broccoli
ms. broccoli
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This is the second part of my nail guide, which is obviously my second guide so excuse the shit formatting again 
In this part of the guide, I will show you how to do your nails using the gel-x method by demonstrating it on myself. I will also link all products I use at the end.I won't talk about the designs, this guide will focus on a clean base.
To ensure that your nails are healthy enough to glue fake nails on them, I recommend reading part 1, where I showed y'all how to take proper care of your nails:
I've been doing my own nails for about 3 years now and what I've noticed is that you have to give your natural nails a break regularly or else your nails will get thinner and thinner, resulting in damage to the nail bed. Just don't wear fake nails for about a month and wait for your nail plate to fully regrow. Also, practice makes perfect and at the start my cuticles were flooded with product (I wonder how I didn't get contact dermatitis yet). It does get better and cleaner after time. Also, just so you know what to expect, doing my nails takes me about 2-3 hours… Good nails take time but it's really worth it.
I hope you guys found this guide helpful, I would like to hear your opinions and things I can improve
In this part of the guide, I will show you how to do your nails using the gel-x method by demonstrating it on myself. I will also link all products I use at the end.I won't talk about the designs, this guide will focus on a clean base.
To ensure that your nails are healthy enough to glue fake nails on them, I recommend reading part 1, where I showed y'all how to take proper care of your nails:
This is the first part of my nail guide, which is also my first ever guide so excuse the shit formatting
In this part of the guide, I will talk about how you should take care of your nails correctly and what nail shape suits you the best. In the second part I will show you how to do your nails using the gel-x method. I will upload it in a few days since i will be doing my own nails for the tutorial, i hope you guys can wait for that long
Before we even think about nailcare and designs, we need to make sure your nails are actually healthy so I recommend reading @Fidelis thread:
Now, lets get into it
1. THE NAIL
For orientation, these are some words that i will be using:
View attachment 318905
(This picture isbut whatever)
2. THE DON’TS
Don't bite your nails
- This has many risks, it can permanently damage your nail beds, cause infections and teeth chipping
Don't use your nails as “tools”
- This can weaken and cause breakage in the nail
Don't rip / scratch off your manicure
- By doing this, you are ripping off layers of your nail plate, causing them to be thinner and more prone to breakage
Don't get uncured gel polish on your skin
- This can cause contact dermatitis, an allergy that can result in the intolerance of future medical procedures like dental fillings or joint replacements!
3. THE DOS
Do keep your nails clean
Do moisturize your cuticles
Do cut your cuticles (I will get into this later)
Do keep your nails in a consistent length
(I think these make sense so I wont justify them like the don’ts)
3. EXAMPLE ROUTINE
Filing your nails:
(i will get into proper shaping in the end)
- Its best to use a 180 grit nail file for shortening and a 240 grit file for precise shaping
- Only file in one direction!
- Be careful not to overline the sidewalls
Cutting your cuticle:
- Use a good quality trimmer
View attachment 318904
I recommend these scissor looking ones, this one is from jolifin but you can get them any drugstore
- Use a cuticle pusher or a wooden stick to separate the cuticle from the nail plate
- Carefully cut the white, dead skin off, this shouldn't hurt
- Sanitize and moisturize afterwards
Applying nail polish (optional):
- Buff and dehydrate nail plate
- Start with a base coat
- Apply 1-3 thin layers of nail polish (too many layers may cause it to peel)
- Fully dry between layers!!
- Top coat on nail and on free edge
- Remove excess polish from cuticles if needed
4. SHAPING YOUR NAILS
This point is also important for part 2
These are the basic nail shapes:
View attachment 318906
You can balance the look of your hands and nail beds using particular shapes.
If you have… Shape your nails…
- Thick fingers Round, oval, almond,
- Short fingers ballerina, stiletto
- Wide nail beds
- Short nail beds
If you have… Shape your nails…
- Slim fingers Square is recommended, but
- Long fingers congratulations, you suit
- Slim nail beds every nail shape!
- Long nail beds
I hope you guys found this guide helpful, I would like to hear your opinions and things I can improve
1. THE NAIL
For orientation, here are some words i will be using:
For orientation, here are some words i will be using:
2. THE PREPARATION
The preparation of the nails is very important, it determines whether your nails last long or pop off after 2 days.
(Prepped nails)
(Chosen tips for both hands)
The preparation of the nails is very important, it determines whether your nails last long or pop off after 2 days.
- Do the Example Routine from part 1 (skip the nail polish)
- Pick out the sizes of the tips (make sure they fully cover the sidewalls)
- Lightly buff the nails
- Dehydrate the nails
- Apply a primer (optional)
(Prepped nails)
(Chosen tips for both hands)
3. APPLICATION OF THE TIPS
After prepping the nails, you glue the tips on. For that, you can use base coat, glue gel or regular nail glue (which I don't recommend). Always do one nail at once.
Now, you prepare the tip for the gel polish.
After doing all the steps, it should look something like this:
After prepping the nails, you glue the tips on. For that, you can use base coat, glue gel or regular nail glue (which I don't recommend). Always do one nail at once.
- Buff the inside of the tip (its best to use an electric file for that)
- Apply a thin layer of glue on your nail
- Put a small “bead” of the glue on the inside of the tip and spread it
- Place the tip near your cuticle at a 45 degree angle and slowly push down
- Once the glue meets the free edge, immediately flash cure (only if you are using base coat / glue gel)
- After flash curing every single nail, cure the full hand for 60 seconds
Now, you prepare the tip for the gel polish.
- File the edge of the tip near the cuticle area
- Seal the cuticle area with a q-tip and acetone
- Shape the tips (optional)
- Buff the surface of the tips
- Dehydrate the tips
After doing all the steps, it should look something like this:
4. SHAPING THE TIPS
For shaping, look into the first part to see which shape harmonizes with your fingers. I recommend keeping them short since long nails can look messy and make daily tasks more difficult. Normally, your tips are preshaped but if you want them shorter or a different shape, do this:
(i dont have knowledge on all the shapes so correct me if im wrong)
Almond:
(works on any tip shape)
Oval / Round:
Ballerina:
(works on any tip shape)
Stiletto:
(works on any tip shape)
Square:
(works only on square tips)
Squoval:
I always roughly shape the tips with a nail clipper and then I define them with a manual nail file. Since I have short fingers and short nailbeds, I do the Almond shape.
Roughly shaped —>
Defined
For shaping, look into the first part to see which shape harmonizes with your fingers. I recommend keeping them short since long nails can look messy and make daily tasks more difficult. Normally, your tips are preshaped but if you want them shorter or a different shape, do this:
(i dont have knowledge on all the shapes so correct me if im wrong)
Almond:
(works on any tip shape)
- Clip the very beginning of the tip
- Clip the edges
- Define them with a manual file
Oval / Round:
- Same as Almond, just round the tip more
Ballerina:
(works on any tip shape)
- Clip the sidewalls
- Clip the beginning of the tip
- Define with a manual file, keep the edges
Stiletto:
(works on any tip shape)
- Clip the sidewalls very well
- Define the sharp tip with a manual file
Square:
(works only on square tips)
- If you want them shorter, clip the beginning of the tip as straight as possible
- Define edges with a manual file
Squoval:
- Same as Square, slightly round the edges
I always roughly shape the tips with a nail clipper and then I define them with a manual nail file. Since I have short fingers and short nailbeds, I do the Almond shape.
Roughly shaped —>
Defined
5. APPLYING THE GEL
I recommend doing thin layers because thick and blocky nails obviously don't look good. I cure every coat under the UV-lamp for 60 seconds, top coat for 120 seconds. After every cure, remove the “sticky” layer with alcohol wipes.
At the end, it should look something like this:
I recommend doing thin layers because thick and blocky nails obviously don't look good. I cure every coat under the UV-lamp for 60 seconds, top coat for 120 seconds. After every cure, remove the “sticky” layer with alcohol wipes.
- Apply base coat
- Apply 1-3 layers of gel polish
- File into shape if needed
- Apply color / design (optional)
- Finish off with top coat
At the end, it should look something like this:
6. THE REMOVAL
When removing the nails, there's crucial mistakes you can make, so I thought a dos and don’ts would be the most fitting for this section.
THE DON’TS
Don’t rip the nails off
- By doing this, you are removing layers of your natural nail, causing them to be thinner and damaging the nail bed.
Don't over file the natural nail
- This also damages the nail bed and thins the nails
THE DOS
Do file the gel polish off first
Do soak the tips in acetone for 10-20 minutes for easier removal
Do moisturize your cuticle area after soaking
(I think these make sense so I wont justify them like the don’ts)
When removing the nails, there's crucial mistakes you can make, so I thought a dos and don’ts would be the most fitting for this section.
THE DON’TS
Don’t rip the nails off
- By doing this, you are removing layers of your natural nail, causing them to be thinner and damaging the nail bed.
Don't over file the natural nail
- This also damages the nail bed and thins the nails
THE DOS
Do file the gel polish off first
Do soak the tips in acetone for 10-20 minutes for easier removal
Do moisturize your cuticle area after soaking
(I think these make sense so I wont justify them like the don’ts)
I've been doing my own nails for about 3 years now and what I've noticed is that you have to give your natural nails a break regularly or else your nails will get thinner and thinner, resulting in damage to the nail bed. Just don't wear fake nails for about a month and wait for your nail plate to fully regrow. Also, practice makes perfect and at the start my cuticles were flooded with product (I wonder how I didn't get contact dermatitis yet). It does get better and cleaner after time. Also, just so you know what to expect, doing my nails takes me about 2-3 hours… Good nails take time but it's really worth it.
I hope you guys found this guide helpful, I would like to hear your opinions and things I can improve
PRODUCTS I USED:
Preparation:
Nail File-
https://www.amazon.de/URAQT-Nagelfe...06a598f4c4c737601a&qid=1774738472&sr=8-5&th=1
Cuticle pusher-
https://www.amazon.de/Häutchen-Drüc...2975675031_d_sccl_4/261-8442060-3217042?psc=1
Cuticle Trimmer-
https://www.jolifin.de/Jolifin-LAVE...sHb9uQEfonuI6UiDlIrRFXyRn9Wu0EEBoCTwQQAvD_BwE
Buffer-
https://neonail.de/manikure-pedikur...lierer-und-buffer/5190-buffer-weiss-1221.html
Dehydrator and Primer-
https://www.amazon.de/PEACECOLOR-Ge...6e853e3b495a695a80&qid=1774738751&sr=8-7&th=1
Shaping:
Nail Clipper-
https://proglow.de/products/nagel-c..._il6nS6Zofo-336mcvu9KfCCQSMy3KyxoCLQUQAvD_BwE
Application:
Nail Tips-
(I really recommend these since there's a big selection of shapes and lengths)
https://de.shein.com/240pcs-Soft-Ge...lBusinessFrom=0-1_40209630|0-2&pageListType=4
Electric Nail File-
https://www.amazon.de/MelodySusie-N...jid=6130544674518027389-B0FPQFNWBY-&hvexpln=0
Glue Gel-
https://proglow.de/products/glue-ge...YvRw4OAZFqWjbvKrBGjpGv1JP_pXwVwRoCxV8QAvD_BwE
Flash Curing Lamp-
https://www.jolifin.de/Jolifin-LED-...OBYCpDBnpjc_ke7VKHGBgcLxbH3krj7hoC35UQAvD_BwE
Curing Lamp-
https://www.amazon.de/MelodySusie-U...id=10319417097871565397-B0FHB96GTH-&hvexpln=0
Applying the gel:
Base and Top Coat-
https://de.shein.com/ark/11655?good...54&kwd=pla-2465047856865¤cy=EUR&lang=de
Gel Polish l i use-
https://www.jolifin.de/Jolifin-LAVE...q-C7h7Uql1peba77wFtQGuDXzkuARbSYaAmMMEALw_wcB
Preparation:
Nail File-
https://www.amazon.de/URAQT-Nagelfe...06a598f4c4c737601a&qid=1774738472&sr=8-5&th=1
Cuticle pusher-
https://www.amazon.de/Häutchen-Drüc...2975675031_d_sccl_4/261-8442060-3217042?psc=1
Cuticle Trimmer-
https://www.jolifin.de/Jolifin-LAVE...sHb9uQEfonuI6UiDlIrRFXyRn9Wu0EEBoCTwQQAvD_BwE
Buffer-
https://neonail.de/manikure-pedikur...lierer-und-buffer/5190-buffer-weiss-1221.html
Dehydrator and Primer-
https://www.amazon.de/PEACECOLOR-Ge...6e853e3b495a695a80&qid=1774738751&sr=8-7&th=1
Shaping:
Nail Clipper-
https://proglow.de/products/nagel-c..._il6nS6Zofo-336mcvu9KfCCQSMy3KyxoCLQUQAvD_BwE
Application:
Nail Tips-
(I really recommend these since there's a big selection of shapes and lengths)
https://de.shein.com/240pcs-Soft-Ge...lBusinessFrom=0-1_40209630|0-2&pageListType=4
Electric Nail File-
https://www.amazon.de/MelodySusie-N...jid=6130544674518027389-B0FPQFNWBY-&hvexpln=0
Glue Gel-
https://proglow.de/products/glue-ge...YvRw4OAZFqWjbvKrBGjpGv1JP_pXwVwRoCxV8QAvD_BwE
Flash Curing Lamp-
https://www.jolifin.de/Jolifin-LED-...OBYCpDBnpjc_ke7VKHGBgcLxbH3krj7hoC35UQAvD_BwE
Curing Lamp-
https://www.amazon.de/MelodySusie-U...id=10319417097871565397-B0FHB96GTH-&hvexpln=0
Applying the gel:
Base and Top Coat-
https://de.shein.com/ark/11655?good...54&kwd=pla-2465047856865¤cy=EUR&lang=de
Gel Polish l i use-
https://www.jolifin.de/Jolifin-LAVE...q-C7h7Uql1peba77wFtQGuDXzkuARbSYaAmMMEALw_wcB
