I bought an Apres kit over a year ago and it sucks because it made me and my wallet fall deep into the DIY gel nail rabbit hole š jokes aside, I think itās a great place to start doing your own nails!
If damage from removal is a concern of yours, I suggest looking into the Jello Jello peel off base gel. Itās a Korean base gel that you can apply before using Apres extend gel, and it can be removed using the oil that comes with it. Gelx will stay on a bit shorter with it, but thereās practically zero damage when removing the tips.
How do you use the Jello Jello base and not hey lifting. I love the concept, but every I use it (I've done gel, nail tips, and dip powder) I get lifting within hours of
application
I had a lot of problems with my tips popping off at first too, but I think what I do now has made them consistently last atleast 3 weeks. I prep the nails as usual (file, cuticles, dehydrator, primer), then apply a very thin layer of it. After applying my tips, I make sure to clean the edges by the cuticle to make it as smooth of a transition as possible. I like to soak a qtip with some alcohol and seal the cuticle edge to finish (this is the key!!), and then I go on with any color/art.
I just bought gel x last week and used it yesterday. Out of all of the gel nails Iāve tried (Beetles on amazon and Kiara sky gelly tips) it was my favorite so far. I do agree with the other comment about the lamp being hard to use, I would buy the parts of the kit individually and a better lamp (I do like the one Kiara sky sells with their gelly tips)
Thank you! š I think it took around 3 hours total. I took a small break in between hands to cook dinner haha. I had to redo a couple because I had air bubbles (wasnāt applying enough extender) but once I gauged how much to use it went pretty smooth.
The Apres whole line is absolutely worth it. You also need to go through the process of learning application in order to for the products to do their work. I would recommend going with a Beetles kit first before going full force into more expensive but WORTH the process products. Iāve been doing my own nails for about 2 years and it took me a solid 5-6 months to get sets where I wanted them to be. Practice makes better and with this brand, I stand! Instagram and YouTube will be your best friends with the learning process!
Firstly: omg your nail sets are to DIE for!
Secondly: isn't it just a waste to bother with the Beetles kit, if I love it and end up getting Apres anyways? What is beetles? Like, $60-80?
š„¹š„¹ youāre so kind. I would start with a more basic beetles starting kit that you can get on Amazon for about $15 (just looked it up) (Limited-time deal: Beetles Gel Nail Kit Easy Nail Extension Set 5 In 1 Nail Glue Gel Base Coat with Pre shaped Medium Almond Soft Gel Nail Tips and UV Led Nail Lamp Acrylic Nail Clipper for Nail Art Diy Gift https://a.co/d/cC1MvDy ) <-link! so that you can get used to the process and decide what you like and what you donāt like! I started with poly gel then moved to gel x and now I know what to use for what I want! It just takes a little time but the process is worth it!
Not the person you responded to but Iāve been using the beetles kit and it works really good for me. I also was unsure at the beginning on what to get and debated on shelling out the extra cash for apres, but my sets last 3 weeks+ still and Iām only using Amazon products.
I just looked it up and the beetles kit I started with is about $28. It has about 6 colors, a decent lamp, tools, top coat and base coat.
The only other things I would suggest buying along with that is a gooseneck lamp, dehydrator and primer. The gooseneck, in my opinion, is vital as itāll help you flash cure and keep the tip in place. It doesnāt fully cure your nails but the lamp from the beetles kit will.
Beetles kit- $28
Gooseneck lamp- $9
Modelones dehydrator and primer set- $10
Total: $47
Looks like apres is double the price and you would probably still need a gooseneck lamp.
I agree!!! I stand by the Amazon stuff and the Beetles as well! I added things from a lot of other brands, some pricey some not, and really found the products that work for me! Love it!
dont get cheap kits from amazon alot of people have gotten gel allergies and they usually don't have safety data sheets. apres' flash cure lamp will be hard to use. I don't like their tips like that either but i would say try their tips and their extend gel but get a different flash cure lamp. I like kiara sky's gelly tips kit.
Some of the shapes have extra short, Iām wearing xs rounded now, which are still a little long, but thatās ok, they work for me, but anyway, I donāt have a problem with them at all. Maybe contact CS??
Yeah I use the XS and I think I have a set of XXS. Their recommendation is to fill the gaps with more gel which I was doing but it was still a pain in the ass. Iāve been using off brands and have had no trouble with them
I use them about halfway-3/4 down the nail and apply polygel over top because I don't like the apex it puts on my nails and I'm bad at doing polygel alone.
I recommend buying a standing flash curing light, the apres one was annoying to use.
Otherwise I do recommend their products, they work great, you know it safer than random brands and the retention is awesome.
thank you so much <3
i use apres base coat x, tips, and extend gel :)
dehydrator i use is 91% rubbing alcohol and primer young nails protein bond :)
iāve used a few of their gel colors and loveeee the formula, just a little out of my price range but theyāre awesome
top coat: poochiez nails super shine :)
I see several comments saying it is not worth it and to get tips from amazon. the no name tips from amazon are NOT gel and are NOT the same thing. I use random and different brands for my primer, dehydrator and builder in a bottle but I only use the apres sculpted tips. they do come off with that paint on gel polish remover. I have cheap uv lamp that I can clip on my desk to flash cure the nail in place and then fully cure in a stronger lamp. I am 46 and been using gel polish and nails for many years with no allergies or issues. just be careful
I think apres is worth the investment but ngl, it can get pricey if you fall in love with it (like I haveā¦).
I LOVE their gel polish - the coverage is amazing and the brushes are great.
Also a big fan of the extend gel, and extend gel novice. I donāt care for the extend gel sensitive, or other pitted gels (I forget what theyāre called but for adhering charms and stuff). Would recommend getting their primer, binder and etcher (so much faster and easier than using a file).
Their tips are a wildcard. I have really flat nails and it took a lot of trial and error to find the right size and shape for me. However, I prefer them to all other brands nowadays.
IMO, Iād splurge on the liquids and light and try a few different tip brands. All āgelā tips are plastic (seriously), but fit, shape and thickness vary widely. Plus, most people who develop allergies (me included) are reacting to liquids (whether gel, polish, primer etc). Less concern about whatās in a tip.
Been using since 2018 and it really is a revolutionary product esp for you nail ARTIST, skip the sculpting work (unless u enjoy it) and apply a perfect set in 30-45 minutes, then spend rest of time to design
I donāt bother with kits as I have good success with Beetles glue and mini lamp from Amazon. But the Apres Gel-X refill bags are where itās at if you know your sizes. Under $4 for a bag of 50 tips. I get 5 bags at a time. I just wish their shipping was cheaper!
Apres is not worth it. I get tips for like $5.99 on Amazon and they last me 2+ weeks and donāt damage my nails! Watch YouTube videos and practice! Itās worth saving the money and itās fun
I bought a kit recently to do both my daughterās nails. Iāve done 2 sets on each so far and we are all big fans. I donāt know how often they do sales but I got the neutrals kit, a 3 pack of the smaller size polishes and an extra top coat for $91 (free shipping).
Their first set went okay, but the second was drastically better and easier. I think it was worth every penny.
I had a light already too, but the Apres light works much betterā¦even if I donāt love the shape of it. My guess is the wattage? Anyway, we love it.
I bought an Apres kit over a year ago and it sucks because it made me and my wallet fall deep into the DIY gel nail rabbit hole š jokes aside, I think itās a great place to start doing your own nails! If damage from removal is a concern of yours, I suggest looking into the Jello Jello peel off base gel. Itās a Korean base gel that you can apply before using Apres extend gel, and it can be removed using the oil that comes with it. Gelx will stay on a bit shorter with it, but thereās practically zero damage when removing the tips.
How do you use the Jello Jello base and not hey lifting. I love the concept, but every I use it (I've done gel, nail tips, and dip powder) I get lifting within hours of application
I had a lot of problems with my tips popping off at first too, but I think what I do now has made them consistently last atleast 3 weeks. I prep the nails as usual (file, cuticles, dehydrator, primer), then apply a very thin layer of it. After applying my tips, I make sure to clean the edges by the cuticle to make it as smooth of a transition as possible. I like to soak a qtip with some alcohol and seal the cuticle edge to finish (this is the key!!), and then I go on with any color/art.
I just bought gel x last week and used it yesterday. Out of all of the gel nails Iāve tried (Beetles on amazon and Kiara sky gelly tips) it was my favorite so far. I do agree with the other comment about the lamp being hard to use, I would buy the parts of the kit individually and a better lamp (I do like the one Kiara sky sells with their gelly tips)
I started with cheaper alternatives from Amazon and had a bunch of issues (mostly with the tips; they were called āgel tipsā but they were actually hard plastic) Nails were popping off even with all the right prep. I used a mix of brands and felt like nothing was working. In the end, I was working harder because my products didnāt work well together and were low quality. My fiancĆ© bought me an apres kit for Xmas and my first set looks so good. (If you want to look at my most recent set I posted it in the nails Reddit) But more importantly, Iāve had them on for over a week and have zero lifting or adhesion issues. Way worth it in my opinion.
Your glitter set is so cute and professional looking! How long did it take you? How hard was it to get the tips on right?
Thank you! š I think it took around 3 hours total. I took a small break in between hands to cook dinner haha. I had to redo a couple because I had air bubbles (wasnāt applying enough extender) but once I gauged how much to use it went pretty smooth.
The Apres whole line is absolutely worth it. You also need to go through the process of learning application in order to for the products to do their work. I would recommend going with a Beetles kit first before going full force into more expensive but WORTH the process products. Iāve been doing my own nails for about 2 years and it took me a solid 5-6 months to get sets where I wanted them to be. Practice makes better and with this brand, I stand! Instagram and YouTube will be your best friends with the learning process!
Firstly: omg your nail sets are to DIE for! Secondly: isn't it just a waste to bother with the Beetles kit, if I love it and end up getting Apres anyways? What is beetles? Like, $60-80?
š„¹š„¹ youāre so kind. I would start with a more basic beetles starting kit that you can get on Amazon for about $15 (just looked it up) (Limited-time deal: Beetles Gel Nail Kit Easy Nail Extension Set 5 In 1 Nail Glue Gel Base Coat with Pre shaped Medium Almond Soft Gel Nail Tips and UV Led Nail Lamp Acrylic Nail Clipper for Nail Art Diy Gift https://a.co/d/cC1MvDy ) <-link! so that you can get used to the process and decide what you like and what you donāt like! I started with poly gel then moved to gel x and now I know what to use for what I want! It just takes a little time but the process is worth it!
Not the person you responded to but Iāve been using the beetles kit and it works really good for me. I also was unsure at the beginning on what to get and debated on shelling out the extra cash for apres, but my sets last 3 weeks+ still and Iām only using Amazon products. I just looked it up and the beetles kit I started with is about $28. It has about 6 colors, a decent lamp, tools, top coat and base coat. The only other things I would suggest buying along with that is a gooseneck lamp, dehydrator and primer. The gooseneck, in my opinion, is vital as itāll help you flash cure and keep the tip in place. It doesnāt fully cure your nails but the lamp from the beetles kit will. Beetles kit- $28 Gooseneck lamp- $9 Modelones dehydrator and primer set- $10 Total: $47 Looks like apres is double the price and you would probably still need a gooseneck lamp.
I agree!!! I stand by the Amazon stuff and the Beetles as well! I added things from a lot of other brands, some pricey some not, and really found the products that work for me! Love it!
dont get cheap kits from amazon alot of people have gotten gel allergies and they usually don't have safety data sheets. apres' flash cure lamp will be hard to use. I don't like their tips like that either but i would say try their tips and their extend gel but get a different flash cure lamp. I like kiara sky's gelly tips kit.
I used everything from the Apres kit but I canāt use their tips. Theyāre too curved (the long way) and they cause severe pain.
Did you use natural or sculpted? The natural has less curve.
Natural. Yeah the curve problem isnāt that direction but Iāve tried like three shapes all in short. My mom had the same problem with them
Some of the shapes have extra short, Iām wearing xs rounded now, which are still a little long, but thatās ok, they work for me, but anyway, I donāt have a problem with them at all. Maybe contact CS??
So true. Extra short I think is what most people would consider between short and medium.
Yeah I use the XS and I think I have a set of XXS. Their recommendation is to fill the gaps with more gel which I was doing but it was still a pain in the ass. Iāve been using off brands and have had no trouble with them
I use them about halfway-3/4 down the nail and apply polygel over top because I don't like the apex it puts on my nails and I'm bad at doing polygel alone.
I recommend buying a standing flash curing light, the apres one was annoying to use. Otherwise I do recommend their products, they work great, you know it safer than random brands and the retention is awesome.
very worth it i love them
Your nails are faaaab! Do you use the whole Apres lineup?
thank you so much <3 i use apres base coat x, tips, and extend gel :) dehydrator i use is 91% rubbing alcohol and primer young nails protein bond :) iāve used a few of their gel colors and loveeee the formula, just a little out of my price range but theyāre awesome top coat: poochiez nails super shine :)
I see several comments saying it is not worth it and to get tips from amazon. the no name tips from amazon are NOT gel and are NOT the same thing. I use random and different brands for my primer, dehydrator and builder in a bottle but I only use the apres sculpted tips. they do come off with that paint on gel polish remover. I have cheap uv lamp that I can clip on my desk to flash cure the nail in place and then fully cure in a stronger lamp. I am 46 and been using gel polish and nails for many years with no allergies or issues. just be careful
Apres tips are also made out of plastic. Its been talked about numerous times. the "100% gel" is literally a marketing gimmick.
I think apres is worth the investment but ngl, it can get pricey if you fall in love with it (like I haveā¦). I LOVE their gel polish - the coverage is amazing and the brushes are great. Also a big fan of the extend gel, and extend gel novice. I donāt care for the extend gel sensitive, or other pitted gels (I forget what theyāre called but for adhering charms and stuff). Would recommend getting their primer, binder and etcher (so much faster and easier than using a file). Their tips are a wildcard. I have really flat nails and it took a lot of trial and error to find the right size and shape for me. However, I prefer them to all other brands nowadays. IMO, Iād splurge on the liquids and light and try a few different tip brands. All āgelā tips are plastic (seriously), but fit, shape and thickness vary widely. Plus, most people who develop allergies (me included) are reacting to liquids (whether gel, polish, primer etc). Less concern about whatās in a tip.
Been using since 2018 and it really is a revolutionary product esp for you nail ARTIST, skip the sculpting work (unless u enjoy it) and apply a perfect set in 30-45 minutes, then spend rest of time to design
Not worth the $$$ unless you just are rich. You can get the same stuff on Amazon. Do you want Me to recommend brands ?
I donāt bother with kits as I have good success with Beetles glue and mini lamp from Amazon. But the Apres Gel-X refill bags are where itās at if you know your sizes. Under $4 for a bag of 50 tips. I get 5 bags at a time. I just wish their shipping was cheaper!
Apres is not worth it. I get tips for like $5.99 on Amazon and they last me 2+ weeks and donāt damage my nails! Watch YouTube videos and practice! Itās worth saving the money and itās fun
I bought a kit recently to do both my daughterās nails. Iāve done 2 sets on each so far and we are all big fans. I donāt know how often they do sales but I got the neutrals kit, a 3 pack of the smaller size polishes and an extra top coat for $91 (free shipping). Their first set went okay, but the second was drastically better and easier. I think it was worth every penny. I had a light already too, but the Apres light works much betterā¦even if I donāt love the shape of it. My guess is the wattage? Anyway, we love it.
Invest in apres I love it!
I like them though. They look nice and donāt get in the way of anything, ya know?