You want to make your own gel nails, but do not really know how? With this step-by-step guide it is guaranteed to succeed. Also suitable for beginners!
I love nail polish! But unfortunately, the effortfully painted nails already look a few minutes after painting or at the latest the next day again messy. But that should be an end now!
After all, gel nails promise long hold, intense colors and protection from nasty color flaking.
In addition, the artificial nails often look much nicer and brittle fingernails can be easily hidden. And the great thing is that it is easy to make gel nails yourself.
Good to know: Gel nails are a mixture of gel and polish. This varnish is cured under an ultraviolet lamp.
This ensures that you Up to three weeks can look forward to beautifully painted nails. Say: Before the gel polish can chip, it simply grows out with the nail.
Visually, however, the polishes look like ordinary nail polish. However, the varnish sits much tighter and is optimal if you have thin or brittle natural nails.
Table of contents
How hard is it to do gel nails yourself?
Gel nails are easy to model and optimal for applying to your own fingernails at home. Compared to acrylic nails, the smell is much more pleasant and the handling is easily doable even for beginners. If you try to make gel nails yourself, you can save a lot of money in the long run.
By the way you can with gel varnish quite great white spots on the fingernails cover and strengthen thin natural nails.
What do you need to make your own gel nails?
If you want to do gel nails yourself for the first time, it is best to buy a set. This set should contain these components:
- UV lamp
- Primer
- Cleaner
- Gellac
- Color varnish
- Nail files
- Buffer
- Wooden cuticle pusher
- Nail polish remover
All this you can buy separately or find in a set. To save costs and not to forget anything, we recommend a beginner's set. In it you will also find very detailed instructions to read up on the subject again.
These sets are now available almost everywhere. You can get them especially cheap online. One nail set that I can recommend with a clear conscience is this starter set from Amazon.
In it you will find 10 nail polish colors, a UV lamp with timer, file, buffer, nail clippers, cuticle pusher, cuticle oil, file, nail polish remover and much more. The set has especially many good reviews on Amazon.
How to make your own gel nails?
It is quite easy to make gel nails themselves. Even beginners can do it easily. With a little practice you need only 10 minutes:
- File and roughen nails
- Apply primer and cure
- Paint nails with color and harden them
- Seal nail polish
- Dry nail polish with UV lamp
- Maintain
But let's look at it step by step now. Here comes a tutorial with which you can conjure up beautiful fingernails with gel polish yourself:
Step 1: Prepare nails
The most important thing you need to consider when DIY gel nails is the Preparation of your fingernails. Because without it your nail polish does not hold and can stand out.
- Remove old nail polish residue with a nail polish remover.
- Bring the nails to the desired length and shape.
- Remove the cuticle from the nail plate.
- Degrease the nails with a cleaner.
- Roughen the natural nails with the buffer.
- Wipe off the dust with a brush.
If you do not push the cuticle to the side, the polish cannot stay on the nail. In almost all sets you will find a tool with which you can push them back. Most of the time, these are sticks made of rosewood.
After pushing back, cut away the skin with nail scissors. Alternatively, you can use your nail cutter. It has special bits which allow you to care for the nails particularly thoroughly. However, a little practice is required here, otherwise it can lead to bloody injuries.
Attention, if you have a rivet nail you want to remove. You have to be especially careful here.
Remove the filing dust from your nails. This works best with a dust brush. If one is not included in the set, you can also use an ordinary cosmetic brush or a microfiber cloth.
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Step 2: Apply primer
The primer serves as an adhesive and removes grease from the nail. This improves and prolongs the hold. So make gel nails yourself really pays off, because the durability of the color is extended enormously.
Before you use the Primer you should already plug in the UV lamp.
- Apply the primer very thinly - one layer is enough.
- Start applying at the nail root and apply the polish evenly over the entire nail.
- Leave the nails in the UV lamp cure for two minutes. After that, wait 30 seconds before going to the next step.
It is best to finish one hand first and only then start with the other. A layer of sweat often forms during the curing process. You should remove this with a cloth or brush after the curing process.
Step 3: Put color on your nails
Now you may choose a colored gel nail polish of your choice and apply it.
- Shake the nail polish.
- Open it and strip off the excess paint.
- Spread the color from the base of the nail to the tip. Make sure that the color is applied evenly and not too thick. Most polishes cover well, so one coat is enough.
- Hold the fingers for about two minutes under the lamp.
If the color does not cover so well, you can now apply another layer. It is important that you let it harden in the meantime under the lamp.
Step 4: Seal
Finally, the sealing gel, or also called top coat, is brushed onto your nails. This gives them the final touch and makes them shine.
- Shake the vial with the gel.
- Apply the top coat thinly to the nails.
- Once the polish is applied, your nails come in this time for three minutes under the UV lamp.
- Repeat the process on the other hand.
- Polish your nails with a cleanser, remove residues and enjoy your beautiful nails.
- Take care of your nails with some nail cream or oil. This will also soothe the stressed skin.
Tip: To make your gel nails last long, don't take a bath, shower or wash dishes today.
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Care and durability
The durability of homemade gel nails is not limited in time. However, there is a gap between the cuticle and the gel layer when the nail grows back.
By the way, with conventional nail polish there are some great hacks, which ensure that the color lasts longer.
It is important to refill the DIY gel nails every three to four weeks, depending on how fast the natural nail grows back. At the same time, the nails are usually filed down.
Did you follow the right procedure for your own gel nails? Don't forget to take care of them regularly now. Use nail oil every day to protect the surrounding area.
How can I remove gel nails?
You want to say goodbye to your nails? You can't do it on your own, because the polish holds very tightly to the natural nails. Because it doesn't look nice to let them grow out completely, you need to remove them professionally.
Those who want to remove their gel nails, proceed as follows:
- Apply a thick layer of fatty ointment to the cuticles and skin around the fingernail,
- Soak a cotton pad with acetone and press it onto your gel nails.
- Secure the cotton pad with a bandage made of aluminum foil.
- After about 20 minutes, the varnish jumps off the nail.
- Carefully remove any remaining paint with a wooden stick.
Finally, go over the nails with the polishing file for a nice shine.
Do gel nails without UV lamp - Is it possible?
You want beautiful, healthy nails, but do not want to spend money on a UV lamp? There are now polishes with a gel-like texture that harden in sunlight and look shiny.
Gel-like or gel-shine are some of the names you'll find them under in stores. The polish does not last as long as UV or LED polish, but it is easier to remove. With nail polish remover this is no problem.
Our conclusion
Doing gel nails yourself is really not difficult and pays off. Up to 3 weeks you can enjoy beautiful nails and it does not matter how much your fingers are in use. Here no color flakes off. So what are you waiting for :)
Have fun making it and good luck!
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