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Gel Nail Essentials 💅✨
39
items I started doing my own gel nails at home because salon visits got expensive FAST 😭💅 These are the products that actually made the biggest difference for me — better prep, shinier top coats, nail tools that made application easier, and gel colors I ...
Sections
6
Nail Prep Essentials
Base Coats + Top Coats
Gel Polish Colors
Nail Tools
Nail Art 👀
Removal + Care ☁️
Nail Prep Essentials
I didn’t realize how important nail prep was until my gel nails kept lifting after like 2 days 😭💀 These are the prep products that actually helped my nails last longer and look smoother instead of chunky and uneven. honestly the difference between ...
before i started using cuticle remover gel i was literally sitting there trying to scrape dry cuticles forever 😭💀 this helped make prep faster and made my gel polish look cleaner around the edges instead of uneven and bulky.
GELLEN Cuticle Remover Instant Softener
I didn’t know this was important at first and my gel polish kept lifting so fast 😭 this helped the polish stick way better and made my nails last longer
Primer & Dehydrator | emmi-nail
You do not need anything over a 180 grit file to remove the shine from your nails. If you do then you're going to damage your nails.
Nail File 180 Grit - Amazon.com
I used to over file my nails so bad 💀 these help smooth the nail surface without making my nails feel paper thin.
Nail Buffer Block - Amazon.com
I thought cuticle oil was one of those extra unnecessary nail steps until my cuticles kept looking crusty like 10 minutes after finishing my nails 😭💀 this helps my nails look way more fresh and put together instead of dry around the edges
Cuticle Oil Pens - Amazon.com
way less annoying than getting random fuzz stuck in fresh gel polish 👏
Lint Free Nail Wipes - Amazon.com
this helped clean up the sticky layer and made my nails look way shinier and cleaner after curing. Also use this after filing get all the nail dust off your nail beds.
PRONAIL Nail Prep & Cleanser - Nail Dehydrator
my hands get SO dry after doing gel nails so this helps everything look healthier and less crusty after prep/removal
Cuticle And Hand Cream - Amazon.com
somehow glitter manages to get EVERYWHERE but it does make nails look way more fun.
Glitter Gel Polish - Amazon.fr
Base Coats + Top Coats
I used to think all base and top coats worked basically the same until I started getting random peeling and dull-looking nails after like 2 days 😭💀 these are the ones that made my gel nails look smoother and gave that really glossy finish that actu...
Using a base coat helps the gel polish go on smoother. You don't see all the etching on the nail from filing. It also help prevents staining from the gel polish.
Amazon.com: Modelones Base Coat
Top coat not only keeps the gel polish shiny or matte, it keeps the longivity. It stops the polish from chipping away specially on the edges of the nails from wear and tear. Do not skip top coat!
Base Coat & Top Coat Set - Modelones
This brand is another good brand to use to protect your natural nails. If you're putting this on press ons or acrylics then it'll stop from staining and make the gel polish a smoother application.
Beetles Professional Gel Base Coat and No Wipe Top Coat Set (2 x ...
I really do like bettle's top coat, it's supper shiny for a long period of time. It protect the gel polish and the nail art.
Beetles Top Coat No Wipe Clear Shine Finished | 15ML
I thought tiny nail art brushes were unnecessary until I tried doing details with the regular polish brush and immediately regretted it 😭💀
Nail Art Brushes & Pens in Nail Art - Walmart.com
these made nail art feel way less intimidating because even little dots and simple flowers started looking cute surprisingly fast 👀✨
Dotting Tools: Beauty & Personal Care - Amazon.com
these helped my aura nails stop looking like random blurry blobs after multiple failed attempts.
Fcozpjk Soft Sponges with Grabbing Pen for Nails
I started using this after bending a nail backwards and questioning all my life choices it helped my nails feel way stronger…
Builder Gel For Nails - Amazon.com
Gel Polish Colors
these are the gel polish colors i kept reaching for instead of buying them and letting them rot in a drawer somewhere 😭💅 some gel polishes look cute online then turn streaky, thick, or weirdly patchy the second you actually use them 💀 these are th...
I grabbed Modelones gel polish after getting tired of colors that looked cute online but turned streaky the second I applied them 😭💀 these went on way smoother for me and didn’t take a million layers just to make the color look even.
Modelones Gel Polish - Amazon.com
I kept seeing DND gel polish all over nail videos so I finally tried it after getting annoyed with colors that looked uneven after curing 😭💀 the color payoff on these felt way better for me and some shades were surprisingly opaque without needing a...
Dnd Gel Polish - Amazon.com
I tried Beetles gel polish after getting influenced by way too many nail videos 😭💀 some of the colors ended up being way prettier in person than I expected and the formula was easier to work with than the super runny gel polishes I’ve accidentally ...
beetles Gel Polish - Amazon.com
I picked up Sundara gel polish because I wanted more neutral shades that didn’t end up looking weirdly streaky or chalky after curing 😭💀 the colors felt really wearable and I didn’t have to keep fixing uneven spots every two seconds while painting ...
Sundara Nails Gel Polish - Amazon.com
I bought this after seeing too many aura nail videos and honestly watching the colors spread is weirdly satisfying 👀
Blooming Gel - Amazon.com
I underestimated how cool this would look until I saw it moving in the light for the first time 💀✨
Cat Eye Gel Polish - Amazon.com
Nail Tools
these are the nail tools that made doing gel nails at home feel way less chaotic 😭💅 i used to think all nail tools were basically the same until i realized bad tools were making everything harder, messier, and way more frustrating than it needed to...
tiny detail but it makes cleanup feel so much easier instead of dust ending up EVERYWHERE 😭
Dusting Brush Nails - Walmart
helped my gel polish look cleaner around the nail instead of bulky and uneven near the cuticles.
Amazon Best Sellers: Best Cuticle Pushers
I stopped ripping hangnails after getting these because that always turned into a disaster 💀
Cuticle Cutter - Amazon.com
sounds basic but having a good pair actually matters when you’re shaping nails regularly Peel-Off Liquid Latex — don't forget to cut down your natural nail free- edge.
Nail Clippers - Amazon.com
makes gel removal feel way less messy instead of balancing acetone bowls like a science experiment 💀
Nail Soaking Bowl - Walmart
Nail Art 👀
this is the section where i started getting way too confident and convincing myself i could suddenly do detailed nail art after watching 3 videos 😭💀 these are the tools and little extras that made my nails look more fun and less like i just slapped...
the first time I used chrome powder I fully understood why nail people become obsessed with it 😭 the shine is actually insane.
Chrome Nail Powder - Amazon.com
I started adding these when plain gel nails started feeling a little boring and now I physically cannot leave a nail simple 💀
Nail Rhinestones And Charms - Amazon.com
these saved me on days where I wanted cute nails without attempting freehand art and ruining everything 😭
Nail Stickers - Amazon.com
it’s messy, it sticks to literally everything, but honestly glitter makes even basic nails look way more fun and distracting in the best way.
Flakes For Nails - Amazon.com
I bought sculpting gel after convincing myself I could suddenly do those insanely detailed 3D nail designs I kept seeing online, definitely takes practice, but it made nail art way more fun once I stopped expecting my first attempt to look salon perf...
Sculpting Gel - Amazon.com
Removal + Care ☁️
I bought sculpting gel after convincing myself I could suddenly do those insanely detailed 3D nail designs I kept seeing online 😭💀 definitely takes practice, but it made nail art way more fun once I stopped expecting my first attempt to look salon ...
I tried avoiding acetone for a while because I hated how drying it felt 😭 but trying to scrape off stubborn gel polish without it was somehow even worse 💀
Pronto 100% Acetone Gel Nail Polish Remover
these made removal way less annoying because I wasn’t sitting there trying to balance foil wraps on my fingers like a maniac.
one+other Professional Soak-Off Nail Clips - CVS Pharmacy
honestly made the whole removal process feel a little less chaotic and messy compared to random bowls from the kitchen.
Nail Soaking Bowl - Walmart
I started using this after peeling off gel nails one too many times and instantly regretting my decisions.
Amazon.com: Nail Strengtheners
feels way gentler on my nails compared to the super rough files I used to aggressively use…
Crystal Glass Nail File
one of those products I ignored until my nails started feeling weak from overdoing gel manicures….
Nail Serum - Amazon.com