3 AT HOME GEL POLISHES THAT ACTUALLY ROCK

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I love a good Gel Nail... in fact I only wear gel polish because traditional polish doesn't last in my line of work. Water and nail polish don't get along so well!

I began wearing gel as soon as the industry introduced it on a large scale. The colors were limited and expensive, plus they required a UV light to cure. But, it was the first time in my professional life I had been able to wear polish at the hair salon- so I was stoked!

Fast forward a few years and the at-home version finally emerged... no light required, and [almost] the same long lasting results. (I typically get about 10 days of wear and just a few minor chips.)

The technology is still improving so who knows what the next big advance will be!? But until then, here are my

top three tried and true at-home gel polishes.

The key to a good gel nail is all in the prep work before hand

. To start be sure you've washed your hands to remove any excess oil. Next

push back your cuticles

to ensure the polish won't touch any skin. If it does touch the cuticle you'll most likely have lifting. Third,

buff the nail bed slightly

to roughen up the surface, making for better adhesion. 

Apply the coats as thinly as possible

and allow a couple minutes drying time in between coats. Thick layers are prone to peeling and lifting, so keep em' thin peeps. 

Lastly, speed up your cure time by hopping out in to the sun for a few minutes, or paint your nails next to an open window. It's not required, but

bright UV light will aid in the curing time

and strength of your manicure. 

Happy painting! xo

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