I’m really starting to enjoy myself with the ability to do gel nails at home. If my nails aren’t painted, I’m going to bite them – it’s a terrible habit I need to break. Hence why my nails are nubby in this post. So since the gel nails at home thing has been working out, I’ve been trying to make it a point to keep them painted – and out of my mouth. The only benefit to the short nails, it helps the bum nail blend in.
I’m by no means an expert when it comes to nails, but I’m learning more about doing gel nails at home the more I practice. I also recently tried another brand of gel polish, and I wanted to let you know what I think about it. Bonus, it’s bright red – perfect for Valentine’s Day nails.
Shop: Top (wearing petite xxs) | Pants (wearing petite 24)
Valentine’s Day Gel Nails
After purchasing my first go around with gel polish on Amazon, I wanted to find an in-store option and found a line at Ulta. Interesting enough, it’s not all that easy to find LED gel polish in stores, can’t tell you why, but, Ulta carries one line in my store, Red Carpet Manicure. Since my first order of a base polish was all dried out, I decided to buy their base polish to try, as well as two polishes in Red Carpet Ready and Iconic Beauty (White).
Valentine’s Day Nails: How To
Ok, so first things first, trim the cuticles, buff the nails, wipe with alcohol and start layering it on. Starting with the base coat, I let each layer cure for one minute. I complete one hand fully, the move on to the other hand.
After my two color layers were cured, I added a dot of white polish and used my cuticle pusher to draw a little heart with it. I chose my pointer finger because the ring finger is the nub nail on my right hand.
Then I cured the hearts for a minute, and topped them with the same DND top coat I’ve been using. After they cured I wiped them with rubbing alcohol as usual.
Red Carpet Manicure: Review
It was fun finding a product in store so I could see all of the shades in person. The bottles are .30 fl oz, which is smaller than a standard bottle of polish and are $9.99 each. The polishes I bought from Amazon were cheaper. I do think the base coat made a difference in the lasting ability of my manicure, so I’m glad I added it in. As for Red Carpet Manicure, the formula went on easily and was easy to use, but gracious did it have a very strong chemical smell. It doesn’t stick around once it’s dry, but I felt like I needed a mask when I was putting it on. The other gel polishes I tried had a smell too of course, but not as strong.
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I plan to keep experimenting, maybe I’ll even get the nerve to try dip nails next. Although I can’t say I’m as brave or skilled enough as some of you who told me y’all did your own acrylic nails in my last nails post. I’m impressed! So tell me, have you tried gel nails yet?
-Brooke
