Roam with Roni
Gel Manicure

Gel Manicure

Proper application techniques and curing times help achieve a professional-looking gel manicure with long-lasting results.

First: Prep the Surface

  1. Shape: Use a coarse file to file down existing product and trim nails.
  2. Manage cuticles: Push back cuticles, trimming if necessary. Apply cuticle oil to protect skin from the havoc you’re about to wreak.
  3. Clean: Wash hands, cleaning nails under water.
  4. Refine: File and buff nails with emphasis on scraping off dead skin on nail plate (epinycium) and again pushing back cuticles.
  5. Prime nails: Apply acetone to lint-free towelettes (or, less ideally, cotton balls), and rub over dry nails. Use a second lint-free towelette to apply 90% isopropyl alcohol (or, less ideally, 70% alcohol) and rub over nail surface.
  6. File into shape, following with a surface buff.
  7. Remove debris with alcohol-soaked lint-free towelette.

Then: Coat and Process

gel nails - steps
  1. Targeted repair:
    • Identify problem areas like the nails whose tips tend to peel.
    • Sparingly, apply a bit of base coat to just those areas by “scrubbing” on in two directions.
    • Cure under LED.
  2. Base coat:
    • Apply a thin layer of base coat to the nail’s top 2/3, leaving its bottom 1/3 polish-free.
    • Tap brush and press remaining polish toward cuticle, but without touching it.
    • Reload brush slightly and finish with a final drive-by from cuticle to end of nail.
    • Repeat for each nail.
    • Cure under LED.
  3. First color coat, emphasizing coverage:
    • Using color gel polish, follow the routine used for base coat.
  4. Second color coat, emphasizing depth of color:
    • Place a lightly loaded brush at the nail’s center, close to cuticle, then stroke color gel polish upward to the nail’s edge.
    • Follow with a stroke on each side of the nail, ensuring that it is well-coated.
    • Swipe brush along the nail’s edge to “wrap” the color around the tip.
    • Repeat for each nail.
    • Cure under LED.
  5. Top coat:
    • Apply top coat, following the routine used for the second color coat.
    • Cure under LED.
  6. Enhance shine and remove excess:
    • Use a lint-free towelette to apply 90% isopropyl alcohol (or, less ideally, 70% alcohol) and lightly rub over the nail surface in a single stroke per nail.