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Beth Sandland

DIY Gel Nails: step by step tutorial

04/02/2020 · BEAUTY, LIFESTYLE

DIY Gel Nails: How to do a gel manicure from home! Salon quality DIY gel nail tutorial

 

Last weekend I decided to learn how to do DIY gel nails. A Coronavirus-induced lockdown has shut the salons. I had an overgrown gel manicure that needed to come off, plus I didn’t want to waste the investment I’d made into growing and preening them! Cue learning how to do gel nails at home.

It took a lot longer to DIY gel nails than a salon appointment usually takes. However, I’m totally thrilled with the results and the kit feels like a worthy investment. The cost is akin to 2 or 3 salon gel manicure’s and I found the process really enjoyable. Doing things with your hands keeps you busy! It was a welcome break from scrolling on my phone and I popped Friends on in the background.

 

DIY Gel Nails: what you need

  • A lamp (go for LED over UV – it’s faster and doesn’t damage your skin!)
  • Prep solution
  • Acetone solution
  • A gel base and top coat
  • Lint free wipes (very important that you don’t use normal cotton!)
  • Cuticle nipper and manicure tool (optional but insanely helpful if you want a real gel manicure impact)
  • 180 grit nail files/emery boards
  • Gel nail colours

If you’re a total beginner I recommend this kit which has everything you need in it: Mylee Full Works or this more affordable version! Otherwise, pick and mix from the Mylee website (cheaper and better range than on Amazon! I love these gel polishes; they’re affordable and great quality.)

 

Everything you need to do DIY gel nails at home! Salon quality gel manicure tutorial using Mylee gel nail polish.

 

How to Remove a Gel Manicure

It’s super easy! So don’t pick at them.

  1. Gently file the top layer of the polish so it looks matte and a little rough
  2. Either cut tin foil into 10 small squares or use these
  3. Cut a few of your lint free wipes into nail-sized squares
  4. Soak the lint wipe in acetone and place on top of your nail
  5. Wrap in foil
  6. Do all 10 then wait ten minutes or so!
  7. Use a manicure tool to gently remove any remaining polish from the nail (the gel polish should have practically dissolved into the lint, you shouldn’t have to be firm with it!)

 

How to do a DIY gel manicure at home

 

ESSENTIAL TIP: Do not get ANY of the gel polish on your skin or cuticles. This will cause it to lift and chip! After each coat (including base and top) of gel polish ensure that you wipe any excess. I used my manicure tool to scrape it off if any went on the skin just under the tip of my nail. I also used a lint free wipe soaked in remover liquid to clean the surrounding skin regularly. If anything sabotages your DIY gel nails, it will be getting this wrong!

 

  1. File and shape your nails to your liking
  2. Gently push back and trim cuticles using a cuticle nipper (be careful – they’re sharp!)
  3. Use a file to gently buff the top layer of your nail so any shine/smoothness is gone
  4. Thoroughly clean your nails with prep solution and a lint free wipe
  5. Apply the base coat and cure under the lamp for 60 seconds
  6. Next, apply two coats of the colour of your choice and cure each for 30-60 seconds
  7. Then apply the top coat and cure for 60 seconds
  8. Thoroughly wipe the nails with a lint free wipe soaked in the prep solution
  9. Sit back and feel smug with your DIY gel nails!

 

TIP: Make the coats of gel polish THIN. It’s better to do more than to do thick, gloopy coats.

 

At home shellac DIY gel nails tutorial: do a salon manicure at home

 

PS. If you’re stuck in lockdown then these posts might be helpful…

42 Books to Read in Self-Isolation (split by genre!)

8 Boxsets to Watch During Lockdown

5 Thrillers That Will Keep You Gripped

 

 

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DIY Gel Nails: a step by step guide on how to do a gel manicure at home

How to do a salon quality gel manicure at home: DIY gel nails tutorial

 

 

 

Posted In: BEAUTY, LIFESTYLE · Tagged: Lockdown

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Comments

  1. Lucy says

    04/02/2020 at 08:03

    Great tutorial, but most of these items aren’t shipping until the end of the month next month as their not essential item.

    Reply
    • Beth Sandland says

      04/02/2020 at 08:11

      Hmm..not sure where you’re seeing that! On my end it pretty much all shows as available for free delivery by Saturday (prime) xx

      Reply
  2. Candice says

    04/02/2020 at 11:31

    Your nails looks so pretty!

    Reply
  3. Lisa says

    04/02/2020 at 21:52

    I love the result. I have been doing mine at home for a while – mainly my toes as I am a nurse and can’t have my nails done but I always used to do them when I went on holiday! And now at the start of my maternity leave, i made it a mission to have my nails looking lovely all the time! So far so good. Bluesky gel polishes are also great ones!

    http://www.thelisasworld.com

    Reply
  4. Ria says

    04/17/2020 at 04:55

    Came out so cute, I finally finished taking off all my gel tonight. So pleased, now I need more interesting gel colors than the old ones I have. Man I haven’t done my own nails in years.

    Reply
  5. Nathan John says

    05/24/2020 at 09:46

    These tutorials are helpful for the nail color users. I am glad to read this information.

    Reply

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I am a multi-award winning blogger, photographer and writer from London. I’ve travelled to over 38 countries, lived out of a backpack for a year and love to scuba dive! This site is a destination for all things travel, lifestyle and my successful online book club.

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✨ Books. Fiction, non-fiction, audiobooks. I’m currently devouring them. The escapism is wonderful and so is the reduced screen time.
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✨ Gousto. We’ve been using it for months now! It saves us money, gives lots of variety, means we have a much better division of labour in the kitchen and as we order the ‘4-5’ people portion options, we only have to cook every other night or so as there’s always leftovers!
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✨ TLC. Online yoga, putting fresh PJs on every night, going to bed earlier. A scented eye pillow & aromatherapy spray from small business @spritzwellness is such a dream. Something as small as lying down with it (can also warm or cool it first)  for 10 mins can give you such a boost. If you don’t fall asleep for 4 hours...
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What’s keeping you going?
Got dressed in actual clothes today. Okay, took a Got dressed in actual clothes today. Okay, took a photo in actual clothes. OKAY I put stretchy jersey back on straight after and I have no ragrets. Not even a single letter. 🍦✨
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