Can I do my own Gelous gel manicure at home?
The answer is absolutely yes! We've created the ultimate product range for beautiful at home gel manicures. Why not pamper yourself while learning to master the art of a beautiful DIY gel manicure or gel pedicure? Let us give you all our tips and tricks so you can use your Gel Nail Polish Kit to create the perfect DIY manicure experience!
How do you prepare your nails for a Gelous gel manicure?
If your nails easily bend and break you probably want to take some time to give them some much needed TLC. Nails that bend and move too much can cause the Gel Nail Polish to peel away from nails easily. You can take care of this by applying our ORLY Nail Defense and Cuticle Oil to strengthen and nourish your nails. You’ll want to do this until your nails feel noticeably stronger and have minimal bend when you push down on them.
Preparation is incredibly important if you want a manicure that meets salon quality in finish and longevity. Before you apply your first layer of Gel Nail Polish, you want to lightly buff the surface of your nails using our Nail File. Buff your nails in one direction, paying close attention to the sides of your nails and near the cuticles, as these are often the areas that start to lift first if not buffed enough. You want to make sure the surface of your nail looks dull, not shiny. The reason behind this is to rough up the surface area that the Gel Nail Polish is going to stick to, helping it grip to your nails and providing a long-lasting gel manicure.
Once your nails have been thoroughly buffed and prepped, you will need to clean them to ensure there is no leftover debris. Dust, oil or anything else on the nail has got to go! Dust off your nails with our Dust Brush, then apply your Nail Polish Remover to a Lint Free Wipe and clean on top of the nails, around the cuticles, sides, and even under your nails too! Get right in there. You want to make sure that there is nothing that could hinder a smooth application of your Gel Nail Polish. Removing the residue on your nails can make all the difference!
How long does Gelous Gel Nail Polish take to dry?
To dry Gelous Gel Nail Polish, you cure each coat under the Gelous UV/LED Gel Nail Lamp for 60 seconds. Once your final coat is cured your nails will be hard and perfectly dry. There's nothing worse than smudging your nails after finally completing your manicure - with Gelous Gel Nail Polish this is a thing of the past!
Once cured, your Base Coat, Builder Gel and Colour Coat layers will remain slightly tacky so that when you apply the following layer, it sticks to the layer below. Unlike these layers, your Top Coat layer will be hard, dry and perfectly cured after you have placed your nails under the UV/LED Gel Nail Lamp for one minute.
How do you apply Gelous Gel Nail Polish?
Set your manicure station up somewhere comfortable, clean and away from any pets to avoid lint or hairs sticking to your UV/LED Gel Nail Polish. To apply each coat of your Gel Nail Polish, start a bit above the cuticle and ‘push’ the Gel Polish gently towards it, leaving a thin gap between the edge of the Gel Polish and your cuticle. Following this, pull one stroke up the center, one up each side and finally ‘cap’ the nail by running the brush horizontally over the tip. Take care to apply thin, even coats of Gel Nail Polish over your nail to ensure proper curing and reduce the likelihood of peeling or chipping. Don’t forget to avoid getting any Gel Polish on your skin or cuticle. If you do, you can simply remove it with an Orangewood Cuticle Stick or Lint Free Wipe before curing.
Start with applying your Base Coat, then cure it for a minute under the UV LED Gel Nail Lamp. If you have flaky, brittle, thin or splitting nails, you'll want to use a Rubber Base Coat instead of your regular Base Coat to create a thicker, more even surface your your Gel Polish to bond to. For those of us who aren't blessed with lovely thick nails, we will want to follow this with an application of Builder Gel (also known as BIAB or Builder in a Bottle), curing it for 60 seconds under the UV/LED Gel Nail Lamp. Builder Gel gives your gel manicure additional strength and reduced nail bending. Following this, you can then apply your Gelous Colour Coat. We recommend 2-3 thin coats of your Colour Coat to get maximum cover, curing after each coat for 60 seconds with the UV LED Gel Nail Lamp. Now you need to apply your Top Coat. We have a range of Top Coat options, including Matte Top Coat, Glossy Top Coat and Shimmer Top Coat to give you options to slay your gel manicure in whichever way you want.
Remember, an added bonus with Gel Nail Polish is that it is easily workable, as it only dries when placed under the UV Gel Nail Lamp, so you can ensure each layer of your UV/LED Gel Polish is perfect before curing it.
How should I properly care for my nails after a Gelous gel manicure?
There's a few more key things that will really bring that manicure home! Use our Cuticle Oil regularly to moisturise your cuticles and keep your nails looking fresher for longer. Hand moisturisers and masks, such as ORLY Hydrating Creme and Jema Rose 8+ Minute Hand Mask are great too, to keep your whole hand moisturised and soft. Lastly, try to avoid washing dishes or using cleaning products without gloves as this can sometimes mess with the texture and longevity of Gel Nail Polish. These last few steps really do make all the difference when taking your at-home gel manicure from good to great!
