Applying gel polish at home

Gel nail polish offers the same bold look as normal nail polish. It has no odor and does not damage your nails. You can have it done at a local salon by a professional or better still, you can do it at home; as long as you have the supplies.

Getting your gel polish done at home is quite convenient because it saves you money, time and the energy you would spend getting to the beauty parlor. Gel nail polish lasts about three weeks or ten days without peeling or chipping. In this period, it remains shinny and glossy. Gel polish requires more attention than enamel polish when it comes to applying. Assuming you want to clean your nails you will need to clean them with gel nail cleanser.

To start off you will need:

• Cuticle oil

• Primer

• Nail cleanser

• UV light drier

• Fine nail buffer

• Gel nail polish

• Cuticle pusher

Start by cleaning your nails and removing the old nail polish. Gel polish should be applied on clean nails. Remove the old polish using the procedure demonstrated earlier on in a previous article.

Trim your nails using a nail cutter to a manageable length. Smoothen the edges using a nail file to give your nails shape.

Apply some cuticle oil using a cotton pad. Gently try to push your cuticle on each finger using a cuticle pusher. Ensure you soak your hands in warm water for a few minutes before pushing your cuticles back. Warm water makes it easy to push your cuticles back because they become wet and soft. Wash your hands and dry them to prepare them for the primer.

Buff your nails lightly using a nail buffer. Make sure you do it on the top layer of the nails. It ensures your gel polish won’t peel off after you apply.

Apply the primer, it gets rid of the remaining oils and moisture from your finger nails to prepare them for the gel nail polish. Apply a thin coat of primer using a brush, do this from the cuticle to the topmost part of your finger nail. Wait for a few minutes for your primer to dry.

Using a UV nail gel, apply an even coat of gel polish on each nail. Cover the nail completely, make long strokes. If you happen to apply excessive polish on your fingers, you can remove using nail cleanser. Cover your finger nails under a UV light drier, if you’re done with applying all your nails. Give it 3 minutes which is actually the normal drying time.

Apply the second coat of the gel nail polish and put your hands under the UV light drier and wait for them to dry. The second coat normally takes a longer time to dry, give it about 4 minutes.

If the second coat is dry, then apply the third coat. With the third coat, cover the thin spots and ensure your nails have an even color before letting them dry completely. If the gel nail polish is not applied evenly, your nails will neither look neat nor even. Place your hands on the UV light drier once more and let them dry for 5 minutes. The greater the amount of gel you apply, the more time it takes to dry.

Buff your nails using a nail buffer as it shapes your nails and makes them look even.

Lastly, wash your hands and apply some lotion to keep them moisturized.

And you’re good to go!