6 At Home Gel Manicure Tips to Make You Feel Like a ProReady to tackle your nails like a pro? Here’s how to do it.

Ready to tackle your nails like a pro? Here’s how to do it.

1. Start with a clean base

The cleaner your nails, the better the gel polish will be able to adhere. Remove any old polish (if you’re taking off an old gel manicure, you can use the same technique they use in the salon: buff, soak, and then gently scrape to get the polish off), and then buff your nails again—this helps remove any impurities. Dip a cotton ball in nail polish remover and wipe it over your entire nail, cuticles and all. Now you should have a clean base for your polish.

2. Pick your polish

The polish that you choose depends on two big factors. One, of course, is the look and shade you’re going for. And the other is based on what supplies you have. If you have a UV lamp at home for curing, you can choose a UV gel, but otherwise use a gel polish that doesn’t require UV light to set.

3. Tackle your cuticles

Could your cuticles use a little work? Soak them in warm water for at least five minutes, and then use a cuticle pusher to push back the extra skin. You can choose to stop there, or you can use a clean cuticle clipper to lightly trim any excess. Be careful not to over-trim (those cuticles are there for a reason) or to cut your skin.

4. Shake your polish

This step is important, since polish ingredients and pigments can separate when a bottle is just sitting in a cabinet. Gently shake the polish bottle up and down a few times to combine ingredients and ensure you get a smooth and pigmented polish when you start to apply.

5. Prep your station (and your nails)

Gather everything you need before you start. If you’re using a UV gel, you’ll need to get your lamp ready to go, as well as the base coat and top coat that accompany your polish. If you’re using a non-UV curing polish, you’ll just need to get your base and top coat.

To prep your nails, dip a q-tip in a small amount of petroleum jelly and apply it around the outside border of your nail bed. This way, if you mess up during application you don’t have to worry about staining your skin.

6. Get to polishing!

Apply your base coat and then start with your polish. Short strokes and thin layers are best, starting from the center of your nail and working your way out to the sides. Apply two to four coats depending on the look you’re after. Then apply at least one layer of top coat. (If you’re using a UV lamp, you’ll need to cure in between coats, including your base and top coats.

So, what are you waiting for?  Rosalindbeauty prepared everything you need, happy shopping!