Gel X Nail Glue

I went to the nail salons for the first time ever because my nails were looking pretty bad and I have special occasion. I told them that I don’t know much about nails and trusted their judgment. I asked for some length and he started putting these tips on my nails with a glue without asking?Maybe I didn’t hear him?? Anyway he ripped them off after he decided to go with gel x. It hurt. Is that normal? My whole nail prep was taking off this old polish that I had and him buffing the surface of my nails. The final product looks okay not really in love with it but the whole process felt rushed. I payed $110 and tipped $20 cash submitted by /u/ray_ofsunshiine to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

Hi! I do my gel x nails at home and I often struggle with retention. I’ve been using the Apres nail glue, and don’t know if I should get the Apres primer and dehydrator or just get the Model Ones nail glue and try that instead. Right now I use the Beetles dehydrator and alcohol and the Young Nails primer for prep but I’ve heard when you use the Apres primer and dehydrator it will work better with the Apres glue. Please help! submitted by /u/Loose-Milk8013 to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

Retail brand: Amazon clear round short generic box of 500 lol I bought a gel kit off Facebook. I did the whole shebang. Clear nail with gel glue (dashing dive, feels kind of rubbery, pretty cool) But with all the layers etc it took like maybe two hours? Usually press ons take me 15 mins. Everything is on pretty good but my index fell off. I couldn't get the glue over the whole nail then it cured and I couldn't get it off so I thought, eh let's see. I'm sure my prep was much better than usual.so I wonder if these really do.stay on longer lol. It was fun. submitted by /u/Consistent_Safe430 to r/PressonNail_Addict [link] [comments]

Finally cleaning out the purse I’ve been using for about 2 weeks😌. I actually left out a bunch of receipts😭. - The purse is the Baggu large shoulder bag in the color green juice👌🏽 - the red pouch has essentials, including emergency perfumes. Emergency eyebrow pencil and eyebrow gel because I can leave the house without anything on my face as long as I have my eyebrows on and some kind of lip product. - perfumes i’ve been wearing daily, lately and usually whatever I wear that day I throw in my bag but the Zara is my signature scent. - leftover Easter candy from my kids baskets. - sunglasses, emergency sunglasses and in the eyeglasses pouch I keep an emergency pair of prescription glasses that I forgot to show. - gum, a nail file, mirror, change. Some cash I found, keys, card holder. - My Sephora birthday gift. I ran in and picked up yesterday, allergy medicine, Gas-X, cold medicine, Band-Aids, alcohol swabs, feminine products, a pen, emergency nail glue because I decided to put on nails on yesterday. - the Sonic bag charm is a part of a key charm set that I got for my kids. My oldest son has the character Shadow, my younger son has Silver Sonic. I walk around with too much shit in my bag🥴😂 EDIT: I forgot to mention the prescription anti-cavity toothpaste. I picked up for one of my sons today from Walgreens. submitted by /u/Plastic_Peanut_7227 to r/whatsinmybag [link] [comments]

Does anybody use this type of product to remove the gel polish as well as the whole nail and glue? If not, what would you recommend? I hate the idea of soaking. submitted by /u/Spare-Cry7273 to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

I think I missed a step. I just got the Apres Gel X kit and my nails keep popping off my nailbeds not the nail. I am using their novice gel for application as well. Next time im going to use my dehydrator however I feel like im missing a step between the dehydrator and applying the nail. Am I supposed to dehydrator, then ..... cure AND THEN apply with nail with the novice glue spread? Please help. This stuff since cheap!! Products used: Apres Kit- Ph Bonder, Gel X prep, Novice Gel (Instead of Extend Gel Non wipe, UV lamp Process: Rough nail bed Shape nail, did not wipe the dust off, will do next time. Dehydrate with PH bonder Etch soft nail Gel X prep Let soft nail dry. Spread Novice Gel on soft nail Apply to nail bed Clean up edges from product. Use Apres UV light to cure 60 seconds What am I missing? submitted by /u/Spare-Cry7273 to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

I went to this nail shop for the first time- I don’t get my nails done often and while I was there I realised for my gelx nails she used superglue on them. Should I be worried? I paid $114 for them and had asked how long they’d stay on and they told me up to 4 weeks or more. I assumed they were going to use nail gel glue. But now I’m lowkey worried cause they hurt a little. Also there may be some possible rings of fire going on because I see a lot of redness along the base of where the gel ex starts ( where she drilled) last couple of pics are after 2 weeks. Should I just remove them now? submitted by /u/Gauchensama to r/Nails [link] [comments]

I’ve been wanting to use solid nail glue on clients because it’s genuinely so much easier. But is it worse retention? I want to buy the una gella solid nail glue. Thoughts? UPDATE: I invested in the gel ish soft tip adhesive! submitted by /u/4confused20 to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

As title says. I've been trying everything to make these stick longer but no matter what I do, they lift at the cuticle after a few days (less than a week) and then start lifting even more afterwards. My last routine with this set was: - etch tips with acetone - prep nails (buffing, even filing the surface down a bit with my nail file for better grip), clean with alcohol swab, apply several coats of dehydrator. skipped primer bc that was making it lift even more the last time I tried. - apply the gel glue for adhesion, clean off excess around edges with a brush and flash cure under a lamp, then fully cure them - efile down the edges so that they're sitting flush to the cuticle, seal the edges with a bit of acetone on a brush (but not too much) - apply the usual gel polish colors and top coat etc etc I'm seriously confused. Why is it STILL lifting at the cuticle area? I'm considering going back to etching the tips with my efile, because I feel like that gave it more texture, and I can always brush off the dust, but even when I tried that last time it still lifted pretty quick. submitted by /u/Full_Landscape_4123 to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

I know I’m going to get shit for this so go ahead, lecture me! Long story short, my nails are very short, bitten, and overfiled. One of my thumbnails looks like when you have your nail surgically removed and then it starts growing back but… wrong. I am a life long nail biter trying to grow my nails out to a normal/not-horrific short length and then, once I accomplish that, really focus on keeping them healthy (but still short). Earlier this year I started doing DIY gel tips without learning proper nail prep or technique and sometimes would remove them improperly if there was lifting. So, we are thin and we are damaged. Now that I’ve researched proper prep and technique better, I still want to do gel tips because I need to cover these nubs if I’m ever going to get them to grow out. I also canNOT let anyone see how awful these are and I’m too self-conscious to not have them covered at work and in life. I know you’re supposed to leave damaged nails alone to rest, grow out, and get healthy, but I am not able to do that. Will gel nails permanently damage my nails if they’re already damaged (like, permanently affect growth, health, etc) or is covering them *probably okay* as a temporary measure until they grow out enough that I’m not self conscious about them? I personally don’t care if I adhere them with tip glue or press on glue (though press on glue is messy af), and I am open to suggestions, but mostly seeking reassurance that applying tips is not going to permanently damage something so that I am never comfortable going tip-free again. (I don’t consider an allergy to gel to be “permanent damage”- I’m manly referring to irreparable physical damage to the nail/plate.) Also, no, I won’t post pics, as I am self conscious even with the anonymity of the internet. (P.S. When you’re done yelling at me, if you have alternative suggestions that do not involve letting people see my natural nails, I am open to suggestions.) submitted by /u/adhodrishti to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

Hi everyone! so this is my second time doing my Gel x nails at home. I used Bornbyme Stilleto long tips, Jodsone Nail glue, builder gel, and top coat and the cat eye I used was Beetles. I also used an old primer I had for when I tried doing my own acrylic nails. However I didn't have a base coat polish to use, is that really needed? So far I've had them for about 5 days with no lifting. What do you guys think? please honest advice or comments strongly needed 💜💜 submitted by /u/maryjane016 to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

Has anyone used these tips - Apres Gel X Neutrals? They are not fully opaque but not clear either. Wondering if I can use extend gel with them or if I should just use regular nail glue. submitted by /u/davisgirl44 to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

I was using a solid gel glue. It just was really unpredictable, for a couple nails they'd fall off in a few days and the others would be stuck for like over a month. Yes, I do the same prep routine on all my nails. I took my nails techs advice cuz the nails she did for me lasted over 2 months. I just did my own fills and the base was SOLID. I did the same routine she did with the same products and my nails r popping off within 48 hours. I'm really confused and annoyed. What I was using; 5angeles solid gel glue w/tipex L Stilettos What I switched to; apres base gel w/ apres natural L Stilettos I literally bought the products in front of her and she showed me exactly what she uses. Idk what I'm doing different, cuz I'm not doing anything different....but I didn't really love my old routine either and I'm just frustrated cuz with every glue I have I have to start over, I can't just glue the ones that fall off back on (not that I really want that either). I want them to last, and I've never had a routine I can even do fills on. Please help. ETA: yno what, the only thing I did change was etching the underside of the extension. She didn't do that, but I always do that with mine. Could that cause them to come off prematurely??? submitted by /u/innerthotsofakitty to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

You guys, i need help. Every time i apply gel x - i get glue EVERYWHERE. i try the slip layer, i try curving the tip before i place, i do the 45° angle. No matter what i do, it gets everywhere, and i ALWAYS have air bubbles. If i do less glue to avoid spillage, the glue doesn’t reach my free edge. If i do the tiniest more of glue, it reaches the free edge, but it spills out the sides. If I’m being honest, there is ALWAYS glue spilling out the sides. I’m getting glue all over my hands, fingers, tools. I do use hema free, because of how much I struggle. I practice and practice, but i haven’t improved at all. I make a mess. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I’ve tried different brand of tips, like i said, I’ve tried the curving before laying. I’ve done slip layer, no slip layer. I cry every time because of how damn frustrating it is. Every single finger, there’s air bubbles, and glue spillage. I also can’t seem to get the tips to fit sidewall to sidewall. Even with the overlay method, the outter corners of my free edges are exposed. So i find myself filing them down, and I’m afraid of damaging my sidewalls. I just need some advice ): Picture of my set, that I struggled and cried over, tonight :) submitted by /u/crunchwrapsirpreme to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

What is Gel X? Gel X® is the Apres brand name for their full cover tip nail system. Because they pioneered the field, the name has become a genericized trademark, where a brand name becomes so popular it's used to describe the entire product category. (Like Kleenex and Chapstick). How do I get started? Take a look at the highlighted posts here, and the wiki at r/diygelnails. They are fantastic over there. Search the sub as well! Can I buy everything on amazon/temu/shein/alliexpress/born pretty/vettsy etc? No. Unfortunately there are a lot of really inferior and dangerous products being sold on sites like these. Because gel has the potential to cause serious health issues, it’s extremely important to start with quality products from day 1. It is an investment. If you want to save money by not going to the salon- you will! It will just take some time before you break even. There ARE many things you can save money on, like charms, brushes, chrome powder, glitter, and other tools of that nature. The gel itself and the lamp are where we need to buy professional. Okay, what brands should I use? This is a non-exhaustive list. There are hundreds of brands, and I am only familiar with brands/websites available in the US. In other places like Europe and Australia they have plenty of other great brands, if you are outside the US I highly recommend finding nail tech’s in your country and seeing what they use. Brands in no particular order for gel: Aprés, Gelish, Kokoist, Sofgel, Light Elegance, Akzentz, Atain, V Beauty Pure, Orly, OPI, CND, IBD, ASP, Artistic Nail Design, Bioseaweed Gel, Gel Monsta, Money for Nails, Chaun Legend, Ballpit, Young Nails, Korean and Japanese brands at Zillabeau and Sweetie Nail Supply. What about the nail tips? Tons of brands have their own system, and they all use a different naming convention, e.g. Kokoist’s system is called Gelip, Light Elegance calls it BLINK. Tips *should* be made from gel itself. Gel can be broken down by acetone which makes full cover tips possible to soak off at home. That being said, it is also okay to buy inexpensive tips from any brand- but some of these cheap tips are made with ABS plastic, not gel. This can cause issues with retention as well as very difficult to soak off. What is gel glue? Gel “glue” is the gel we use to attach the tips to our nails. This is not really glue per se, it is just gel that is designed to adhere to the nail as well as the tip. (Different ingredients are used for different purposes, like top coat is uses for hardness and shine). This is another category where the naming convention can be a bit frustrating- Kokoist calls theirs Super Gelip Bond, or their more solid one is called Mochi. Apres calls theirs Extend Gel. Light Elegance uses their BIAB “Jimmy Gel” for their system. Many builder gels can be used but, ymmv if the gel is not designed for that purpose. What prep needs to be done? Proximinal nail fold needs to be pushed back, cuticle removed (this is very thin, sometimes imperceptible layer of skin on the nail plate at the base along the PNF. You do not need and should not clip away the PNF). You can remove the cuticle with a liquid remover or with a file. Nails should be very gently buffed with a file to remove the shine. You do NOT need to do this with a e-file, it is way too easy to overdo it that way which can cause serious nail damage. Nails are thin layers of keratin, laid down like scales. We buff them to increase texture so gel has something to “hold on” to. Your nails are dead- once you remove layers they cannot regenerate, they can only grow out. Thin & damaged nails increase the risk of contact dermatitis. Disinfect: Our bodies are a petri-dish of bacteria. We don’t want that bacteria to be trapped under gel and have a chance to flourish. 70% isopropyl alcohol is the easiest choice here. (Did you know 70% is used for disinfecting because the 30% of water is necessary to breach the bacteria cell walls? 91% is my preferred for the other uses during gel application, but technically it is not the right thing for disinfecting.) Dehydrate: Water & oil are enemies to gel retention. We need to remove these things before applying gel. 100% acetone is a great dehydrator. Some brands sell their own dehydrators as well. What about primer? Here’s the thing- some brands sell primer and if they recommend using it with their system, go for it. But not everyone needs it, we have different body chemistry and some people have more oily nails and primer is beneficial. For some, it has the opposite effect and causes retention issues. We also do not want to be mixing brands whenever possible, when products aren’t made to work together, this can also cause retention issues. It is best to stick with one brand & follow their directions. This is sort of a ‘know all the rules before you try to break them’ type situation. My nails are still popping off/not lasting long enough, what is going on? We’re happy to to help troubleshoot- but your post needs to include every product (including brands!) and prep and application steps you take. Poor retention can be do to products, prep, application, or your lamp. What lamp do I need? For full cover tip application, having a flash cure lamp is helpful- but you MUST also have a full size lamp that you put you entire hand into. A flash cure lamp that fits one finger is not sufficient to cure gel 100%. Uncured gel will cause retention issues, and lead to contact dermatitis/allergy. This is dangerous. Gel feels hardened LONG before it is fully cured- you cannot tell by feel or sight. Flash cure lamps can be any brand, because the full cure will be done in a professional full size lamp. I like a gooseneck style because it is the easiest to hold the tip in place and cure, for me. Some full size lamp recommendations: Kokoist, Akzentz, Gelish, OPI. Please read the ‘Let’s Talk About Light” highlighted post- including the comments, a kind community member posted links to a few of these. I really cannot recommend the Kokoist Infinity Hybrid enough! It is the most recommended lamp by far. Why is gel dangerous? What is contact dermatitis? Gel (and other resins) are made of ingredients that can irritate our immune system. Contact dermatitis is inflammation from touching irritants like soaps, solvents, or allergens (like poison ivy, nickel), causing red, itchy, sometimes blistered rashes with redness, swelling, or bumps. This can happen from first contact, or repeated contact. Some people may never develop a reaction. This doesn’t mean it won’t happen to someone else. The ingredients in gel that typically cause reactions are a group of chemicals called *acrylates.* Acrylates are also found in acrylic, resin, and other adhesives. If you have a reaction to one acrylate, it increases the likelihood that your body will react to others as well- the immune system can recognize molecules that are similar. When gel is 100% cured, the acrylates are polymerized and can no longer move and pass through your skin and make contact with your immune system. If your gel is not fully cured, these ingredients can escape and continue to be an irritant. Excuse my profanity, but a reaction on our nails from this is fucking gnarly. It can be so bad that our nails completely fall off. It is itchy, painful, and nasty. There is a highlighted post with photos from someone who had a bad reaction. Repeated skin contact after a reaction will only cause worse reactions, it really pisses your immune system off. This is life long. You should not use gel or acrylic after a reaction at all. We will never recommend experimenting on your own body in this regard. As mentioned, acrylates are in many other things as well- including dental cement used in cavity filling or orthodontics, as well as the product used to replace joints in the body (like a hip or knee replacement). It is not worth it to gamble with your future. You never know what is in store for you, please be careful. We can all be a bit harsh in our language here when advising others, but I promise you it comes from a place of worry and care. I personally have an emotional connection with having my nails done, I have OCD and compulsive skin picking and having my nails done is the only thing that curbs this. I would honestly be distraught if I could not use gel or acrylic ever again, and I know many other feel similar for a variety of reasons. My goal here is always about safety. I use HEMA (Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate) free gel, so I’m good right? HEMA is a common ingredient in gel and acrylic and while it is an ingredient that can cause reactions, (especially due to it's small molecule size) but ALL acrylates can. In the US, the FDA regulates HEMA in nail products, allowing its use but emphasizing strict application to avoid skin contact and concentrations under 20%. In the EU it is banned completely. Many gel brands are made in China, and while we are NOT xenophobic here- China has fewer regulations and products for sale on Amazon and similar sites are not necessarily following FDA rules. Gel has to be made in very specialized labs, most of those brands are “white-labeled” which means the same lab makes them but puts them in different bottles. I’ve had a reaction to ___ brand, what brand should I use now? None. We cannot and will not recommend using gel after having a reaction. We do not permit others to recommend what to do after a reaction. The only advice we will give here is to see your pcp/gp doctor and/or an allergist. There are allergy panels for food/environment but also a chemical panel. We simply cannot give medical advice or permit it to be given by anyone else. Again, safety is number 1 here. Take care of your body and your future. Is Beetles really that bad? Yes. We have a whole post on it. But many other cheap brands can be looped in, but 99.9% of allergy posts in the few years I’ve been a moderator have been people using Beetles. The other 0.1% has been DND, Madam Glam, and Kiara Sky. My nail tech uses ___ brand/lamp, so it is good right? Well, not necessarily. I went to cosmetology school and the chemistry info is VERY basic. I am a very curious person and had many questions that the teachers could not answer and did not investigate. In my state, cosmetologists cannot do nail extensions, only traditional manicures. That being said, having access to professional-only stores and beauty conventions, I was stoked to use all the nail products and began with Gelish and Young Nails. I even went to a Gelish demonstration at a convention and I still did not know the dangers, no one talked about it. This was a decade ago, so information was *a bit* less available, even so- I had no reason to investigate, I’ve used traditional nail polish since I was a young child- I had no reason to believe it was any different safety-wise. Other than “keep off your skin” there are no detailed warnings on the products. I am sharing this information for three reasons- one, don’t feel bad for not knowing about these dangers yet. Two, have compassion for others who come here and also do not know. We don’t know what we don’t know. And three, (back to the actual question) a nail technician that has had 500 hours of schooling (half that of a cosmetologist) and passed a state board test, (which again is very basic information), may not be fully informed about the nitty gritty of ingredients, lamps, and risks. There’s a lot more emphasis on sanitation vs those things. Everyone wants to save money, but some people are not looking into this stuff more thoroughly. What is an SDS or MSDS? MSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheet. These are informational papers on chemicals and materials used that are required by law in workplaces. These documents include physical properties, health effects, PPE requirements, first aid, and spill procedures for hazardous materials. In a salon, there must be MSDS documents for things like hair color, perm solutions, nail products, cleaning solutions, etc. If you’ve ever had a job- it’s likely you’ve encountered MSDS sheets for cleaning products at the very least. MSDS will include ingredients and variable concentration information, but not exact formulas. Brands that sell to nail technicians have these sheets readily available because they must be on-hand in the salon, which the health inspector will check for and could revoke a license or fine the company for violating these laws. Brands like Beetles have been known to produce false MSDS sheets. This is sketchy at best and deeply dangerous at worst. Why would a brand lie? What are they hiding? We can only imagine. I found a local lab that tests products like these and boy have I been tempted, but I have no idea how expensive that would be. Why is my gel still sticky after I cure it? This is called the inhibition layer. Oxygen in the air interferes with the polymerization process (chemical reaction between gel & UV light). This layer does *not* need to be removed from base coats, or color. It only really needs to be removed from the last layer- the top coat. This layer is uncured gel so it needs to be removed if it isn’t going to be covered by another layer, as once it is not in contact with oxygen it will cure. When removing with a lint free wipe and alcohol, keep in mind you are also spreading it over your skin. Use multiple wipes per hand and then also wash your hands very well with soap and warm water. We now also have “no cleanse” or “non-wipe” top coats that were developed by chemists to not have this layer. These top coats are also how chrome powder is applied, it doesn’t typically work on standard top coats after removing the inhibition layer. Some gels designed for attaching charms or isolated chrome are also non-wipe. When attaching full cover tips, sometimes some gel squishes out beyond your natural nail free edge, which is fine if it does not touch your skin, but that gel will have an inhibition layer that needs to be removed, which can be super tricky in tight spots like that. Some brands make non-wipe gel for this like Apres Extend Gel Non-Wipe. Is there something easier than liquid gel glue? It is hard to hold the tip straight and not flood my cuticles. YES! Some brands make a gel that is very thick like silly putty. Apres’ is called Extend Gel Novice and Kokoist’s is called Mochi. I have only used Mochi and it is so much easier, you do not have to hold the tip down to flash cure as it sticks in place, allowing you to apply them and make sure they are straight and in the right place. It made my application much faster as well. How do I remove my full cover tip extensions? This is what we call “soaking off” - also the way to remove a standard gel manicure. Acetone breaks down the bonds in gel and causes it to flake off. You can use the aluminum foil in your kitchen and a cotton pad soaked in 100% acetone, plastic clips designed for this, or premade foil squares with cotton/foam attached. Set a timer for 20 minutes and don’t even check before that, acetone evaporates quickly. Use a metal cuticle pusher to GENTLY remove the flaking gel. This should take barely any pressure at all, it should be very easy. I typically wait 20 min, scrape off what is already nearly falling off, and then soak for 5 minutes more to get the last layer on my nail. If you are using a lot of pressure, you may be taking layers of your nail with it. It should be very easy and gentle. With Gel X, you’re soaking off a lot of gel, so it is easier if you file off a good amount of it before the soaking step. This is where an e-file comes in handy. File off the bulk, then soak off. This is mine and many others' least favorite part of having our nails done. Is there an alternative to soaking off? I hate it too, acetone is so harsh. YES! Incredible chemists have come up with Gel Peel Off Base Coats. The most popular by far is made by Jello Jello. Buy ONLY from import sites like Zillabeau or Sweetie Nail Supply- there are fakes on Amazon and TikTok shop. This base coat is applied to your natural nail after prep, and then follow through with your chosen brand’s system & directions. It may be beneficial to remove the inhibition layer, but I never have needed to. Their remover is called One Kill and it is not anywhere near as harsh as acetone and does not take as long, either. You use the dropper to apply it on the edges and gently work the tip off after a few minutes. You may have to apply more drops of the remover. Search the sub for more tips and tricks. This is a lot, can I just pre-paint the tips and then attach them? This is, in essence, creating press-ons at home. And we absolutely can do this! HOWEVER, you **can not** then apply them with UV cured gel. The light cannot pass through your layers of gel polish to cure the ‘glue’ properly. This is a hard no. You can ONLY attach them with air-dry glue (it is essentially super glue). I have heard good things about the Beauty Secrets brand from Sally’s, but I also like Nail Bond from Amazon. But be aware! These glues are also made of acrylates, usually ethyl cyanoacrylate. I’m over 3,000 words so I should probably cut this off here for now. Because I have answered these questions dozens of times, I can be short and direct in comments- and it can come off as harsh or rude (this faq is long overdue). I do not mean to be. But let us all try to be kind as we teach and help others. Thank you for being understanding. You all have impressed me and made me so proud with how helpful you are. THANK YOU. Truly. Please post any questions you have here in the comments, questions you see asked frequently here, or details you think I missed. submitted by /u/calmdrive to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

Hit my aesthetic rock-bottom while travelling, walked my nubs into a random place and asked for Gel-X. First time getting any extension service in my life. I asked for - and got - short extensions. Look totally great (not a ski jump situation) except for the huge crescent-shaped filled-in gaps between my natural nail and the extension, which is course is more noticeable with the length. Pics are from one week in. The thumbs are the most pronounced, with them getting progressively better across my hand, with almost-flush little fingers. Posted before shot (jumpscare) and “usual” shot for context of my nail shape if that helps. If they fit at the edges, does that mean my nails are too flat for the extensions? Did the tech just botch it? He did drill away a lot of glue. Am I a better candidate for a different method? Would love advice on my next move to continue getting some sort of extensions in the long term, either salon or at home. I should’ve done this ages ago. Intend to keep this approx length going forward, also have a vast Holo Taco and Mooncat collection I’d like to use overtop of whatever I get (I understand this is ok as long as I don’t remove with 100% acetone?). submitted by /u/sharilynj to r/Nails [link] [comments]

I’ve been practicing gel x for months now and they’re still popping off the next day leaving a clean nail bed. Ive followed everyone’s tips & tricks and don’t know where else i could be going wrong, it’s frustrating after so much invested money and time & I’d hate to have to give up. I don’t know how these salon professionals do it lol I’ll attach the steps & products i do/use below and I’m using the SunUV 1 lamp Step 1: nail prep (no cuticle dissolver) 240 sanding band —> wipe with alcohol after Step 2: 2 coats dehydrators (apres & modelenes) Step 3: 1 coat nail primers (apres) Step 4: buff nail tips thoroughly with chemical etch (apres) Step 5: a layer of glue before tips (beetles) Step 6: adhere tips to nail (apres novice) (apres sculpted tips) Step 7: seal cuticle with efile & acetone Step 8: Builder gel on top to fill in gap and add strength (beetles) Step 9: buff tips with efile Step 10: paint!! (DND polish) submitted by /u/Gigi723 to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

Hi again, it's me, the girl with the really badly messed up nails from the nail salon! Thank you everyone for your advice. I called them and let them know the issue, they said to come in and they will fix it but cannot refund due to store policy. (I didn't expect them to refund me.) When I get in, they immediately start gaslighting me, saying they look fine, the gaps are because of the shape of my nails sloping down (which isn't true and are actually pretty flat). They tried to say they could fix it and not remove the whole set. I insisted that they need to be removed completely so they did. The more senior person took me. At no point did they soak them. This lady filed the whole damn time. At some point, she was trying to get the gel tip off with a nail clipper and peeling it. I'm obviously mortified because the filing hurt in itself. I tell her that I want builder gel instead. She said no, we can't do that because your nails at too thin, which they weren't until she filed them to next to nothing. So we go on with gel x again. She's putting them on and not wiping excess glue underneath before curing. I mention it and she said oh we will clean it up after. Sure you will. I start to feel like, "are these going on straight!?" But I'm afraid of what would happen if she has to remove it again. I'd have no nails left. I picked a different color to avoid it looking unfinished or thick like last time, forego the design that I paid for last time. I just wanna get the f out of this super awkward situation. I leave with nails that look slightly better but are still not good. No gaps but still glue underneath. Crooked nails. A few hours ago by and some of my figures are actually really painful and feel bruised. I gave them a chance to fix it. Now I guess I'll leave them a Google review. Maybe dispute the charge on my card. I won't be going back there again, obviously. I'll be removing them myself or somewhere else and doing them myself in the future. submitted by /u/Upstairs-Normal to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

I’ve been getting acrylics for years, but I finally tried out gel-x today. This is what the backs of my nails look like. Is there supposed to be that much glue? The amount of glue sticking out is about the thickness of the tip itself. I am also taken aback by her not trimming my nails shorter before putting them on. I had a set of acrylics on that she soaked off prior, so I couldn’t trim them before coming in. I figured she would just use the drill on the backs of my nails afterward, as that’s what I’m used to with acrylics. Was she supposed to do that? The backs of my nails are just really really thick and messy looking. submitted by /u/UpbeatApple6295 to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

Hey guys (: I’m new to gel x nails and this is my second set I’ve done on my own. I got new false nails by the brand of “una” I think it’s called off Amazon. I did glue on the false and my real nail, buffed the top of it and sealed my cuticle then did 2 coals of gaoy gel polish and then some chrome and top coat…..they feel a little thin and as if they’re going to “snap” at any point lol if I bump it into anything I’m a gym rat and I’m worried the tips will snap off /: especially when picking up weights ANYWAY. my question is…..is there anything else that’s added to the top of the false name to make it a little more sturdy and thicker? I was thinking builder gel but idk if that’s needed for gel x? Thanks everyone :) CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS WELCOME!!!!! (Pls be kind tho lol) submitted by /u/Lopsided_Nature_6813 to r/Nails [link] [comments]

I bought a new lamp and set of clear nails but need glue advice. Was recently using beetle brand. Didn’t last a full day. Changing lamp and glue and nails. The only reason I’m changing nails is bc the extra short stiletto was still way too long for my WFH job on the computer. Bought a new dehydrator. Hopefully this next set works out! I will be purchasing gloves for my cleaning! But I still wash my hands like I have OCD about it. And I use warm water, then lotion after. It’s just a habit I cannot break! I am almost to the point of just applying an acrylic top and growing them out that way! I’ve done it before. And it’s easy to do a full on for a few months. I just really want the gel x to work for convenience of the glue process submitted by /u/Dempstrainwreck to r/GelX_Nails [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/dianamoser to r/Nails [link] [comments]