with a rose. And this is an undeniable advantage of the butterfly.

If you still want to make a drawing yourself, then it should be applied to a good ready-made base. First, the outline of the insect is drawn, and then the wings and body of the butterfly are filled with color. If desired, the drawing can be left as a contour. But learning how to apply color inside the outline is a must.

Skull shellac

Sometimes you want to step away from something cute and decorate your nails with something like a skull. The application technology will differ little from the same butterfly; this is also an easy manicure, but the inside of the skull can be painted with shiny varnish or rhinestones. Looks impressive! But the manicure ideas don't end there.

Hieroglyph shellac

Hieroglyphs are the easiest to draw because they only use two colors. Usually choose black and white varnishes, but you can try a combination of black and red, blue and white, or yellow and green. But the most important thing here is not to miss the meaning of the symbol. Hieroglyphs are in fashion, but you shouldn’t wear meaningless lines or descriptions of public toilets on your hands, this is one of the mistakes beginners make when designing nails.

Pirate theme

Using gel polish, you can cover your nails with the profile of Jack Sparrow, the outline of his Black Pearl and the pirate's helm. Of course, such a design will take a lot of time, but the end result will be a stylish, unique design, and not a typical nail painting!

Shellac letters

You can also write your name on the manicure. Conveniently, if your name is Alexandra or Constance, you get one letter per finger. Others will have to come up with the arrangement of letters from the first and last names of relatives and children, but these are the subtleties of nail coating. In general, gel polish at home gives a huge flight of fancy if you remember the rules of application! The main mistakes in application: it is better to use the alphabet that has the most letters in the name. The Latin or Cyrillic alphabet is chosen according to your own preferences, otherwise you will want to quickly wash everything off later.

French gel polish: step-by-step photo guide

It is better to consider this manicure technology and the next one using the example of drawings; better training in coatings is given there. Since they are no different from a regular manicure at home, they are simply done using gel polish.

Ombre gel polish step by step at home

The gradient ombre manicure method looks simple in the pictures, but you shouldn’t start it as a self-taught person without practicing on other options, for example, roses. An ombre manicure is characterized by a smooth transition from bright and shiny to a matte pale shade of one color, but only a professional can accurately draw all stages of the coating.

And some more facts about shellac.

1. Shellac is a resin secreted by certain insects in Asia. Then this resin is bought and used as a key component of gel polish. None of the mechanical devices make shellac.
2. Gel polish promotes the growth of your natural nails; if desired, you can grow them under such a shell.
3. Thanks to a special coating technology, shellac protects the plates from scratches and traumatic damage.

This product has a natural base, and therefore is harmless to the body and has nothing to do with destructive extended nails. With shellac, constant nail correction is not required.

A fashionable novelty of late is considered to be gel polish, which combines the ease of application of regular nails and the durability of extended nails.

What is gel polish?

Gel polish is a relatively new invention, however, despite its novelty, it is popular with numerous clients due to its ease of application and durability of use.

Gel polish is a nail polish with a unique structure that is dried under an ultraviolet lamp, due to which it is firmly fixed and is not subject to abrasion or mechanical damage. Today, there are gel polishes in a variety of colors, ranging from classic white, black and pink, to extraordinary tones with a color transition effect when heated, or varnishes with a craquelure effect.

The coating achieves special durability thanks to the application of a protective finishing layer. This material is absolutely transparent, so it does not affect the shade of the base varnish.

Advantages of gel polish over simple nail coatings:

• maximum durability - this varnish lasts up to 3-4 weeks, unlike regular varnish, which needs to be changed every 4-5 days;
• ease of use - thanks to the availability of devices for drying nails, such a manicure can be done at home, thereby significantly saving on a visit to the hairdresser;
• the durable texture of gel polish allows you to strengthen and correct brittle and layered nails;
• the use of such varnish has no restrictions due to health reasons, therefore it can be used during pregnancy, lactation and chronic diseases;
• gel polish does not penetrate the pores of the nail, so it does not spoil them; moreover, to apply such a product, you do not need to file the nail plate, which makes the use of gel polish absolutely safe for the health and subsequent appearance of the nails.

Applying gel polish is not particularly difficult, especially after using this product several times. The beauty of this manicure is that it is long-lasting and will last up to three weeks without changing.

To use this product efficiently, you will need certain tools and devices, which can be purchased at a specialized hairdressing store:

• directly gel polishes. You will need: 1) a base - serves for high-quality adhesion of the varnish to the surface of the nail plate; 2) colored varnish; 3) fixative – serves as a durable protective layer, while adding shine to the nails;
• degreaser for cleaning the nail plate - instead of such a special product, you can get by with regular acetone;
• alcohol to remove the top sticky layer of varnish;
• ultraviolet lamp for drying the applied coating. Advice: you need to choose a lamp with a power of at least 36 W, since low-power devices do not allow you to dry several layers of varnish efficiently;
• all kinds of brushes and other manicure devices for creating a manicure, which, however, will also be needed for regular nail painting.

With a little practice, you can learn how to do it at home using gel polish as quickly and efficiently as possible. As a rule, 70% of girls who try gel polish do not stop using it in the future.

Before you start applying the coating, you need to do a regular manicure using a relaxing bath. As additives to water, you can use aromatic oils, for example, orange, lavender, tea tree oil and others. Having steamed your hands, first of all you should pay attention to the cuticle and the area of ​​​​the fingers around the nails, cutting off the excess skin and pushing it towards the base with an orange stick.

The next step will be the design of the nail plates - all nails need to be filed, making them the same length. Using a weak file, the surface of the nails should also be filed down, but do not be too zealous, only minor processing is enough. Tip: special attention should be paid to the edge of the nail plate, make sure that there are no cracks or peeling parts in this area, otherwise The varnish will crack very quickly.

Algorithm for applying gel polish:

• Before applying the first layer, nails need to be degreased with acetone, especially if you did your manicure using oily products;
• Using an abrasive buff, remove the top glossy layer from the nail plate. This is done so that the varnish adheres more firmly to the nails. Important: you should not touch the finished nails with your hands, as the procedure will have to be repeated again;
• For weak nails, it is recommended to use a primer - a special composition that nourishes and strengthens the surface of the plate. If your nails are healthy and strong, you do not need to use this component. In this case, immediately apply the base coat in one layer, put your hands under drying for about 2 minutes;
• After the nails have dried, apply the first layer of colored varnish on top, applying the product using longitudinal movements from the edge of the plate to the middle. Tip: layers of gel polish need to be applied as thinly as possible, since an excessive layer will not dry well and may become deformed during drying. The nails again need to be dried under the lamp for at least 2 minutes;
• in the case of a French polish, one layer may be enough, but if you paint your nails with a bright color, then the layer of colored varnish must be repeated, and then dry the nails again;
• The final stage will be the application of a protective coating to fix the varnish and add shine to the manicure. The last layer also requires careful drying under a UV lamp;
• After the varnish has completely dried, the nail plates should be wiped with a cotton pad soaked in alcohol to remove any remaining product and remove the excess sticky layer.

As you can see, there are no particular difficulties in applying gel polish, so after several training sessions you can do this manicure yourself without difficulty.

Since gel polish has a different structure, different from ordinary nail polishes, it will not be possible to erase it with the usual acetone-free product. To remove such a coating, either special gel polish solvents or acetone liquids are used.

To remove gel polish at home without much effort, you will need:

• gel polish remover;
• cotton pads, cut into 4 parts;
• foil;
• orange stick;
• sanding file;
• grinder.

First of all, you need to cover your nails with nail polish remover, the best way to do it is to dip cotton pieces into the liquid and apply each one to a separate nail. Wrap your fingers in pieces of foil and leave to dissolve the varnish for about 10-15 minutes.

After the specified time has passed, you can begin to remove the foil, processing one finger at a time. We start with the little finger, since there is less varnish there, so it will dissolve faster. Having removed the foil along with the cotton wool, the varnish coating must be carefully cleaned off using an orange stick.

If the coating holds firmly, it is better to wrap your finger in new cotton wool and wait a little longer. Tip: for faster action of the gel polish remover, you can hold your fingers wrapped in foil near a heat source, for example, near a fireplace. Warm air dries the product, helping it penetrate the varnish faster.

After removing the gel polish, stripes or pieces of the product may remain on the surface of the nail, which a grinder will help remove. And you can file down possible unevenness of the nail using a regular file. At the end, it is recommended to carry out nourishing procedures for the nails, for example, make an aromatic bath, treat your hands with a nourishing cream, and massage your fingers. After all the manipulations, the nails are ready for the next treatment with gel polish.

With the advent of gel polish, without advertising and persuasion, the product immediately became in demand and popular. However, before deciding to test a new type of manicure, it is better to familiarize yourself with all the advantages, disadvantages and nuances of using a varnish coating.

What is necessary

Necessary materials and tools for application at home:

For preparatory work, saws are mainly used:

• formative;
• polishing;
• grinding

Fat-free areas should not be touched with hands. If any remaining moisture is visible, it can be removed using a dehydrator.

Step-by-step application technology

After the preparatory work, gel polish is applied. The center and end side of the nail are filled with decorative cosmetics.

Movements should be careful and purposeful (up/down). There is no need to go over the same place several times.

The base coat is sold complete with colorant or separately.

Used to create a conditionally ideal surface for adhesion to other components.

• The base is applied in a thin layer in one stroke, after which the hand is dried under the lamp for 1.5-5 minutes. The time is determined by the lamp power. It is recommended to dry one hand at a time.
• Colored gel polish must be applied to the nail plates in two layers. If you plan to use a lighter shade, one gel layer is enough. For ease of application and obtaining a uniform color, it is recommended to paint each individual nail, followed by drying for 3 minutes.
• The final coating is applied after the gel has completely dried in a thin layer using a special brush. The protective layer will prevent the manicure from premature damage and will become a good barrier against water, as well as light mechanical stress. It is convenient to repeat the technique of treating the nails one by one and then drying them under a lamp. After finishing work, you need to dry all your fingers together for a few minutes again.
• A cotton pad soaked in an alcohol-containing composition will help remove the top sticky layer of varnish.
• It is recommended to complete the manicure by treating the cuticles with a special oil with a softening effect and nourishing the skin of the hands with a good cream.

The entire procedure of applying gel polish lasts approximately 40 minutes. Upon completion, the manicure should be protected from moisture and mechanical influences for the first days, until the hardening process is finally completed. This doesn't mean you have to walk around with your hands up. You can do your usual work right away. The gel has hardened quite well under the lamp and will not be damaged when searching for keys in a purse or washing a cup under the tap. But prolonged contact with water or cleaning the house on the first day is undesirable.

Is it possible to do without a lamp?

There is an opinion that it is impossible to fix the gel without a UV lamp. This is partly true, because one of the existing types of coatings actually forms a solid structure only with the help of ultraviolet light. Craftswomen who have repeatedly attempted to apply the gel at home offer the option of drying it with a heating, healing blue lamp. However, its power is too low to affect the gel composition. If anyone managed to fix the varnish using this method, it probably took longer to dry and the result was not durable enough.

Gel polishes are divided into two types, which differ in composition and drying method. The photosensitive type requires the use of a special lamp. And the non-photosensitive group is similar in properties to regular varnish, so some varieties can harden with a stream of cold tap water or a cool 10-minute bath. But there are also products that do not harden without a catalyst (cyanoacrylate monomer). The fixative has a liquid or creamy structure. It is thanks to the chemical composition that the gel sets.

The marking on the packaging of the “No-light gel” varnish informs that special means are not provided for working with it. If there is no such sign, most likely, drying is allowed only using a UV lamp.

How long will it last

If all precautions are taken, the varnish can remain presentable for more than two weeks, but after this period the product begins to attach more strongly to the nail plates. Therefore, the gel must be washed off 12-16 days after application. If you leave it for some more time, it will be difficult to remove and you will no longer be able to do without the use of aggressive means. This can lead to damage to the nail structure.

For the first two days, the process of adhesion of the decorative product to the nail plates continues. It is recommended to avoid prolonged contact with water to complete the chemical reaction.

After several uses of gel polish, you should take a break for recovery and recovery. During this period, you need to use a light base with regular varnish.

How to remove

You can’t just take the varnish coating and tear it off, this will lead to destruction of the nail structure. Further delamination, excessive softness, and thinning will create many problems. Regular nail polish remover will not cope with this composition. If you cannot get to a specialist in a timely manner, you can remove the coating at home.

To do this you will need to prepare the necessary materials:

Take pieces of cotton wool, soak them in acetone liquid, apply them to the nail plates and wrap them in foil. After 10-15 minutes, you can try to remove the coating using an orange stick. If the procedure does not work, you should repeat the entire process again. When using a special liquid intended for, the duration of the procedure will be reduced to 5-7 minutes. Nails freed from product need polishing. A nail file designed for polishing will help you do this. After this, you can get a manicure.

The salon process is more gentle, since a special liquid from the same manufacturer is used as the varnish.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of gel polish:

• forms a beautiful shiny coating;
• adheres well to the nail plate, making it stronger;
• easy to apply;
• has no pungent odor;
• a wide palette of colors, allowing you to choose any shade;
• brightness is maintained for 2 weeks;
• prevents delamination and chipping;
• does not cause allergic reactions;
• The coating lasts firmly for at least 2 weeks.

Flaws:

• peculiarity of the coating removal procedure;
• participation in the process of creating a manicure using a UV lamp means visiting a salon or a master at home;
• the coating is subject to deformation under long-term exposure to water or during steaming, especially in the first day after application;
• thinning of the nail plates due to repeated use of gel polish.