How to assemble a starter kit for applying gel polishes at home. Part 1

Gel nail polish is becoming more and more popular. Still would! This is not an extension for you, from which your nails “depart” for several months. And not the usual varnish that peels off on the second day. Gel polish is a stunning hybrid of gel and polish that won't hurt your nails and lasts up to two weeks. Covering nails with gel polish in the salon is a rather expensive procedure and costs from 500 to 1000 rubles, depending on the region. Therefore, more and more women are buying all the necessary materials and equipment in order to use gel polishes on their own. I am no exception, but I do manicures with gel polishes not only for myself, but also for others. Having little experience in this matter, I will tell you what a starter kit for gel polish manicure at home should consist of.

If you want to cover your nails ONLY FOR YOURSELF then you will need:

Ultraviolet lamp. As I already said, gel polish is a hybrid of gel and varnish, then by itself it will not dry in the air, it must be polymerized in an ultraviolet lamp. Lamps come in different capacities, a 36 V lamp will be optimal. Try to choose lamps with a timer of 2-3 minutes - so you do not have to constantly pinpoint the right time. Currently, manufacturers offer UV lamps in various colors and designs. For example, I have a bright pink lamp, and my friend has a leopard design. The cost of lamps fluctuates around 1000-1800 rubles.

Pusher - a manicure tool for pushing back and removing the cuticle (an obligatory step when covering nails with gel polishes). The pusher can be subsequently used to remove gel polish. If you do not know how to work with a pusher, then orange tree sticks will do.

Cuticle remover. Before applying gel polish, it is not recommended to make baths for nails, so you will need a special tool to soften the cuticle.

To remove shine from natural nails, you will need files -grinders with abrasiveness of 220-240 units. To shape the nails, the files should be taken with less abrasiveness - 180 grit.

Degreaser. There are 2 in 1 products on sale: for degreasing and removing the sticky layer. A very handy item!

Acid free primer. It removes excess moisture and is needed for better adhesion of gel polish to the nail plate.

Base gel polish (base). It is not worth saving on it, because. It is the base that is the basis of our manicure. Now on sale there are special restoring and strengthening bases.

Top (finishing). It is advisable to take the same company as the base. There are tops that do not need to be dried in a UV lamp. I have one, but to be honest, it flies on the third day. There are also tops to create a matte effect.

Colored gel polishes. There may be different manufacturers. The main thing is not to mix colors to get new shades, because. Everyone's chemistry is different. I’ll tell you a little secret: it’s very profitable to buy gel polishes on Chinese sites, where their price is several times lower.

Lint-free wipes we definitely need. They will be needed not only to remove the sticky layer, but also to treat the nail plate with a degreaser and remove gel polish. I buy 200 pieces for 100 r. If you use ordinary cotton pads, then small villi may remain on the surface of the nail, which will subsequently ruin the entire manicure.

Dust brush from nails after polishing. Price - from 30 rubles

Gel polish remover .

Foil. It is foil that wraps nails to remove gel polish.

Read more about the technique of applying gel polish can be found in

In the second part of the article, I will talk about what else you need to buy if you cover your nails with gel polish not only for yourself, but also for your clients.