Draw on your tips with a French manicure pen. Do things slightly out of order by painting the sheer pink (or beige) coat after your base coat dries, then adding white tips with the manicure pen. Use the French manicure pen to draw a line along the border between the white and pink of each nail, then color in the remaining tip. The manicure pen works well because it’s a little easier to control than a standard brush.[11]
Choose this method if you want the white of your nail tips to be a little softer and more natural-looking. Manicure pens aren’t as bright and stark-white as regular nail polish.
Paint your tips freehand and use nail polish remover to even them out. If you’d rather not buy any extra supplies, cleaning up the tips afterward works too! Skip the base coat and start right with adding white tips to your nails. Paint on the tips, then grab a small detail paintbrush and dip it in nail polish remover. Gently scrub away extra white polish to create the smooth tip lines you’re looking for![12]
Be sure to lightly wipe the brush on the side of the nail polish remover bottle before using it, since you don’t want polish dripping all over your nails.
After the tips are painted and dried, add your sheer pink or beige layer and the top coat. Once they’re dry, voilà! You’re all done.
Whether you're new to nail polish and want to explore the options, or you want to find a longer-lasting polish formula, a gel manicure might be what you're looking for.
Compared to regular nail polish, gel is known to be incredibly long-lasting and yet, unlike acrylics (or fake nails), it is still a liquid formula that is applied directly to your natural nail.
If you want to try gel nails but don't know where to start, this guide will give you a step-by-step tutorial on how to apply gel polish.
We've collected all the supplies you need to stock up on, the manicurist-recommended steps for the best application, and some unique ways to customize your gel nails. Here’s what you’ll learn:
First, the supplies. Gel nail polish application requires many tools you probably already have in your at-home nail polish kit, but with a couple of important additions.
A UV/LED curing lamp is one of the most important tools for immaculate gel nails but also one of the more unique parts of the process. Let’s get into why it’s necessary.
“Curing” is a term that refers to the process of drying gel nails. The chemical reaction activated by the light source quickly dries your nails so they don’t chip or smudge immediately after application. This quick-drying feature is one of the big benefits of a gel manicure or pedicure.
Can you do gel nails at home without UV light?
Absolutely! If you use an LED curing polish, you can use either a UV or LED lamp. An added benefit of opting for LED is that it will be gentler on your skin.
Gel curing – and especially gel polish removal – can be drying for your nails and cuticles, so investing in cuticle oil helps to keep moisture in the skin or nail plate.
A cuticle pusher is used to expose as much of your nail bed as possible, so that it takes longer for your nails to visibly grow out under your polish.
A nail buffer is another nail-kit staple. It serves the purpose of a nail buffer to lightly prep the surface of the nail to ensure the surface of your nail is as even as possible for smooth application.
When removing gel nails, you want to avoid damaging the natural nail underneath by using too coarse a nail file.
For removing gel nails, you can use a medium grit file. If you are applying soak off gel polish, use a 180 grit nail file to remove a hardened top coat before removing the soak off gel polish.
Pedicures TampaNail clippers are used before a gel manicure to shape the nail. After gel polish is applied, don’t clip your nails. Cutting your nails after a gel manicure can very likely ruin them as it will break the seal at the tip, causing the gel polish to peel off.
Rubbing alcohol is used to thoroughly clean your nails before you apply gel polish because it removes anything that could get in the way of the polish binding to your natural nail. To apply it, you’ll also need cotton balls or lint-free nail wipes that won’t leave any fuzz on your nails.
A top coat is what seals your gel polish and gives it that beautiful shine. If you don’t have a gel top coat, S&L Beauty also has a starter kit that includes all of the polishes you need to love your gel nails.
SEE OUR GEL TOP COAT
BASE COAT
s&l base coat
Using a good base coat is more important with gel polish than with a regular nail polish. The base coat is what helps the gel bind with your natural nail, and this will ensure that your gel nails last as long as possible.
Using a good base coat is more important with gel polish than with a regular nail polish. The base coat is what helps the gel bind with your natural nail, and this will ensure that your gel nails last as long as possible.
SEE OUR GEL BASE COAT
GEL POLISH
Fairy Tale Nail Polish Set - S&L Beauty Company
Finally, the fun part. Pick your favorite gel colors or experiment with something new!
SEE 100+ GEL POLISH COLORS
HOW TO APPLY GEL NAIL POLISH: STEP BY STEP
Pink gel manicure by S&L
Applying gel nail polish is as much of a ritual as it is an art. We’ll take you through how to apply gel nail polish step-by-step to ensure that your at-home manicure or pedicure is absolutely foolproof. Here’s a complete, step-by-step guide on how to apply gel polish:
1) CUT AND FILE NAILS
S&L nail set
Gel polish can also be applied to store-bought nail tips that can be glued on over your existing nail. The process is similar to regular gel polish application with a few notable differences.
First, push back your cuticles, buff the surface of your nails, and wipe them clean.
Then, brush a thin coat of nail glue over each nail. Apply nail tips over each nail, rocking them back and forth to expel any trapped air bubbles.
Adjust the size and shape of the nail tip as needed.
Buff and clean the surface, then apply your gel polish as usual. Start with a base coat, then add at least two layers of color, curing each coat as it is applied.
Before applying the top coat, wipe off the tacky surface, buff the top layer of color, and clean it. Then apply and cure your top coat, ensuring a lasting seal.
HOW TO APPLY NAIL DECALS OVER GEL POLISH
nail decals over gel polish
Source: Pixabay
Once you master basic gel polish application, you can also try your hand at nail art. Nail art designs go hand in hand with gel polish, because the long-lasting formula means that your art will last longer as well.
One simple method is to use a nail decal. Apply whatever color you want under the design, then cut out the portion of the sticker that you plan to use and apply it.
If you use a water decal, you can simply dip the sticker in water, separate it from the backing, and apply it to your nail.
Using a wooden stick or just your finger, smooth out the sticker, and then go over it with polish to fill in any details or add some pops of color.
Once your nail art looks how you want it to, cure the design for at least 30 seconds, and apply top coat. Cure the top coat layer and you’re ready to start showing off your design!
WHAT CAUSES GEL POLISH TO PEEL OFF A FEW DAYS?
Here are the three biggest reasons why your gel polish may already begin to peel off a few days:
You may have painted over your cuticles, so when your skin grows it pushes the painted gel polish down and creates an opening, allowing water to enter and lift the gel polish.
You didn't apply the top coat over the whole nail, so the painted gel polish isn't protected and therefore prone to chipping.
Tampa Nail SalonYou didn't cap the nail tips when painting over your nails. So when you type or do anything with involving your nails, the gel polish starts to peel off from the nail tips.
The selection of nail polish services has exploded in the recent decade. Gel nail polish is a novel alternative to acrylics and traditional nail polishes. So what's the difference between regular nail polish and gel polish?
The main difference between gel vs regular nail polish is that gel polish needs to be cured under a UV or LED lamp, while regular nail polish is dried naturally. Gel polishes cannot dry naturally.
Here we'll dive deeper their differences:
62 bull's eye - gel nail polish - s&l beauty company
REGULAR POLISH: THE GOOD...
Early use of natural materials such as beeswax and dyes eventually evolved into the classic nail polish known and loved by generations. Regular polish, which can be found at any drugstore or beauty site, is easy to apply and quick to change with your mood.
Early use of natural materials such as beeswax and dyes eventually evolved into the classic nail polish known and loved by generations. Regular polish, which can be found at any drugstore or beauty site, is easy to apply and quick to change with your mood.
Regular nail polish has been a cultural staple for as long as people have wanted to color their nails.
A thin coat of colored lacquer over your natural nail and may last a few days before it chips with the option to add a base coat or top coat. Chipped nail polish suggests you need a new hue.
Simply put, applying regular nail polish is easy and fast. Mistakes made during the nail painting process can be quickly fixed by dabbing acetone and reapplying the nail polish.
...AND THE BAD
Unfortunately, ease of use and availability doesn’t mean regular nail polish is without its drawbacks.
In traditional nail lacquers, a long list of complicated chemicals finds its way into a bottle. From the base to the colorants to the various ingredients that allow this classic shine, nail polish has a complicated recipe.
Moreover, regular nail lacquers take impressively long to dry. After you apply your nail polish, you have to let it dry for at least half an hour.
The difficulty is in remembering that you have to keep your nails from getting tarnished in activities you unconsciously engage in, like putting your hands in your pocket while it's drying.
Even if you can wait long enough for your nails to dry perfectly, your new polish can chip within days.