First Set Update and Next Set SPARKLES!
Hi everyone!
Here’s a little update on my first set of DIY gel polish nails. Honestly, they have held up pretty good over the last 2ish weeks. There was a little bit of polish that chipped and one fingernail where the polish began to lift towards the cuticle. All in all, not bad at all for the first time though! 😊 I credit this to the original tutorial I watched and the key points I highlighted in my previous blog.
This is another quick tutorial that highlights the main points from the original tutorial. It was helpful for me to be reminded of how important it is to prep the base well, apply thin layers of each coat, and capping the tip. These pointers are crucial in preventing the gel polish from chipping or peeling away. Knowing what I know from the original tutorial, I appreciated the brevity of this one. However, if someone was brand new to gel polish, I’d recommend that they watch the much longer original tutorial first.
If anyone gets their nails gel polished at the salon, I would definitely recommend that they try to do it on their own. What a money saver this is going to be! 🙂 I am having a lot of fun looking up tutorials and inspiration for what to try out.
This past weekend, I found this glitter nail tutorial. This tutorial was very clear and easy to follow. It provided two different ways to achieve similar results. However, the first version was easy enough and it provided me with what I was looking for. Many of the tutorials I am finding, this one included, are very beginner friendly! 🙂 Here are my results:
Beautiful!
I find that YouTube is one of my best resources. Looks like you have as well. Have you found any other sources that have added some inspiration?
I imagine you have to learn how to remove it safely as well?
Good work!
Thanks, Crystal!
I’ve been finding most of my inspiration from pictures on Pinterest or Google Images! I just put something in like “short nails colour inspo 2025” or “short nails minimalist design”. Then I find something that I like and then try to find a tutorial for it. To do that, I usually type in “_______________ ombre sparkle gel nail polish diy”. In the blank, I will try Reddit or YouTube! Is that helpful lol? Let me know if you have any questions about that!
Also, a coworker recommended this gel polish remover (https://shorturl.at/0uW4h) and it does the trick! 🙂
I love this idea for a skill. I have short nails that will not grow. I always think I should get them done, but it’s such a big expense to keep up. Now you’ve got me thinking this could be a good skill to learn.
Have you been getting comments about your nails? Are people curious to know about your new skill?
Hi Jennifer!
I originally got my nail done with just gel polish at the salon because they kept splitting. The gel polish prevents this and I feel like I don’t pick my cuticles anymore! I really think you should give it a shot. It is way simpler than I expected it to be. It takes about 1.5 hours to do a set (but it takes seasoned nail tech 1 hour, so it doesn’t seem outrageously long!).
I’ve been getting a ton of comments on my nails. Just saying they like the colour, and I’ll say, “Thanks! I did them!” and everyone thinks they look like they were done at the salon. My work bestie actually just ordered the kit that I originally got because she wants to learn how to do hers, too!
Look at you go! These look great! What a money saver is right. However, do you find it’s taking you much longer than heading into the salon to get them done? What type of products did you decide to go with? Keep up the good work, can’ wait to see what you create next- perhaps something tied into Valentine’s Day- if pink’s your thing. 🙂
Thanks, Kaela! I honestly couldn’t imagine going to get them done anymore. The kit has already paid for itself. And it takes about 1.5 hours to do a set (but it took my seasoned nail tech 1 hour, so it doesn’t seem outrageously long!). I think I will get faster over time, as well! 🙂
This is the original kit I went with: https://shorturl.at/qP2Mf
I have also purchased some add-ons like chrome powder and magnetic polish. I just found them online. I haven’t tried them yet, but once I do, I’ll keep you posted on how well they work!
And totally thinking of a Valentine’s Day theme! I am debating doing like a pink cat eye type of nail. Here is my inspiration: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/acrylicgel-nail-designs–70437488867161/
Wow, it looks beautiful.