Red Carpet Manicure

[ferretkingdom]

Because the part of the diode producing the light is tiny. It is a fraction of the size of the filament of an incandescent lamp. Still, the light produced radiates in all directions unless it is focused and directed.

Exactly. I think that's what NancyG was trying to say. I just reworded it because it seemed you thought she meant something else entirely.

 

[Leeloo885]

When I had the RCM pro light, I just cured all layers for the 45 seconds. Whether the light cures has to do with the frequency (length) of the uv light rays emitted, not the number of LEDs. The Sephora GelShine lamp has only 6 LEDs, and it has a cure time of 30 seconds with gels. I would use the pro lamp for the 45 second cycle for all the layers of gel, including top and base coat. Of course, when you use a very dark color, you must be sure to make the coats extremely thin because although LEDs only produce UV light in the longest (UV A) frequencies, they still cannot penetrate the gel layer completely if the coat is too thick.

Gelish foundation is a bit thicker than some other gel bases. Be sure to use the smallest amount possible. The biggest problem using the RCM base is the brush, which seems too long and flexible to allow you to "scrub" in the base coat. However, because it is transparent the light penetrates well, hence the shorter cure time.

Good luck, and enjoy!

Thanks. Still on, so it's working better already

The RCM lamp is supposed to be used for 45 seconds, not 30.

Er, actually reading the bottles and the instructions, the RCM base coat specifies that it should be cured for 30 seconds, and the colours/top coat state 45 seconds. Which is why I'm surprised that the light only does 45 seconds, with no "meep" or anything at 30 seconds - especially since the instructions repeatedly say that over-curing is just as dangerous as under-curing...??

Copied/pasted from the instructions:
Apply a thin coat of Structure
BASE COAT GEL.
· Cure under the Professional
LED Light for 30 seconds

I did it for 45 secs as that seemed the easiest option....

Anyhoo, liking it so far
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[Bunny1212]

Thanks. Still on, so it's working better already



Er, actually reading the bottles and the instructions, the RCM base coat specifies that it should be cured for 30 seconds, and the colours/top coat state 45 seconds. Which is why I'm surprised that the light only does 45 seconds, with no "meep" or anything at 30 seconds - especially since the instructions repeatedly say that over-curing is just as dangerous as under-curing...??

Copied/pasted from the instructions:
Apply a thin coat of Structure
BASE COAT GEL.
· Cure under the Professional
LED Light for 30 seconds

I did it for 45 secs as that seemed the easiest option....

Anyhoo, liking it so far
Posted via Mobile Device

That's exactly what I did when using that lamp. I had no problems.

Actually, Gelish foundation also uses a shorter cure time. I suspect that the timing is more critical for base coat when using cfl uv lights which emit far fewer uv rays at the frequency needed for the photo-iniators used in led polishes. You will notice that those times are always much longer for curing the gels.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[ferretkingdom]

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[gel.luv]

I hope this wasn't said before.. but I went to Ulta today, and they totally revamped their RCM displays--they now take up about a quarter of an aisle, and they had the new colors. Most interestingly, though, is that the new colors as well as the old "limited edition" colors from last summer/winter/etc all have a permanent spot on their new shelving.

I wasn't too impressed with the new colors, though... the only thing I'm really interested in is if they fixed the formulation issues I had with the Gelish version of the new green gel, "A runway for the money". The Gelish version was extremely prone to wrinkling and it was pretty patchy. Buuut I'm not interested enough to pay $10 for it.

 

[VodkaSoda]

I don't know if this has been asked before, but any tips on applying colors so they are opaque without multiple layers? Just did my toes today with Nominated for and had to do four layers. Love the color but color didn't really show til the fourth layer. Thanks!

 

[ferretkingdom]

I hope this wasn't said before.. but I went to Ulta today, and they totally revamped their RCM displays--they now take up about a quarter of an aisle, and they had the new colors. Most interestingly, though, is that the new colors as well as the old "limited edition" colors from last summer/winter/etc all have a permanent spot on their new shelving.

I wasn't too impressed with the new colors, though... the only thing I'm really interested in is if they fixed the formulation issues I had with the Gelish version of the new green gel, "A runway for the money". The Gelish version was extremely prone to wrinkling and it was pretty patchy. Buuut I'm not interested enough to pay $10 for it.

yeah they came out with "new" colors. none of them are technically new though. The Euro collection is all Gelish repeats again. Then the re-realeased LE colors. Scandalous is the only unique color. The green one though, Diva in Disguise - on the swatch i didn't find it really patchy after two coats, but it wrinkled terribly on the swatch unless the coats were SUPER thin. This was also a problem with runway for the money.

I don't know if this has been asked before, but any tips on applying colors so they are opaque without multiple layers? Just did my toes today with Nominated for and had to do four layers. Love the color but color didn't really show til the fourth layer. Thanks!

I always shake my colors even though you aren't supposed to. however some colors are just more sheer than others and need more coats.

 

[gel.luv]

yeah they came out with "new" colors. none of them are technically new though. The Euro collection is all Gelish repeats again. Then the re-realeased LE colors. Scandalous is the only unique color. The green one though, Diva in Disguise - on the swatch i didn't find it really patchy after two coats, but it wrinkled terribly on the swatch unless the coats were SUPER thin. This was also a problem with runway for the money.

Well boooo, I guess they didn't totally fix the formulation on the color, then. I thought since RCM is more for non-professional, at-home use, and there was some time between the gelish release and theirs, they might have worked on it a bit to make it easier to apply.

I wasn't too impressed by the new colors/rerelease LE colors... instead I bought some Sally Hansen gels to try out their formula.

 

[koshik]

I don't know if this has been asked before, but any tips on applying colors so they are opaque without multiple layers? Just did my toes today with Nominated for and had to do four layers. Love the color but color didn't really show til the fourth layer. Thanks!

Most of my stash is RCM. I find that the brand goes on much thinner than Gelish. Sometimes I have to put on more coats of the RCM, too.

 

[VodkaSoda]

Most of my stash is RCM. I find that the brand goes on much thinner than Gelish. Sometimes I have to put on more coats of the RCM, too.

I actually did shake the bottle, habit from old rnp I guess. I've used a couple of gelish polishes and have also come to the conclusion that it's thicker then RCM. Guess I'll just have to live with the fact that I need to do more then 2 thin layers for the opaqueness.

 

[marieukxx]

Has anyone here tried any of the new treatments? I'm wondering what they're like. I'm particularly interested in the Nail Remedy

 

[VodkaSoda]

I just got back from Ulta and I feel like a kid that just got back from the candy store. Not so much because of my purchases but because of what I saw. The RCM display looked great with all the new colors and treatments (though they were out of these). They also had Lint-free Wipes, Brushes, different Gem & Jewels kits, and Gem sets! Also, looks like they'll soon be selling different Professional French Tips($6.99), Nail Jewels($4.99), and Nail Appliques ($4.99)! OMG

 

[sweetlilwolf]

I just got back from Ulta and I feel like a kid that just got back from the candy store. Not so much because of my purchases but because of what I saw. The RCM display looked great with all the new colors and treatments (though they were out of these). They also had Lint-free Wipes, Brushes, different Gem & Jewels kits, and Gem sets! Also, looks like they'll soon be selling different Professional French Tips($6.99), Nail Jewels($4.99), and Nail Appliques ($4.99)! OMG

OMG seriously???? OOOOOO i might have to take a peak there next week and see what goodies they have... ive been trying to find cute appiques and such

 

[VodkaSoda]

OMG seriously???? OOOOOO i might have to take a peak there next week and see what goodies they have... ive been trying to find cute appiques and such

Someone on FB asked if a mint green was coming to Canada and RCM responded that new colors will be coming out soon. So perhaps with more new colors, they'll announce the appliques, jewels, and french tips.

 

[DellaDog]

I just got back from Ulta and I feel like a kid that just got back from the candy store. Not so much because of my purchases but because of what I saw. The RCM display looked great with all the new colors and treatments (though they were out of these). They also had Lint-free Wipes, Brushes, different Gem & Jewels kits, and Gem sets! Also, looks like they'll soon be selling different Professional French Tips($6.99), Nail Jewels($4.99), and Nail Appliques ($4.99)! OMG

I was thinking about going to Ulta tomorrow cause I have a 20% coupon that expires tomorrow - now I am going for sure! I hope that my store has the new display because last time I looked at the RCM display it was looking pretty pitiful.