Most girls who want to get a manicure with gel polish go to a specialist’s home or to a beauty salon.
There is an excellent assortment for this - on the CosmoLac page. In this article you will learn how to apply gel polish yourself at home. It ranks 1st in popularity of materials for manicure. Which is quite logical, because the varnish is distinguished by its practicality. Firstly, it makes the manicure durable (the coating lasts for at least 2 weeks). Secondly, nails become stronger and stronger.
Required Tools
Before creating a manicure, you need to make sure that all the required tools and materials are prepared:
- UV lamp - manicure is impossible without it, as it ensures the hardening of the varnish. It is important to dry the gel well; lamps with a power lower than 36 W are not suitable. A more convenient model would be an LED lamp, which dries nails many times faster;
- The base is one of the most important materials, which is responsible for the strength of the manicure and the protection of the nail plate;
- Top coat - it is applied at the very end, when the manicure is completed. There are 2 types: matte and gloss;
- Gel polishes of all colors and shades;
- Degreaser – a product that removes fat from the surface of the nail;
- Manicure scissors, files, buff, orange stick or pusher;
- Various rhinestones, bouillons, stickers, stencils, sparkles;
- Small lint-free wipes. If they don't exist, take them soft cloth or other matter. Cotton pads will not work, as pieces of cotton wool will stick to the gel;
- Cuticle oil applied to soothe and nourish irritated skin around the nail.
It’s not worth buying a lot of materials at once, especially at a high cost. Not all are suitable, the best of them are selected with experience.
Preparing to apply gel polish
Let's proceed to a detailed consideration of the procedure for coating a nail with gel polish. So that the manicure does not differ from the salon one and is good quality, the surface of the nail plate must be well prepared:
First, the old coating is removed. Then the cuticle is removed with scissors or a special liquid. The free edge of the nail is also treated. They give him desired shape using a nail file, it removes the exfoliated areas of the nail plate;
The keratin layer is removed from the surface of the nail to ensure strong adhesion to the gel polish. This is done using a buff or a sanding file. Any remaining dust should be wiped off with a small brush or cloth. After this step, it is better not to touch your nails with your hands;
There are often cases when natural plates after removing extensions artificially nails become very thin and soft. Nail plates of this type will not be able to provide strong contact with the gel polish and will quickly break. In this situation, a primer that does not contain acids and is safe for the body will help. It is applied to the main part of the plate and to the end to avoid the occurrence of detachments.
Apply first base coat. You should not allow a thick layer to form on your nails, otherwise it may simply not dry out. Therefore, all excess is removed on the edge of the bottle. As close as possible to the cuticle, and then carefully apply the base over the entire nail, without touching the skin of the side ridges. The layer should be even, without roughness. It is dried in a lamp;
Now apply gel polish using the following technology:
Step-by-step instructions for gel coating
- A drop of varnish is placed just above the center, which is pushed as close to the cuticle as possible without touching the skin;
- Next, apply a stroke in the middle of the nail plate to the free edge. Two more strokes lead from the base of the nail to its edge, but on the sides, left and right;
- The last step is to seal the end. They simply go over it with a brush, painting over the gaps;
- Turn on the lamp with a timer for 2 minutes, dry the nails. Each new layer of varnish must be dried, so it is made as thin as possible. To make the gel polish look noble, it is applied in at least 2 layers;
- After obtaining the desired color saturation, you can complete the manicure. To do this, cover the nail with a top coat, not forgetting the ends. The application technology is the same as for the base. The finished work is dried well in a lamp;
- Finally, you need to get rid of the dispersion layer using a degreaser or alcohol. Apply cuticle oil to the skin around the nail.
Removing old coating
The coating is removed when the manicure no longer looks neat and the nails have already grown a lot. Cotton pads, moistened with nail polish remover, is not enough to remove a firmly attached layer of varnish. The process of getting rid of manicure coating is quite labor-intensive and long, and it will take 15-30 minutes. Here everything depends on the experience of the master, the number of layers of varnish on the nail surface, and the time of wearing the manicure.
Removal is performed as follows:
- Using a nail file, remove the shiny surface from the base and end of the nail, i.e. glossy layer;
- The remover is applied to a cotton pad cut into 4 parts. Each nail is covered with a moistened piece, which is fixed firmly on top with foil;
- After 10-15 minutes, the foil and cotton wool can be removed from the nails. After this, the polish swells and comes off the nail on its own. You can use a pusher to remove any remaining gel. Everything must be done carefully, since at this stage the surface is exposed natural nail;
- If the varnish has hardened while other nails were being processed, then the procedure is carried out again.
A freshly done manicure is much easier to remove than one done a few weeks ago.
Manicure ideas
If you like the original and beautiful manicure, then an excellent solution would be to create various patterns on top of the base. Here are some nail decoration ideas that you can easily do at home:
- Fashion lovers will love the design, which combines various shades. Here one nail may stand out, contrasting in color with the rest. You can combine two or three colors on your finger at once. Patterns made with a thin brush will be very useful;
- Rhinestones or stones, which are suitable for both multi-colored and plain manicures, will help make your manicure even brighter and more unusual. The decorations are attached to the surface of the nail using special glue. If it is missing, then you can glue them onto a sticky layer of varnish that has not yet dried. Then all this is dried in a UV or LED lamp and a top coat is applied;
- Rubbing will give your manicure a neat look. It hides unevenness and other imperfections. The design will look modern with the use of neon shimmer;
- Glitter powder. With a thin brush, you can apply crumbly small glitter in the form of some kind of pattern or simply cover the entire nail with it. The powder is applied before the gel polish has dried, then it is secured with a top coat.
Instructions for painting with gel polish on nails
Using dots greatly simplifies the task of creating designs on nails. This thin stick is an excellent option for beginners who are learning to make clear and beautiful drawings. With its help you can carefully draw any monograms or ruffles. The technique for using dots when applying gel polish will be as follows:
- Take dots suitable size;
- Dip the tip into gel polish;
- A small dots will allow you to draw the smallest details; here it can act as a brush. The pattern is drawn starting from the center. In this case, the instrument is moved as if pushing the gel a little;
- The completed design must be covered with a top coat.
Compared to the option described above, a more difficult task will be to apply gel polish in the form of a pattern using a brush. You are already familiar with the plan for the basic gel polish coating of the nail plate and painting with dots. In the case of a brush, everything happens similarly. Only, in addition to other tools, you will additionally need a brush with medium and long bristles.
The difficulty with applying gel polish yourself with a brush is that the polish can be liquid, which can cause it to smear. And if the pigmentation density of the varnish is low, then the patterns may not be visible at all. It is important to remember these points, therefore, in order to achieve an ideal result, you need to buy gel paints or varnishes with high level pigment.
Most often, such a procedure can be done in beauty salons, or at home by a specialist. We will show you how to apply gel polish yourself at home.
Currently, gel polish is very popular and when performing a manicure, the choice falls on it. This is due to the fact that the coating can stick to the nails long time, up to 2 weeks, and it also makes the nail plate noticeably stronger. Most often, such a procedure can be done in beauty salons, or at home with a specialist, but today on the website we will show you how to apply the coating yourself at home. Our tips will help you understand the technology of using gel polishes for beginners.
Required Tools
The fact that manicures are most often performed by specialists is largely due to the fact that to cover nails with gel polish you need to have special tools. But if you stock up on them for your own use, you can provide yourself with a beautiful manicure for a long time.
You must have:
- LED lamp or UV lamp– it is a mandatory attribute, since with its help the gel polish hardens firmly. It affects the varnish with special ultraviolet radiation and is completely safe for health.
- Base– a must-have product that provides protection to the nail surface and better adhesion of colored varnish.
- Top– applied at the end, strengthens the coating and prolongs its duration. The top comes in glossy and matte finishes.
- The gel polishes themselves are of various colors, to your taste and color.
- Degreaser – special remedy, which allows you to clean and degrease the surface of the plate, thereby ensuring stronger adhesion to the varnish.
- Nail tools: files, buffs, tweezers, tweezers, pusher, lint-free wipes (it is better to avoid using cotton pads, as they leave debris on the surface).
- Decor: glitter, nail stickers, rhinestones.
- For beginners, especially for independent use, it is better not to take very expensive products for the first time. It is better to purchase at an average price and in small quantities, and in subsequent times choose based on experience.
Step-by-step application instructions
In order to perform a high-quality manicure and not forget anything, you need to properly prepare your workplace. First of all, free up enough space on the table, provide it with lighting and put everything in front of you. necessary tools, so that you don’t have to look for them during the process.
Before directly applying gel polish, you need to prepare your nails well:
- The remnants of the previous manicure are carefully removed, removing even the smallest dots.
- Next, you need to do a regular manicure, trim off hangnails, remove cuticles, adjust the shape of the nail and file the edge to remove any unevenness.
- You need to use a buff over the entire surface of the nail plate.
- Nails are degreased with a special product.
After the preparation stage, you can proceed to nail coating:
Video: step-by-step instructions from a manicurist
Removing the coating from the nail plate
When the nails have grown sufficiently and the manicure does not look aesthetically pleasing, the coating must be removed from the nails. In order to remove it correctly, it is not enough to simply rub your nails with a cotton pad dipped in a special liquid. This is done in a slightly different way:
- You can use a file to go over the top glossy layer, cutting off the shiny surface, especially the end.
- Cotton pads should be cut into 4 parts and remover should be applied to each.
- Moistened pieces of discs are applied to each nail, and are well fixed on top with foil.
- After 10 - 15 minutes, the foil can be removed from the fingers, the varnish should swell on its own and peel off from the nail. If a small amount of remains, it can be carefully removed wooden stick(pusher). Do not use metal tools for these purposes, otherwise you may damage the nail plate itself.
If during removal the gel polish has time to harden in air, then you need to repeat the procedure.
In order for your manicure to last as long as possible on your nails and look beautiful, you need to follow a few tips that will help you avoid mistakes:
- before work, it is better not to take nail baths less than two hours before the manicure;
- if you don’t have enough experience, then you shouldn’t work on all your nails at once; it’s better to paint 1-2 nails at a time;
- During the day it is better to avoid strong contact with water, especially when washing floors and visiting the pool;
- do not apply a thick layer, remove excess product on the brush.
Manicure ideas
When working, you can also give free rein to your imagination and make various designs on your nails.
Several of the most simple ideas nail designs that you can do yourself at home:
- Using Multiple Colors– it has now become fashionable for nails to be painted different shades when only one or even a combination of colors on one finger stands out. In addition, you can use a thin brush and use it to paint on your nails.
- Decoration with rhinestones or stones– a plain or colored manicure can be decorated with various stones, in the same way, highlighting only one nail, or used on each finger. The decorations need to be applied to the last, still sticky layer of gel polish, you can use special glue, and then dry it in a lamp. And after that, secure with a layer of topcoat.
- Loose glitter– you can decorate the entire surface of the nail with such shiny powder, or apply a design with a thin brush while the varnish is still wet, sprinkle glitter on it, which will stick to it. And then secure the entire pattern with topcoat.
- Various pictures or shiny ribbons- the principle is the same, on sticky upper layer You need to place the sticker you like, and then apply the top coat and secure it under the lamp.
Video “Apply gel polish yourself”
Have you already tried doing a manicure with gel polish? Be sure to share your experiences and ideas in the comments!
In the process of learning to apply gel polish, certain mistakes are inevitably made that upset novice masters. Let's look at them in more detail so that your home experiments and creativity only bring positive results and impressions!Preparing nails for a manicure with gel polish: what you need to pay attention to. TOP 10 mistakes made by beginners.
Careful and high-quality nail preparation will help the master quickly and correctly apply the color coating, as well as ensure good adhesion of the nail to subsequent layers of applied materials. Unfortunately, mistakes happen at this stage in the work as experienced craftsmen, and those who bought for the first time. What are the consequences of the shortcomings made when processing marigolds and applying materials for degreasing, cleansing, dehydration and improving adhesion?- Mistake #1: The base for the gel polish went on smoothly.
- Mistake #2: microbubbles and mini-voids are visible in the layer of the polymerized base.
- Mistake #3: The color coating has peeled off the nail, starting with the base layer.
The same picture is observed if instead of a buff . It will make the nail smooth instead of rough, and the coating on the nail will simply not stay on.
- Mistake #4: under the layer of gel polish, cracks formed in the nail plate, which led to the nail breaking.
- Mistake #5: The gel polish peels off as a whole plate.
- Mistake #6: shellac and gel polish chips a lot a few days after application.
- Degrease the nail step by step: disinfect your nails and hands with spray or foam. Next, remove the fat from the nails, and finally treat the nails and side ridges;
- Don't skip application acid-free primer. It is advisable to use a product from the same manufacturer as the gel polish base. This way you guarantee maximum adhesion between 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.
- Mistake #8: In natural nails, even without blows, cracks formed right down to the flesh.
- Mistake #9: when using the base directly on a dried primer (the quality of both products is good and the expiration date has not expired), after a few days your coating will still chip and peel off.
- Mistake #10: your client has long but thin nails, the length of which you mutually decided not to remove.
The process of creating a design with shellac and gel polish. TOP 10 common mistakes and ways to eliminate them.
If you managed to carry out the process of preparing your nails for applying shellac, avoiding all the pitfalls, do not let your guard down! Creating an image and decorating it with 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 discovered polymerized streaks.
- Mistake #2: the new gel polish chips and cracks, although the design is covered with a thick topcoat.
- Mistake #3: colored shellac was deformed after drying, bubbles and voids are visible in the coating. The gel polish has a good shelf life and was purchased from a reliable seller with a quality guarantee.
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 right way lifting the color pigment from the bottom is by rolling a bubble from gel polishes between your palms.
- Mistake #4: your manicure chips and becomes 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.
- Mistake #5: When applying layers, you do not brush over the free edge of the nail.
- Mistake #6: You love to create manicures by mixing colors and creating unique shades. However, despite all the tricks, the coverage lasts less than 14 days.
- Mistake #7: your manicure shows record wear time, but decorative elements quickly chip, become cloudy or peel off.
- Mistake #8: you use in one design both completely new coatings and materials that have expired and are about to expire.
- Mistake #9: you apply gel polish and shellac to nails that are just below zero length, and clients soon complain about chips and cracks.
- Mistake #10: your client has little time for design, and you are in a hurry to quickly create a finished image, without following required amount layers, their drying time and the density of the applied materials.
How to properly handle gel polish nails immediately after creating a manicure: dos and don’ts.
Like lacquer design, manicure with shellac and gel polish requires care, care and attention. A high-quality, creative, complex design can cost the client a considerable amount of money, depending on the level of skill of the nail artist and his place of work. So how can you enjoy the image in its pristine beauty and not end up prematurely with broken nails, a cloudy finish, or an image with cracks and peelings?
After creating a gel polish look, you can and should do the following:
- Regular massage of the cuticle with liquid or cream or lotion. This is especially true for “under the cuticle” manicure. 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 durability of the coating after they have been completely dried in the lamp.
- Do housework in , including preparing food with foods that have a strong color pigment (beets, carrots, etc.). If you wear light shades of shellac coated with , you may one day experience clouding or the shade getting dirty. A lint-free cloth and alcohol will save the situation. Wipe your nails gently and enjoy their renewed beauty.
- You took off your manicure and are faced with the fact that your nails square shape did they begin to curl at the ends? If the problem is permanent and reappears after treatment, you will have to change the shape of the nails. However, never do this while wearing the design. By cutting or filing nails with shellac, you risk damaging your nails and taking a long time to restore them.
- Even for those with strong and fast-growing nails, many practicing masters advise allowing the nail plate to recover after 3-4 designs. Practice for several weeks, or. Strengthened, moisturized and nourished nails will again delight you with a high-quality shellac design, without peeling and nail breakage.
Along with positive aspects long-lasting manicure with gel polish, there are several significant prohibitions regarding this coating.
What absolutely cannot 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 aggressive household chemicals, facial care containing acids, as well as hair dyes and products containing acetone. The components of these products can negatively affect the wear time of the manicure, as well as cause clouding of the shine or significantly change the color of the coating.
- Treat the coating 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 burnout bright colors gel polish.
- Do not try to correct the overgrown design yourself. This type coating, unlike, does not imply spot correction. After 2 weeks, it is better to completely renew the manicure rather than tinting and sanding the overgrown area of the nail.
How to properly apply gel polish on natural and artificial nails: technology, master classes and video training.
Step by step procedure A manicure with gel polish at home is not too complicated and only requires regular practice. We invite you to get acquainted with our library of educational articles and master classes that reveal all the subtleties and details of design with gel polishes: When starting to master gel polish, amateurs and inexperienced masters ask themselves the question: is the technology for performing manicures 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 (acrylic, gel, tips).
In practice, the processes for creating an image on natural and artificial nails are quite similar. The main thing you DO NOT do with your nail extensions 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 your nails just a little.
- Apply gel polish to artificial nails only once, since it will not be possible to remove the design from them to the base. And you will inevitably have to make corrections.
- Create artificial nails as thin as possible so that the subsequently applied gel polish does not create the appearance of excessively thick and unsightly nails.
- Choose designs in colors close to natural color natural nails. So visually you can briefly, but delay the day of changing the image.
- Apply the coating in thin layers, pressing the brush to the nail. Unlike natural nails, correction of flaws on artificial nails is fraught with disruption of their adhesion to the surface of the natural nail. If you have little experience working with extended nails, 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 manicurists to you!
Shellac is gel and polish in one bottle. The coating lasts 2-3 weeks. But simply painting your nails with this product is not enough. Let's look at how to properly apply gel polish step by step. Violation of the technology will lead to the varnish quickly chipping or losing its shine.
You need to apply gel polish to your nails in stages to achieve the desired effect.
Required tools and materials
You don't need to go to a beauty salon and pay for the services of a specialist. You can completely apply shellac correctly at home. To do this you need to work step by step and have the following:
- manicure set;
- orange sticks and sponges;
- Ultraviolet lamp;
- grinder (buff);
- disinfectant, cuticle oil;
- base (transparent gel), color coating, finish gel;
- various accessories: glitter, slider stickers, foil, stamping.
To apply gel polish correctly, you will need manicure tools.
Many people do not understand how to distinguish shellac from any other gel polish. The CND company created a hybrid of varnish and gel, patenting the name “shellac”. Therefore, there are many names: shellac (CND), color gel, color gel. Different companies - different names.
Stage 1. Preparing your nails
Correct step-by-step application of gel polish affects the final result. If an error is made during the work process, the coating begins to peel off and crack within the first days (hours). To make your hands happy with a magnificent manicure, do everything correctly, step by step.
First, let's prepare our nails for applying the gel. For this:
- Apply to nail plates correct form using a fine-grained file.
- Remove the keratin layer. You will need a coarse sander (buff). We need a matte surface, and to do this, carefully remove the gloss. If processed harshly, the plate will become thin and brittle.
- We push back the cuticle with an orange stick and do a shallow manicure.
- Cover the treated nails with a bonding agent (drying agent).
Now it's time to apply layers of gel.
Stage 2. Applying the base
It would be correct to put a layer of primer under the base. This is a solution that contains a fragment of nucleic acid. It will protect your nails from peeling, and your manicure will look like new for a long time. Now you need to apply the base.
The base is a transparent gel that firmly binds the natural nail structure and the colored gel together. Apply the base coat with a brush designed for this purpose. Do it correctly: take a drop of gel and carefully, without touching the skin, make rubbing movements from the edge to the cuticle, then in the opposite direction. Each layer should be thin. Dry the coating in a UV or LED lamp. You need to apply 1-2 layers of base coat.
An important point in step-by-step instructions– applying the base
After the base has hardened, a dispersion layer is formed. Gently smooth it out with a dry brush. Then the colored gel will lie flat.
Stage 3. Apply color coating
Applying color base is easy. If you have ever painted them at home with regular varnish, then you will apply shellac correctly. If you apply shellac too thickly, you will get waves and bubbles. Apply gel polish correctly, after completely drying the previous layer. In total you need to complete 1-3 layers. Please pay Special attention at the end (end). “Seal” it as carefully as possible.
The varnish will adhere more firmly if you carefully seal the ends
Don't forget to dry each layer in a lamp.
Stage 4. Apply finishing gel
To fix the base coating and give a beautiful shine, you need to apply a finishing gel (top). Here you need to make a layer denser than all the previous ones. Then we dry it in a lamp as usual.
Processing ready-made manicure disinfectant to remove the dispersion layer. It's time to apply nourishing oil to the cuticle.
With the top coat applied, your nails look perfect
Types of shellac coating
You can do shellac coating correctly and beautifully at home. The beauty industry is constantly evolving, with interesting new products appearing. Plain matte manicure I'm bored and want to experiment. For example:
- Use accessories: glitter, slider stickers, stamping, foil.
- Cover with Bluesky gel from the “Cat's Eye” collection.
- To make a French jacket is not simple, but colorful.
- Cover with mirror gel polish.
Even for short nails you can come up with and apply interesting drawings, patterns, ornaments
It won’t be easy to make such beauty at home, but it’s not difficult to learn.
Using Accessories
Having glitter for manicure, a couple of stencils and professional foil at home, you can gradually create real masterpieces on your hands. Put glitter on top of the main color, so the manicure will look more original.
Water stickers (slider) or photo stickers are also very good. They need to be applied to the main color or base. Photo design is afraid of water, and slider stickers need to be wet first. In order for the design to stick well, you need to apply a top coat on top.
Stamping – modern direction in nail design. You can perform this procedure at home. You will need:
- metal plate with engraved designs;
- stamp;
- scraper.
You select a pattern on the plate, cover it with varnish, and then remove the excess with a scraper. Use the stamp to transfer the pattern onto the nail. With the help of such a device you will make the finest openwork designs. Stamping is easy to use even for a beginner.
Applying such a design is actually not difficult - just master the stamping technique
Foil is a real lifesaver. You can create a mirror design, or you can tear the foil and make original designs. Or stick a slider picture on one nail.
How to apply Bluesky shellac from the “Cat's Eye” collection on nails
The Bluesky brand has released a series of colored gels called “Cat Eye”. It contains particles that are attracted by a magnet (included in the kit). A pattern similar to a cat's eye stone is formed.
It's easy to apply Bluesky Cat's Eye at home. Proceed step by step: after treating your hands, covering them with a base, you can apply Bluesky magnetic gel polish from the “Cat Eye” series. Immediately bring the magnet very close to the nail for 5-10 seconds. Use it correctly. Do not touch the painted surface with the magnet. Metal particles contained in the gel color will be attracted to the surface. The “Cat's Eye” drawing is ready.
To apply “Cat Eye”, you need to follow the instructions step by step
To further highlight the beauty of Bluesky Cat Eye polishes, use glitter or a slider. Stamping is quite appropriate. It is also necessary to apply a finishing gel.
How to make a French
French manicure (French) never goes out of fashion because it looks great on any length of nails. It's quite easy to do this manicure at home. We carry out step by step everything that we did before: preparation - base coat - application of the main color. Now we do French.
We draw the smile line ourselves or use stickers. Cover the tip of the nail plate with colored gel polish. Choose color options that are contrasting or differ only in intensity.
Interesting jacket options will highlight the look
Girls increasingly began to do the “Hollywood French” with a metallic tint. To create this effect, use foil. Gently stick it onto the tip of your nail. Remove the remaining foil using a file. Cover the finished jacket with finishing gel.
Fashionistas will be interested in the reverse (lunar) jacket. Covers the entire nail plate (including the end) Matt lacquer dark shade, and the area near the cuticle remains transparent or is painted over light shade. Try using foil instead of varnish.
French and stamping go well together. Especially if you're doing a classic French manicure. Openwork stamping will look simply gorgeous. Glitter or slider stickers will do.
Mirror manicure
The Bluesky company has created a wonderful mirror gel polish. Stunning molten metal effect finish. This manicure can be done in stages using foil, but Bluesky gels are much easier to use. To make a mirror manicure step by step, you need to purchase a Bluesky metallic base and a stained glass coating.
A metallic base coat is applied to the regular base coat, followed by a stained glass finish. If you cover the Bluesky mirror varnish immediately with a top coat, without a stained glass layer, then the entire effect of molten metal will disappear.
Mirror gel polish for perfect nails
Highlight the mirror design using glitter or slider stickers. You can gradually combine the use of Bluesky varnishes and stamping. Or use foil as an extra.
Single-phase gel polishes
You can do without a base and fixer if you use single phase gel. It is enough to remove the matte layer from the plate with a buff and immediately apply single-phase varnish. But it flows down to the cuticles, so you need to work quickly, otherwise unevenness and air bubbles will form. If you are a beginner and decide to try a single-phase manicure, ask the client to keep her fingers down. This way the gel will lie more evenly. Single-phase gel should be applied in 2-3 layers, drying each layer in stages in a lamp.
For phased implementation This manicure will require several layers
Single-phase varnish goes well with accessories. But if you used glitter or slider stickers, cover your nails with top coat or clear varnish. Otherwise, all the beauty will come off.
Single-phase varnish can be applied much faster than shellac. But is it right to immediately cover your nails with gel polish or is it better to apply a base? If you need a longer lasting result, still take care of the base.
Everything in a person should be beautiful: his soul, his thoughts, and even his nails. A well-done manicure with a perfect finish is a decoration for every girl.
Strengthening natural nails with gel: features of the procedure
But what to do if nature deprived beautiful shape nails, because of their fragility it is difficult to grow even a small length, but you don’t want to do extensions? On help will come Gel nail coating without extensions.
It will help you grow the desired length and, if necessary, slightly adjust the shape of your natural nail. Very often, girls confuse strengthening nails with gel with gel extensions. However, in fact, they have only one similarity: both procedures help make nails beautiful and well-groomed.
The differences between them are significant:
- for nail extensions the nail bed is lengthened and the shape of the natural nail may change, while with conventional strengthening it is impossible to increase the length of the nail;
- when covering nails with gel applied to natural nails without extensions insignificant amount material, which means there is no thinning or weakening of your own nails;
- strengthening nails with gel helps improve the condition of the nail, reduce its fragility and prevent delamination of the plate.
Strengthening nails with gel is an excellent option for those who do not want to resort to extensions, but want to have long and beautiful nails.
Advantages and disadvantages of gel nail coating
The advantages of gel nail strengthening include:
Despite all the advantages, this procedure has enough disadvantages:
- The need for regular correction. As the nail grows, the border between the natural nail and the strengthened gel becomes noticeable. The frequency of correction depends on the rate of nail growth, on average it is once every 2–3 weeks.
- Duration of the procedure. When covering nails with gel in a salon with a manicurist, the procedure takes from 1 to 1.5 hours; if you strengthen it yourself, the duration increases by at least 2 times or more.
What is better to use gel or biogel to strengthen nails?
To determine what would be better suited to strengthen your nails, first you need to figure out how these two materials differ. The gel is a synthetic glass-like polymer; it hardens when polymerized in a UV lamp.
Biogel –It is a rubber-based polymer being a very elastic material. 
| Type of coverage | Advantages | Flaws |
| Gel nail strengthening | 1. Nails covered with gel, even without extensions, are very strong. 2. The gel allows you to increase any length. 3. Duration of wear is about 3 weeks. 4. Overgrown nails can be corrected by correction, without completely removing the old material | 1. Using the gel requires cutting down the natural nail before applying it. 2. The thickness of an artificial or strengthened nail is much greater than that of a nail coated with biogel. 3. Nails lose their elasticity, as a result of which they are susceptible to chips and cracks. 4. Cannot be soaked with special liquids; material is removed by sawing off (the exception is gels with a soak-off formula). |
| Biogel nail coating | 1. Nails coated with biogel are much more elastic, bend easily and are less susceptible to chipping. 2. Positively affects the natural nail plate. 3. Does not require cutting down the natural nail before coating. 4. Easily removed by soaking in a special liquid. 5. Does not require a large layer thickness when applied. | 1. Relatively short duration of wear (no more than 2 weeks). 2. Impossibility of correction without removing old material. 3. It is necessary to prevent contact of nails strengthened with biogel with acetone-containing liquids and alcohols. |
Thus, for those who do not want to lengthen the nail plate, but want to strengthen natural nails, biogel is the ideal material. It will cause the least harm to your nails and give them a beautiful and well-groomed look.
Materials and tools needed to strengthen nails with gel
To cover your nails with gel you will need the following materials:
Gels come in several types: single-phase and three-phase. In the case of a single-phase gel, only one gel is needed; in the case of a three-phase gel, a base and top coat are also required.
Be careful: When carrying out the procedure of covering nails with gel without extensions in the salon, it is necessary to ensure that all the instruments that will be used to perform the trimmed manicure are sterilized, since there is a high risk of infection from non-sterile instruments.
Gel nail coating without extensions: step-by-step instructions at home
Covering nails with gel without extensions at home is not so difficult. You just need to follow the correct sequence of all actions and practice a little in order to reduce the time for the procedure.
It is important to know: If the gel does not dry out, the lamps must be replaced. When using LED gels, they can be dried in a LED lamp, then the polymerization time will be reduced to 30 seconds. 
- Application of gel. The application rules are the same, each layer is dried in a lamp for 2 minutes.
- If any design is required, you need to remove the sticky layer from the gel and cover your nails with gel polish or decorate them with decorative elements.
- Application top coating.
- Removing the sticky layer. When using a topcoat without a sticky layer, this is not necessary.
Design ideas for gel nails
One of the most common designs when covering nails with gel is the French manicure. This option is universal, it will suit any look and style. In addition, when the natural nail grows out, the transition will not be noticeable for much longer. 
A manicure made with plain gel polishes with any design on the nails will look interesting. ring fingers.
Recently, various nail pigments and mirror rubs have become increasingly popular, making nails look as if they are covered with metal.
The ombre or gradient design, in which the nail is covered with two contrasting or, conversely, similar colors, and the border between them is shaded, is also in demand.
How long does gel nail polish last?
The durability of the gel coating depends on what material was used for strengthening. If it is a simple gel, then this coating will last at least 3 weeks, after which correction will be required. However, this is more likely due not to the fact that the coating will deteriorate, but to the fact that overgrown nails look very unaesthetic. When using biogel, the coating lasts about 2 weeks.
Note! In addition to the type used to coat the material, the durability of the gel coating is influenced by the following factors:
- insufficient preparation of the nail plate;
- insufficient time for gel polymerization in a UV lamp;
- contact with chemicals, such as detergents and disinfectants, as well as acetone-containing liquids without gloves.
In order for extended or gel-coated nails to retain their original appearance for as long as possible, it is recommended that all housework be done with gloves.
Strengthening nails with gel: price in the salon
The cost of covering nails with gel without extensions in salons varies, but if you take the average amount, it will be about 1000 rubles or more. The final amount will depend on the chosen coating, the complexity and quantity of the design completed, as well as the popularity of the particular salon and manicurist.
It should be remembered that there is no need to save on such things, since this can lead to the fact that a cheaper master will ruin his nails or cause some kind of infection by performing a manicure with an untreated tool.
Useful tips from experts: how to perform high-quality nail strengthening with gel
- In order to avoid detachments, A few hours before applying the gel, you should not use moisturizing creams or oils.
- To ensure that the coating lasts as long as possible, Manicure should be done dry, without soaking. If you need to steam your hands before a manicure, it is best to apply the coating the next day.
- In order for the nail plate to be perfectly smooth, Additional leveling can be done using a rubber base.
- For perfect coverage, It is necessary to remove the pterygium from the surface of the nail as thoroughly as possible.
- Do not allow the base to leak on the cuticle and side ridges, this will lead to detachment of the gel.
- Be sure to seal the end of the nail at all stages of material application to avoid chipping.
Gel coating allows you to keep your nails in order, giving them an aesthetic appearance. Moreover, their strengthening can be done not only in the salon, but also at home, having previously stocked up with all the necessary materials.
Gel nail coating without extensions: useful video
Covering nails with gel at home without extensions in this video:
White French at home. Covering nails with gel without extensions in this video:
