OPI Gelcolor

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#76
jolianna said:
Ladies,

If you have Kyoto Pearl as an OPI gelcolor, could you please post swatches of it? Alone or layered with other colours.

I just tried this colour as a regular varnish on top of a Shellac french mani, and it looks stunning - my nails look like pink pearls, with a hint of white shining through at the tips. I think I simply have to invest in the OPI Gelcolor version of Kyoto Pearl, but it would be nice to see some swatches first...

Jolianna
Click to expand...


image-3799642016.jpg

This is Kyoto pearl with gelish taffeta base. I know the application isn't great, I applied this manicure 16 days ago and found the Kyoto pearl to be too self leveling if that makes sense. I applied Kyoto pearl and used a brush to perfect the line, but found Kyoto pearl drifted quickly. It was hard to get a crisp line, but I had time to make it decent.

A few days ago I got a chip and decided to redo the white tips to cover the new growth and chip. I didn't have time to soak off/start over/make my lines perfect so the lines are a little wobbly or diffused in areas. It's also thick in some areas because of the double application, plus I tested flash curing to see if that would help. I think next time I will wipe down the nail before applying the Kyoto pearl tip to see if that cuts down on the color from slipping around. This is my first opi gel color and I could imagine the self leveling properties would be great for a full nail application, but isn't great for crisp lines. I still like the silvery white color and decided to not reapply to gelish taffeta on top on the Kyoto pearl as I normally do so the tips are only topped with gelish top it off(clear).

I know how picky people can be about French manicures and I did test out a few whites and picks, the gelish taffeta is my favorite base, it's just a hint of pink with lots of shimmer in the light which I think goes very nicely with the almost metallic finish of Kyoto pearl.
 
#77
Forgive my hideous feet. Lol. This is opi gelcolor in the new James Bond collection color "the spy who loved me"
 

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#80
I've been having a devil of a time with OPI Colours shrinking back from tips. I never had problems with Gelish or Pro Gel. I am however using the OPI base and top. As you know, the OPI base is somewhat hard after curing so it can't really be dry brushed or wiped like the gelish foundation. Every colour i've done shrinks back before my eyes prior to curing. It's not alot, it just looks like some very slight tip wear. I wonder if I'm not putting a thick enough coat of the OPI base on? I probably should really look closely at the tips after the base coat cures and see if I need to cap them better.
Also, does anyone ever see color transfer to the top coat brush? I always thought that if the color was cured, you would not get any transfer. We are using the OPI LED lamp. Plus OPI told us that we need to cure for 60 secs, not 30, as people were finding that the product was not curing in 30 secs. They also said that some transfer will happen. Also we're to try doing two nails and curing them before it can shrink back. But I can't even seem to get the color to stay on the tips at all... sigh
I just never came across this using the gelish system..... since people have success with OPI Gel.. I figure I must be doing something wrong..
 
#81
hez said:
View attachment 1908316

This is Kyoto pearl with gelish taffeta base. I know the application isn't great, I applied this manicure 16 days ago and found the Kyoto pearl to be too self leveling if that makes sense. I applied Kyoto pearl and used a brush to perfect the line, but found Kyoto pearl drifted quickly. It was hard to get a crisp line, but I had time to make it decent.

A few days ago I got a chip and decided to redo the white tips to cover the new growth and chip. I didn't have time to soak off/start over/make my lines perfect so the lines are a little wobbly or diffused in areas. It's also thick in some areas because of the double application, plus I tested flash curing to see if that would help. I think next time I will wipe down the nail before applying the Kyoto pearl tip to see if that cuts down on the color from slipping around. This is my first opi gel color and I could imagine the self leveling properties would be great for a full nail application, but isn't great for crisp lines. I still like the silvery white color and decided to not reapply to gelish taffeta on top on the Kyoto pearl as I normally do so the tips are only topped with gelish top it off(clear).

I know how picky people can be about French manicures and I did test out a few whites and picks, the gelish taffeta is my favorite base, it's just a hint of pink with lots of shimmer in the light which I think goes very nicely with the almost metallic finish of Kyoto pearl.
Click to expand...

Wow, did you apply new gel over an older gel manicure? Just wondering how you do this. Did you just put new color coat over the previous top coat, and then more topcoat? Or did you use base coat first? Do you need to buff the old top coat first to make the new layers adhere?

How long does it last? I'm really interested in trying something like this. Seems like it could be a great timesaver. Any info about this technique would really be appreciated.

Thanks

Artiemd
 
#82
Sunrize said:
I've been having a devil of a time with OPI Colours shrinking back from tips. I never had problems with Gelish or Pro Gel. I am however using the OPI base and top. As you know, the OPI base is somewhat hard after curing so it can't really be dry brushed or wiped like the gelish foundation. Every colour i've done shrinks back before my eyes prior to curing. It's not alot, it just looks like some very slight tip wear. I wonder if I'm not putting a thick enough coat of the OPI base on? I probably should really look closely at the tips after the base coat cures and see if I need to cap them better.
Also, does anyone ever see color transfer to the top coat brush? I always thought that if the color was cured, you would not get any transfer. We are using the OPI LED lamp. Plus OPI told us that we need to cure for 60 secs, not 30, as people were finding that the product was not curing in 30 secs. They also said that some transfer will happen. Also we're to try doing two nails and curing them before it can shrink back. But I can't even seem to get the color to stay on the tips at all... sigh
I just never came across this using the gelish system..... since people have success with OPI Gel.. I figure I must be doing something wrong..
Click to expand...

I have the same problem with shrinkage. Unfortunately, it means that I haven't been using Gelcolor as much as other brands. I plan to try flash curing. I use a UV lamp, not LED.

I haven't had any problems with color transfer, though. Are you using the gelcolor LED lamp? I think Gelcolor may not cure well with all LED lamps. I experimented recently with a couple of the more inexpensive LED lamps (gelish portable, sensationail). Although they cured the other LED brands I own, they would NOT cure Gelcolor properly, and I had lots of color transfer. So I went back to the UV lamp for gelcolor. I have the Shellac UV lamp. Cures completely and no transfer (but takes longer).

I thought of trying the Gelshine lamp. I read that it works with Gelcolor.

When I go to the salon, they use the big Gelish LED lamp (18g). That seems to cure Gelcolor, as well as other LED brands.

I wish I could get the 18g, but since I've already bought 4 lamps (I also bought a generic UV lamp that I didn't like), I can't really justify the expense. Especially since the Shellac UV lamp cures everything.
 
#83
since you mentioned that you have different lamps that will not cure gel color I'm curious, I just bought an led lamp from Amazon- red carpet manicure brand. it is a smaller unit that can only do 4 fingers at 1 time however I wonder if it would cure gel color? right now I plan on using Gelish with it. anyone have any insight on this unit with gel color?
 
#84
artiemd said:
Wow, did you apply new gel over an older gel manicure? Just wondering how you do this. Did you just put new color coat over the previous top coat, and then more topcoat? Or did you use base coat first? Do you need to buff the old top coat first to make the new layers adhere?

How long does it last? I'm really interested in trying something like this. Seems like it could be a great timesaver. Any info about this technique would really be appreciated.

Thanks

Artiemd
Click to expand...

Yes, I was short on time and didn't want to soak off the old manicure as it was wearing very well other than the tip grow out and one chip. I have been doing gels for a year now and am not a pro, but like to figure things out and am a DIYer in all things. I cannot say I double checked the steps online before going ahead with my "repair job" but this is what I did:

Since the base color is a shimmery sheer there was no obvious grow out near the base of the nail. I filed down my nails a bit to make them a little shorter, then buffed the top with a medium grit file. I tried to file down the kyoto pearl tips more than the rest of the nail. I used 99% rubbing alcohol to prep the nail and applied bonder. I use ibd prime bonder: if you have read all the great intro info about SOGs you will know that everyone's nails react differently to gels, I have pretty oily skin and I suspect the oils make my gels lift a little prematurely sometimes. Especially when I first started gels I had lifting, I think my technique has improved but I still use the ibd prime at my nail tips and around the edges (where the gels lift...) and it helps my manicure last. If you already have removal difficulty I do not recommend the primer as it WORKS. Anyhow: I applied it over the old French to help the new coats bind to the original manicure, cured that, and then went straight to the builder gel on the whole nail (gelish: structure, it's a stronger gel I use since I have thin and very flexible nails) and them the Kyoto pearl tips. I then applied gelish top it off and was done.

I'm not certain this is the protocol more experienced SOG DIYers would use, but it's been 4 days and the tips are fine. The areas around the base are starting to chip a little but it's only noticeable to me and will last until I have time to do a proper removal and reapplication.

My typical application process is:

apply orly gel fx primer
imb prime (sparingly)
gelish foundation
2 coats of gelish structure gel
gel color in however many coats the color needs, usually gelish, ibd, geleration or daisy brand.
Finally two coats of gelish top it off


Kyoto pearl is my first OPI as I have a friend who found her first opi gel color chipped with the gelish base and top coat and I don't really want to invest in the opi base and topcoats at this time. I would be interested in other peoples experiences with this issue. Kyoto pearl wore well for me, it lasted two weeks before chipping which I think is good.
 
#85
artiemd said:
I have the same problem with shrinkage. Unfortunately, it means that I haven't been using Gelcolor as much as other brands. I plan to try flash curing. I use a UV lamp, not LED.

I haven't had any problems with color transfer, though. Are you using the gelcolor LED lamp? I think Gelcolor may not cure well with all LED lamps. I experimented recently with a couple of the more inexpensive LED lamps (gelish portable, sensationail). Although they cured the other LED brands I own, they would NOT cure Gelcolor properly, and I had lots of color transfer. So I went back to the UV lamp for gelcolor. I have the Shellac UV lamp. Cures completely and no transfer (but takes longer).

I thought of trying the Gelshine lamp. I read that it works with Gelcolor.

When I go to the salon, they use the big Gelish LED lamp (18g). That seems to cure Gelcolor, as well as other LED brands.

I wish I could get the 18g, but since I've already bought 4 lamps (I also bought a generic UV lamp that I didn't like), I can't really justify the expense. Especially since the Shellac UV lamp cures everything.
Click to expand...

I get shrink back with non opi colors, it's usually darker colors that I try to apply too thickly which doesn't work (I'm just too impatient which doesn't help.. gels are best with thin coats, just do thin coats until you get the opacity you want..). My trick to shrink back is to do just the tip in a thin coat and cure fully, then paint a thin coat and use flash curing between each nail to help prevent shrink back/shifting.

I often get color transfer onto my gelish top it off brush, I use various brands (gelish mainly, geleration, ibd, daisy) and the top it off brush gets a sheer tint on it during the application. By the next time I use the my top it off the tint of the previous application is gone.

I use the RCM pro LED light.
 
#86
I have pretty much given up on OPI colors because of the shrink back issues. It seems that everybody has them, even pros. So, good news is your probably not doing anything wrong. Bad news is there is still shrink back.

It's just too much of a struggle for me. I've tried doing all 5 nails like usual, with capping the edge (which doesn't stay) and then really quick going over all five on the tips and quickly sticking them under the light. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
 
#87
kkgunn said:
I have pretty much given up on OPI colors because of the shrink back issues. It seems that everybody has them, even pros. So, good news is your probably not doing anything wrong. Bad news is there is still shrink back.

It's just too much of a struggle for me. I've tried doing all 5 nails like usual, with capping the edge (which doesn't stay) and then really quick going over all five on the tips and quickly sticking them under the light. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
Click to expand...

Today I tried using a thicker coat of base. color and top... .I might have been applying it too thin before... it seemed like I got less shrink back on the color.. one other thing I noticed with OPI Gel (base, color and top).. is when you're curing under the lamp it doesn't 'glow' the way gelish products do. I had done one nail with OPI today at work, I did another one tonite with gelish.. and the OPI nail isn't glowing under the light the way the other gelish nails are.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts.. I'm going to keep trying with the OPI Gels ( I really don't have much choice since that's the only brand we offer at the salon.).
I personally think that these soak off gels are better suited for at home users. I find at the salon that doing these manicures (including soak off) is just too time consuming for what we charge. Many times if the customer has not had the gels done in your salon, you really have no clear idea what kind of removal it will be. And you can't really blame the customers.. they are just told that they are getting gel nails. They are not easy soak offs, and I don't want to file the heck out of the nails, or pick at them to get the product off. OY.
Really, when you think about it.. if it takes 45 min to remove.. IF it removes.. then the prep.. then if they want french .. you're looking at 1.5 to 2 hours for the manicure, which is somewhat crazy.
Ok, enough venting.:upsidedown:
 
#88
hez said:
Yes, I was short on time and didn't want to soak off the old manicure as it was wearing very well other than the tip grow out and one chip. I have been doing gels for a year now and am not a pro, but like to figure things out and am a DIYer in all things. I cannot say I double checked the steps online before going ahead with my "repair job" but this is what I did:

Since the base color is a shimmery sheer there was no obvious grow out near the base of the nail. I filed down my nails a bit to make them a little shorter, then buffed the top with a medium grit file. I tried to file down the kyoto pearl tips more than the rest of the nail. I used 99% rubbing alcohol to prep the nail and applied bonder. I use ibd prime bonder: if you have read all the great intro info about SOGs you will know that everyone's nails react differently to gels, I have pretty oily skin and I suspect the oils make my gels lift a little prematurely sometimes. Especially when I first started gels I had lifting, I think my technique has improved but I still use the ibd prime at my nail tips and around the edges (where the gels lift...) and it helps my manicure last. If you already have removal difficulty I do not recommend the primer as it WORKS. Anyhow: I applied it over the old French to help the new coats bind to the original manicure, cured that, and then went straight to the builder gel on the whole nail (gelish: structure, it's a stronger gel I use since I have thin and very flexible nails) and them the Kyoto pearl tips. I then applied gelish top it off and was done.

I'm not certain this is the protocol more experienced SOG DIYers would use, but it's been 4 days and the tips are fine. The areas around the base are starting to chip a little but it's only noticeable to me and will last until I have time to do a proper removal and reapplication.

My typical application process is:

apply orly gel fx primer
imb prime (sparingly)
gelish foundation
2 coats of gelish structure gel
gel color in however many coats the color needs, usually gelish, ibd, geleration or daisy brand.
Finally two coats of gelish top it off


Kyoto pearl is my first OPI as I have a friend who found her first opi gel color chipped with the gelish base and top coat and I don't really want to invest in the opi base and topcoats at this time. I would be interested in other peoples experiences with this issue. Kyoto pearl wore well for me, it lasted two weeks before chipping which I think is good.
Click to expand...

Thanks! This is great info. I'll have to try your system for "touching up" a gel manicure.
 
#90
JackPKA1 said:
Hi everyone, so I need some help. I just switched to OPI GelColor for base, color and top coats. However, I have not upgraded my LED 12W light which did work great for Shellac, Gelish and OPI GelColor light shades. However, now that its fall, I love the darker nail colors. I need help on how times for curing I should use with OPI Gelcolor's dark shades, INK and You dont know Jacques (the 2 I have now). I love GelColor - its goes on so easily!

My 12W LED light has 30, 60, and 90 second options. I have been using 90 secs but I didnt think it was enough so I have been drying each coat for almost 3 mins but when I wipe the tacky off, some of the color comes off too on some of the nails.

Any help would be so appreciated.

thanks!!!
Click to expand...


Brought your question over here instead of opening a whole new thread.

What lamp are you using exactly? (Shellac isn't supposed to be cured with LED).

And do you mean you are wiping each color layer as you go, or you get color coming off even after you cure the top coat?
 
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