TAMPA NAIL SALON

 GEL POLISH

 Fairy Tale Nail Polish Set - S&L Beauty Company

 Finally, the fun part. Pick your favorite gel colors or experiment with something new!

 SEE 100+ GEL POLISH COLORS

 HOW TO APPLY GEL NAIL POLISH: STEP BY STEP

 Pink gel manicure by S&L

 Applying gel nail polish is as much of a ritual as it is an art. We’ll take you through how to apply gel nail polish step-by-step to ensure that your at-home manicure or pedicure is absolutely foolproof. Here’s a complete, step-by-step guide on how to apply gel polish:

 1) CUT AND FILE NAILS

 gel manicure by nail tech

 Source: Pexels

 The first step to a beautiful gel mani is shaping your nails. Use a nail clipper to trim them to the size and shape you want, then use a nail file to round out the edges for smooth application.

 2) PUSH CUTICLES DOWN AND APPLY CUTICLE OIL

 nail tech applying cuticle oil

 Source: Pexels

 Hydration is key for nail health. You should be using cuticle oil daily, but particularly in combination with gel polish.

 Use a cuticle pusher to push your cuticles back and make more of your nail visible. Use it to also remove dead skin from your nail plate and to help maintain even cuticles.

 Then, apply cuticle oil to nourish the skin surrounding your nails.

 One thing to be careful of is not to apply oil too late in the process. If there is any oily residue still on your nails when you apply polish, the base coat will have trouble adhering.

 3) BUFF YOUR NAILS

Tampa Nail Salon

 nail tech buffing nails

 Source: Pexels

 Buffing your nails helps to make sure the surface is smooth for application, and primed to bond with the gel.

 4) CLEAN NAILS

 nail tech cleaning nails

 Source: Pexels

 Clean your nails thoroughly with rubbing alcohol or cleanser to allow the polish to adhere directly to your natural nail. Any impurities, such as remaining cuticle oil or dust particles, can cause the polish to lift prematurely.

 Clean your nails thoroughly with rubbing alcohol or cleanser to allow the polish to adhere directly to your natural nail. Any impurities, such as remaining cuticle oil or dust particles, can cause the polish to lift prematurely.

 5) APPLY BASE COAT

 nail tech applying base coat

 Source: Pexels

 Now for your first layer of polish. Use a good gel base coat. This will ensure that the polish adheres properly and lasts as long as possible.

 Apply a thin coat over the whole nail, then cure each nail under a UV lamp or LED light to dry it. You’ll want to cure your base coat for at least 30 seconds to a minute before continuing to ensure that it has thoroughly dried.

 Also, make sure to seal the open edges, or cap the free edge, as this process is called. Capping the free edge means to paint over the edge of your nail so that this protective layer gives your nail a chip-free resistant finish.

 Ideally, this process should be done on each layer to ensure the strongest hold.

 6) APPLY GEL POLISH

 s&l gel polish