DIY Gel polish-Sensational by Nailene

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#572
hoosieraussis said:
Welcome!

I believe people are referring to OPI's gel polish. They have their professional line, gelcolor, and their Sephora line, gel shine. I've heard they're the same. Gel shine bottles are way smaller though, so if you can get your hands on gelcolor (go online if you aren't a nail tech) then go with gelcolor.

If you're having problems with dark colors, then it sounds like your coats are too thick. Light doesn't penetrate dark colors as well, so either do thinner coats or cure for an extra cycle. I almost always require 3 coats to reach an opacity that I'm happy with.

Jindie mentioned lifting at the cuticle at 4 days. Everyone's nail/body chemistry is a little different, but 4 days seems really short! That sucks. I used to get lifting after about day 7-9. However, I have not had one fingernail with cuticle lifting one even one manicure since I started scrubbing in my base coat (see Youtube videos for this).

Anyway, here is my most recent manicure, purple orchid
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Wow love that purple beautiful.
 
#573
MsHarryWinston said:
Ok so yesterday was my third gel polish application BUT it was my first time on someone else! My besty let me do her nails for girls night out. She hasn't had her nails done in 10 YEARS. She had a lot of outgrown cuticle so I was a bit worried doing cuticle prep work as I'm not a pro but honestly I'm quite proud of the end result. But only time will tell how long it lasts. I'm desperate for more guinea pigs to practice on. This all kind of makes me want to take a manicure course. A cool trade to have in the back pocket to fall back on.View attachment 2494930
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Awesome Job!! I've had the same thought:cool:

MsHarryWinston said:
Crap forgot the pic again!View attachment 2495120
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What a Sweet deal!!

hoosieraussis said:
Welcome!

I believe people are referring to OPI's gel polish. They have their professional line, gelcolor, and their Sephora line, gel shine. I've heard they're the same. Gel shine bottles are way smaller though, so if you can get your hands on gelcolor (go online if you aren't a nail tech) then go with gelcolor.

If you're having problems with dark colors, then it sounds like your coats are too thick. Light doesn't penetrate dark colors as well, so either do thinner coats or cure for an extra cycle. I almost always require 3 coats to reach an opacity that I'm happy with.

Jindie mentioned lifting at the cuticle at 4 days. Everyone's nail/body chemistry is a little different, but 4 days seems really short! That sucks. I used to get lifting after about day 7-9. However, I have not had one fingernail with cuticle lifting one even one manicure since I started scrubbing in my base coat (see Youtube videos for this).

Anyway, here is my most recent manicure, purple orchid
Click to expand...
So Pretty:smile1:
 
#578
Just curious, how long on average does it take you to do a new manicure from removal to finished nails. I find its been taking me over an hour or so from the time I start soaking my polish in acetone to when I cure the top coat. Does it take anyone else this long? I'm new to led gel polish, and the reason switched from regular polish was because I thought it would be faster, but it seems to be taking longer than regular polish. Maybe I'm doing something wrong? Its the removal process that is taking the majority of the time. I'm using the Sensationail led light, maybe I need a more powerful led light to shorten cure time?

So just curious, how long do your manicures take, and any pointers for a newbie?

Thanks!!
 
#579
It takes me over an hour as well which is why I have started doing my soak-offs the night before I plan to do my nails.

Keep in mind I am using a UV Light and like dark colors, so I usually do 3 minutes per coat of color and depending on the brand, I sometimes do 3 coats of color. I also do at least one layer of acrygel. It. takes. FOREVER. I know switching to an LED light will shorten my time considerably but the soak off will still be 15-20 minutes, no matter what. :)
 
#580
shouldbeworking said:
It takes me over an hour as well which is why I have started doing my soak-offs the night before I plan to do my nails.

Keep in mind I am using a UV Light and like dark colors, so I usually do 3 minutes per coat of color and depending on the brand, I sometimes do 3 coats of color. I also do at least one layer of acrygel. It. takes. FOREVER. I know switching to an LED light will shorten my time considerably but the soak off will still be 15-20 minutes, no matter what. :)
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Thanks for your info :) I was thinking about doing my removal the night before too but don't always have time. Gel polishes would be perfect if it wasn't for the removal process.
 
#581
Yup takes me like 2 hours, but I'm using a uv lamp and it's 4 finger/2 thumb cure. 4 layers of colour (cause I always do French), at 3 minutes per layer, plus top and bottom coat. *wipes sweat off beow*. It's totally a nail marathon. Especially when you can only do one hand at a time. An led lamp would really help but it would still take a while.

I think in a salon getting gel nails done is a 45 minute process.
 
#582
lafantas said:
Just curious, how long on average does it take you to do a new manicure from removal to finished nails. I find its been taking me over an hour or so from the time I start soaking my polish in acetone to when I cure the top coat. Does it take anyone else this long? I'm new to led gel polish, and the reason switched from regular polish was because I thought it would be faster, but it seems to be taking longer than regular polish. Maybe I'm doing something wrong? Its the removal process that is taking the majority of the time. I'm using the Sensationail led light, maybe I need a more powerful led light to shorten cure time?

So just curious, how long do your manicures take, and any pointers for a newbie?

Thanks!!
Click to expand...

From removal to finish, it takes me about an hour. 15-20 minutes per hand for removal, plus twenty minutes for a new application (I'm using an LED). Yeah, I thought it would save me time as well, but removal just takes so long. Still, gel polish does save time because a regular mani would take me 25 minutes, plus however long of sitting around, afraid to move or touch anything as my polish dried! And I'd have to do that twice a week or more because nothing lasted on my nails. My gel manis last 2-3 weeks and are flawless. So even though my gel manis take longer, I do them less often than rnp.

Oddly enough the way to speed it up is to take your time! Learn to do each step well. Don't rush the removal; you'll damage your nails. Manis go faster with nails in good condition
 
#584
I'm glad I'm not the only one!!! I, too thought I was alone in taking FOREVER in doing my nails. It takes me about 2hrs from initial set up to tear down. As in: getting my tv tray and supplies set up, removal (taking forever, the 15-20min is just the soaking, it takes me like 10min to do the cottonball/rubber finger), washing, application, and putting all my stuff away.
 
#585
My soak off takes about 40 mins total (I do each hand separately). Then I do cuticle work and mani the next day. My mani takes me about 1.5 hours. I usually do 3 layers of color and acrygel. I do take my time with application, and clean up is minimal, but still takes me a long time! Rnp manis were only don't at the salon.
 
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