the thermal spa 2 handed light is a great buy on Amazon.com for @$58.00 with free shipping. You can also cure both feet at the same time too. Saves a lot of time. I took one of the bulbs out to bring the wattage down to 36 watts. I haven't had any issues with the lamp and it works great. Goodluck with your manis!
Red Carpet Manicure
- Thread starter BrookeJ
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Well, I can tell you the uv lights have definately come down in price. I just ordered a pink one for my daughter (Christmas present) from China and it was only $20.00 and that was with shipping
Oh yes they are definitely cheaper now! Luckily mine has worked fine, I know some had issues with their lamps from china though.
How do you do a 'sandwich' mani? I've tried with no luck. Also, how do you prevent wrinkling? I've noticed this more with the darker colors.
Here's my version of the "gelly sandwich"...
1) Apply Orly Bonder
2) Apply Thin coat of base coat... I'm talking THIN - cure
3) Apply Thin coat of TIO - cure
4) Wipe down with 91% rubbing alcohol - using lint free material (I use a paper towel) and saturate it pretty good.
5) Apply Regular nail polish - let it dry completely! (I do usually 2 coats)
6) -optional - sometimes I like to add a layer of sparkly - so I might use Vegas Nights (Gelish) or Glitteratzzi (RCM) - cure between coats (sometimes I add two layers)
7) Apply TIO - cure
8) Wipe down again w/ alcohol.
Note: I am using the Gelish for both the base and top coat because that's what I originally bought. Also when it wrinkles - I just keep adding layers of TIO to it to smooth it out. I really don't like the way Black Stretch limo applies - too streaky and shrinks and wrinkles! RETURN! LOL!
Tip: Keep all your layers thin!
For me, this is the way to go - I get long wear out of it and the color selection is infinite and I don't have issues with wrinkles (unless I don't let the reg. nail polish dry before I apply TIO!) or shrinkage.
Hope this helps and keep experimenting! That's how I came up with this method.
1) Apply Orly Bonder
2) Apply Thin coat of base coat... I'm talking THIN - cure
3) Apply Thin coat of TIO - cure
4) Wipe down with 91% rubbing alcohol - using lint free material (I use a paper towel) and saturate it pretty good.
5) Apply Regular nail polish - let it dry completely! (I do usually 2 coats)
6) -optional - sometimes I like to add a layer of sparkly - so I might use Vegas Nights (Gelish) or Glitteratzzi (RCM) - cure between coats (sometimes I add two layers)
7) Apply TIO - cure
8) Wipe down again w/ alcohol.
Note: I am using the Gelish for both the base and top coat because that's what I originally bought. Also when it wrinkles - I just keep adding layers of TIO to it to smooth it out. I really don't like the way Black Stretch limo applies - too streaky and shrinks and wrinkles! RETURN! LOL!
Tip: Keep all your layers thin!
For me, this is the way to go - I get long wear out of it and the color selection is infinite and I don't have issues with wrinkles (unless I don't let the reg. nail polish dry before I apply TIO!) or shrinkage.
Hope this helps and keep experimenting! That's how I came up with this method.
I haven't had issues with my black wrinkling, but it doesn't cure well unless the coats are SUPER THIN. I am still able to get it opaque in 2 coats though. My black is Gelez brand, but most blacks seem to have this problem.
A few colors are notorious for wrinkling though, and this might just be one of them. Just keep your coats as thin as you can. Darker colors usually seem to be the worst for wrinkling and shrink back as well.
I did my every-other-week change of color last night by buffing off the top coat of last week's manicure and reshaped them a little, so some of the color came off too (I had on Gelish Tutti Frutti). This is only one coat of Glitz and Glamorous - it covered beautifully and is a lovely metallic blue-ish red. I did have to cure it for 60 seconds because I was getting color on my TIO brush after only 30 seconds.
Very PrettyI did my every-other-week change of color last night by buffing off the top coat of last week's manicure and reshaped them a little, so some of the color came off too (I had on Gelish Tutti Frutti). This is only one coat of Glitz and Glamorous - it covered beautifully and is a lovely metallic blue-ish red. I did have to cure it for 60 seconds because I was getting color on my TIO brush after only 30 seconds.
I did my every-other-week change of color last night by buffing off the top coat of last week's manicure and reshaped them a little, so some of the color came off too (I had on Gelish Tutti Frutti). This is only one coat of Glitz and Glamorous - it covered beautifully and is a lovely metallic blue-ish red. I did have to cure it for 60 seconds because I was getting color on my TIO brush after only 30 seconds.
That is a very pretty red.
Quite some time ago I started using bonder on the tips I was having trouble lifting on. I no longer have any trouble with lifting. I only use it on the tips though and only on the nails that gave me trouble, as it can make removal take a little longer where the bonder is.
I have no objective evidence to support it; it's just my experience. I have super bendy nails, especially as they get longer.
The Facebook page for RCM was just updated to say that the pro light has been shipped to Ulta stores and should be on sale by next weekend for $49.99. I'm not sure what the specs are but I believe that cuts curing down to 30 seconds for color and top coat layers.
I'm really curious what the wattage is on that RCM light. the pro light still isn't listed on ulta's website either