Nature has not endowed all girls with beautiful strong nails, so they often look for an answer to the question of how to properly build up nails with gel polish on their own, without resorting to the help of nail salons. Having mastered the peculiarities of the technique of carrying out this procedure at home, you can independently build up your nails with gel polish.
Advantages and disadvantages of building gel polish
With the help of the extension procedure, you can make yourself the desired shape and length of nails, moreover, they will be worn for a long time. The terms of wearing depend primarily on the conditions in which they are kept. There is a very important tip: always clean the house, wearing protective gloves, so that your nails and hands look nice and well-groomed.
Extension with gel polish, like any cosmetic procedure, has its advantages and disadvantages.
Pros of nail extension with gel polish:
- if by nature the nails are ugly and short, you can make the desired length and shape of the nail plates;
- with the help of the gel, the nail plate is significantly strengthened;
- well-groomed and beautiful hands;
- protection of nails from negative influences from the environment;
- if there is a habit of biting nails, then it disappears when the nails are covered with gel polish.
The disadvantages include:
- if artificial nails were worn for a long time, then the natural nail plate becomes significantly thinner and it takes some time to restore it;
- long extension procedure;
- the high cost of the procedure if you cover it in the salon;
- if the build-up is done incorrectly, then a void space may arise between the natural nail plate and the nail, in which, with poor disinfection, a fungal infection forms.
Types of gel for nail extension
Gels for nail extension are selected individually, depending on the type of procedure:
- Basic purpose gel... This type is used when building up in a three-phase way. It looks colorless and helps to adhere the material to the nail plate.
- Sculptural gel... It is also used in a three-phase extension at the second stage to form an artificial nail.
- Gel camouflage... This is a gel with natural shades, which is more often used in the creation of French manicure.
- Finishing gel. It is a fixing agent, it evens out the colors and gives a glossy or matte sheen.
- Gum gel... This is a new material in the manicure industry and is used to create the shape of an artificial nail from the middle.
- Biological gel... With this tool, they build up and cover the natural plate for its deep nutrition and healing.
Don't miss the most popular column article: How to draw monograms on nails step by step for beginners. Instruction with photo.What tools will be needed
To carry out the procedure for extending nails with gel polish, you must have a number of special devices with you:
- lamp for drying gel polish (UV, LED);
- brushes for applying gel;
- tips;
- buff for polishing the top layer of a natural nail;
- containers for mixing gel;
- tweezers for removing cuticles;
- scissors for manicure;
- special napkins without lint for degreasing the nail and removing the sticky layer of the top coat;
In addition to tools, you will need the necessary material:
- antibacterial liquid for treating hands;
- liquid for degreasing;
- cuticle finishing oil;
- base gel varnishes;
- gel varnishes with colors;
- finishing gel coating.
All instruments must be treated with special antibacterial agents or a special sterilizer must be used.
Building methods
How to build up nails with gel polish, and which of the methods is most suitable is an important question before starting the extension procedure.
There are 2 well-known methods of nail extension:
- Extension with tips... They are made of dense plastic, attached to the very edge of the nail with a special non-toxic glue. Already after attachment, the desired shape is cut out using files and pliers.
- Build-up using forms... They consist of thick paper, covered with plastic wrap on top. The fixture is fixed with a sticky layer, which allows the form to be held at the base of the nail. The forms are disposable and reusable. But for sterility reasons, it is best to use single-use products.
To choose the right method, you need to focus on the length of your own natural nail.
If the nail does not have a free edge, that is, they are cut very shortly, then it will be inappropriate to apply forms, since there will simply be nowhere to fix them. You need to have at least 2 millimeters of a grown nail. If you want to get a manicure in a short period of time, then it is better to choose nail extension. In this case, the procedure will finish almost twice as fast.
Preparatory nail treatment
Every girl is interested in how to properly and beautifully build up nails with gel polish, but it should be borne in mind that first of all, you need to carefully prepare the nail plate.
Preparation is carried out in several stages:
- Hand and nail treatment disinfectants to prevent infection during work.
- Cut the cuticle, having prepared in advance, treated with a special emollient oil. Before cutting, the skin is gently pushed with a pusher or an orange tree stick. This procedure is mandatory, it helps to better adhere to the gel and the nail.
- Shape the nail by cutting and sawing off the free edge.
- For grip to be good and reliable, it is necessary file down the surface of the nail plate... It is not necessary to remove too thick layer so as not to damage the structure of the nail. It is necessary to process in the direction from the base to the free edge.
- Dust off from cutting with a wide brush. In no case should you touch the treated nail with your fingertips so as not to leave greasy marks.
- Degreasing the nail is performed using a special tool, they are in the form of sprays or liquids.
- Before applying the gel itself, you must prime the surfacewhich should dry completely naturally. This is another procedure for degreasing the nail.
Don't miss the most popular column article: How to build up your nails with gel polish. Instructions for nail extension for beginners. A photo.Instructions for building on tips
The process of nail extension using tips is divided into the following stages:
- first, you need to process the hands and nail plate with an antibacterial agent and make a classic edged manicure;
- prepare the nail plate for gluing the tips by cutting off the top layer with a file, creating a roughness;
- remove excess nail dust by brushing with a wide brush;
- pick up the types according to the width of the nail, you need it to overlap the nail from edge to edge;
- apply special glue to the base of the tips, which will be attached to the nail;
- then it is necessary to carefully glue the tips, if the glue mass has gone beyond the edges, it is necessary to remove it with a lint-free napkin;
- bring the tips to the desired shape, namely, shape and length, by sawing or cutting off excess tips with special tongs;
- cut the edge of the transition with an abrasive file to an invisible state;
- remove excess dust with a wide brush and apply a primer;
- apply a modeling gel, drying each layer;
- apply the main gel in two or three layers, drying each for 2 minutes using a lamp;
- apply a typical coating and dry for 2 minutes under a lamp;
- if you plan to create a design, then this step is always performed after the topcoat;
- treat the base of the nail with cuticle care oil.
Extension of nails on forms: top extension
How to build up nails with gel polish using the upper forms:
- First you need to make a preliminary preparation of the nail plate.
- It is necessary to form a nail model from a special stencil and hold it for a little (20 seconds) under the lamp for partial solidification.
- Apply a basic gel to the nail, this will help to adhere the nail to the mold.
- The prepared form must be pressed firmly to the surface of the nail for about 20 seconds.
- Pusher or orange stick to remove excess gel that has come out.
- Place the nail with the mold under the lamp for two minutes.
- After drying, the shape must be removed and the edges shaped as desired.
- Apply a final coat and dry for 2 minutes under the lamp.
Extension of nails on forms: lower extension
How to build up nails with gel polish using the lower forms is described in stages.
This procedure is similar to building with tips, but only at the initial stage:
- Perform the initial preparation of the nail plates.
- Apply base gel and cure in the lamp for 2 minutes.
- Fasten the shape to the finger.
- Apply the gel to the very tip of the nail plate and dry in a lamp for 2 minutes.
- Repeat the previous action, forming a natural bend of the nail plate, dry in a lamp for 2 minutes.
- Remove the sticky layer and carefully separate the base of the form from the gel, after removing the sticky layer from it.
- Process the edges of the hardened gel with an artificial nail file and buff over the surface of the nail.
- Fix the result with a finishing gel and dry in a lamp for 2 minutes.
- Remove the sticky layer, apply moisturizing oil to the base of the nail and admire the result.
How to dry gel polish without a lamp
How to build up nails with gel polish, and then dry it again without using a special lamp is not an easy task. It is best, of course, to get a lamp and not think about ways to dry the coating. If the gel polish is water-based, then you can dry it with ice water, but first you need to apply a drop of activator (monomer) on top.
This method, although it works according to the reviews of some girls, will not bring an excellent result.
Moreover, you will have to keep your hands in cold water for a long time, and this can lead to a cold. Correctly drying gel polish occurs under ultraviolet radiation, so if the manicure is performed on a hot summer day, you can use direct sunlight to harden the gel.
How long this process will take is unknown, it is necessary to judge that a lamp with UV rays appears directly. All other methods do not guarantee complete drying of the coating.
How to remove extended nails
How to remove nails if they have been extended with gel can be a daunting task. Let's take a closer look at all the stages of the procedure.
For removal, you must prepare the following tools:
- nail tongs and nail cutter;
- dust brush;
- file for artificial nails;
- file for natural nails;
- polishing buff;
- gel polish remover, acetone and cotton pads.
Stages of the procedure:
- If you have goggles, it is best to wear them so that nail particles do not accidentally get into your eyes.
- Pinch off the free edge of the extended nail using forceps or a tip cutter. This must be done carefully so as not to trap your own nail.
- To clearly see the edge of your own nail, you need to walk along the nail with a disc soaked in acetone.
- It is recommended to wear a dust mask to protect the respiratory tract. With a file for artificial nails, start cutting the gel in one selected direction. In order not to hurt the natural nail, from time to time you need to brush off the dust. If you have a manicure machine, you can use it to quickly complete the removal of the gel.
- After approaching the nail plate, you need to take a file for a natural nail and continue to file without pressure.
- After opening the surface of the nail, you need to go to the encryption buff and polish the entire nail plate.
- To accurately determine that there is no gel left on the nail, you need to apply a degreasing agent. If there is more gel, it will turn white.
- Finally, treat your hands with cream and the base of the nail with oil.
To have beautiful and well-groomed hands, you need to make an effort, because without a manicure and beautiful varnish, the overall look will look unfinished. To stop in independent nail extension can be ignorance of how to properly perform the procedure with gel polish. After studying the step-by-step instructions, you can easily understand the technique, since there is nothing complicated in this process.
Article design: Anastasia Rysyeva
Video: how to build up nails with gel polish
Step-by-step instructions on how to build up nails with gel polish in a video clip:
How gel polish is applied to nails, see the video clip: