Applying gel polish to natural nails involves a specific process to ensure longevity and a professional finish. Here's a step-by-step guide based on the provided reference:
Step-by-Step Guide to Gel Nails on Natural Nails
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Prep Your Nails: Clean and shape your nails. |
| 2 | Push Your Cuticles Back: Gently push back your cuticles. |
| 3 | Buff Your Nails: Lightly buff the surface of your nails. |
| 4 | Wipe Your Nails with Rubbing Alcohol: Remove oils and debris. |
| 5 | Apply Gel Base Coat: Apply a thin layer and cure under a UV/LED lamp. |
| 6 | Apply Gel Polish: Apply a thin layer of gel color and cure. Repeat for desired opacity. |
| 7 | Apply Gel Top Coat: Apply a thin layer and cure to seal the color. |
| 8 | Apply Cuticle Oil: Hydrate your cuticles after the process. |
Detailed Explanation
1. Prep Your Nails
Proper preparation is key to gel polish adhesion. This involves:
- Cleaning your nails with nail polish remover to remove any existing polish or oils.
- Shaping your nails to your desired length and shape using nail clippers and a file.
2. Push Your Cuticles Back
Gently pushing back your cuticles helps to prevent the gel polish from lifting. Use a cuticle pusher for this step.
3. Buff Your Nails
Buffing the surface of your nails creates a slightly rough texture, which allows the gel base coat to adhere better. Be careful not to over-buff, as this can thin the nails.
4. Wipe Your Nails with Rubbing Alcohol
This step removes any remaining oils and debris from the nails, ensuring a clean surface for the gel polish to adhere to.
5. Apply Gel Base Coat
Apply a thin, even layer of gel base coat to each nail. Avoid getting the base coat on your cuticles. Cure the base coat under a UV or LED lamp according to the manufacturer's instructions.
6. Apply Gel Polish
Apply a thin, even layer of your chosen gel polish color. Cure under the UV/LED lamp. Repeat this step for a second or third coat to achieve your desired opacity, curing after each coat.
7. Apply Gel Top Coat
Apply a thin, even layer of gel top coat to seal the color and add shine. Cure under the UV/LED lamp.
8. Apply Cuticle Oil
After curing the top coat, apply cuticle oil to hydrate and nourish your cuticles. This helps to keep your nails healthy and prevents them from drying out.
