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everything you'll need to diy nails - gel x edition
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items tired of paying an insane amount of money for nails? just do it yourself! i've used all of these products personally, and can vouch for their effectiveness. the initial investment is a lot, but overtime you save so much money
Sections
3
general tools u will need
nail prep
nail time <3
general tools u will need
i like this one because it's not too expensive, but it's still high quality and easy to use. use this to shape your nail tips, as well as to etch them further to let the gel stick to the nail tips better
[MelodySusie] entry-level nail drill
the amount of fumes that you will inhale filing your nails and the nail tips is insane. it can lead to future respiratory problems, immediate irritation, and it literally just smells horrible too
[MelodySusie] nail dust collector
honestly any nail file works, this is just the cheapest option that contains the most files. use this to file down the surface of your nails, but make sure to not overdo it
nail files
decently affordable! use this to hard cure your nails after each layer! remember to cure it for the correct amount of time or u will risk contact dermatitis! i recommend this one specifically, as it has the correct amount of uv needed to fully cure, ...
[SUNUV] nail lamp
used to correct mistakes, or if you accidentally get uncured gel on your skin. remember to remove it immediately, and NEVER let it cure on your skin
acetone
variety of brushes perfect for nail art, cleaning mistakes, etc!
nail brushes
honestly makes u feel a little bit silly wearing these, but you need either sunscreen or these gloves to make sure that the uv rays don't age ur hands like 10k years
uv protection gloves
cleans nails, lint free to ensure that no fibers are left behind that will make the surface not smooth
lint free nail wipes
use to flash cure after each nail to keep it from moving, and then finish with a full cure with the nail lamp to make sure that everything is properly cured
[Makartt] portable mini UV lamp
nail prep
everything you need BEFORE starting your nail designs
this is actually a need… i hate soaking and filing my sets off, this gets rid of that process entirely
[JELLO JELLO] peel off base gel + nail remover SET
these are my personal favourite, they're very high quality and they come pre-etched, which helps the nail glue adhere to your nails better and makes your nails last longer
[Apres] gel-x nail tips (medium almond)
perfect for nail prep! apply dehydrator to your nails after filing to dry them out, then apply primer (and let it dry) before applying your base gels to let it adhere better and last longer.
[modelones] nail primer and dehydrator
pushes back and trims excess cuticle that's lying on ur nail bed! remember to pair with a cuticle softener/remover, and to not overdo it and cut too far
cuticle trimmer
use this to soften your cuticles before pushing them back and cutting them
[Blue Cross] cuticle softener and remover
nail time <3
general things you need for nail application, as well as a few recommendations of my favourite nail polishes! i like to get my nail charms from aliexpress or temu
perfect beginner glue for nail tips! just be very careful when applying and wipe off any glue that gets on your skin with acetone. flash cure after putting every nail tip on, then finish with a full cure on the entire hand
[beetles] nail glue for nail tips
i use this to build the apex, which is the base part of your nail which strengthens it and makes your nails last longer
[modelones] builder gel
perfect for attaching charms, and very easy to use, as it is very thick and the applicator is a squeeze tube
[makartt] rhinestone glue
after finishing with your nail art, you need a no-wipe top coat, as the other layers will still have a very small sticky layer of gel on top that only cures when more gel polish is put on top of it. don't ask me the science of how that works, but it ...
[beetles] no-wipe gel top coat
i love this set for the perfect cat eye moment, and i feel like the colours are versatile enough to be used in a lot of different sets. the magnet can be really hard to figure out at first, but don't worry! you can try as many times as you want to as...
[GAOY] silk cat eye nail polish
everyone needs a good nude in their life to use as a base colour! slightly sheer, with a jelly/like colour! multiple layers may be needed
[rarjsm] nude gel polish
solid white colour perfect for french tips or a strong base
[beetles] white gel nail polish
still white, but more translucent! i like this one because it has a milkier, more jelly-like opacity, if that makes sense
[gaoy] jelly white nail polish