Think you can’t do gel nails at home? Think again! Check out this easy tutorial for that professional-looking perfect manicure!

If you’re one of those very busy people who can’t go to the nail salon on a regular basis for manicures and pedicures, then do your own gel nails at home! Not only does gel polish look glossier and prettier than a regular manicure, it can also last up to 3 weeks without getting peeled or chipped off. Perfect for those who can’t go to the salon every other week!

DIY | Easy Gel Nails At Home For Busy People

Get Salon-Perfect Gel Manicure During Your Day Off!

You might need some extra equipment but investing in a UV lamp can actually help you save a lot of bucks and time for your manicure. Getting your nails “cured” with the UV light right after applying them dries the polish up right away. You also don’t have to wait a long time for your new manicure to dry.

I invested on the Gelish Harmony Complete Starter Led Gel Nail Polish Kit. It comes complete with everything you need for a perfectly manicured gel  nails! I got mine from Amazon for $99.

What you’ll need to make gel nails at home:

• Gelish pH Bond Dehydrator
• Gelish Gel Base and Top Coat
• Madam Glam Baby Pink Gel Polish
• Led Lamp
• Nail File
• Cuticle Pusher
• Nail Buffer
• Cuticle Oil

Step 1: Clean Nails

First off, your nails need to be clean. To get salon-perfect gel nails at home, you need to push back your cuticles entirely to avoid the gel from lifting once your nails start to grow.

You should also file and buff your nails to take away the shine. This will help the gel to stick on your nails better.

After buffing, just clean off the dust accumulated from your buffing and filing.

Step 2: Dehydrate Nails

Apply a dehydrating solution to your freshly buffed nails to take away moisture. If you don’t have the solution, you can use rubbing alcohol as an alternative.

On the other hand, you can also purchase the solution, as well as the gel base and top coat as a set, from Gelish here.

Step 3: Apply Base Coat

Now you’re ready to apply a base coat. Cover your nails with the coat completely but try to make it as thin as you can for a cleaner and more even effect. Do not forget to even out the tip to avoid gaps in the gel.

Step 4: Cure Nails

Once you’ve finished your base coat, it’s time to cure your nails.

Curing is when you hasten the drying of the gel polish using a UV lamp. Unlike regular polish, the gel will instantly harden after being exposed to the UV light, significantly cutting the time you have to spend trying to dry your nails!

After curing your base coat for 15 seconds, you can now move on to the next step to have your gel nails at home. Although they would still be a bit wet after curing, you don’t have to worry, because the gel has already infused with your nails by this time.

Step 5: Apply Nail Polish

Pick out the color you want to use on your nails. This tutorial used a Baby Pink from Madam Glam. Remember you can choose whatever color you want to use for your gel nails at home and even design your own!

After picking out the shade you want, apply the gel polish on your fingernails. Cure it for 15 to 30 seconds.

Make sure to wipe off excess polish from your skin before curing as it will burn under the UV light.

Step 6: Cure Again

To achieve the solid color you want, coat your nails with the gel polish again. When you have your desired opacity, cure your nails for a full 30 seconds.

Step 7: Apply Top Coat

When you’re satisfied with the color of your gel nails at home, you can now apply a top coat. This will keep your nails looking shiny and glossy.

Step 8: Dab Some Cuticle Oil On Your Gel Nails Made At Home

Since you had to dehydrate your nails before applying the base coat, the skin around your nails will end up dry. Dab on some cuticle oil after the entire process to rehydrate your skin.

Try making your own homemade cuticle oil by following this tutorial.

And now you got to make gel nails at home!

Check out the tutorial from JauntyJuli below to have your very own gel nails at home!

Are you going to give this tutorial a try? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. Share it on my Facebook page! Look for new designs from my Instagram as well!

Keep visiting Nail Designs for more awesome gel nail ideas!

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