(Part 3) Best products from r/RedditLaqueristas

Just start painting your nails and you will figure out what works best for you eventually. I've compiled a list of helpful links/videos that I've found helpful for me.

Dotting Tools:

• Cutepolish's video on how to make your own dotting tool.
  
• <$2 on amazon. It might take a while to get to you if it's being shipped from China though.
  
  Stripping tape:
  
  
• $1.08 on amazon.
  The trick when you use stripping tape is to make sure your polish isn't old and too goopy, otherwise it will not be so crisp.
  
• And use tweezers like this or this.
  
  Cleaning
  
  
• You will get the hang of cleaning once you start practicing. If you get better at application you will have to do less cleaning. This will come with practice. I suck at doing nails with little mess. So I use acetone and a slanted brush. This might be a good set to get.
  
• /u/ReneeJade 's post about cleaning up with toothpicks is very helpful too.
  
  Nail Polish Brands
  
  
• This depends on how much money you want to spend. I started with Sinful Colors because no mula. But the formula is kinda bad and takes forever to dry. And Sinful Colors stain your nails really bad in my experience. Sally Hansen is pretty good for the price. I only just acquired a couple of China Glazes and Essie's. They are pretty good but I only buy it when it's less than $3. I don't have experiences with Orly, O.P.I.
  
• Julep is okay in my opinion. Personally, I feel like they're not worth the price. One of my bottles just broke when I was turning the cap. And the other one (Julep Sasha) stained my nails really bad :/
  
• There are nail polish programs like Julep Maven (who do a free first box with code FREEBOX) and other ones that I don't know about but head onto /r/BeautyBoxes to find out more.
  
  Top Coat and Base Coat
  
  
• Orly bonder is a good base coat that I use. I don't have experiences with other ones, so I can't compare.
  
• Getting a fast drying top coat is probably a good idea. I use Seche Vite but it has a really strong smell and it shrinks your polish. I'm trying to find a new one but Sally Hansen Insta Dry didn't work for me. It smudged my nail art even though it dries pretty fast. Poshe is supposed to be good but I don't have experience with it.
  
  Nail Strengthening
  
  
• O.P.I. Nail envy is a lot of people's favorites but it didn't work for me personally. Just search this subreddit with "nail envy".
  
• Quimica Alemana. This stuff has good reviews and I want to try it.
  
  Nail file
  
  
• Use a crystal one. This one has good reviews or use an O.P.I. one. I use an O.P.I, pretty happy with it.
  
  Have fun painting!

Here's some suggestions of the things you asked for.

First, a shelf to put her polish and supplies on. I have this one from Amazon which I like a lot.
Some of my favorite brands of polish: Zoya, OPI, Sinful Colors, Essie.
I know several people get on Etsy and buy Indie polishes (polishes from independent businesses and manufacturers). I don't have any experience with those, but there's some great ones from what I've seen here.
If she enjoys nail art, a set of Nail Art Brushes and dotting tools would be a nice addition. Make sure in that group is a small, angled brush to do clean ups around the nail and cuticle. VERY important for a clean look.
A base coat and top coat is also important. Look for a quick drying top coat. I recommend Seche Vite. Just be sure to tell her to read the instructions/tips for using it. It's a bit different in some ways. :)
Also, some cuticle cream with moisturizers, cotton balls or pads, Q-Tips, and Acetone polish remover are also some things she'll need.
That should be a nice beginners basket for her. I'm sure you'll get other suggestions as well.

Take care of your cuticles. This video was very helpful to me. If you don't want to remove your cuticles, keep them pushed back (although if it's been a while since you have pushed your cuticles, you may find it easier to just remove them and then keep up with pushing them). A decent cuticle pusher will help keep them under control. I prefer to use a tool like this one that also has a trimmer on one end - I use the trimmer to any hardened skin that's formed at the corners of my nails.

That being said, you should also use a cuticle cream or cuticle oil to help keep the skin around your nails and your nail bed moisturized. I like this cuticle cream, but I have heard wonderful things about Lush's Lemony Flutter as well (it's expensive but trust me, that tub will last you forever). Sally Hansen also makes a cuticle oil that gets the job done just as well. I use my cuticle cream at least once a day (sometimes twice) and it's amazing how much that alone has helped my nails.

If you're constantly messing around with your nails during the day (picking, biting, etc), try your best to curtail that. If a nail is peeling, resist the urge to bite it and file it down instead. Also, file your nails in one direction only - that reduce the risk of splitting the nail.

Lastly, I second the vitamin suggestion. YMMV, but a lot of people find that biotin and prenatal vitamins are very helpful for nail growth. If you want to go the biotin route, I suggest coupling it with a daily multivitamin (which will provide vitamin E as well as all the other important stuff).

Absolutely! The colors are actually a set I bought on Amazon. The colors are unnamed but I love the quality of these gels! Can’t beat that price! I custom made the pink and green colors from a variety of shades in that collection. As for the brushes, I honestly can say the brush matters. I’ve been using all sorts of brushes and could nottttt get a fine line to save my life! I recently got the liner brush from Skyline and I’m IN LOVE. The technique I’ve learned from a bunch of people online are still key though. Like: apply light pressure, balance your elbow and or wrist for accuracy, clean your brush after every stroke, cure between strokes and build color... so ultimately a quality brush and solid technique are vital. I could go on but the point is practice makes perfect. Research and practice hahah. I hope my rambling was somewhat helpful!

If you're just getting started, I'd recommend this starter kit from Gelish since they're an excellent professional brand and it has everything you need other than a color coat (which you can pick up at Sally's or online if you're feeling more daring). It comes with the cleaning solution which is an alcohol base like you said, as well as the remover. I think starting with good quality products is the easiest way to learn so you're not fumbling with something that's already difficult to work with.

For lights, I haven't used many different lights, I just got one on amazon that had really good reviews. It seems like the ones with a "hood" over them are ideal. Just make sure it says it's UV light! I got this one and I absolutely love it! It's nice and big so you're not scrunching your hands in there to fit, it has different time settings, or it will automatically kick on when it senses your hand and start counting how long your hand has been in.

Other important things to consider is proper removal technique so you don't damage your natural nail. Buff up the top layer, soak them for 5 or so minutes in hot water with a bit of acetone, then wrap them in foil with cotton balls soaked in acetone like they do in most salons and wait 15-20 minutes. You shouldn't have to struggle to get anything off.

Polishes - Brands

• Essie
  
  
• OPI
  
  
• China Glaze
  
  
• Sally Hansen
  
  
• Sinful Colors (cheap, but good for colors she'll use a lot, like black and white)
  
  Polishes - Colors
  
  
• White
  
  
• Black
  
  
• Pink (get more than one)
  
  
• Nude/Cream
  
  
• Her favorite color
  
  Tools
  
  Don't worry too much about getting "the best tools" if she's just starting. As she starts painting, she'll realize what tools she likes and which tools she doesn't. Ebay/Etsy/Amazon $5 tools are fine to start out with.
  
  
• Dotting tools
  
  
• Brushes
  
  
• Sponges
  
  
• Stamping kit (if you're feeling fancy or advanced.)
  
  Misc
  
  
• Mani/Pedi Kit (its possible she may have these tools, in which case skip this one.)
  
  
• Nail File
  
  
• Orange sticks (again, she may have these. Skip it if she does. Also she probably won't ever need 100, just wanted you to see what they were.)
  
  
• Acetone or Nail Polish Remover (100% Acetone is much more concentrated than most polish remover, but it can be very drying on your skin. I use it for clean up, but if she's just starting out, nail polish remover should be fine.)
  
  
• Cotton balls
  
  
• Something to carry all this stuff in (I have a pink tool box, but a make-up box will work too)
  
  I've given you a lot of stuff to check out, but don't run out and buy everything at once. I would pick 3 or 4 things from this list and go from there. For a very basic "start kit" I'd go for two colors of polish, dotting tools or brushes, a mani/pedi kit, and something to carry it all in. You can always get her more, or she can add to her collection herself.
  
  Best of luck!
  

Hmm it sounds like the first thing you might want to switch is the stamping polish. I've never used konad, but I did just go look on Amazon at some review pictures and found one using a plate I own (and actually currently have on). Their picture the lines looked much thinner than what I have so that may be the problem. I use bundle monster stamping polish. You just have to be careful not to pick up their "first generation" polishes. They changed the formula for their newer polishes.

Just black and white and more colors Which is a better deal. I haven't used these yet, but I watched a review for the new Twinkled T stamping polish and it is super opaque!

I have heard good things about Konad's stamper though so you should be alright with that, but you may want to shop around for a few different ones. Some stampers are firm, some are sticky, and some are squishy. Some images pickup better with a different stamper so it's good to have a few different ones in your collection.


Sorry to talk your ear off about all of this! I could probably go on for days about stamping!

Edit: Also before you go through the process of buying all new stuff look at your stamper and see if the head is still pretty shiny. If it is you may need to "prime" it. Watch this for 3 different priming methods. It's pretty informative and shows you in really good detail how to do it.

I like to use a sugar scrub 1-2x a week.

Bliss Kiss, Ever After Cuticle Oil and Crelly, Chirality, and Cuter Cuticles, and are some of my favorite brands for cuticle oil. (You could likely find Burt's Bees in stores.) Or you can be boring and just use straight jojoba oil mixed with a little vitamin E. But whatever you find to use, cuticle oil 2-4x a day.

Keeping your nails painted will help you not bite them. Make sure you wipe your nails with alcohol/acetone before you polish them to remove any natural oils. It'll help polish adhere better. When polish starts to chip, remove it and reapply more asap to keep from picking at it and damaging your nails further. There's no miracle cure to instantly improve nails... they have to improve from inside out, and any improvement has to grow out naturally.

Learning to not bite and pick at the skin will be the hardest part... thankfully a lot of skin products taste like crap, so that will help you learn avoidance. Getting your hands and skin healthy should start to improve your nail condition.

For transititioning from false nails to natural, I recommend purchasing Nailtiques.
http://www.nailtiques.com/products.asp?CategoryID=1


For color that has strength, you can get OPI Nail envy in Bubble bath which is comparable to Essie's Ballet Slippers. A lot of nail techs recommend Nail envy after artificial nails. Keep applying it until your damaged nail grows out. You don't want to wear these for too long because it will make your nails too hard and they can snap/break more easily. Nails need to flex if they are long.


For making nail polish dry faster, it's better to use thin as possible coats (even if they are patchy or streaky) and let it dry. (Test each coat's dryness by tapping nails together to see if there is any tackiness left if not then it's dry). Quick dry top coats like Seche Vite or OPI rapid dry etc will help with the process. Do not blow on your nails/wave them or put a fan on them, otherwise it will cause bubbling, just as shaking the polish bottle would. This one from amazon is good for regular polish:
https://www.amazon.com/MelodySusie-Portable-Drying-Regular-Polish/dp/B004TJ9SUG/ref=sr_1_4?crid=368Q6C04TPSKZ&keywords=nail+dryer+regular+polish&qid=1572552996&s=beauty&sprefix=nail+dryer+regular+%2Cbeauty%2C160&sr=1-4#customerReviews.


Getting better is all practice and take it slow and take your time. Use an orange wood stick and some acetone to help clean up mistakes or your cuticles. Cuticle oil is great to use when your nails are bare so the nail soaks it in better. Unless you opt for gel polish, which you'd apply cuticle oil after your manicure due to the adhesion process.

If she doesn't have a cotton claw she'd probably love it. You can use acetone/polish remover on your nails, or to clean up your mat, or clean off your stamping plate, etc, without ruining the polish on your scrubbing hand.

https://www.amazon.com/ASP-Manicure-Saver-Cotton-Claw/dp/B00BGEIGK0/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1468834454&sr=8-1&keywords=cotton+claw (this same ASP claw is a lot cheaper at Sally's Beauty Supply in the US for anyone who lives near a Sally's or can order off their website)

She might also like a silicone mat to work on, they're fairly new and popular. If you're not clear on why anyone would want one or how they are useful look up nail mat reviews on YouTube. Here are three mats made especially for nails:

https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Decal-Maker-Manicure-Workspace/dp/B018JYTRJS/ref=sr_1_9_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1468834595&sr=8-9&keywords=silicone+nail+mat

https://www.amazon.com/Uber-Mat-Nail-UberChic-Beauty/dp/B0176NYLF8/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1468834595&sr=8-4&keywords=silicone+nail+mat

https://www.amazon.com/Bliss-Kiss-Simply-Neat-Miracle/dp/B0195KR508/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1468834595&sr=8-1&keywords=silicone+nail+mat

Essie Gel Couture isn't a super high end polish but it's a very new line from Essie and might not be in Sweden yet. (I'm in the US and haven't seen it at my local stores but I haven't looked everywhere.) You can order it online. There's a massive review showing all 42 shades here:
http://imabeautygeek.com/2016/05/01/essie-gel-couture-2016-swatches-and-review-all-the-shades/

I'm sure others will have more great suggestions so I'll stop here. :)

i'd recommend getting a well-made crystal nail file like this: https://www.amazon.com/OPI-FI031-Crystal-Nail-File/dp/B000PHKE0O

using a nail oil a few times a day will keep your nails healthy and flexible, which prevents breaking or snapping. i like to use the oils from this etsy shop called VibrantVinylsShop (so many scents to choose from! and the cuticle oil is great to massage into your nails as well.)

as for shaping, from the photo your thumb, index and middle finger nails are round while the ring finger is rounded at the tip but has sharp corners on the sides and your pinky finger is square with sharp corners. these sharp corners are the reason for the breakage. squoval is meant to have a flat tip. a rounded tip isn't squoval, even with squared edges.

here are 5 common nail shapes: click here for pic as you can see, even the square shape has somewhat rounded corners while still retaining the shape.

i would recommend gently filing the sharp corners, just enough that they aren't super sharp, then let your nails grow out a bit before trying to re-shape them. my hands are similar to yours and, before i took up guitar, my nails were round/oval. https://imgur.com/T2Jfw4R the way i filed my nails, with my crystal nail file, is with gentle pressure in one direction in the shape of a "U" around the nail tip.

so yeah, give your nails a rest from the filing for now. soften up the sharp corners on your pinky and ring finger nails. let your nails grow out so the tips are above your fingertip, then (gently) re-shape them to the length and shape you want. :3 try squoval first if you wish. if you truly don't like the flat tip, it'd be easy enough to simply file corners to make them round. :D

Upgrading my lamp really helped me out more than changing which polish I used. I upgraded my drug store kit lamp to the one I linked below and I found that my gel polishes cured better and lasted longer. Other than that I can recommend curing your polish for longer and really making sure you wrap your tips well and dont flood your cuticle at all. For polishes I like bundle monster gel polishes and Sally Hanson salon gel polish.

Edited to add a polish brand I like and the link I forgot! Sorry!

36W UV LED Nail Lamp Manicure/Pedicure Nail Dryer with 4 Timer Setting - Perfect Salon Tool for Drying Nail Polish and Gel - Dry Both Fingernails and Toenails with 2 FREE Bonus Nail Files https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01KZQ90S6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_brP0Bb49QFVRW

I got this one by the same seller. Also $25, but I fell in love with the cherry blossom image, bamboo, and lots of tips and all-over patterns. Was tempted to get the one you posted too, but I haven't.

Among some of the little pictures are instruments, sports themed stuff, and casino themed images. Plenty of other random stuff on there as well though, like the Barbie girl picture lol

edit: Here's one picture I took of it when I just got it. You can see the Barbie one in the bottom right, some fruit to the bottom left, etc. Not sure if you'd like it more, but while it does have flowers, it has much less of them! lol

I'm in school to be a vet tech and am also a shelter volunteer, so I know this problem too. My best advice is to keep everything moisturized, including the nails. Use a good cuticle cream (I like LUSH's lemony flutter or Burts Bees lemon cuticle balm). I've noticed that my nail polish lasts longer when I take care of that. I've also had good luck with a sticky base coat like ORLY Bonder. It's hard to find a combination that will stand up to this kind of wear, though. I usually have to redo my nails if I've been doing a lot of cleaning/sanitizing or wearing gloves for long periods, like in lab.

That's my favorite plate! This is my go-to design when I just want to do something quick -but pretty- with my nails! I highly recommend it.

Amazon has a great deal, too!

Thanks! :) Wall o' text incoming: I used a light pink polish to paint fingernail-sized rectangles on a silicone mat. While those dried, I used a dark red polish on my chosen designs on a stamping plate, scraped with an old plastic card, picked up the design with a stamper and stamped it onto the dried polish rectangles from before. Once the design dried completely, I painted over the rectangles with top coat (this makes it easier to peel off the decals later). Again, wait to dry (~10 mins). Once dry, get a blunt-edged object (I used the round end of my tweezers) to lift up the edges of the polish on the mat and once you have a good amount lifted, flip your tweezers over, grab the edge and carefully lift the decal horizontally off the mat. Boom, you have a homemade decal. You can then use a small pair of scissors or a nail clipper to cut the decal down to the size you need for your fingers. Then, paint your finger with base coat and, while still wet, place the decal on it, position it how you'd like it, and flatten it out with your fingers. There'll probably be some decal hanging over the edge of your nail and that's where your scissors/nail clippers come in handy (or use a nail file and carefully file away the excess). If there's extra decal on the sides of your nail, use a synthetic brush and some polish remover to remove it. Once all that is done, go over your nail and the edge of your nail with top coat. Done!

I'm not the original person you were talking to but I wanted to share my base and top coat because I love their longevity.

These are my nails after 4 days wear.
I have done dishes and laundry every day, and my job is practically typing for 8 hours.

The picture is of my dominant hand, and I have not reapplied my top coat at all.

I swear by Orly's Bonder as a base coat and Poshe for my top coat. They're amazing and last so long I feel bad removing my manicures because they're still decent.

Poshe dries suuuuper fast too.

Omgeeee we are nail twins! The black one with"purple " flakes i just did today too!!

http://imgur.com/a/7zMwu


The pic with multi colors was my first try earlier this week and also to see what colors i got (Amazon ill edit with link) and put on top of 2 or 3 day old polish please excuse the bumpy rough job on those. I overdid it on how many flakies the first try.

The purple ones i did today today i think i did much better, though next time I'm trying a toothpick or getting a dotting tool.

Edit to add the Amazon link and say maybe not twins one second glance but i love it.


BORN PRETTY 0.2g Holographic Confetti Chameleon Cloud Paillette Powder Irregular Nail Art Glitter Sequins flakies 5 Colors https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071RK2T3C?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Yep I actually funded most of it by asking for an amazon giftcard! I ended up getting a UV light, and semi wish I had splurged on an LED just because it takes longer to cure nails under UV. [This is a good starter set for all the base/top coat stuff](NEW Gelish Fantastic Four Soak-Off Gel Nail Polish Kit For LED Lamp | 01787 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FXXS37G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_CHfcgVKDc1gDB) and [this is the lamp I got](USpicy MACARON 36W Nail Dryer UV Lamp/ Light Upgraded with Sliding Tray & Timer Setting, SPA Equipment + FREE USpicy Highly UV Protective Gloves https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WAGFQC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_bLQTBsz3aSUtG)

Matte top coat: Perfect Summer Matte Top Coat Gel... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014A3VGKA?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Stripes on middle finger were done with striping tape: Beaute Galleria 30 Mixed Colors... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JQM5J72?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Cuticle oil: Bliss Kiss Simply Pure Cuticle &... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DYMYY2G?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Golden polish: Elite99 Gel Polish Soak Off UV... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017OWPD9E?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Base coat: Beetles No Wipe Gel Top Coat and... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F12SZDS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Ball point tool used for design draw on ring finger: Yimart 20PCS Nail Art Design... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X6BCY7K?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Tool disinfectant: Barbicide Disinfectant 16oz Conc https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00415UVTK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Uv/LED lamp: SUNUV 24W UV Light LED Nail Dryer... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JGG5CH4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Nail drill: Makartt JD700 Professional... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JRGPH46?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Base color 044: Gel Nail Polish Gift Set, 12 Pcs,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075SBNVJ5?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

It came with a set of Born Pretty stamping plates. Here’s the amazon listing: amazon.com/dp/B01M7ZVEQP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_EEjEAb34ESM55

The polishes I had on hand (sinful colors) weren’t really working and the staff at my local beauty store said Essie’s polishes would work best (compared to what they had in store).

While it still takes 10-15 mins of soaking (after careful filing), Gelish brand polish has worked really well for me and I love it. I have this set.

Best wishes! Good luck! Removal of the gel is the hardest part for me, too.

Color: China glaze “Fa-La-Ah-Ah-Ahh! ”

Extensions were done using the Markartt glitter extension gel nail starter kit on amazon, including the gel base, pink polygel, gel top coat, lamp, brush/ spatula, and file.


Here’s a link to the kit if anyone’s curious


I bought a 70% isopropyl pump top bottle from cvs for my slip solution.

I also picked up some files from sally beauty supply. The main two I used were a 100/180 grit and a 230/330 grit.

This is my off hand so I had a bit of a harder time shaping it, but I liked the way the light hit which is why I used this photo. Any tips on shaping/how to avoid the product from squishing out in the cuticle area would be much appreciated!

You can buy it on Amazon, and in some of the nicer drug stores where I live. I personally like the OPI thinner best. I think the instructions are to add 2-3 drops, then shake, then wait a few minutes and test. Best to add smaller amounts and build up vs. too much at once.

All are Born Pretty UV & LED / Soak Off Polishes:

• Base Coat
  
• White Nail Gel Polish
  
• No Wipe Top Coat
  
  After 2 coats of the white polish, I sponged on some Born Pretty Glitter. Not sure which one it is, but it's on that link (probably 3 or 4). I can't stop staring at them.
  
  Also, tried a different glitter with a black base on my toes. I think it's #1 on that link, but it might be #5. Looks awesome as well!

I used the small end of a Born Pretty stamp I got in a bundle. I actually take the bigger stamp off b/c the small end works great for me; I use the large end’s opening as a viewfinder for placement. Some images pick up better with a rolling motion, others with a quick press. I then press straight down on the nail for a second or so. Different polish brands also require different stamping techniques b/c of drying time, viscosity, etc. The same goes for plates. That’s why I buy lint rollers at Costco 😂 (oh, and living with 4 pet bunnies and a long haired hubby).

tl;dr: buy lint rollers in bulk b/c trial and error

Here is a link to the bundle.

Thanks! I got it on Amazon.

It's a little expensive ($42), but I wanted something nice that will last me a long time, and I don't have any DIY skills that would allow me to make my own. :)

Gelish is a brand of gel polish that wears 14-21 day. This is the first time I'm trying it and I love it. Super easy to apply, I am on my 3rd week and no chipping yet (though I did get tired of the original color so applied the regular polish over Gelish).

I've got this lamp based on recommendations from some other Reddit Laquerista. I also got this set which I think of using as a foundation to protect my nails.

Same plate for both, actually! Winstonia 302.

These are pretty great plates, although I find the more intricate ones a little hard to transfer sometimes.

Winstonia Third Generation Nail Art Stamping Image Plates Set 20 Pcs - Full Plate Designs for Unlimited Creativity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00US684HC/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_Iw8nxbGCFFQFY

I have red carpet manicure gels (usually regular price $12.99 Canadian at London drugs, a lot are marked down to $6.99). I also have the now-discontinued Quo by Orly gels (shoppers drug mark, initially ask $12.99 or something but snagged for $0.99; great if you find them at that price but I noticed they don't last as long and aren't quite as shiny as the red carpet manicure ones).

Lamp is from Amazon. Mirapure lamp uv/led. Has auto on/ off as well as timers.

https://www.amazon.com/MiroPure-Nail-Timer-Setting-Files/dp/B01KZQ90S6

With rcm gels my nails lasted 2 weeks until the grow out bugged me and I took it off. With quo, 1 week and it started to peel.

You can get started with gel polish manicures for less than $40!

2 years ago or so I bought these polishes off from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00PC7YG88/ and https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00PF9Q5EG/ and got a cheap $15 LED lamp which I see is no longer listed on Amazon but this one has good reviews: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01JGG5CH4/

After I did my first gel manicure I never looked back. My gel manicures survive heavy lifting with metal weights in the gym, washing dishes on a daily basis, heavy labor outside such as moving rocks, yard work, etc. It used to take me at least an hour to do my nails with non gel polish and then I'd sometimes ruin them with sheet marks or other marks or smudges 😥 but with gel polish that isn't an issue anymore.

I only use regular polish now for stamping or for applying foil. I've since amassed quite a gel polish collection spanning across many brands. I mostly buy online from Amazon or eBay since that is cheaper (polish price per oz) than buying Gelish, ASP, Red Carpet Manicure, etc. in stores locally. My favorite online brands are Aimeili (which I linked to) and Lechat. I think price per oz Lechat might be the cheapest. I think it also has the best formula out of all brands I own.

The only downside is removing the gel polish takes me at least 45 minutes. And you must remove gel polish by first lightly filing the polish and then soaking it off in acetone, NEVER peel gel polish off. You may think you can get away with it but I can tell you from experience, as someone who has thick ass strong nails who thought others just had inferior nails, you cannot get away with it.

Edit: I was going to type out instructions for how to do a gel manicure but it's probably better if you just watch some YouTube videos on it. One tip that I didn't see in any videos I watched was that you want thin coats when you do gel polish. I notice when I get coats that are too thick my nail beds felt really hot when I was curing them under the light. (The heat went away after it was done curing) When you do thin layers that doesn't happen.

http://www.amazon.com/Nail-Polish-Table-Display-Bottles/dp/B004W8XLAM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409014093&sr=8-1&keywords=nail+polish+rack

This one holds 60, is fairly inexpensive and compact!

Also, when you make your move, be sure to wrap your bottles up in bubble wrap or newspaper or something. You don't want to go through the heartbreak of opening up your boxes to find broken glass and a puddle of sticky polish!

http://www.amazon.com/Brand-Register-Polish-Bottles-Unbreakable/dp/B00CJ0TZ2S/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1409014093&sr=8-6&keywords=nail+polish+rack

This is the one that I have, but yeah, it'd probably be better to wait until you're settled in your new place to invest in something like that.

Nail oil!
and streghthener/hardener as well as regular shaping. My index and middle fingers peel if I don't file at least 1x every 4 days.

Bliss Kiss nail oil is my holy grail nail oil. http://www.amazon.com/Bliss-Kiss-Simply-Cuticle-Starter/dp/B00DIJPH5I

Thank you!
I used this set


I bought them from Amazon. The set comes with four plates, a scraper, and a stamper

The basic how-to is: You put polish on the design plate, use a stamper to pick it up and then press it onto your nail.

There are tutorials on YouTube where you can see the process in more detail. I don't have a link handy or I'd happily share one!

Yes, it's from this set: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CDGR29G/ref=ya_aw_oh_pit

I'm on my phone so if that doesn't work you can search amazon for pueen 2013 love elements and you should be able to find it.

Simply Pure nail oil

On mobile so I hope that worked.

Put this on your nails a few times a day & your nails will improve. My nails used to peel like crazy so I couldn't grow them out. I've been using this for over 2 years now & my nails don't peel so much, they're stronger, more flexible (so they bend instead of snap off), & I'm filing them down every week because they grow faster.

I get bubbles when I put on too many thick layers without letting them dry a bit in between. Thinning your polish and waiting another 5 minutes or so between coats will likely fix this.

I use OPI lacquer thinner. It's amazing and in the two years I've had the bottle I've used maybe 1/5th of it to save dozens of gloopy polishes, so it's a good investment.

http://www.amazon.com/Brushes-Dotting-Marbling-Detailing-Painting/dp/B00LBMK2KO/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1409020302&sr=8-10&keywords=nail+polish+dotting
This is the brush and dotting tool set, and it looks like it is still on sale.
http://www.amazon.com/Nail-Polish-Table-Display-Bottles/dp/B004W8XLAM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409014093&sr=8-1&keywords=nail+polish+rack
This is the table holder, and it looks like it is still on sale as well.

You can get them from many shops where you would buy nail care products (I don't really know american stores but I think you have Boots & Sallys?) or Amazon.

They can be re-sharpened by dipping in boiling water, and cleaned/disinfected too so they're more hygenic and they are gentler on the nail. They will also get the edge feeling smoother.

Try born pretty. They have a flakie that looks just like this.

Edit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071RK2T3C #4 here

Pueen 2013 Love Elements, plate #28!

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CDGR29G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Oh my gosh, yes! I've spilled remover so many times on that thing and it's saved whatever surface I was using. It does not enjoy acrylic, though. I learned that the hard way.

The mat I have is this one from Amazon. It's on sale for $10 USD.
https://www.amazon.com/Bliss-Kiss-Simply-Neat-Miracle/dp/B0195KR508/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1497722862&sr=8-1&keywords=bliss+kiss+mat

It's 2 plates from this set. I just got them and love this collection.

Hello! Does anyone have an air dryer for their nail polish? I'm thinking something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/MelodySusie-Portable-Drying-Regular-Polish/dp/B004TJ9SUG/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=nail+polish+air+fan&qid=1572724997&sr=8-4

Unfortunately I think that one is kid sized, and it seems all of the regular sized nail polish dryers are UV rather than just fans. Let me know if you have any recommendations!!

If you're interested, this is what I have. I love it, but I ran out of space now and I need another :P

There is actually nail polish thinner. It works wonders! :)

Thanks! They're from this set.

I have one of these. :)

http://www.amazon.com/Nail-Polish-Table-Display-Bottles/dp/B004W8XLAM/ref=pd_sim_bt_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0RXEB5K5RQWW66FW20CN

It's from this set: Winstonia Third Generation Nail Art Stamping Image Plates Set 20 Pcs - Full Plate Designs for Unlimited Creativity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00US684HC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_uRUAybX77XFSQ

Plate W315

I have this lamp. I got it about a year ago and it still works as if it’s brand new. It cures both LED & UV gels for me. Super lightweight and compact, comes with the adapter/plug/thingamajig. It only has two time settings though - 30s and 60s. No little count timer clock thing either. I’m sure they have other models with extra features but they might cost a bit more.

Oh I have sun9C its not working with CND very well.

This is the first stamping kit I ordered:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002MZ8BK2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's worked fine for me so far, though I have heard people say that it's not as good for very long or very rounded nails. I also have this set of stamping plates and I am happy with the variety, but I'm not sure how "cheap" they are compared to other sets of plates:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CDGR29G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Amazon has a few options

wall rack holds 96

Polish Table Rack holds 60ish

https://www.amazon.com/BORN-PRETTY-Stamping-Templates-Manicure/dp/B01M7ZVEQP/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1518906334&sr=8-5&keywords=born+pretty+stamper Here's the bundle I got to start with.

https://www.amazon.com/BORN-PRETTY-Bottles-Stamping-Printing/dp/B06XSCXLYB/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1518906401&sr=8-8&keywords=born+pretty+stamping+polish
And the stamping polishes. Stamping polish really made a difference for me- normal polish doesn't always adhere to the stamper and stamping polish is made to be really opaque.

A bunch of these!

This one!

PUEEN Nail Art Stamp Collection Set 24E https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CDGR29G/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_haQGwbS30ARDN

My boyfriend bought me two of these I have decent counter space in the bathroom so that's where they are.

action shot! he only bought me one at first. He realized he had made a huge mistake when he tried to fit them all.



Unfortunately I've again run out of space..I think I'm going to invest in a wall hanging rack next. And then no more polish, I swear! ;)

Sigh, I know :(

As a sidenote, that happened to me too. I invested in some thinner and that did the trick!