I have always loved doing my nails. I guess it started when I was a teenager in the mid eighties to early nineties. Who could resist neon, day-glo nails, right? At that point, it was all home polishing. Sometime in the nineties, my ex-sister in law introduced me to acrylic nails. She was the first person to take me to a nail salon. At this time, it was the powder acrylic stuff. I didn’t mind. I loved how my nails were so pretty, shiny and hard. And fell in love with the French tip manicure.
Fast forward a few years, and I discover gel manicures! OMG!! Love, love, love. I was very regular in getting my square oval, French manicure gel nails done every two weeks. The nail tech was the sister of a good friend of mine. So I felt very comfortable.
I went religiously for years, until my health got in the way. I was diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH is an autoimmune disease where my body attacks my liver instead of foreign germs or viruses.) I was put on high dose steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Well, these drugs played with my body and made my nails start rejecting the gel and making my nails itchy and red (like an allergic reaction.) I was devastated. I loooved my nails. I got my tech to soak off the nails and just left them au natural.
At one point in the last year, I tried to go have them done and was just scared to death. First, the nail place used a drill. I would wince when he/she got close to the sides of my nails. I have to be very careful about sores, knicks, bleeding, etc, because I get infections so easily. I even asked for the regular file and it would still make me nervous. The gel did not make me itchy or red, so I guess that was one thing in my favor.
I have an obsession with nail art, nail polish and everything nails. I figured that I can try and do this at home. So being the over obsessed that I am, I took to FaceBook, YouTube, Pinterest and Google to find out about doing them from my home.
I researched nail lamps, gel systems and polishes. But keeping in mind of the amount of money I had in the budget to make this happen. LED, UV, Gelish, IBD, acrylic, gel, which polishes cure with LED, chrome nails, holo…… aaaaackkk. Terms and names all swirling around in my head. Many nights when I couldn’t sleep (steroid insomnia), I would plug in my earbuds and just search away.
So I finally took the step and went on Amazon to check prices. I first looked at UV/LED lamps. Certain gels only cured with UV light and certain only cured with LED. Really, more decisions??? I looked for a week and finally made my decision. I read reviews everywhere. For the amount I wanted to spend, I found one that looked right for me.
I ordered the Perfect Summer Professional 36W UV LED light nail dryer curing lamp for Gel Nail Polish in Pink. I bought it for $32.99 with free shipping right after Thanksgiving. Alright! One item down, a billion (seemingly) to go.
Next was to look for a starter gel manicure system that was easy enough for someone like me to be able to perform on myself. My nail tech used IBD items, but holy moly, the price on that! I then looked at Gelish and Sensational. After reading a gazillion reviews, I decided to go with the Gelish system. After pricing items separately, I decided a starter kit was the best and economic way to go. I went to my trusty Amazon, and found Gelish Complete Basix Gel Nail polish kit package. I had mini bottles of everything I would need to get started. It even came with a little baggie of tools! This kit had the ph Bond, Foundation, Top Coat, Cuticle oil, Nail Cleanser and Gel remover. The little baggie of tools had an orange stick, a nail file and a couple of other things. This kit was $30.95 with free shipping. I also ordered this right after Thanksgiving.
Along with that order, I ordered a pot (.5 oz) of Gelish Soak Off Gel nail polish structure gel. I knew my nails are very weak and thought that I may need this to add some strength to my nails. That was $13.00.
I received all my items within a week. I also purchased 70% alcohol for a buck or two, as I read that this can be used instead of the nail cleanser. You can buy this at any drugstore or retail store like Target. I also purchased 100% pure acetone for 4 or 5 dollars at Sally Beauty.
Ok, so now I’m set right? Well, not so much. I have to make room on my desk, clean things up, organize, had my gall bladder removed, Christmas with the family….. Every day stuff! So here it is, Christmas Eve, and I am ready to experiment. I was missing two things, a lamp (like for me to see with because the lighting is horrible) and a nail polish.
Me being the Nervous Nellie that I am, I went and wrote down the steps that had to be done for the manicure. I decided that I would try it out on one nail. My poor little pointer finger on my left hand that the nail just broke during the week. So I straightened, removed the cuticle, cleaned. Now Im ready to do the real stuff. I put on the pH bond. Nothing doing. Oh crap, now here is the foundation that I will have to cure. How long? Ugh? Not sure…. I read two or three different things and one said 10 sec, one 30 and one 60. I put the foundation and put it in the lamp for 30 sec. I was so scared to touch it, so I told myself, “What the heck, another 30 seconds couldn’t hurt.” Another 30 seconds it went. I took it out. I was so nervous. I forgot to cap my nail. Oh no! Here you would normally put on your two coats of gel polish. I didn’t have any and I was just experimenting. I put on the top coat and remembered to cap my nail this time. I put in my nail for 60 sec. Then another 60 sec for good measure. It came out and I touched it and knew it was supposed to be tacky. I took some of the alcohol in a piece of paper towel and wiped the heck out of that nail. After, it was so shiny and hard. I was so proud of myself!!! Yay me!!!
This is going to be my test nail to see how long it will stay. Now, I will try another finger with polish. I read that you can use regular polish, so that is my next experiment. Wish me luck!
Next post will be my "FRANKEN" HAND experiment!!
Have an awesome day!
Mel
@1000littlesparkles on IG
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| My first try at the Gelish system on my little nub. Dec 24 2016 |
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| My not so little nub after about 2 weeks after application. Jan 6 2017. |
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