Gel manicures..Salon and at home kits. Please share the negatives and positives.

[brooklyn615]

Can you get a gel manicure tha looks like a frrench, or is it only full, solid colors?

 

[eeyoresmom]

Can you get a gel manicure tha looks like a frrench, or is it only full, solid colors?

I'm wondering this also. Sensationail is sold in Walmart and CVS, they have a clear and a few that are very light and look similar to a french. Does anyone have any experience with these? I like a shiny, transulent look with the super pale shades, not opague.

 

[jmac323]

I've seen the at home kits for gel french. I like that you can use just about any colors to do a french style if you want to do something different. Like I've seen pink sparkle tips with the light pink body.

 

[Iamthequeen]

I've been getting a gel manicure for quite a while now. My nails are in great shape and are much stronger and longer than they have ever been. My manicurist uses cotton balls soaked in acetone placed over my nails and wrapped in foil for about 5 minutes to soak the gel polish off. I usually go 3 weeks between polishes. Yes, it does start to grow out, but I can deal with it. I don't usually have any problem with peeling or chipping, depending on which manicurist does my nails.

I've never tried the do it your self kits.

I also have hand eczema, which causes some skin drying and cracking and I see a dermatologist for this condition. He does not have any concerns about the gel polish. I also take a biotin supplement that my dr recommended, which also helps with my nail strength.

 

[patsal]

Sorry, didn't read the whole thing, but my experiences have been that Pros: lasts for at least two weeks, sometimes three, shine stays the whole time, really hold up no matter what I do.
Cons: long process to do in salon or at home (I have the Red Carpet set and do them about every two weeks), when they grow they tend to lift and peel, one minute it looks great next minute you are peeling it! Really difficult to get off of your nails. Soaking sounds fine, until you actually do it! Overall I really like the look and I have not had a chip or tips wearing down form cleaning and scrubbing since July when I started using the gel polish. I have had the OPI gel done at Ulta and it lasted three weeks.

 

[4GoofyCrew]

Are gel nails different than Shellac? I've never had a manicure but I am thinking about trying one for the holidays. My hands get so ugly in the winter with dry skin and brittle nails. I would love for them to be pretty, even if just for a week or two.

When I get pedicures they last about a month and I LOVE the sheen of the polish and how durable it is. I know my hands will take more of a beating than my toes so I don't expect the same lasting results. (Then again my feet take a beating at the beach almost every day in the summer...)

 

[eeyoresmom]

Are gel nails different than Shellac? I've never had a manicure but I am thinking about trying one for the holidays. My hands get so ugly in the winter with dry skin and brittle nails. I would love for them to be pretty, even if just for a week or two.

When I get pedicures they last about a month and I LOVE the sheen of the polish and how durable it is. I know my hands will take more of a beating than my toes so I don't expect the same lasting results. (Then again my feet take a beating at the beach almost every day in the summer...)

I don't know about the shellac but I am the OP who bought the DIY kit.. I too had never had a manicure but used to love the look of a professional (but not gel pedicure). My results with the DIY gel mani blow away the professional pedi as far as shine and longevity . I did my nails 6 days ago and they are still sooooo shiny. No peeling or chipping yet. Like I said in a previous post, I did not apply the color thick enough so it lacks some depth, but that was my error. I am soooo happy with my own results. Wish I had tried it much sooner. Then again, I haven't tried to take it off yet and I know that is a big con for lots of people.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Op here. Day 8 and trying to get this off is NOT easy! I have tried the cotton balls and tin foil for up to 8 minutes. Right now I have small bits of the raspberry color "staining the tops of my nails and I just keep scraping at it. i am using regular acetone nail polosh remover. Do I need something stronger? BTW, my next color is a very pale, translucent pink. Hope it is easier to remove!

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

Op here. Day 8 and trying to get this off is NOT easy! I have tried the cotton balls and tin foil for up to 8 minutes. Right now I have small bits of the raspberry color "staining the tops of my nails and I just keep scraping at it. i am using regular acetone nail polosh remover. Do I need something stronger? BTW, my next color is a very pale, translucent pink. Hope it is easier to remove!

I've had both OPI gel color and OPI axxium applied to my nails. I use the cotton ball, foil method to remove my polish. I wait 15 minutes and then gently scrap the peeling polish off. If it doesn't come off with the first try, I repeat the process.

 

[eeyoresmom]

I've had both OPI gel color and OPI axxium applied to my nails. I use the cotton ball, foil method to remove my polish. I wait 15 minutes and then gently scrap the peeling polish off. If it doesn't come off with the first try, I repeat the process.

Thanks. When I got home I did do the tin foil and cotton for 15 min, then soaked another 15 to get some of the staining off. Next time I will know better what to expect. Going to keep looking for tips for easier removal though since it is a pain!

 

[ORDisneyfans]

I don't know much about the at home gel kits, but I just purchased a Red Carpet Pro Gel kit with light from Drugstore.com for 1/2 price. It was $39.99. I went through ebates added a few more items to get free shipping and even found a $10 off code. So for $45 I received the kit and two Covergirl outlast lipsticks shipped. I ordered on Sunday and received on Tuesday! Amazing!

It is for my DD (15 for Christmas so I can't review it for you!

 

[Jenny3]

I just had my first gel manicure last month for our FL trip - LOVE how they turned out! Lasted about 3 weeks for me. I just had them redone yesterday (another French mani). The manicurist did the cotton balls/tin foil to remove the old gels, as well as some scraping, filing and buffing. For the $25 it cost me, it's totally worth it as I'm brutal on my nails!

 

[deva]

Thanks. When I got home I did do the tin foil and cotton for 15 min, then soaked another 15 to get some of the staining off. Next time I will know better what to expect. Going to keep looking for tips for easier removal though since it is a pain!

This is why I recommend only the Shellac brand by CND. Others will call themselves gel or shellac, but CND is the "true" Shellac. It comes off very easily with the cotton/foil method. I have mine done in salon, but have removed myself at home a few times.

It is shiny and durable. And you will not ruin your nails scraping it off like you have to do with gellish ( the Opi brand) or other copycats.

 

[luv2mickey]

The red carpet kit from Ulta has a LED light not UV, so it is not dangerous.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I love Shellac by CNDC but I also use Gelish when I want brighter colors. I went one time to get my nails down to watch the process and from then on I bought everything to do it myself. After a few practice runs I can get mine to last 3 weeks. I found with Gelish that if I buff the top coat off and then soak, it comes off just as easy as CNDC. I never scrape the polish off my nails, that is what causes the damage. It has also helped my nails grow stronger and longer.

 

[eeyoresmom]

This is why I recommend only the Shellac brand by CND. Others will call themselves gel or shellac, but CND is the "true" Shellac. It comes off very easily with the cotton/foil method. I have mine done in salon, but have removed myself at home a few times.

It is shiny and durable. And you will not ruin your nails scraping it off like you have to do with gellish ( the Opi brand) or other copycats.

Thank you. Is it sold online as a DIY kit?

 

[deva]

Thank you. Is it sold online as a DIY kit?

I found it on amazon. Not sure where you would get best price. You will not be disappointed with polish shine or ease of removal. You could always try one manicure at salon to see how they do it. Good luck.

 

[fakereadhed]

I started out with Shellac at the salon and moved to Gelish(Red Carpet made by same co.) at home. Been using it on my nails without a break for a year and a half.

You can get a french gel mani, but stick to the salon. It's complicated.

I wouldn't DIY without having it done in the salon first. I did a lot of research and watched mfr and YouTube videos before trying it at home.

Shellac is a polish and gel hybrid. The others are a thin layer of gel. They both remove fairly easily in about 15 min. The gelish doesn't require more than a quick couple of swipes with a fine board to rough up your nail which hasn'tIdamaged mine.

If you are worried about uv, apply sunscreen or switch to an LED light.

OP, if your polish wasn't dark enough, you can do 3 layers. Thinner works better.

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

I never considered gel nails until I read this thread. I purchased the Sensationail kit by Nailene. I love it. My nails look so great, like a shiny new car. And I loved the immediate drying. I usually have texture marks from blankets or such, but no more. After 2 wks I'm converted. It lasted a week and some, but my nails are too short to cap/ seal the tip, so I believe that is normal.

Today while doing them again, I think I forgot the 1st step/gel primer on my right hand fingers. Have any of you missed the gel primer? What happens?

Also, anyone have any secrets/tips for application and keeping it off your skin?
TIA

 

[eeyoresmom]

I never considered gel nails until I read this thread. I purchased the Sensationail kit by Nailene. I love it. My nails look so great, like a shiny new car. And I loved the immediate drying. I usually have texture marks from blankets or such, but no more. After 2 wks I'm converted. It lasted a week and some, but my nails are too short to cap/ seal the tip, so I believe that is normal.

Today while doing them again, I think I forgot the 1st step/gel primer on my right hand fingers. Have any of you missed the gel primer? What happens?

Also, anyone have any secrets/tips for application and keeping it off your skin?
TIA

Op here. I have done mine 4 times since getting the kit and practice does make perfect. A woman I work with got her first professional gel manicure last week, the same night I did my fourth manicure at home, and mine looks better. As far as keeping it off your skin, I have been pretending I will get an electric shock if the brush touches my skin Crazy, but it does force slowing down. I have gotten a small bit on my skin and nothing happened. I think if you get a thicker amount on your cuticle it will peel easier, but that is just my experience. Let us know how your "un-primed" hand holds up.