Gel nails nail NAILS!!!

I've always been a girlie girl.  I've always had great nails and always loved to do my  nails.  I got a manicure a couple summers ago and the nail tech asked if I wanted to do a "gel manicure".  I said no cause I did not want fake nails I wanted my own nails.  She explained it was just gel polish, so the manicure would last 2-3 weeks.  I said sure, I'll try it.  Well it ended up lasting 4 weeks without a single chip.  I loved it so much I got another one done a little while later with my mom.  After that I decided I wanted to buy everything so I could learn to do it myself.  I thought I would write a blog post about it so everyone could learn how to do beautiful nails at home that will last 3-4 weeks.  It is a little spendy to get started.  I researched the two main gel products; shellac and gelish.  I had a manicure done with both and I realized I like gelish better.  It feels a little thicker and I think it is easier to apply.  I bought everything on ebay.  I spent about $135 to get all my needed supplies.  If you were to get a gel manicure at a salon, you will spend anywhere from $45-60 before tip.  So if you do 3-4 manicures at home you have paid off your products.
Here is a list of the things you will need to do your Gelish manicures at home:

PH Bond

Gelish Foundation Gel

Gelish Structure Gel

Gelish Top It Off

Fine Glitter
I bought these fine glitters on ebay, you just want to search for "fine glitter".  If the glitter is not fine the light will not be able to cure the product as well and the manicure will not last as long.  Getting these on ebay is a good option because you can get 10-20 colors for 8-15 dollars.

I just bought these fine glitters from Michael's.  They were on sale for 14.99 and it came with 30 fine glitters.  These work very well and give you a lot of color options.  I love them!

Stiff Nail Brush.  I got a set of 10 of these brushes on ebay for 9.99.  It is good because there are different sizes which is helpful when doing the glitter on the tips

Orange wood Stick

100% Acetone

I got this at a local drug store like walgreens

Cuticle Oil

36 Watt UV light

So now that you know what you need I will list the steps of how to do the manicure

It is easier to do one hand completely and then move on to the next

Step 1: Clean the nail beds by wiping with a swab of acetone and shape the nails

Step 2: Use a fine nail file to lightly buff the entire nail

Step 3: Put the PH Bond on each nail, this will dry out the nail bed getting all the oils off the nail.  It will turn the nail bed white.  I apply 2-3 coats to make sure the nail bed is really dehydrated.

Step 4: Apply a thin layer of the foundation gel to each nail.  Use the orange stick to wipe around the nails so none is on the skin.  Cure under the UV light for 2 minutes 

*do no touch the nails, they will be sticky after each step until the end*

Step 5: Dip the nail brush in the structure gel so you have a little ball of gel on the end.  Then dip it in the glitter.  Put the ball of glitter on the tip of the nail and move it around so it forms a smile line on the tip.  You can then use the orange wood stick to move any glitter that has gotten too far down on the nail and on the skin around the edges of the nail.  Apply to each nail.  Make sure the glitter is where you want it before you cure, once you cure it, it will be stuck.  Cure for 2 minutes

Step 6: Repeat step five so it is a solid line of glitter with no see through patches. Cure for 2 minutes

Step 7: Take a cotton pad and put acetone on it.  Simply wipe each nail so they are not sticky.  The cotton pad may leave some cotton on the nails so make sure to get that off of each nail.  

Step 8: Take a fine nail file and lightly file each nail.  This will smooth the glitter so it is soft and it will soften the smile line as well.  Do not file too hard so you file away the glitter, just enough to smooth it.  You can run your finger over the smile line to make sure it is all smooth.  File down any high or rough patches.  

Step 9:  Put a thin layer of top it off on each nail.  Wipe the edges of the nails and skin with the orange wood stick so there is NO top it off on the skin.  This is a very thick layer so you really don't want to get any on your skin. Cure for 2 minutes

Step 10: Wipe the nail with a pad of acetone to remove any the sticky layer.

Step 11: Put Cuticle oil on each nail and massage it into the nail.  This helps to hydrate the cuticles and keep the gel nail polish flexible. I do this 3-4 times a week as well and I think it helps my manicures last longer and look great!

Here are some pictures of some of the manicures I have done on myself.  Any questions just ask, I love to do this stuff!