This past weekend I got my first gel manicure at the salon for my best friends wedding, I am super impressed with the long lasting quality of the manicure, however I am NOT impressed with the price. I was thinking that I might actually wear nail polish more often, if it didn't chip off in a day or two, but don't want to spend the $40 to get it done at the salon. Can any of you recommend a good at home gel nail polish kit? There were three at CVS, but don't want to buy something blindly only to find out it's crap. Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks in advance!
Do it yourself gel nail kits
- Thread starter Spazkatt
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I was fairly happy with the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Gel manicure set I got a while ago. A plus is that the light still seems to work well for me. A minus is that the actual bottles of polish are quite tiny. I got the set with Red My Lips as the polish colour as that was the only available choice; if you like an intense but brick-red tone, then that is fine. I've used the red only twice (as I don't love it), but got several Gelish polishes and have been using them with the set, or with the base and top that come from Gelish, and that works with the SH light as well.
I got the SH kit because it was available. If you want to save money, you can also consider getting an online UV compact fluorescent bulb light (as the LED UV lights tend to be more expensive), but the 'UV' light takes 2 minutes for curing a coat, while the LED takes 30 seconds. If I were to do it again, I don't know if I would choose something else. I wonder whether I'm missing out in any way by not having a 'fancier' Gelish brand LED light, but honestly I doubt it. I haven't tried other lights, or other starter kits, so I can't say for certain. If I was comparing a few starter kits from mainstream brands, I would look most carefully at 1) whether the light is compact fluorescent 'UV' or UV LED << preference for me is LED, and 2) the volume of base and top coat, or basics, that you get with the set.
I got the SH kit because it was available. If you want to save money, you can also consider getting an online UV compact fluorescent bulb light (as the LED UV lights tend to be more expensive), but the 'UV' light takes 2 minutes for curing a coat, while the LED takes 30 seconds. If I were to do it again, I don't know if I would choose something else. I wonder whether I'm missing out in any way by not having a 'fancier' Gelish brand LED light, but honestly I doubt it. I haven't tried other lights, or other starter kits, so I can't say for certain. If I was comparing a few starter kits from mainstream brands, I would look most carefully at 1) whether the light is compact fluorescent 'UV' or UV LED << preference for me is LED, and 2) the volume of base and top coat, or basics, that you get with the set.
Thanks for your input, I was looking at Gelish vs. SensatioNail mostly the Gelish because it gives the closest to a salon gel manicure (according to reviews I've seen online) or SensatioNail, because it's avaialble at my CVS. I didn't just want to grab the first thing I saw at CVS without doing a little research first.
After doing a little more reseach online I settld on sensatioNail. I tried my first home manicure with it last night and I think it takes about the same amount of time as regular polish since I do base, 2 polish coats, top & quick dry coats for regular polish and wait between coats, the added bonus with the gel polish is the fact that it is done and cured immediately after you finish. I am always messing up my nails during the drying period. So far I am pleased, now I will have to see how long it lasts!
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That's great! It'll be nice to hear how it's working for you. Is it still on or have you changed it yet? What colour did you get with the set? I hope you're enjoying it!
It lasted FOREVER, I just took off it this past Monday because my nails had grown out so much! I bought the starter pack with the wine color and bought sherbert as well.
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That's great! More than two weeks works.
/emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> They both look like great colours - pics are always really welcome on https://www.makeuptalk.com/f/topic/13191-nail-polish-youre-wearing-right-now/. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />I've actually had my Gelish Sheek White on as a base for four weeks now. Though I did have to do some trimming of a few areas (at the cuticles) that were lifting (so alone it would look a mess, no surprise with something like six different regular manis on it!), it's under my regular polish and has been protecting my tips for all that time. When I finally get around to taking it off, I plan to try some Red Carpet Manicure colours for the first time, but I'll still use the Gelish top and base. (I don't have the RCM ones.)
I'm glad your decision worked out really well for you!
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I have found I can use Gelish base and top coat with any gel polish. I have bought several different brand of gel polish and haven't had problems. I have gotten several from Amazon so don't always like the color. Even did the sandwich type where you use gel base and top but Regular polish in between. My last test mas mixing 2 drops RNP to 1 drop Gel top coat for the color part. I got a small paint Palette but a piece of foil would do. Used about 8 drops of polish to 4 drops of Gelish top coat for 2 layers of color, mix well and use a different brush, clean with acetone. You have to cure after each coat just as you do with gel. This lasted for 2 weeks and would have lasted longer but I'm a kinda X-nail bitter and could not leave my nails alone any longer. It's a great way to use polish you have but it will last longer. HTH
I just order a free sample for base and top coat and one gel polish for $10.99 SH. They are the regular .5 size and I can always use more base and top coat. It's call Revel Nail Gel, new I think, new to me anyway.
I just order a free sample for base and top coat and one gel polish for $10.99 SH. They are the regular .5 size and I can always use more base and top coat. It's call Revel Nail Gel, new I think, new to me anyway.
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