Gel nails are a popular choice for those who want a long-lasting, chip-resistant manicure. However, getting gel nails done at a salon can be expensive and time-consuming. Fortunately, there are now many ways to do gel nails at home, with a little practice, you can achieve salon-quality results.
To do gel nails at home, you will need the following:
- A UV or LED lamp
- Gel nail polish
- Base coat
- Top coat
- Nail cleanser
- Cotton balls or pads
- Cuticle pusher
- Nail file
- Buffer
- Lint-free wipes
Once you have all of your supplies, you can follow these steps to do gel nails at home:
- Prep your nails. This involves filing your nails to your desired shape, pushing back your cuticles, and buffing your nails to remove any shine.
- Apply a base coat. This will help the gel polish adhere to your nails.
- Cure your nails under the lamp. The curing time will vary depending on the type of lamp you are using.
- Apply two coats of gel polish. Be sure to cure your nails under the lamp after each coat.
- Apply a top coat. This will help protect your gel polish from chipping and peeling.
- Cure your nails under the lamp.
- Wipe your nails with nail cleanser. This will remove any sticky residue.
- Enjoy your gel nails!
Here are some additional tips for doing gel nails at home:
- Use a thin coat of gel polish and cure it for the full amount of time.
- Avoid getting gel polish on your skin, as it can be difficult to remove.
- If you make a mistake, simply wipe it off with nail cleanser and start over.
- Store your gel polish in a cool, dark place.
See the photo below for some gel nail ideas that you can try at home!
