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DIY Builder Gel Manicure Starter Kit

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Structured manicures are the best!! They utilize builder gel, which goes on much like a gel polish but is SUPER strong. Structured manicures let your natural nails grow as long as you want without worrying about breaking. I keep my nails short, but I...
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Materials

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Lindsay Smith profile picture
My favorite clear builder gel! This is a base and builder gel in one, so you don't need a separate base coat.
Clear Builder Base
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
A pigmented builder gel! This is great if you want to apply your builder gel and a top coat and be done. This formula comes in tons of cute colors and you do not need a separate base coat.
Peach Base
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
Round bits will help you exfoliate your cuticle and nail bed to ensure there's no dead skin on your nail plate. Clean nails mean better adhesion!
3pcs Diamond Cuticle Round Bits
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
Great for cuticle prep, but also really important for removal. This makes things go WAY quicker. I like to file off the bulk of things and then soak off the last bit!
Electric Nail Drill
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
A more affordable builder gel. I don't love this stuff, but it's not bad for beginners. I find it doesn't adhere as well to the nail and it's harder to get level. BUT it's great for understanding the basics of builder gel and structured manicures!
Beetles Builder Nail Ge
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
For cleaning the nail bed, sanitizing your tools, and cleaning up your edges! Never use acetone for this- it degrades your gel and can mess with adhesion and retention.
ForPro 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
Great for cleaning up your edges and leveling your gel! Also useful for nail art :)
Gel Polish Nail Art Brushes
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
Your cuticles will thank you and this bottle will probably last the rest of your life. A little goes a very long way!
Cuccio Hydrating Cuticle Oil
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
This is a personal preference thing. Sometimes I like to use a remover to soften my cuticles, but sometimes I like to do a dry prep. It's up to you!
Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
This is an EXCELLENT top coat. Your builder gel needs a top coat or it will remain sticky. This one is clear and super glossy!
Ultra Glossy Non Wipe Top Coat Gel 15ml
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
A velvet matte top coat, to ensure you have options ;)
Velvet Matte Non Wipe Top Coat Gel 15ml
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
You do not need a lamp this fancy!! You DO need one that's strong enough to fully cure your gel, and buying a lamp from the same brand as your gel is usually a good way to ensure that. If you want to treat yourself, here's an option. Otherwise I shar...
Infinity Hybrid Light
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
These make soaking off your gel a lot more tolerable!
Nail Polish Remover Nail Foil Wraps
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
I like this one extra because it has the mirrored bottom! It's also got plenty of room for your hand so your fingers aren't too close together.
48W UV Light for Gel Nails, UV LED Nail Lamp
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
This will NOT fully cure your nails. It's for spot curing! Builder gel needs to be done one finger at a time. Once the gel is where you want it, spot cure it so it doesn't move. You can fully cure the whole hand when you've finished all your fingers!
Mini UV Light for Nails

Education

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Lindsay Smith profile picture
This creator makes really helpful tutorials!
i always get a bunch of the same questions about applying builder gel and doing efile fills on my nails so i thought this video would help answer everything! let me know if you have any additional questions ๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’– #buildergel #buildergeltutorial #nailtutorial #gelmanicure #diynails #diygelnails #gelnails #nails #nailday #efilemanicure #rubberbasegel
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
This creator makes pretty good tutorials! For someone as detail-oriented as myself I find she leaves out juuuust enough that I need to go watch more videos. But I'll link more here too!
iโ€™m always spreading the good word about structured builder gel manicures ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ’… #diynails #buildergel #structuredgelmanicure #buildergelnails #efilemanicure #diygelnails #frenchmanicure #nails
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
This creator makes some helpful videos- check her out for more details!
TikTok ยท kara
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
More good info on structured manicures!
Structured manicures are easily becoming my favorite! Have you tried it yet? IG: @JustNailed_
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Lindsay Smith profile picture
Structured manicures can't heal already damaged nails, but they keep your natural nail protected and strong while it grows!
Replying to @Mi'Kel G keep your eye out for my structured manicure online training course !! Coment โ€๐Ÿ’…๐Ÿฝโ€ to be added to the list to notify when it drops #fyp #foryou #structuredmanicure #nails #naturalnails #buildergel #nailtraining
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