The longer we stay home, the more we must improvise. I, like many others, quite enjoyed my biweekly routine of getting my nails done. Aside from the obvious relaxation aspect, there is something about a fresh manicure that adds a little sparkle to my look. For obvious reasons, that hasn’t and likely won’t be something on our radar anytime soon, so I turned to the internet to find the best at-home gel manicure kit a gal could buy.
Cue ZOYA’s Gelie-Cure Foundation Pro Kit. This set retails for only $65 (approximately how much I spend on one single gel manicure at the salon) and contains EVERYTHING you could possibly need: cuticle serum, all the gel goodies, foils to make you feel legit, and even a travel LED light so you can do your nails on the go (but please, STAY HOME).
Obviously, I needed to put this kit to the test, because you can’t believe everything you read on the internet.
*Spoiler alert* it actually worked really well overall. We may have hit some minor speed bumps along the road, but this was definitely a step up from my regular DIY manicures that chip within the first five minutes of being dry.
Here is my step-by-step guide to get your nails looking fab with an at-home gel manicure, regardless of which brand or kit you so choose to proceed with.
Step 1: Prep What You’re Working With
I have somehow managed to keep my nails in good condition throughout this quarantine, but if that isn’t the case for you, that is OK. First things first, you’ve got to shape your nail. I personally chose a “square with rounded edges” look, which is so easy to do on some nails, and a challenge on others. But, as long as the nails look semi-related, it works. I used the nail file from the kit, but obviously you can use any nail file that works for you.
Pro tip: After shaping, be sure to buff the edges to prevent cracking/breaking, because let’s be real, there is nothing more annoying.
Step 2: Apply Treatment
After you’re ~ feeling good ~ with your nail base, it’s time to treat the nail and cuticle area. I am guilty of always having janky cuticles, so this step is everything, IMO. Unsure of what I did to deserve such a thing, but just thankful there is a solution. I apply a small amount of ZOYA’s Rescue Serum to my index finger (again, you can use your serum of choice) and then place a tiny little bit to each finger and massage into the nail. A little goes a long way here, so follow directions. If your cuticles are fine, let them be, but if they need a little loving, that’s ok too. Take a cuticle pusher, and GENTLY push cuticles back. And… then leave them alone.
Pro tip: Don’t cut them, don’t pick them, just push back and let it be.
Step 3: Base Coat
This is essentially common knowledge, but I’ll walk you through it anyway. Apply a gel base coat—I’m using ZOYA’s Repair Base, you’re using the base you so choose to proceed with. Cover your entire nail, and seal the free edge to avoid peeling/cracking. This is most applicable to those with longer nails, but if you’ve got short stubby nails (as I typically do), then just make sure you’ve covered what you’ve got. Easy enough? Yes. Moving on.
Step 4: Foundation
Once you’ve got your base coat to protect your nails from all harm that gel causes, you’ll need your gel foundation. If you’re confused as to why you need two “base coats”, think of Repair Base as your SPF, and Naked Gelie as your makeup foundation. One layer to protect, one layer to work as a foundation for all of the following steps, if you may. For this step, you’ll actively avoid the cuticles and skin surrounding your nail (leave a small gap), but you will want to seal the free edge again. You can do a quick check under your nail light to ensure that the nail is properly covered, glowing, and not messy. I’d be lying if I said I did this flawlessly in one step. My left hand was easy, because I’m a righty, but my right hand was a bit of a struggle because my left hand has a mind of its own.
Pro tip: Less is more, because the gel slides around the finger. One swipe down the center of each finger (with the brush fanned) will do.
Step 5: Go Glow Time
So now is when things get *serious* because we are locking in the gel coat and making moves!!
This step is important, but simple. You’ll turn on your light and bake. Put your fingers under the light for the allotted time, and make sure your nails do not stick out and have full exposure to the light. I have long fingers so I wish this light was a bit bigger, but most gals aren’t 6 feet tall like I am, so I guess I’ll take the L for this one. Once you’ve done this for all nails, it is safe to move on.
Pro tip: Repeat step four and five twice for a stronger gel coat. They typically do this at the salon as well, and it’s for a reason.
Step 6: The Grand Finale
This title is misleading if you want to add color, but if you want to keep it simple with no polish and just a fresh clear gel look, listen up. You’ll need any after-gel cure spray to remove residue from the nail. Use a lint free nail pad to ensure that no little fuzzies attack and mess up your perfect manicure. Speaking from experience, there is nothing worse. And voilà, you’ve got yourself a pair of fresh nails.
(Optional) Step 7: Polish The Nails
SO if you’re mad at me for leaving colored polish out of the equation, relax, it’s here. We have two options from this point on:
Option 1: If you’d like the option of removing polish as you please like a regular manicure, you can simply paint any color over your gel manicure (regular polish, not that special “no light gel” BS that destroys your nails). This gives you the ability to change colors as you please, and the base should last 2-3 weeks under the color(s) of your choice (this is true for any brand’s at-home gel kit if done properly). If you’re afraid of commitment, this move is for you. This is what I decided to do in the photo above, and I ask that you please refrain from judging how shaky I am with my dominant hand. I TRIED, I really did, but as you can see, this is where the manicure went south. If I was going out in public, I’d probably have started over, but I’m living in a bubble and I only exit my apartment in gloves… so I said f*ck it and left them as they were.
Option 2: If you’re the girl that has been wearing Ballet Slippers on her nails for the last 10 years and nothing can change that, then we switch gears to the “sandwich technique”. No I did not come up with this name in a fit of hunger, but yes, I would love a sandwich. You’ll start this method the same as you would option one, and paint a thin layer of your favorite regular polish over the gel foundation. Wait two minutes (if you have the patience) and apply a second thin coat of polish to the nails. After this second coat is applied, wait 10 more minutes (sorry not sorry) for the coat to be semi-dried. *Trust the process* and once the 10 minutes are up, apply a layer of gel polish to the nail again. They don’t need to be completely dry, hence my “semi-dried” statement one sentence ago.
Pro tip: Once applied, you’ll need to clean up the edges all around—this is actually important, because if the gel spreads to cuticles or corners, it can result in an incorrect cure. I KNOW you don’t want any mistakes at this point, so do as I say. Pop the nails back under the light and repeat steps five and six.
And there you have it, an at-home gel manicure, pretty and perfect without having to go to a salon.
Is it as relaxing as an in-spa experience? Absolutely not. It’s actually stressful, because it’s easy to mess up and I am simply not as artistic as the nail technicians that I go to. I made my boyfriend massage my shoulders while my nails were under the light, but the experience was not the same.
Quality-wise, the gel is better than I expected and hasn’t peeled yet *knock on wood* so being that we are trapped inside for an indefinite amount of time, I would recommend going the gel kit route for the time being. But will this kit replace my nail salon forever? Probably not.
OH. I almost forgot. I feel it is important to include the removal process here too, and it’s sooo easy (this was the only step I was confident that I could conquer). If you’ve been to a salon, you probably know the deal, but if you pick off your gel nails (cringe) then follow these steps to avoid doing such a thing:
Step 1: Soak cotton ball with polish remover and place on nail
Step 2: Wrap nail in tin foil and shape to nail/finger
Step 3: Wait two minutes if you are removing just base, and four minutes if you are removing “sandwich nails”
Step 4: Open foil, and use cotton to wipe the nail clean. This is where we differ from the salon, who would typically use a file to remove the hard gel. The at-home nail systems make for easier, safer removal and for that, I am thankful.
Please tag me in all of your nail photos and LMK what kit is your favorite, so I can see how much more talented the world is than me/see if I am doing it right. And if all else fails, find yourself a cute pair of press on nails and call it a damn day. THANKS and happy manicuring.
Images: Toa Heftiba / Unsplash; Dylan Rubinstein (9); Courtesy of ZOYA
As someone who has identified as a chronic nail-biter for most of her life, I am (arguably) too invested in manicure culture. And I’m not talking about like, which mosaic design should I spend 4 hours and $98 getting licked on by kittens at Paintbox. I’m talking about the heavy-duty tools that transform my fingers from shredded nubs into somewhat respectable lady hands. In college, it was more about getting cool, claw-like nails for marking my territory the backdrop of latte art Instas. But at this point in my series of increasingly random jobs career, I’ve realized it’s a little gross to go in for a handshake when your nails look what can only be described as “freshly chewed.” Whatever reason you’re doing it, here are the pros and cons of various high-tech manicures.
SNS Powder Dip
SNS powder dip is not an artificial nail. It’s a different way of applying polish. Instead of painting on a liquid, the color comes from pigmented powder. Your nails will either be dipped into small containers of powder or the powder is painted directly on. You’re finished off with a top coat, and then—and this is my favorite part—you’re done. Totally dry, no UV light or 20 minutes under the regular dryers that still end with you ruining a nail as you walk out. This is meant to last up to three weeks (longer than gel), and it’s meant to promote nail growth. (The powder itself apparently has various vitamins or nutrients that do that; who knows what I believe.)
The biggest issue with powder dip right now seems to be that it’s only recently come back in style. So it’s hard to find a place that does it, and almost impossible to find a place that does it well. As for whether it’s better/worse for you than gels? While it’s promoted as a healthy alternative, most experts agree that it probably does the same amount of damage—just a different kind. Ultimately, my results were pretty good in some ways, and awful in others. Cons: it cost $45, they dipped my nails directly into the jars, and the color peeled off after a week and a half. Pros: the peeling process was super satisfying, I had zero chips, and my nails did grow back longer than ever. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat—but only at a different salon.
Acrylic Nails
Acrylic nails are nothing new, but their popularity in mainstream culture has changed a lot in the time I’ve been alive. As a 90s baby, I spent my teenage years thinking acrylics were tacky. I spent my college years clicking “Follow” on every Kardashian’s IG and getting acrylics once a month. Ah, how times change. While acrylics have many cons that I will outline in a minute, I can tell you right now that if you want Kardashian nails, you are going to need to get acrylics. Full stop. I don’t care how naturally long your nails are already (and did I mention I hate you?). If you want that long, skinny “stiletto nail” shape preferred by our unofficial royal family, you shouldn’t try to impose that on your natural nails. They will break, one at a time, and your nails will not grow back evenly for six months.
Acrylics, on the other hand, are pieces of plastic glued on to your natural nail and then filed into whatever the f*ck you want by what I think of as a miniature power drill (and what probably has a different, real name). The process will be very long, especially if you want the acrylics to be a feasibly human length (think 90 minutes minimum). Acrylics will also kind of shred your real nails underneath, as in they’ll look terrifying and swamp thing-y when the nails first come off. I’ve found it’s nothing a strengthening clear coat and some cuticle oil won’t fix, but I wouldn’t recommend months of back-to-back acrylics with no break. So, cons: time-consuming, often pricey, requires fills every 2-3 weeks, and will have an unpleasant effect on your nails. Pros: this is the best your nails will ever look.
Gel Extensions
I’m assuming most of you know what gel manicures are. They’re the more expensive option to regular manicures, with the bonus of walking out with dry nails that will (allegedly) last longer than regular polish. Gel extensions, on the other hand, are an alternative to acrylics. The extensions themselves (the thing that is not your nail that you are attaching to your nail) are made of the same gel as gel polish, and you pick a size and shape to have attached to your natural nail, same as acrylics. Rather than being glued on, the gel extension is bonded to your nail using (surprise!) more gel. LED light then apparently bonds all this together, and voilà, you have a gel nail addition to your nail.
I’ve never personally tried gel extensions, because (con #1) I’ve found it even more difficult to track down than powder dip. However, I’ve seen it on friends and I think this has potential to be the best nail trend yet. I’ve never been crazy about the process of acrylics (the chemicals are good for no one involved, least of all the nail technicians). And somehow putting glue and plastic on top of my natural nails feels like something I should’ve left behind in middle school. That being said, I’m not about to give up the dream of having long nails I can loudly drum on countertops when I’m annoyed. That’s the right of every American. So, if gel extensions actually cause less damage to all involved? I’m on board.
(Sidenote that gel extensions are certainly the most expensive option on this list, since you will actually have to go to a bougie place to get them and pay bougie prices.)
And that’s all my wisdom! If you prefer natural-looking nails and yours are in need of some rehab, powder dip is the best investment you can make. If you’re looking for long-term glam that won’t shred your existing nails, write your congressman and tell him we need more nail salons that do gel extensions. (I kid! But not really.) And if you need Insta-worthy claws for an event this week and can’t afford to ball out on experimental new trends, acrylics all the way. Your friends who still call it tacky will eat their words when they see how f*cking good it can look.
Images: Luis Reynoso / Unsplash; Giphy (3)
We’re in full-on holiday mode, which means that instead of spending my hard-earned money on getting shitfaced at happy hour things I actually like to do, I’m spending it on the people I love. Those fucking bitches. And it’s hard to always choose the right gift for people. I mean, sometimes it’s not as easy as buying deodorant for Smelly Melly Melissa in accounting, ya know? Sometimes you have to put a little bit more thought into it. Like, what do I get the friend in my life who’s been with me through all of my blackouts thick and thin? The friend who texts me “drinks later? ;)” at 10am on a Tuesday and who I can always count on to start shit with that bitch who just gave me side-eye? I would try and get her some good sense but, like, where’s the fun in that? Nah. I’ll stick with something she actually needs, like nail polish that doesn’t chip, no matter how shitty she gets at bars. So here are five nail polishes that make the perfect gift for every ratchet bitch you know (including yourself).
1. Vinylux Weekly Polish
While this brand might seem more random than the girl you exchanged numbers with in line for the bathroom last weekend, it’s actually pretty top-notch as far as polishes go. When applied with the weekly top coat, nails can last for a solid 10 days or until it’s socially acceptable to start peeling off your nails out of boredom.
2. OPI Infinite Shine
Remember when everyone lost their shit because Essie was coming out with a gel manicure that you could do at home while binge watching shitty reality TV and drinking your weight in Chardonnay? Well, OPI Infinite Shine is even better. It looks, feels, and acts like a gel mani, but you don’t have to go through that annoying AF process of taking it off, because it can easily be removed with regular old nail polish remover. BLESS UP, people.
3. Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish
Speaking of Essie, if you don’t mind torturing yourself the upkeep of a gel manicure, then by all means, invest in Essie’s Gel Couture Nail Polish. It’s been one of the leading brands in nail polish and for good fucking reason. They have lots of color options, plus their whole thing is you can stay at home and do your own manicure instead of having to put on pants deal with trying to impress people at the nail salon.
4. CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss
If you want to say fuck all the bullshit and buy a product that does the work of three in one, then you should def invest in the latest nail polish from CoverGirl. Not only does this brand have a shitton of color options, but they also combine base coat, nail color, and topcoat into ONE PRODUCT. It’s like there is a God and She’s been watching me waste my paycheck at happy hour and knows how much I love an easy way out saving my dollars where I can.
5. Deborah Lippmann Nail Color
Get this for the friend who is constantly lecturing you on her journey to veganism and her new “healthy” lifestyle but then gorges on Big Macs when she’s blackout. Deborah Lippmann is formaldehyde-, toluene-, and dibutyl-free so it’s, like, good for you and shit. Plus it’s supposed to be chip-free and last a little over a week.
There are many forms of slow torture out there in the world that I willingly inflict on myself. For example, editing my Bumble profile or listening to Hannah Baker’s extra AF voice for 13 episodes in a row. Also, gel manicures because they are secret sabotage. Don’t get me wrong, gels are necessary for surviving vacation, Starbucks selfies or showing off your engagement ring. They look good AF and their lifespan lasts longer than the Thai food currently rotting away in my fridge rn so it’s not hard to figure out why basics like myself love them. That being said, gel manicures are a trap and you SHOULD NOT FALL FOR IT. Sure, your nails might be living their best life now, but in 2-3 weeks they’ll start to go through this weird phase where they peel and chip and just generally look like shit but you can’t do anything about it because removing gels is more complicated than fucking rocket science. And over my hot, dead body will I spend the $10 removal fee at a rando nail salon. Like, you already get me for my monthly mani/pedi, eyebrow maintenance and bikini wax torture session. You don’t get my dignity this too.
If you’re like me and you’ve tried—and failed—at home gel removal it’s probs because you didn’t actually know wtf you were doing and/or you were too busy trying to decide if the crimes were especially heinous during a Law & Order marathon. So here’s a guide for how to get rid of your gel manicure without having to earn a degree at MIT or visit one of the one million nail salons in NYC, you cheap asshole:
WHAT YOU NEED
Wine. As much as you can carry. This process could take longer than tonight’s episode of The Bachelorette and you’ll probably need just as much patience for this as you will to listen to all of the fuckboys try and explain their careers as “former athletes” to Rachel.
RACHEL: So, what do you do for a living?
FUCKBOY: Well, I’m a former athlete so
RACHEL: …………..
FUCKBOY:
RACHEL AND ALL OF BACHELOR NATION:
Trust me, you’ll want the wine. But, like, in a more practical sense you’ll also need a nail file, acetone, StarPro remover (aka the good shit you always ask your nail technician about and she feigns a language barrier so she won’t have to give up her nail secrets), cotton balls, and aluminum foil. Jesus. Seriously hoping FreshDirect has this shit in their pantry section because I for sure don’t think they carry all of this at the bodega down the street. Don’t you wish you’d just spent the extra 10 dollars to have the professional remove them? No? Well just you fucking wait.
STEP 1
Buff away whatever is left of the top coat of your manicure. Consider this your arm workout for today because this shit is harder to get off than that guy you dated for 3 months who swears “this never happens to him”.
STEP 1.5
Drink more wine. It’s important to stay hydrated buzzed throughout this process lest you give up halfway and your nails look even more jacked then when you started.
STEP 2
This is where it gets weird. You’ll need to soak cotton balls with acetone and put them on the top of your nail. Then use aluminum foil to wrap your finger. You’ll know you’re doing it right when you lose all mobility in your fingers. Fun. Soak for 10-15 minutes or when you feel like your skin might peel off your body. Whichever comes first. God, I feel so refreshed and nourished already.
STEP 3
Use a cuticle stick to push the remaining gel off your nail. Theoretically, this should come off pretty easily, especially if you soaked your nails for the right amount of time. If it’s not coming off easily then you fucked up and should probably just commit to drinking the rest of that wine. Once you’ve gotten the rest of the gel off, file your nails to your favorite shape (lol like any of us know how to do shapes and shit) and then buffer to round out any snaggly edges.
STEP 4
Cleanse your nails with rubbing alcohol. Tbh if you replace rubbing alcohol with Champagne then this is legit my strategy every Sunday morning when I wake up and realize all the ways I ruined my life the night before. It’s v therapeutic. Lastly, because your nail beds suck, apply cuticle oil to hydrate.
Congratulations, you’ve now removed your gel manicure. That or you’re just drunk and your nails still look like shit. Tbh it’s probably 50/50. But at least you can feel better knowing that you just spent 30 minutes of your life and $30 of your hard earned money (I’m including the wine and supplies here) doing something that would literally have cost you $10 at a nail salon with a complimentary neck massage thrown in. *chugs wine*
