Staying at home may be beneficial to our health, but it isn’t helping our manicures. I know a lot of women are STRUGGLING without some self-pampering. (I feel your pain) It is during these time when we must find creative alternatives to our normal spa routines. beneficial
While I enjoy my monthly visit to the nail salon, I have been recently extra-thankful for the shellac kit I purchased a few years ago. Long before the quarantine, I was doing my own gel manicures at home. I was looking for a way to get pretty nails without spending over $50 every two weeks. Plus, being a working mom, time is extremely valuable, so waiting in line at the nail salon was not something I was interested in doing. And now I am able to quickly achieve a manicure at home without having to endure the extra hassle.
I bought this entire set-up off Amazon, all for under $60. After purchasing the light, base/top coats, and some colors, I walked away spending less than what I would for TWO MANICURES! That in itself makes it worth it. And even after the quarantine is over and I can receive a professional manicure, I know I will STILL use this kit.
It has come in CLUTCH during this quarantine. I stock up on polishes over time, giving me lots of option to choose from. You can find the pastel colors I’m wearing HERE, but I am tagging lots more colors below. I actually use a basic acrylic makeup organizer to store all my polishes on a pretty display. What is meant to hold lipstick works perfectly for holding nail polishes.
Tips for an at-home gel manicure:
- Manicure is KEY: Be sure to take care of the health of your nails before applying gel. This means trimming cuticles, filling down edges, buffing, etc. This will make all the difference in helping your nails look amazing, all while lengthening the lifespan of the polish. I like to finish it all off (AFTER polish application) with some cuticle oil to help keep my cuticles from drying. I found some Sally Henson oil that I love from Target HERE.
- Stick to the same brand: It is important to use the same manufacturer’s primer, base, color and top coat. Mixing brands, you can lead to early peeling and difficult removal, which can cause damage to the nail.
- First Hand First: I like to start on my left hand to allow my dominate right hand to do all the work first, but that is just my preference. What’s important is that you take it one hand at a time- performing your prep and polish all the way through on each hand separately. This will ensure the polish remains at its highest potential between coats without over-drying or becoming sticky.
- Go Waterless: Avoid water, oils or lotion prior to the gel application. This will allow the polish to adhere more to the nails and prevent premature peeling.
- Don’t Rush: Take your time with each step. from cuticle care to nail prep to application. This will save time overall because you won’t have to fix mistakes later.
- Removal Safety: It is so important to maintain the health of your nails. And in order to do so, you must take all precautionary measures when removing the shellac. Some will automatically peel off, however, it is so important that you do not pick at the polish yourself. Soaking your nails in a warm bowl of acetone will do the trick. And after soaking for 5+ minutes, then you can begin to peel away at the polish. This will prevent your nails from becoming too brittle and weak and will help lengthen your future manicures.
I’m tagging all the products I use below:
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