OPI Gelcolor

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#556
Thanks for the clarification, Cindy!

I think the reason it's easy to get confused on what is a dehydrator vs an "adhesive" is because each brand seems to use the word "bond" or "bonder" on various types of products. I wish they'd only use "bonder" for the glue type product.

I think I may try that EZFlow "Bond It On" to compare to my Mally "Gel Primer".

I really did love how long a wear I got from Mally's gel polish, but the removal was just excruciating. It was not only due to the Gel Primer, but also to the base coat, I think. I know that since using the Mallly Cleanser+Mally Nail Prep (dehydrator) + Mally Gel Primer (adhesive bonder) + OPI base+OPI color + OPI topcoat, the removal has gone pretty easily! So, the Mally Basecoat + Mally Gel Primer must have been the hellacious mix. lol BUT, I'll say this much, the Mally Gel System IS "bulletproof", as she says! I have my hands in water a lot, and the polish stayed immaculate for 16 days straight. I get the same amount of longevity using the Mally+OPI mix I mentioned, but the Mally topcoat does stay shinier longer. On the other hand, the Mally topcoat is acetone-resistant, so you must file it down before removal.

All in all, I'm happy using my Mally/OPI combo. But it's that Mally Gel Primer that really keeps my gel mani looking so perfect, even after all the water abuse I put my nails through. I hope the EZFlow is as good, but with a less harsh removal.
 
#557
diram said:
Thanks for the clarification, Cindy!

I think the reason it's easy to get confused on what is a dehydrator vs an "adhesive" is because each brand seems to use the word "bond" or "bonder" on various types of products. I wish they'd only use "bonder" for the glue type product.

I think I may try that EZFlow "Bond It On" to compare to my Mally "Gel Primer".

I really did love how long a wear I got from Mally's gel polish, but the removal was just excruciating. It was not only due to the Gel Primer, but also to the base coat, I think. I know that since using the Mallly Cleanser+Mally Nail Prep (dehydrator) + Mally Gel Primer (adhesive bonder) + OPI base+OPI color + OPI topcoat, the removal has gone pretty easily! So, the Mally Basecoat + Mally Gel Primer must have been the hellacious mix. lol BUT, I'll say this much, the Mally Gel System IS "bulletproof", as she says! I have my hands in water a lot, and the polish stayed immaculate for 16 days straight. I get the same amount of longevity using the Mally+OPI mix I mentioned, but the Mally topcoat does stay shinier longer. On the other hand, the Mally topcoat is acetone-resistant, so you must file it down before removal.

All in all, I'm happy using my Mally/OPI combo. But it's that Mally Gel Primer that really keeps my gel mani looking so perfect, even after all the water abuse I put my nails through. I hope the EZFlow is as good, but with a less harsh removal.
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Haha. You nailed it - yes so many different uses for the same word. Haha.

I've never heard of Mally, but whew, that sounds like some strong stuff :) :) I've definitely loved the OPI base coat. I recently switched to a Gelish top coat to try and prevent "skips" when I stamp over it, but I'm getting the same issue no matter the top coat. I generally don't have an issue with removal, unless I don't let it soak long enough or if I use the bonder from EZFlow...which on some people I only use on the tips b/c that's where they have the lifting (generally from using their nails as tools. lol).
 
#558
CindyLeigh said:
VonniRnc, you're correct in the fact that a nail dehydrater doesn't necessarily make it stick better to the tips and primarily preps the nail bed regardless of location, however it isn't the same as the bonder you're using from Fingerpaints :) I should have included you in my reply up above. :) And I agree with you - when you're trying to get the bonder on tips only and it runs, that can be a bummer.
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Thanks for the clarification. I agree with diram, it would be so much easier if they would not use different terms for stuff in other brands , and make it more uniform. It makes it difficult to know what people are referring to without getting confused.
 
#559
I had layered a bright blue polish over top my prior SOG mani (OPI Don't Burst My Bubble), but I think when I cleaned up around my cuticles with pure acetone, it leaked under the base coat, because when I removed the polish, I could see the OPI was a little lifted (looked a little wrinkly/ruffly) at my cuticle.

So I soaked it all off, and tried my next untried gel polish, Samoan Sand. In RNP, this is my HG mannequin hands shade. I'm glad to say the gel version pleases me as much as the RNP version! Yay. Although next time I think I may wear it at 2 coats, because at 3 coats, the gel seems more opaque than the RNP at 3 coats... maybe (hard to recall).

I warmed up this bottle between my thighs and shook the heck out of it. No issues with streaks at all.

OPI GelColor Samoan Sand (3 coats)
DSC_0214.JPG
 
#560
cilucia said:
I had layered a bright blue polish over top my prior SOG mani (OPI Don't Burst My Bubble), but I think when I cleaned up around my cuticles with pure acetone, it leaked under the base coat, because when I removed the polish, I could see the OPI was a little lifted (looked a little wrinkly/ruffly) at my cuticle.

So I soaked it all off, and tried my next untried gel polish, Samoan Sand. In RNP, this is my HG mannequin hands shade. I'm glad to say the gel version pleases me as much as the RNP version! Yay. Although next time I think I may wear it at 2 coats, because at 3 coats, the gel seems more opaque than the RNP at 3 coats... maybe (hard to recall).

I warmed up this bottle between my thighs and shook the heck out of it. No issues with streaks at all.

OPI GelColor Samoan Sand (3 coats)
DSC_0214.JPG
Click to expand...

Lovely nail shape and application!
 
#561
Cilucia!
Samoan Sand looks beautiful on you. It looks much peachier on you and in your pic than my old reg SS looks on me. Is it that peachy IRL?

Mine looks more yellow-beige, which is why it doesn't look good on me (it's a bit yellower than my skin tone). My SS is OLD -- probably from about 2007! I wonder if OPI has since changed the shade a bit. A peachier tone would work much better for me.

Acetone:
Use non acetone remover around your gel nail polish if you don't want to risk having the gel polish mani ruined.
 
#562
diram said:
Cilucia!
Samoan Sand looks beautiful on you. It looks much peachier on you and in your pic than my old reg SS looks on me. Is it that peachy IRL?

Mine looks more yellow-beige, which is why it doesn't look good on me (it's a bit yellower than my skin tone). My SS is OLD -- probably from about 2007! I wonder if OPI has since changed the shade a bit. A peachier tone would work much better for me.

Acetone:
Use non acetone remover around your gel nail polish if you don't want to risk having the gel polish mani ruined.
Click to expand...


It does look quite peachy/orange-nude on me, but I always thought it was my skin-tone that made it look like that. Here's what the RNP version looks like on me (compared to some shades from the OPI Ballet collection)
DSC_2263.jpg
 
#563
Cilucia!
Oh so pretty! I love all of those shades. I've been tempted to by from that ballet collection, but haven't. I think I have to now. :) Your skintone works perfectly with SS.

Sweetlilwolf!
Yup, I think you are correct. My skin tone is medium olive, but leans more to the neutral-cool tone (unless I faux tan). I have a lot of beige-rosey-taupe tones to my skin --- not much yellow/golden, nor peach tones. Yes, I think SS just looks so yellow on me due to the lack of warmer tones in my skin. I use to faux tan a lot more in the past than I do now -- maybe that is why SS used to work for me.

Thanks to both of you for replying!
 
#569
Vera17 said:
does anyone know if it is possible to do shellac french manicure, or is shellac only for solid colours??
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I do them all the time! Just make sure you know how you want it to look- sometimes they do the right type of pink, other times they will put the romantic colour on and it's more white. So whichever you want make sure they do!!
 
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