How I do my gel manicure at home

If you’re like me and can’t stand having naked nails then this blog post is for you. I’m sharing how I do my gel manicure at home, and yes the polish actually lasts a good 2 weeks. I promise it’s not that hard and will end up saving you ton’s of money in the long run. For a full video of how I do my gel mani head over to my Instagram highlights!

Sensationail express pack (UV lamp I use) |Base coat | Top coat | Gel polish remover | Acetone-free polish remover | Mylee full starter pack

Prep work

Start off by cutting or filing down your nails to the length and shape you want. Keep in mind that square nails tend to chip a bit more as they easily get caught.

Now it’s time to prep the surface of your nails. Push back those cuticles using cuticle oil or hand cream and make sure to properly wash your hands after this step. Any oil or product left on your nail will make the gel polish peel off within a few days. After washing your hands, buff the surface of your nails using a nail file. Make sure to go from one edge to the other until there’s no shine left. (You don’t want to damage your nail so don’t overdo this step but you also want a dry base for your polish to sit on.)

Using an alcohol wipe or dry towel, wipe off all the residue that’s on your nails.

I apply a gel primer to the tip and base on my nail. You can skip this but personally, I find that my manicure lasts longer when this primer is applied. I do one hand at a time just like when I apply the full gel polish.

Applying the gel polish

Apply a base coat and cure under the UV lamp for 30 seconds. Repeat again with two coats of the gel polish, and finish with a topcoat. It’s important to cure in between every coat of polish, under the lamp for 30 seconds. (Different lights might have different settings)

When it comes to the top coat, I like to cure it for 45 seconds to make sure everything is properly “dry”. Some brand of gel polish will have a sticky finish, using a cotton pad with alcohol or with acetone-free polish remover gently rub the surface of your nails. Voila! That’s how I do my gel manicure at home in a few easy steps.

Click here for the Pastel gel polish set from the photo above.

Don’t forget to head over to my Instagram for a full video on how I do my gel manicure and how I take them off using the gel polish remover linked at the top of this post.