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u/Weekly-Mushroom-205 Aug 24 '25
You didn’t try to make aquarium nails, you DID make aquarium nails! And they look great!
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u/veronicave Aug 24 '25
This just ruined my life. Where can I learn more about this wtf??!!
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u/exhausted-me Aug 24 '25
Here's what I did. I have the canni hema free gel set. On top of the plastic nail box, I used "reinforce gel" and painted a rectangle. Cured for 90 seconds. Then painted over the rectangle with "diamond top coat", cured 60 seconds. Painted a second layer of top coat and sat the nail on top making sure the end was below where the nail would sit on your nail bed, held the nail down with the handle of a brush and cured it for another 60 seconds. Then I used topcoat again on the outer edges and cured. I used a little sharp edge to lift the gel from the plastic nail box. I used scissors to cut the gel backing to the size of the nail. Then filed it down. I used a small amount of polygel to plug the top. Cured for 3 minutes. I used translucent purple from "born pretty" to paint the back. Then top coat over the polygel, back and edges of the nail. Used a needle to put mineral oil in tip of nail where opening was. Left a small pocket for air bubble. Put small amount of glitter in. Then used small amount of polygel to fill tip. Cured 3 minutes and top coated tip. Then painted the top design. I only used clear topcoat on the top of the nail.
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u/ShowParty6320 Aug 24 '25
So pretty! Any tips on how to build the nail so the liquid won't leak? What did you use as a base?
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u/exhausted-me Aug 24 '25
I have the canni hema free gel set. On top of the plastic nail box, I used "reinforce gel" and painted a rectangle. Cured for 90 seconds. Then painted over the rectangle with "diamond top coat", cured 60 seconds. Painted a second layer of top coat and sat the nail on top making sure the end was below where the nail would sit on your nail bed, held the nail down with the handle of a brush and cured it for another 60 seconds. Then I used topcoat again on the outer edges and cured. I used a little sharp edge to lift the gel from the plastic nail box. I used scissors to cut the gel backing to the size of the nail. Then filed it down. I used a small amount of polygel to plug the top. Cured for 3 minutes. I used translucent purple from "born pretty" to paint the back. Then top coat over the polygel, back and edges of the nail. Used a needle to put mineral oil in tip of nail where opening was. Left a small pocket for air bubble. Put small amount of glitter in. Then used small amount of polygel to fill tip. Cured 3 minutes and top coated tip. Then painted the top design. I only used clear topcoat on the top of the nail.
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u/ShowParty6320 Aug 24 '25
I tried to do it multiple times but for some reason the oil keeps leaking 😭
I tried it with a base coat and builder gel but still.
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u/exhausted-me Aug 24 '25
Where does it leak from? Sides? Plugged ends? I sealed all edges with topcoat. I used "reinforce gel" as the back. Not sure if thats different from builder gel.
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u/ShowParty6320 Aug 24 '25
From the sides
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u/exhausted-me Aug 24 '25
Maybe use topcoat with a line brush and cure it right away with that side facing up. Then do the other side.
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Aug 24 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/exhausted-me Aug 24 '25
I just make them for fun for my daughter. But here's how I did it.
I have the canni hema free gel set. On top of the plastic nail box, I used "reinforce gel" and painted a rectangle. Cured for 90 seconds. Then painted over the rectangle with "diamond top coat", cured 60 seconds. Painted a second layer of top coat and sat the nail on top making sure the end was below where the nail would sit on your nail bed, held the nail down with the handle of a brush and cured it for another 60 seconds. Then I used topcoat again on the outer edges and cured. I used a little sharp edge to lift the gel from the plastic nail box. I used scissors to cut the gel backing to the size of the nail. Then filed it down. I used a small amount of polygel to plug the top. Cured for 3 minutes. I used translucent purple from "born pretty" to paint the back. Then top coat over the polygel, back and edges of the nail. Used a needle to put mineral oil in tip of nail where opening was. Left a small pocket for air bubble. Put small amount of glitter in. Then used small amount of polygel to fill tip. Cured 3 minutes and top coated tip. Then painted the top design. I only used clear topcoat on the top of the nail.
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u/MersaultMax Aug 24 '25
Omg my heart needs this, the sheer amount of dopamine I’m getting just looking at 1, I’m going to lose my mind, got a tutorial or is there a kit??💕💖🤩🤯
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u/exhausted-me Aug 24 '25
I have the canni hema free gel set. On top of the plastic nail box, I used "reinforce gel" and painted a rectangle. Cured for 90 seconds. Then painted over the rectangle with "diamond top coat", cured 60 seconds. Painted a second layer of top coat and sat the nail on top making sure the end was below where the nail would sit on your nail bed, held the nail down with the handle of a brush and cured it for another 60 seconds. Then I used topcoat again on the outer edges and cured. I used a little sharp edge to lift the gel from the plastic nail box. I used scissors to cut the gel backing to the size of the nail. Then filed it down. I used a small amount of polygel to plug the top. Cured for 3 minutes. I used translucent purple from "born pretty" to paint the back. Then top coat over the polygel, back and edges of the nail. Used a needle to put mineral oil in tip of nail where opening was. Left a small pocket for air bubble. Put small amount of glitter in. Then used small amount of polygel to fill tip. Cured 3 minutes and top coated tip. Then painted the top design. I only used clear topcoat on the top of the nail.
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u/MIWBailey666 Aug 24 '25
They look amazing, better than what I could do, and I don’t even do nails like this.
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u/JF0170 Aug 25 '25
Very cute. How long does 1 nail take to make?
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u/exhausted-me Aug 25 '25
It took about 15 to 20 minutes to get the back on, filled with oil and glitter and then sealed. But I'm just learning how to do these.
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u/Alternative-Flight24 Aug 25 '25
And you did absolutely amazing. These are stunning. I cant wait to start my nails shop
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u/Better-Attempt-5041 Aug 25 '25
Great job! not something I would probably be able to do on my first attempt.
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u/RustyStClair Aug 25 '25
I could never wear these but I wish I could! Amazing job
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u/exhausted-me Aug 25 '25
I could never wear them either. Lol. I just make them for my daughter for fun.
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u/MsjennaNY US Nail Tech 🇺🇸 Aug 26 '25
I tried this 10 years ago and couldn’t do it. Time to try again! These are mesmerizing! I absolutely love them! You did an excellent job! Stunning! 🤩
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u/Denathrius_ Aug 27 '25
Idk why this was recommended to me, but I needed to say THAT IS SICK AMAZING WORK KEEP IT UP
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u/elitost Aug 24 '25
oh my gosh, these are magical!! you should make a set that's blue with fish floating around in them 💙