I’ve been making gel press on nails and doing my own manicures for over 4 years now. Here are the essentials I recommend to get started and save yourself some moolah in the long run!
Sections
5
Prep
Nail Tips
Gel Polish
Top Coat
Other Helpful Tools
Prep
These are the most important products to keep you safe and your gel lasting on the nail tips.
Must have gloves for working with gel, acetone, and other harmful substances.
Black Nitrile Disposable Gloves 6 mil
Stick your nail tips on these with putty or stickers.
Blulu 6 Sets Magnetic Nail Tip Display Holder
File the tops of each nail and gently reshape when needed.
Canvalite 40 PCS Reusable Peel & Stick Nail Files
Use these to roughen up the surface of each nail first.
ForPro Super White Buffing Block 120 Grit, 20-Count
Apply to each nail after buffing as the base coat and before applying gel.
Mia Secret No Burn Acid Free Primer 1oz
The opening of this is taller than most, making it the best for press ons.
SUNUV SUN3 UV LED Nail Lamp Gel Polish
WAY better than putty for attaching nails to stands.
600 Pcs Double Sided Adhesive Tapes for Nail Art
Nail Tips
These are the tips I recommend to someone getting started. You can always get a more professional, expensive brand later on once you know what length and shape you like.
Made by the actual inventor of Gel X
SOFTIPS PRO™ XII - Standard Almond Short
The only short almond nails that work for my long nail beds
krofaue Almond Nails Tips 240Pcs Clear
Una Gella is reliable and high quality in my experience
UNA GELLA XS Almond Nail Tips, 504 Pcs
These are the shortest I’ve been able to find from a mass producer
SINOKAME Extra Short Round Gel Nail Tips 600pcs
Gel Polish
I have tons of brands and colors, but these are accessible and trustworthy while still being budget friendly. I recommend getting colors as you need them in full bottles instead of the tiny bottles often sold in bulk.
Tons of colors, great formula, and inexpensive.
VENALISA Gel Nail Polish
My favorite milky white gel.
Beetles Milky White Gel Nail Polish 15ml
These are the BEST nude gels that give the semi-sheer acrylic look.
Migothic - Start Beige Collection
The majority of my collection is DND brands!
DND Color
The same as DND, just different packaging and colors.
DC Color
Same as DND and DC, just square bottles.
DIVA Color
Great brush and formula and the bottle matches the gel inside!
CANNI Hot Pink Neon Gel Nail Polish
Top Coat
Great quality top coat and inexpensive.
VENALISA 12ML No Wipe Tempered Top Coat
Other Helpful Tools
Must haves for acetone and isopropyl alcohol dispensing.
