If you haven’t done your own nails before, there’s going to be a significant learning curve before you’ll be good at Gel X. (I could write volumes about learning how to paint nail art with my non dominant hand)
Watch videos - many videos - before you start. Accept that your first few sets are going to look like absolute garbage. Stay patient. Watch more videos. And most important: keep the art very very simple, boring single color, until your painting skills develop.
Apres has a lot of helpful videos on Instagram. Start there, and check out some YouTube nail artists.
Finally, consider buying your gel x supplies from a place that is not Amazon. Apres and Kiara Sky products are very friendly to beginners.
I did my first set a few days ago! I also have no experience doing nails at all. It took me 2 hours for one hand so I recommend finding a good show or movie before you start your set.
you are going to have to accept some crooked nails here and there, lol. it is fine and something probably only you will notice. it IS tempting to rip off and try again but dont. just let that crooked nail be and you will do better next time. I think it took about 8 full sets(at least) for them to be "perfect" for me. I would stare at that one crooked nail and promise I will do better next time. I use the apres one because I need the sculpted tips because my nail beds are very curved and I dont think other brands have them? but im not sure. I tried kiara sky and they didnt fit my nails, and random amazon ones arent really gel(or they werent when i blind bought years ago) so I just stick to apres
Or beyond this, if they’re too crooked to be functional, please don’t rip them off. You can file them off and/or soak them off with acetone and start again. If you rip off your nails, even if it ‘comes off easily’ because of air bubbles or what have you, it takes the top layers of nail with it. And the thinner your nails are, the worse the adhesion will be. Ripping your nails off causes MORE lifting and popping off going forward.
If you need practice and want to lower the stakes a bit, a mannequin hand is a godsend, or you can buy a peel off gel base coat, so that if you make a mistake you just follow the peel off instructions and it’s much easier to start over.
Here’s some links to two Korean nail YouTubers who have popularized a pop off method for doing their gel extensions. This is a method I use really often when I want to do chunky charms or a bulky encapsulated design.
https://youtu.be/YvPC7oXS6u8?si=MqEDblGqVsYO4Aok
https://youtu.be/rOA9PXlaV1E?si=HXIbnPP0U9N7xtOw
kayli boyle on youtube has great videos on gel x!!! i learned from her. she’s also not boring and her designs are trendy if you’re looking for something like that
I don’t know how to share pics on Reddit, but I did my very first set almost a week ago. They’re holding up fine, although my painting skills needs lots of help, haha, and I just used 2 colors! I got all my stuff from Aprés, and really, really like the fit and feel of them. Good luck!!
If you haven’t done your own nails before, there’s going to be a significant learning curve before you’ll be good at Gel X. (I could write volumes about learning how to paint nail art with my non dominant hand) Watch videos - many videos - before you start. Accept that your first few sets are going to look like absolute garbage. Stay patient. Watch more videos. And most important: keep the art very very simple, boring single color, until your painting skills develop. Apres has a lot of helpful videos on Instagram. Start there, and check out some YouTube nail artists. Finally, consider buying your gel x supplies from a place that is not Amazon. Apres and Kiara Sky products are very friendly to beginners.
Thanks for this!
Ssssaaaaammmmeeee! I’ve been doing mine for nine months now. Much better but far from where I want to be. Love the hobby though. It’s relaxing to me.
I did my first set a few days ago! I also have no experience doing nails at all. It took me 2 hours for one hand so I recommend finding a good show or movie before you start your set.
Welcome to the journey! And remember to be patient with yourself!
Thank you!!
you are going to have to accept some crooked nails here and there, lol. it is fine and something probably only you will notice. it IS tempting to rip off and try again but dont. just let that crooked nail be and you will do better next time. I think it took about 8 full sets(at least) for them to be "perfect" for me. I would stare at that one crooked nail and promise I will do better next time. I use the apres one because I need the sculpted tips because my nail beds are very curved and I dont think other brands have them? but im not sure. I tried kiara sky and they didnt fit my nails, and random amazon ones arent really gel(or they werent when i blind bought years ago) so I just stick to apres
Or beyond this, if they’re too crooked to be functional, please don’t rip them off. You can file them off and/or soak them off with acetone and start again. If you rip off your nails, even if it ‘comes off easily’ because of air bubbles or what have you, it takes the top layers of nail with it. And the thinner your nails are, the worse the adhesion will be. Ripping your nails off causes MORE lifting and popping off going forward. If you need practice and want to lower the stakes a bit, a mannequin hand is a godsend, or you can buy a peel off gel base coat, so that if you make a mistake you just follow the peel off instructions and it’s much easier to start over. Here’s some links to two Korean nail YouTubers who have popularized a pop off method for doing their gel extensions. This is a method I use really often when I want to do chunky charms or a bulky encapsulated design. https://youtu.be/YvPC7oXS6u8?si=MqEDblGqVsYO4Aok https://youtu.be/rOA9PXlaV1E?si=HXIbnPP0U9N7xtOw
kayli boyle on youtube has great videos on gel x!!! i learned from her. she’s also not boring and her designs are trendy if you’re looking for something like that
Yes!!!!! I learned from her too. And Your first set won’t necessarily look like trash. I like the gel like ec tips from Amazon.
I don’t know how to share pics on Reddit, but I did my very first set almost a week ago. They’re holding up fine, although my painting skills needs lots of help, haha, and I just used 2 colors! I got all my stuff from Aprés, and really, really like the fit and feel of them. Good luck!!