Gel Manicure at Home
I’m sharing all of the details about how I get the look, longevity and durability of a gel manicure at home.
I love gel manicures. I love the look, longevity and durability of gel nail polish. I used to treat myself to a gel manicure at a salon every few months or so as a self-care. At around $35 (plus tip), it was an inexpensive way to have some time to myself and feel put together.
While I loved getting my nails done, it wasn’t something I was willing to do every 2-3 weeks. The cost would have quickly gone from trivial to significant and with a job and a toddler it was difficult to find the time outside of my home. So last November when I was doing some holiday shopping on cyber Monday, I saw that there was a great deal on a UV/LED lamp for a gel manicure at home. I quickly added it to my cart and began my research. The instructions on the product page were pretty thorough and I found a couple of articles to walk me through the process. I was already painting my nails every week at home, I figured I might as well try a gel manicure at home so they would last longer and save me time and money.
For all of the products needed (I break them down below), I paid around $50. That’s it! That’s $15 more than what I paid for one manicure and I’ve been using the products for almost a year without running out. The whole process takes me about forty-five minutes to one hour from start to finish so I usually will wait until Luca goes down for the night before I start.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
GEL UV LED NAIL LAMP. The UV/LED lamp is what cures the polish. It’s the same kind of light that used in the salons except lower powered. It’s only $19.99 right now! There are more expensive options out there but I’ve had mine for almost a year now and it’s worked perfectly and my manicures always last for 2-3 weeks.
NAIL FILES & BUFFERS. It’s important to buff your nails before applying the base coat. These buffers are cheap, work great and they are washable!
MODELONES GEL BASE & TOP COAT. I love this base and top coat. I’ve tried another brand but have found that this base/top coat combination has had the longest wear for me.
MODELONES GEL POLISH SET. I love the colors in this set. There’s neutral, dark and a bright option that’s perfect for fall right now. I’ve also purchased this set (summer colors) and a few individual colors as well.
TIPS FOR A LONG LASTING GEL MANICURE AT HOME
- Remove all old nail polish and file / buff your nails before applying the base coat.
- Wash your hands and then take a cotton pad soaked with nail polish remover and run it over your nails to make sure there are no small particles or oil from your skin.
- Apply super thin layers!
- Swipe the tips of your nails with the base, color & top coat to prevent chipping.
- Avoid bringing the polish down towards your cuticles. I start a little above so there’s a sliver of bare nail between my cuticle and the color. This will help with peeling.
- Double the recommended cure time! I will do 120 seconds for each — base, both color coats and the top coat. I’ll put my hand in for 60, take it out and then start it again.
- Do one hand at a time start to finish. I do my left first: base, cure, color, cure, color, cure, top, cure and then start my right.
What do y’all do for self-care? Do you paint your own nails or treat yourself to a salon manicure? Let me know in the comments!
