DIY Gel polish-Sensational by Nailene

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#541
DellaDog said:
Wow, you did a great job for your first SOG mani, & a French to boot.
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Thank you! I went slowly and took my time. I've also spent a lot of time on the prefessional nail boards over at SalonGeek. They've all kind of drunk the cool aid over there but I've snooped around enough to pick up the professional application and nail prep tips, so I felt pretty confident going into this.
Today was Day 4 and I just snagged a couple nails and tore the gel on 2 of them. So it looks like I had application error somewhere. Some may have cured on my sidewall :(
 
#542
MsHarryWinston said:
So excited for SOGs. I've been wanting to do this for about a year now but kept puting it off, i finally just got so bored last Saturday that i just threw up my hands and went shopping for a good looking gel polish. This is my first attempt, a simple French manicure. I've mixed systems, the Quo by Orly base/top coat with the Sensationail pink French manicure set. I painted my tips freehand with the bonus mini bottle of white instead of using the pre made tips. I think that it went well, but I need more freehand tip practice to really perfect that free edge. (oh I also already had a uv lamp that i got a a christmas gift a few years ago but this was my first time using it, so didn't need to buy a whole "kit".)

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Wow great first mani!
 
#543
cubbiegirl2010 said:
Wow great first mani!
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Thank you! I'm so excited to redo them this weekend. I also just bought some full sized Gelish off eBay. Another pink and white but this time it's a clear with a slight pink tint. This Sensationail Babydoll Pink matches my nail bed perfectly and is a little bit milky. Im excited to try something slightly different.

I can already see this becoming my next crazy addiction! O_o
 
#544
MsHarryWinston said:
Thank you! I'm so excited to redo them this weekend. I also just bought some full sized Gelish off eBay. Another pink and white but this time it's a clear with a slight pink tint. This Sensationail Babydoll Pink matches my nail bed perfectly and is a little bit milky. Im excited to try something slightly different.

I can already see this becoming my next crazy addiction! O_o
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Like the other girls, I think your first mani was just great! My first SOG was a crazy mess but it didn't deter me from doing it and getting better at the application. Gel polish is definitely addicting! I have only been doing it for a year and my stash is at 160 polishes of various brands. Welcome to the crazy world of SOG! :p
 
#545
VodkaSoda said:
Like the other girls, I think your first mani was just great! My first SOG was a crazy mess but it didn't deter me from doing it and getting better at the application. Gel polish is definitely addicting! I have only been doing it for a year and my stash is at 160 polishes of various brands. Welcome to the crazy world of SOG! :p
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Eeeee thank you! I'm so excited to join the SOG sisterhood lol. I've been really torn because I'm no longer really about having different colors on my fingernails, my preference is a nice clean French. But im so drawn to the amazing colors that I just want to buy them all, I see a LOT of pedicures in my future, because I love colors for my toes.
 
#546
MsHarryWinston said:
Eeeee thank you! I'm so excited to join the SOG sisterhood lol. I've been really torn because I'm no longer really about having different colors on my fingernails, my preference is a nice clean French. But im so drawn to the amazing colors that I just want to buy them all, I see a LOT of pedicures in my future, because I love colors for my toes.
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Hi. My name is Windy. And I am also a Soak Off Gel addict!

Haha, I have been doing SOG for about 2-3 years. Started with a friend referring me to Gelish after a horrible nail gouging from acrylics. I decided I could save some money and do it myself (of course I did a ton of research here first.) Not sure how much I really saved because now I am up to more than 80 bottles of this stuff. I can't stand to go with naked nails. Partly because my naturals are so bendy. I'm even in a couple private groups on Facebook.
 
#547
I am addicted too! Since you love to do french manicures you should check out Gelish Ambience. Its great for adding a little something to french manicures. I am gonna try to attach a pic showing it in a french i did.
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#550
Ok so I had some lifting so I did a removal yesterday morning (very easy!) and reapplied today. Same colors but this time I did 2 coats of pink so there is a bit more color. And then I did the white on top. It's nice but a bit... obvious? It feels very "LOOK AT MY FRENCH MANI!" I think I prefer the look of the white under a single coat of pink to tone it down a bit. But I do like the brighter pink.

I think my next attempt will go...
Pink
2 layers white
Pink

Calm those tips down a bit. I never realized just how crazy you can get over a French manicure! I already have my eye on 3 more pinks and 2 more whites!
 
#553
MsHarryWinston said:
Oops guess you need this.
* Btdubs I was trying to figure out why my hand was in pitch black when it's broad daylight out, my hand was held up in front of the tv! *facepalm*
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Your nails look great! I've been doing gel polish since 2012, and I still can't get it as neat as yours. Your cuticles look good too! I haven't done a french manicure yet, but I plan to do one using crystal avalanche as the tip for a more subtle white tip.

Welcome to the board. I am a shameless addict as well. It's impossible to avoid the lure of the intense shine of gel polish--like my fingers are tipped with jewels!
 
#554
DellaDog said:
You are a natural for French manis & your application looks perfect.
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Thank you you're very kind. Honestly I think the flash makes my smile lines look a little more perfect than they are. If you look closely you can see the imperfection lol. I can't wait until my brush set arrives so that I can actually clean them up before curing.
 
#555
hoosieraussis said:
Your nails look great! I've been doing gel polish since 2012, and I still can't get it as neat as yours. Your cuticles look good too! I haven't done a french manicure yet, but I plan to do one using crystal avalanche as the tip for a more subtle white tip.

Welcome to the board. I am a shameless addict as well. It's impossible to avoid the lure of the intense shine of gel polish--like my fingers are tipped with jewels!
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Thank you. I lucked out because I have nice fingers nails to begin with so that's just how my cuticles look, I take no credit other than regular lotion. Ooooo crystal avalanche. I heard that one is more sheer and a bit shimmery?

The super shine is so drool worthy! That was always my favorite part of going to the salon for hard gel. And speaking of tipped with jewels! I'm thinking, rockstar nails French mani? Pink nails, silver tips then cover the tips in clear rhinestones. Not AB but ones with a little more silver color?
 
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