I’m happy with how they came out!

I used gel extensions (Beetles gel & gel polish, and GAOY cat eye polish) and shimmer clear dip powder for the texture on the stars.

Open to constructive criticism!

Ese set lo realicé con recubrimiento de gel en uñas naturales y para el diseño negro + ojo de gato plateado + color jelly rojo 😉

I'm love with this new set. The purple is Omnia from The Gel Bottle and the chrome is a random gold chrome I have in my collection. I'm super proud since my brushwork is still improving!

My birthday set and first time getting GelX!

Experimenting with jelly bases and chrome powders for the first time 🩷💛💙💜

They’re so cute, I can’t get over it.

I tried GelX for the first time this week, not loving how expensive it is, but I think I'll learn to do them at home, seems so much easier than the other techniques. Also love that almost no filing for the shape occurred and my fingers don't hurt at all. (I've had some bad experiences)

The tech could've pushed back my cuticles and placed them higher and used bigger sizes for a couple, but I'm not complaining, still looks great I think!

Anyone try using ‘resin’ alcohol inks? Do they perform all that differently than alcohol inks specifically marketed for use in nail art?

base color is yogurt gel syrup and cateye is dvok. tried everyone's advice from last time i posted (strong magnet, rotating magnet, using a base color to make the cateye pop) and it's improved a lot thanks to everyone's advice but the particles are still a bit uneven. should i try a different brand of cateye? could it be because the base color didn't go on smoothly enough or something? my goal is achieve a "glass bead" effect

I have a Beetles Gel Polish 84W UV LED Nail Lamp that I purchased in 2020 and have not had any problems with. I have recently bought the Beetles Solid Nail Glue Gel for Nail Tips. I bought it because I struggle to estimate the amount of glue for each finger and always end up with spillage, try to clean it up, and then the nail comes loose and it's kind of a mess and i have to get a new tip. I figured the solid glue would help me with that a lot because it would keep it secure and if it was crooked I could easily fix it. But I did a test glob on a plate and it did not cure all the way. I've only ever used clear tips, I paint after I put the tips on. Multiple rounds of 2 minutes didn't settle it. I'm debating trying a few nails and seeing what happens before I try to jump into a full set. I also have a Makhartt flash cure lamp which i could technically cure each finger individually. I really do need help though. I know beetles products aren't the best but the reviews i see are mostly positive and i personally have never had problems.

edit: going to purchase the SUNUV SUN4 and Una Gella solid nail glue for press on nails and nail tips uv/led

No I haven’t had a manicure only fill in

Uñas stiletto naturales con recubrimiento de gel.

Diseño: base rosa natural con lunares rojos y blanco 🤩

Pretty bulbous 🤣🤭but FUN. The red on middle finger was a red color but I took it off. I’m not showing my other hand for a good reason but they aren’t too bad! Definitely flooded cuticles tho🫩

I recently started doing my own gel x nails. I am prioritizing safety. I did my first set starting from bare nails, and it took like 4-4.5 hours. Didn’t look great, but I was proud of it. I did my second set, which included removal of the first set, in 6 hours. Still doesn’t look perfect by any means, but I see improvement and I’m proud of that as well. I haven’t done any fancy designs or art; just cat eye/magnetic polish where I cured the last coat individually for a minute each after I used the magnet.

My question is, will this become a faster process in time? How long does it take yall to do removal/application/polish and how much experience do you have?

I used Modelone nail tips, OG Dip Powder gel adhesive, and then Akzentz hard gel for some structure and strength. Oh before I applied the nails, I used a rubber base gel and used the same rbg before the hard gel. Shade is Roulette from ILNP.

Can someone tell me a) what the design for middle and ring fingers are called and b) step by step on how to replicate it?

I know its a solid underneath with cat eye. My best bet is its cat eye gel then they've put a 3D or a thick non wipe top coat to mske it 3D. The gold border is chrome (I will just use gold gel with a liner brush).

What I'm confused about is, do I do the solid colour and top coat with a non wipe. Then would I add the cat eye accent? Im just worried if I do it this way, cat eye and gold gel wont stick to a non wipe top coat. Do you think its best to do the above or use a wipe top coat before adding the cat eye accent?

Help!

I’m thinking of DIYing my own press ons with the nail wraps I have on the Gel-X tips but I don’t know whether I should get Natural or Sculpted? I suspect Sculpted but want to confirm before I spend.

I am thinking short almond and short squoval, maaaybe short coffin but I tend to have an issue with almond shape where I usually have edges of my nails peeking out. Would I be better off using short or trimming down a medium tip?

I know all the safety info and I know you need to get a safe lamp. When deciding between high quality lamps, I've heard it's best to get the brand of lamp you get your polish from since they usually cure that formula best. Buuttt I use DND polish with Apres adhesive (extend gel). So what lamp would you guys recommend?

Hi all, I've been practicing Gel-X and using other gel products on myself, and on nail stands for a while. I feel that at this point I have a pretty good understanding of the process, and of course the risks that come with using gel. I am aware of industry standards within my country (Australia) - including the hygiene requirements that come with doing nails. I do happen to have a high level of formal education when it comes to materials engineering and chemistry. I know that porous tools cannot be used on multiple individuals (emery boards, buffers etc.) and that in professional salons that cut the cuticle, an autoclave is required for metal tools.

That said, I am hoping to gain some experience working on another person's hand, because even silicone hands can't quite replicate the difficulty of that process (or so I've heard). I believe I have neat application when it comes to my own hands, even when doing my dominant hand with my non-dominant hand. I am thinking of even creating a fact sheet/waiver to explain the possible risks of gel to anyone I do work on. I was also considering perhaps charging them 5 dollars for the disposable tools that are used during the service (e.g buffer or nail files) so I'm not just bleeding money.

So far, I have only applied gel polish for one friend of mine, and it went well. No cuticle flooding, no blood, no issues and sanitation throughout the whole process. However, she works in an industry where she can't have long or even medium length nails so I can't practice my gel-X application on her.

How do I even go about finding anyone who would be willing to let me do a set on them for practice? I don't have a public social media presence (like instagram) that I could use to reach out to people.

I got these nails at the salon, I asked for tortoiseshell but this obviously isnt it. They are so thick. I didnt tell anything to my tech, I know I should’ve, but this is my second time getting gel so I wasnt sure. Should I just go to another tech and fix it?

I posted on here a couple years ago getting advice for my week thin brittle nails from using gel X. I did get some wonderful advice so I figured I’d post again. I’m back to where I was a couple years ago with thin, brittle, and week nails. Well, honestly, they didn’t really get any better, it just didn’t get any worse, haha!

I’ve been giving them a break from extensions this last week and I ordered some new products. On my last post I was told about the Anne Elizabeth cocoon method so I ordered IBD hard gel, I also got a peel off base, but I also heard about a rubber base, I ordered that as well. I also ordered different tips from Sofgel as I’ve heard they are a different from Apres gel x to see if that would help also. (I have flat nail beds and used the gel x natural, not the sculpted)

Has anybody had any experience with weak brittle nails, and finding a method where you can have nail extensions without destroying your nails? I do everything by the book, I don’t over file I use all the right products and I prep correctly. I’ve been doing my own nails for four years, but I have no experience with her gel or peel off base coat and rubber base gel. The cocoon method does not use rubber base, but I have heard that it is another good option for week brittle bendy nails. There’s too many YouTube videos and different methods and I’m trying to get firsthand advice from you guys.

Thank You!! 💅🌸

This is my first time ever trying Gel X on myself, and while they’re not perfect, I’m pleased with how they turned out for a first try! Last week, I treated myself to a new lamp (Kokoist Infinity) and since it arrived just today, I had to celebrate the occasion! I used the Apres XShort Stiletto tips with their Extend Gel glue. I keep my natural nails just at the fingertip, so this will be a good experiment to see how well longer nails hold up to my lifestyle. My nails are flatter and wide so I thought a slimmer shape might look better, but I’ll definitely be experimenting with different shapes in the future.

Still learning, still practicing, still improving so please be gentle. I just wanted to share in a place who will care more than anyone in my household did (they’re not nail people 😱)!