DIY Gel Manicure at Home

Let’s be honest…quarantine killed everyone’s beauty game! So in the midst of lockdown, I decided I would do my own at home gel manicure. I jumped on Amazon and ordered a gel curing light, gel polish, and a manicure kit. 

The at home gel manicure process was super simple. And I actually found that I liked it better than going to the nail salon. A gel manicure at the nail salon always seems to be thick and peels off in just a few days time. With an at home manicure you can control the thickness of the polish. And it easily lasted close to 14 days…and remember, that was in the middle of a global pandemic where I was washing my hands 672 times a day. 

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR A GEL MANICURE AT HOME

• Two coats of polish seem to be enough (good coverage but not too thick) 
• The polish will be sticky until you put the top coat on! Don’t touch it! 
• You don’t need to wipe this polish with alcohol at the end! 
• Lamp turns on when your hand is placed under it and turns off when you remove your hand – no need to push a button.

STEPS TO A GEL MANICURE AT HOME

1. Push cuticles back 
2. Roughen nail surface with emery board
3. Apply base coat layer
4. Light cure under gel lamp for 45 seconds 
5. Apply 1st layer of gel polish 
6. Light cure under gel lamp for 45 seconds 
7. Apply 2nd layer of gel polish 
8. Light cure under gel lamp for 45 seconds 
9. Apply top coat to cover nail polish completely
10. Light cure under gel lamp for 1 minute 

And you’re done! No wiping required!

What You Need for Your DIY Gel Manicure at Home:

UV Light: this is my favorite one from Amazon. I did lots of research and this one is affordable and does a great job!

Gel Polish: again, lots of research on Amazon. This brand is easy to use for the everyday gal. (more color options here)

Gel Base and Top Coat: this top coat doesn’t require wiping with alcohol after applying!

Nail Kit: this chic little nail kit is pretty enough to carry in your purse and has all the tools you need.

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This post may contain affiliate links. That means I receive a small commission from the retailer if you make a purchase through something I’ve linked. It’s no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from any qualifying purchases. All thoughts and opinions are always mine.

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