Gel-X Nails – DIY Style – How to Do Your Nails at Home

Before getting laid off, I was an “every 3-4 weeks” nail girly. I knew when I lost my job I would need to do something different, but I wanted to still have pretty nails. So I started exploring other options for doing my nails myself. I’ve played around with builder gel, Gel-X, and just a regular gel mani at home, and definitely prefer my Gel-X sets. They allow me to add length immediately which is great as someone who struggles to grow out my nails.

There is definitely a learning curve when it comes to Gel-X, especially learning how to apply them with my non-dominant hand… With practice, I’ve gotten better and faster, but still not an expert. As a disclaimer, I am NOT a professional and this is just my personal experience. I started small with one of the kits from Amazon, and have since expanded my collection to include lots of colors, a more professional drill, and a better UV light after my first one died. Throughout this, I’ll link some of my favorite products, as well as share tips and tricks that have worked for me over the last 6 months or so.

Safety!

First and foremost, safety first. Contact dermatitis is a very real risk, and you have to be careful. Things I’ve learned to avoid this: be sure to cure your gel FULLY. Uncured gel is one of the top causes of this. Also, be sure not to cure gel onto your skin. Both of these things can lead to contact dermatitis. In addition, you never want to over-file your nails. One thing I like about doing my nails is I can tell when it hurts and can stop/not go any farther. It has taken a lot of trial and error but I get better with every set.

Products

Doing Gel-X nails requires a few key products: nail extensions, nail glue, and a UV lamp at a minimum. Obviously, you also need any gel polish you plan to use to paint your nails afterward.

So what do I do?

My general process is cuticle prep, dehydrate, nail glue, apply tips, and paint with gel polish. So let’s break that all down a bit more.

Prep

First, prep. Prep is one of the most important steps to ensure lasting retention. I use an e-file for this and have enjoyed this particular one. I do a dry manicure, but a wet manicure (not with an e-file) is also an option. To start, I use a flame bit to lift the cuticle from the nail bed. This creates a pocket for the product so that it doesn’t lift at the cuticle area. After using my flame bit, I go in with cuticle nippers or a round bit or both to clean up all the dead skin that I lifted. This is essentially the only cuticle prep I do, and it seems to work pretty well in regard to retention.

Dehydrate

For dehydrating, I do two steps. First, I clean my nails with isopropyl alcohol using a basic nail brush. After I go in with the alcohol, I follow up with a dehydrator and primer. My favs are the Modelones brand. None of these steps are UV-cured, you just paint them on and let them air dry for 10-30 seconds. After applying primer, I personally put a thin layer of nail glue on each nail and cure it for 60 seconds under the lamp. The nail glue and tips I use can be found here. After I cure this for 60 seconds, I move on to the actual nail application.

Size Choice

First, size out each nail. You want the gel-x nail to fit sidewall to sidewall on your nail. If you are in between sizes, I would size up and trip/file away the excess until it fits sidewall to sidewall. After sizing out your nails, you need to etch the inside of each nail. You can do this with a sanding band on an e-file, or buy pre-etched tips like I do. This helps with giving the glue something to grab onto the nail.

Gel-X Nails Application

Before you start applying your nails, make sure you have your flash cure lamp ready to go because each gel-x nail will require a flash cure of 5-10 seconds per nail before you do a big cure of 60 seconds after applying all 5 nails. I use this one. Now for the actual application. First, paint a thin layer of nail glue on the inside of the nail, about the length of your nail bed. Then place a small bead at the base of the nail. You want to apply the nail at a 45 degree angle pressing down evenly to avoid air bubbles until the glue has covered the entire natural nail. If you use too little (doesn’t cover the entire natural nail) or too much glue (spillage), don’t flash cure it, and just try again. Once you’ve pressed it down and the glue covers the natural nail, put the nail under your flash cure lamp while still holding the nail down for 5 – 10 seconds. Repeat this process on each nail until you finish the hand. Cure for 60 seconds under the big lamp. Make sure to use your e-file to seal the cuticle to make for a smoother finish.

Gel Polish

Once you’ve applied nails to both hands, you’re ready to move on to polish! The options here are endless. First, I recommend taking a buffer to remove the shine from the gel-x nails. After you’ve removed the shine, you can go straight in with your gel polish color, no base coat is required. Apply 2 coats of your favorite gel polish, curing for 60 seconds in between. Apply any nail art you want to do (be sure to cure). Lastly, apply your favorite matte or glossy top coat and cure for 60-90 seconds. Congratulations, you’ve completed your at-home mani!

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Abigail