i love that you said "dont touch the damn skin!!!" it really cant be overstated how important it is to avoid skin contact with gel, nobody likes contact dermatitis😂
‘Swooping’ is also known as floating the brush. You don’t want to lift and press and repeat, you’ll get air bubbles. You want to float your brush on your blob and guide it
Looks may be deceiving. I always clean the nail with alcohol prior to applying product. As long as the nail is dust free my product sticks. I’ve never had any issues. 🤷🏽♀️ Don’t confuse the nail being dry and looking chalky with dusty.
I have done it before successfully when I didn't have a choice but it is not recommended. Acetone can affect the formula and quality of the gel. They do have gel polish thinners made for that exact purpose. I used the acetone temporarily until I was able to purchase gel polish thinner.😊
I have never added acetone, I read the comment below and this person is correct it can change the formula. I’ve only ever done this to nail polish not gel polish. For gel, if it’s clumpy you can try placing some super hot water in a bowl then stick the bottle in it to warm it up for a few minutes then take it out and shake it around to mix the product back up.
Hey Cecilia, it could be the brand you are using or the temperature of your room can make gels thicker or runnier. Honestly easiest colour for me to work with is Clear. Thicker is sometimes easier to work with AND do not forget, Finish filing is A-OKAY you do not have to get perfect application. File them after, its cool!
Sometimes it’s just due to your gel being too cold. Try rolling it between your palms or even placing it in a WARM cup of water for a bit 👌 This is true for every gel in a bottle. Of course the intended viscosity of your product matters and it does vary brand to brand and product to product
Practice and you will get there! (also this is cut up and you do not see that this single nail probably took close to 5 minutes total to perfect after application - flipping the nail and getting the apex in the right spot)
I diy my soft gel extensions. I watch local nail artist's videos and they don't seem to create an apex when doing extensions. Do i still need apex when doing soft gel extensions or just for gel overlay?
Do you mean like an equivalent of Apres gel X nails where it’s a full cover nail tip applied with gel? If so then the apex should be built in when applying. If not and they are extending the nail with BIAB (soft gel) you still need an apex or you run the risk of the nail snapping or cracking on the sides.
A funny question but do you cure them upside down so that you get that apex?😆 and also if I’ve already put a layer of builder gel but want to put one more to get the apex should I file it?
Hahahah you could but the apex may get tooooo pointed. So it’s nice to flip make it go slightly toooo high then when you flip back over into the lamp it settles perfectly! Anddddd you can finish file if you want too I refine my nails now instead of spending more time applying gel. I’ll get it on and then refine with the hand file.
It is likely your prep. If the nail has any shine or oils on it the product will not adhere. This is why you want to make sure the nail has been buffed with 180 grit buffer, wipe the nail with 70% or higher alcohol prior to applying product. You can use a small bit of acetone as a dehydrator - but make sure the nail is completely dry before product application. Make sure the product has not touched your cuticles either.
I’ve seen so many videos on BIAB and rubber base builder. I know we do not cure the slip layer but what about base coat? I followed all the steps for rubber base builder but it peeled right off and I’m wondering if it’s because I did not cure a base coat before going in with my slip layer.
Beautiful! I have a question. Could you just cure the slip layer and leave it at that? I am looking for a product that I can apply a thin layer of underneath a gel polish design to strengthen the nails. And I would like it to not look to bulky. So thats why😊
You can certainly do that but they won’t be as strong. So for at home it might be easier for you to apply it like that. Just know they won’t be as durable as building an apex.
No, it is your “wetting” layer or base layer that helps the bulk of the product flow to where you want it to go. You can do a base layer first. Cure it. It then when you go to build structure do a base layer again, don’t cure and apply your apex/ structure. 😊 Hope that Helps! 💕
@@NailsbyMeesh yep! it acts as a little stencil I guess you could call it. (can't find a better word lol) the gel only flows where it's supposed to this way!
Hey Sarah! Burning is 100% normal and part of the curing process of gel. If it’s too much for you, work in thinner coats, you can just layer the builder gel, curing between coats to limit the burning sensation. Then you finish file the nail to get it into the correct shape. However this method shown in the video is done so you don’t have to finish file so if you can “suffer” through it, it’s worth it. Some gels and brands are much hotter than others you can also check different brands that have less HEMA and that typically means it won’t heat up as much during the curing process.
This particular product the base coat is built into it. Therefore I don’t need a separate base. You can apply a base coat first if the products you use require it. Make sure it’s cured first. Then move onto your builder gel.
It’s actually very similar to Liminary. It’s The Gel Bottle. They’re both soak off Builder gels. I’ve used luminary before they operate very similarly. I’d say luminary is slightly thicker which is very for a newbie.
If your gel is super thick you’re better off applying it, it’ll be messy and then finish file. Make sure you have enough gel in the middle and sides to be able to file it into shape. Swoop swoop is more advanced and thinner builder gels or more runny builder gels can be tricky. Don’t be afraid to finish file the nail to make it look seamless and beautiful.
Hey Cecilia, I do not use polygel except for adhering maybe stones to nails (which is super duper rare I almost never do stones they are not my forte but I have them for special cases) I use PolyGel, then Top Coat then apply the stones and cure. For toenails, I do not see why not? If you are extending a toenail I imagine Polygel would be so much easier to work with! Just be mindful of any Fungi or Toenail issues the client may have, suffocating them with Gel can make the problem worse.
Hehe it takes some time but you can get faster at it. Also if you’re not finish filing the extra time you take to make sure the no file method is perfect does still save a bit of time.
The answer will vary depending on lots and lots of factors. A salon spa, for example, may require your services book 45 minutes or longer. Some places want to cram as many services as possible into their work day and may require much less time. It should take as long as it takes to get it CORRECT. Once you’ve learned the correct way, with enough experience, your time will naturally get faster and easier and you’ll find ways to save time. Better to do it right and take longer than to cut corners and lose time later making repairs ❤
It depends on your skill level. For me I’m at the 1.5 hour mark right now. Used to take me 2+ hours a couple years ago. You get faster the more you do then.
No, this is builder gel, it is a thicker consistency that gel polish and it helps create strength to the nail, you build up the apex so you prevent breakage and have longer lasting nail enhancements
Yes, theoretically but base coat isn’t designed to be used this way and likely won’t give you optimal results or wear and may even affect your cure times or not cure at all.
The rubber base is not thick enough for this and it’s not really designed for creating an apex. Just like the person below commented and gave an excellent response. My apologies for the delay in response.
@@NailsbyMeesh yes. Practice. PRACTICE. And MORE PRACTICE!!!!!!!! My look horrible but I am going to keep PRACTICING. You just make it look like the easiest thing ever 😢❤
I like it, it works well for me and my clients. The viscosity is nice and easy to work with. Practice is the biggest factor with gel but I do admit. Good quality gel makes a big difference.
Great question, no I don’t because this product does not require it. This is The GelBottle Brand, their coloured BIAB does not require it. Other brands may require a base coat. Follow what that brand recommends. A Tip - When it comes to base coat you should always be applying it super super thin. Hope that helps! ❤️
@@NailsbyMeesh I always thought only the rubber base gels does not require base coat. That no matter the builder gel it’s best to use base coat to protect the nail beds.
@@aphrodittee3790 it really depends on the product and brand, I recommend following the instructions of the brand of Builder Gel you are using. I understand protecting the natural nail and it is protected this product is extremely high quality, however for these coloured base gels they will never stain the natural nail and preventing staining is usually the reason for a clear base coat. This specific company advises no base coat required because it is built into the product. I hope that helps! :)
Good question, this particular brand does NOT require a base coat its already in the product itself so this, I did not. You should always check the brand of Builder in a Bottle to check if it requires a base coat first.
No, this is not, this is Builder in a Bottle - it’s a soft gel that is soak off, made for natural nails or very short extensions. Hard Gel works similarly to this but is usually a less runny consistency than this. You can use hard gel to do a “no file method” But depending on nail length it can be more difficult.
@@kdawg5427 Soaking off too much is not good for your nails - acetone can super dehydrate your nail. When you are filing you do need to be careful, if you are using hand files you do need to be gentle, if you use an efile you need to be gentle and careful not to dig into your own natural nail plate. I watched a TONNE of Young Nails Videos on using Efiles and Hand Filing also Nail Hub is a good resource as well. I might make some videos in the future on it but feel free to DM me on Instagram as well @_nailsbymeesh and I am happy to answer questions and help you out with your nail journey.
@@NailsbyMeesh thank you for such a detailed explanation. I have used e-file once on myself and now I'm scared of it lol. My nails hurt for DAYS after using it. I hope aftercare can salvage my nails from all the acetone I use hehe because I love it. I manually file the top layer with my emery board 180/100 file and then soak off the rest with acetone. It barely takes 5 minutes and I scrape it off gently using my nails(cuticle pushers are too slow for my liking). I have decided to put 2 layers of base coat from now on. I also take long breaks between gel manicures(just before any major event). I'll try to get better at e-file because it so efficient. Please make a video for beginners using basic e-files. Love you! ❤
@@kdawg5427 It sounds like you do not use that much gel on your nails so you need to be ultra careful. If you are using a Carbide Bit (metal one) just get through the top coat and a BIT of colour but other wise it might be easier for you to use a 180 Grit Sanding BAND on the E-file - it can get hot so be careful and gentle you you do not dig into the natural nail, as soon as the gel is mostly off, switch ti a hand fine OR buffer and be very gentle. I hope that helps
