How to do your own gel manicure at home

Gel nail polish has truly revolutionised the world of manicures. First of all, a gel polish will make your nails look gloriously glossy; then there’s the whole long-lasting factor, with a gel manicure usually lasting up to two weeks without chipping.
So what if you want to achieve that salon-quality result without actually leaving your house? A DIY gel manicure is incredibly easy to do once you've got the right tools and a handy step-by-step to guide you through the process.
Using the SensatioNail Starter Kit, here's how to do your own gel manicure:
Step one:

File and lightly buff clean, natural nails.
Step two:

Wipe your nails clean using a lint-free wipe and the SensationNail Gel Cleanser.
Step three:

Apply one coat of the Gel Primer on your nails and allowed it to air dry.
Step four:

Next, I apply a thin layer of the Gel Base & Top Coat and ‘cap’ your nails by running the brush along your nail tips. Then, pop your nails under the LED lamp provided for 30 seconds to let your nails cure (in other words, to let the coat set.)
REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT: don’t get the Gel Base & Top Coat on your skin or cuticles. Once cured, this layer will harden on your skin. After a few hours it will come off, but it will most definitely effect the quality of your manicure and will leave rough edges. So be very careful to apply it only on your nails.
Step five:

Time for colour! Paint one thin layer of the coloured Gel Polish (I picked Blue Yonder, a gorgeous navy), again being sure to avoid your cuticles and skin. Then, put my fingers under the lamp for 60 seconds, apply a second coat of colour, and cure them under the lamp for another 60 seconds.
Step six:

Once the colour is done, apply a final thin coat of the Gel Base & Top Coat and cap your nails, and cure my nails for a final 30 seconds.
Step seven:

To finish off, use another lint-free wipe with gel cleanser to remove the layer of moisture on your nails.
The application process is pretty quick and easy – it didn’t take me longer than 15 minutes to do it all. Plus, there was no pesky drying time, which is a huge bonus for those who hate waiting for their polish to dry properly.
In terms of the results, you'll notice that gorgeously glossy finish you love about a salon gel manicure. That shiny finish should last all the way up until you have to remove the gel polish (after about two weeks).
And FYI: you can really put my nails through their paces to test the chip-free finish, and you'll notice nothing – not even frequent hand washing or package opening – will affect the quality finish on your nails.
Have you ever done your own gel manicure at home? Would you like to try it?
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...
How to remove a gel manicure at home |
Learn how to shape your own brows |
How to make your own beauty remedies at home |
Tips to help you dye your hair at home |
Steps to soothe sensitive skin |
Have you seen how cool the Jurlique farm is?! |
135 Member Comments
Many steps! How much time you need to go through all of them? Might becaesier to have nails done professionally. On the other hand it could be a nice to play with my friends using this little machine
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Love the super shiny results
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Me wants! And it is easy!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
looks so easy to do at home but I don't think my nails would turn out as great
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
wow.. you can do it at home..they make it look so easy!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I love how well gel manicures last, but I don't love how much damage my nails have exhibited after having them - months and months of weak, brittle nails that constantly break. I've unfortunately had to stop having any of them and returned to regular nail polishes
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
i hope its easy to do at home :)
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
No way I am using Gel polish. I have thin and week nails. The idea of scrapping nail polish of my naisl scare the sh*t out of me.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I think it's great there are at-home kits available for us mortals, however I love that there are UV-free gel products available too!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
The nails in the photo look perfect.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Being so so so obsessed with my nails, this seems like a fantastic investment for me. I'm thinking of asking for it as a christmas present and then giving you all my reviews!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I tried this and found the gel base and top coat wasn't shiny enough as a top coat and came off when you do the final cleanse. Also I find it really difficult to remove and damaged my nails. I now use Gelish instead and this is much better
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
My sensationail barely lasted a few days - and i followed it to a tee. I call crap on this.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
So nice to be able to do these things at home
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
A great machine to have at home, so handy and will save time and money
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Need to get one of these. Normal nail polish never last 5mins without chipping on me!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
That's awesome and convenient for all.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
love it! I did shellac in the salon myself (as a part of health center as a trainer I had an access!), would love to have this one at home. gel/shellac nails are perfect
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
Please let me try this! My salon Shellac habit is making me poor!
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
This looks like a fantastic product but I've read that it might not be good for weak and fragile nails like mine.
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
I would love to try it, is it easy to remove
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0
This looks fun :)
- Log in or register to commentReply to comment
- Likes 0