OPI Gelcolor
- Thread starter kkgunn
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I just ordered the shade shifter. Not only can you put it on top but you can use it under a color too 
Here you go. The one on top is 2 coats of OPI Gelcolor My Private Jet with the normal Gelcolor top coat. Bottom is 2 coats with the new Gelcolor matte top coat. The matte top coat is kind of sheer milky white and I think it washed out the color of MPJ a bit. You may not be able to tell but the finish is definitely matte. I think it might come out better with additional coats of color, or maybe a really intensely bright color. I'll post when i get a chance to try it again.
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Do you think I Theodora You would cover the VNL? I am on the hunt for a nice neutral pale pink that will cover my awful VNLs! Thanks
Theodora does cover VNL, it's pretty much opaque! (sorry, I removed it before taking a picture)
Help please!
I have recently bought a few opi gelcolors & they won't cure no matter what I do, I am using a gelicious lamp that works great with my gelicious colours & top coat but the opi colors just won't cure. I have tried for a variety of time (the most being 4 mins). The lamp is a UV LED 3.5W & maybe it's not powerful enough?
I have recently bought a few opi gelcolors & they won't cure no matter what I do, I am using a gelicious lamp that works great with my gelicious colours & top coat but the opi colors just won't cure. I have tried for a variety of time (the most being 4 mins). The lamp is a UV LED 3.5W & maybe it's not powerful enough?
It arrived today!!!
I'll do swatches when I get home...... It looks just like the rnp version kinda cloudy. Very excited.
I found that I could not get OPI Gelcolor to cure with either of the smaller, inexpensive portable LED lamps I tried (SensatioNail and Gelish mini Pro ). Even when I increased the time substantially. Note that I used bright, intense colors like Big Apple Red and A Good Mandarin is Hard to Find . I did not try sheer colors.
I posted about this problem a while back.
According to what I have read , with LED, the actual wavelength of the light can be important, so not all LED lights work with all brands of LED polish. However a good CFL UV LAMP (like CND's) can cure any gel polish, but it takes longer than an LED lamp would take.
I think there was someone else in one of the threads who had the same problem with being unable to cure Gelcolor with a portable LED lamp.
But there was also someone else who felt that there was no problem using Gelcolor.
I know it doesn't work for me, anyway.
I think that for Gelcolor, your best bet is to use a 36watt CFL UV. Or If you can afford it, the OPI LED lamp or the Gelish 18G (which works fine with Gelcolor) .
Someone posted that the Sephora by OPI Gelshine lamp (one of the smaller inexpensive LED Lamps) can also cure Gelcolor, but I haven't tried it.
I used the CND lamp for a while . Then I was lucky enough to find a used OPI Gelcolor LED lamp for a reasonable price.
I posted about this problem a while back.
According to what I have read , with LED, the actual wavelength of the light can be important, so not all LED lights work with all brands of LED polish. However a good CFL UV LAMP (like CND's) can cure any gel polish, but it takes longer than an LED lamp would take.
I think there was someone else in one of the threads who had the same problem with being unable to cure Gelcolor with a portable LED lamp.
But there was also someone else who felt that there was no problem using Gelcolor.
I know it doesn't work for me, anyway.
I think that for Gelcolor, your best bet is to use a 36watt CFL UV. Or If you can afford it, the OPI LED lamp or the Gelish 18G (which works fine with Gelcolor) .
Someone posted that the Sephora by OPI Gelshine lamp (one of the smaller inexpensive LED Lamps) can also cure Gelcolor, but I haven't tried it.
I used the CND lamp for a while . Then I was lucky enough to find a used OPI Gelcolor LED lamp for a reasonable price.
I posted my swatch and impressions about it yesterday. Excited to see how you like it.
That's pretty much what I thought I would have to do, unfortunately I'm not in a position to buy an OPI lamp (although I would LOVE one) but as it's just for personal use I can't really justify it. I will have a look for the Gelish
Below are a few swatches of OPI Gelcolor matte topcoat. These have all been swatched on sticks that have previously swatched with OPI regular topcoat, with the exception of Cozu Melted In The Sun which is and freshly swatched today.
Pictures one and two show the milky colour of the uncured topcoat
Picture three is matte gelcolor top coat over Casino Royale
Pictures four and five are Cozu Melted In The Sun. In different lighting (matte is on the right)
Picture six is On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Picture seven is Tomorrow Never Dies
Picture eight is Skyfall
Pictures one and two show the milky colour of the uncured topcoat
Picture three is matte gelcolor top coat over Casino Royale
Pictures four and five are Cozu Melted In The Sun. In different lighting (matte is on the right)
Picture six is On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Picture seven is Tomorrow Never Dies
Picture eight is Skyfall
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I really like it. It's not as matte as I was expecting but it definitely is matte. I think the matteness shows more irl than it does in photos.
Overall I'm really glad I gave it in my stash.
I used the Red Carpet Pro 45 on OPI gel Schnapps Out Of It 3/22 & took it off this morning, so no problems using that LED light.That's pretty much what I thought I would have to do, unfortunately I'm not in a position to buy an OPI lamp (although I would LOVE one) but as it's just for personal use I can't really justify it. I will have a look for the Gelish
It reminds me of those Ilamasqua rubber finish polishes that came out last year when they were memorializing the hookers of the Weimar Republic. Kinky-cool finish -- the polish looked like latex.
Ooh, ok, I've had a quick look on eBay & it looks like I can get one here with an Aus adaptor, excellent!