Gel polish for beginners: how to choose, types of application, palette, myths

The magic of charm » Beauty

Gel polish is a system that combines a varnish coating and a gel, which is responsible for the durability of the composition. Almost none of the modern types of manicure can be done without applying this product. With its help, craftsmen create unique designs that reflect the character and mood of the client. However, before you begin your acquaintance with gel polishes, you need to understand what they really are and how to work with this material correctly.

What is gel polish

Gel polish is a relatively new coating used in the nail industry. It is very popular among consumers because it has unique characteristics:

A huge selection of colors - from flashy bright shades to calm nudes;
Resistance to external factors - with it you can relax at sea or wash dishes without fear that the coating will crack, peel off or lose its original shine;
Durability – gel polish lasts on the nail for several weeks;
Under the coating, nails grow faster (the choice of a professional is also important here);
The composition is non-toxic and mostly hypoallergenic;
Protects nails from brittleness.

At its core, gel polish is a plastic varnish coating that is easy to apply (like regular varnish), but requires ultraviolet light to cure. The composition is successfully used not only for salon manicures, but also at home.

The main arguments in choosing to cover nails with gel polish are its resistance to external factors, ease of application, and quick drying using an ultraviolet lamp.

Set of shellac varnishes

A shellac polish set that lacks a lamp and other necessary items is harder to find. More often they come in basic or professional configurations. In the first case it is 1-5 colors, in the second it is 5-10 shades plus other compositions needed for manicure.

BlueSky only has a set of 5 flower beds designed for making patterns.

Shellac polish set from BlueSky

It includes white, black, pink, gold and silver shades. There are sets for French makeup, which include 2 shades of shellac, a base and a top.

Inexpensive Chinese manufacturers offer larger sets of polymerizing varnishes, for example:

HNM NAIL GEL POLISH – 4 flower beds, top and base coats;
BUKAKI ZHG88 – 3 shades of varnish, glitter product, black gel paint, base and top;
FAIRYGLO FG-7ML-S-ANY3 FG-7ML-BT – 3 colors of varnish, base, top, manicure accessories.

HNM NAIL GEL POLISH

Usually the volume of bubbles is 7 ml, which is very beneficial for beginners. But if you want variety, you should buy varnishes separately. Otherwise, with flower bed kits, you purchase items that you may already have at home.

Types of gel polish application

Gel polish can be applied in three ways:

Single-phase system - base, color and top coat are in one bottle (3 in 1). Suitable for home use. This type of application will last no more than 1-2 weeks.
Two-phase system - color coating and top or base. This type of application is more durable than single-phase.
Three-phase – base, color coating, top. Each coating is applied in a separate layer, ensuring a longer wearing period of the manicure.

The most popular is the three-phase system. This is exactly what you will be offered in any salon. It is suitable for everyone, unlike single-phase. One or two phases of applying gel polish are not recommended for brittle, brittle nails.

Base Coat Options

The most common coating option is the three-phase system. The first phase is to apply the base coat. It is simply prohibited to exclude this item, since without it the coverage will not last even a day. But the goal is long-term wearing. For a quality manicure, this step cannot be skipped.

It is worth noting that the bases are colorless and colored. Gel polish kits for beginners usually include colorless ones. They are able to level the nail plate well.

The most common product is the Bluesky brand. It is inexpensive and of fairly high quality. But it is not thick enough in comparison with its competitor such as “KODI”. When choosing this coating, even beginners should give preference to rubber products. The basic set for gel polish manicure usually includes products from the Bluesky brand.

Palette for beginners

The gel polish palette for beginners must necessarily consist of basic shades - black, white, red. It is also necessary to have several subtle tones, such as dusty pink or sky blue. At the initial stage of work, it is not worth purchasing many colors, ranging from bright and flashy to unusual and rare. Once you start practicing your skills, you yourself will understand which shades you need to purchase, based on the wishes of your clients. Try to update your assortment every month.

A novice master should have in his arsenal:

white thick varnishes for French manicure;
natural shades for French manicure;
red, burgundy colors;
black, gray shade - base color;
pink shades;
blue, light blue;
yellow, green dense color;
gold gel polish;
silver color.

This small set is enough for the first steps. Later, you can understand exactly what your job requires by assessing the individual wishes of your clients.

Season

Spring

In spring, delicate shades are popular, as well as classic red (34 and 35 in Lovely).

Pastel and milky shades (Milk Shake collection).

You can choose one of these shades at your discretion:

Lovely No. 003 is a cool pale pink color with a pronounced density - one of the most popular classic shades, ideally combined with any clothes and look.

Lovely No. 005 - a beige shade in a neutral palette will not leave anyone indifferent.

Lovely No. 006 - a delicate creamy pastel shade will look spectacular on any hands.

Lovely No. 016 - a classic warm pink shade will suit everyone who misses the lightness of spring.

Lovely No. 018 is a bright, summery, delicious peach shade. Ideal when you want sun and warmth.

Lovely #019 is a light and airy eggshell color.

Lovely No. 046 is a slightly muted mint blue color that is ideal for a summer manicure.

Lovely No. 047 - the color of an emerald drop dissolved in white, ideal for a vacation in tropical countries.

Lovely No. 048 - sea green color is ideal for the beach season.

Lovely No. 052 - delicate blue color - like a breath of fresh air.

Lovely No. 027 is a classic rich purple color ideal for an evening out.

Life hack: to get a more blurry color, you can use a clinser.

Summer In summer, in addition to white, black, red and shiny, neon colors (31, 45, 18, 19, 20, 22, 26, 59, 129) are popular.

If you like natural colors, then you can use the camouflage base or 75 and 78 classic collections.

Autumn

Autumn shades of gel polishes are calmer - these are all nude and pastel colors (from 1 to 20 the classic collection, the more popular are all shades of brown 3, 6, 9 and 10, 12, 65). Dark burgundy 42 and 037, and 131, 134 - brown. Marsala. Cat's eye, Northern lights. 062 looks beautiful on short nails.

Winter

Glitter gel polishes are in demand at this time of year.
The Starlight collection will help you save a lot, since the same gel polish on different substrates looks completely different, so we recommend purchasing a couple of bottles of this collection. Before the New Year, golden shades (67 and 68 classic), as well as red with shimmer 69, are in demand. Blue and light blue colors, you can take a closer look at deep blue with sparkles 99 and 100.

The most popular brands of gel polishes

When choosing gel polish, experienced and novice artists rely on the following criteria:

Optimal combination of price and quality;
Correct consistency;
Pigmentation – the higher the better;
The shape and length of the brush, its quality - 50% of how the varnish lies on the nail depends on the brush;
Availability of positive reviews about the product;
Wide palette.

Based on these points, the most popular brands today are:

Tartiso

Medium consistency, comfortable brush, easy application. The varnish is highly pigmented, so it is quite economical to use. Suitable for both salon and home use.

Bliss

Budget category of gel polishes, characterized by high quality coating. A wide palette and high pigmentation allow this brand to compete equally with more expensive companies.

TNL

Medium price varnish. The texture is liquid, the pigmentation is medium. To obtain a rich shade, you need to apply 2-3 layers. The brush is comfortable, but short.

Nail Best

Highly pigmented varnishes. Can be applied in one layer. The texture is medium, homogeneous, fits well on the nail.

Naomi

Average price category. Dense, uniform texture, non-streaking, easy to apply. The shades are bright - two layers of application are enough. Thanks to the rich palette, you can choose unusual options and add them to your assortment to the delight of your customers.

Bluesky

Reasonable combination of price and quality. Varnishes in the mid-price category have medium density, are uniform, and do not leave streaks. The brand's wide palette includes more than 500 shades and is widely used by craftsmen around the world.

Atica

A quality product at an affordable price. The high pigmentation of the gel allows it to be applied in one layer. It doesn't smudge and is easy to apply. Ideal for beginner manicurists.

Kodi

A popular brand that is successfully used by both beginners and professionals. Dense texture, high pigmentation. Combine well with topcoats and topcoats from other manufacturers.

Nail design

Once your fingers are decorated with a classic finish, you can think about their design. You can decorate your nails in several ways:

Painting with a brush. Beginners who decide to try to paint a monogram on a surface should give preference to brushes with long bristles. Another important point in this method is the use of the most dense varnishes. Inexpensive and fairly thick gel polishes are representatives of the IRISK brand.
Sliders. This method of decorating a coating is quite simple. Simply cut the slider to the shape of your nail, hold it for a minute on a wet cotton pad, detach the top thin layer from the thick paper layer and apply it to the nail. At this stage, there are several features of laying sliders. If the artist uses varnish with a sticky layer, then the slider should be applied directly to it, then covered with a base and dried in a lamp. If the specialist uses a top coat without a sticky layer, you must first coat the nail with a base coat, then apply the slider. After baking in the lamp, the slider is covered with another layer of base. Next comes the top coat, and a picture of any theme is already painted on the nail.
Stickers. They are the easiest to apply. It is enough to stick the selected element, cover it with a top coat and dry it.

In addition to these methods, experienced specialists use volumetric elements. These include broths, fimo and 3D stickers.

What to look for when choosing gel polish

To ensure that a fresh manicure does not peel off or crack after a few days, it is important to buy only high-quality products from trusted suppliers. For example, a wide range of gel polishes is presented in the ParisNail online store, which can be found at the link https://parisnail.ru/catalog/gely-lak-shellak-vse-marki/.

When purchasing gel polish, pay attention to the following details:

The composition is thick, but not sticky - a good gel polish fits perfectly in one layer and looks rich at the same time;
Uniform texture, without lumps or streaks - when applied, the composition does not leave unevenness, streaks or inclusions;
The composition of the varnish should not contain hazardous components - dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde. Adding vitamins or micronutrients is welcome
The packaging has no chips or damage . It is tightly closed, the expiration date is current - remember, using an expired product will not only ruin your manicure, but can also cause serious harm to your health;
The bristles on the brush are even, do not come out and do not fray;
The varnish does not dry without using a lamp;
The packaging has a batch code, manufacturer, country - if there is no information on the bottle, as well as a barcode, most likely it is a fake ;
Stickers and fonts on the jar are of high quality - no mistakes or smudges are allowed.

A high-quality gel polish should be safe, non-allergenic and have a glossy shine. Also pay attention to its price. A good, high-quality product cannot cost a penny and that’s a fact. The final price of the bottle is determined by the country of origin (varnish from foreign manufacturers is much more expensive than domestic brands), composition and brand popularity. Analyze the data and think about how much the stated price corresponds to reality.

Mixing colors using the color wheel

The second thing the color wheel is used for is mixing colors to get the desired shade . Mixing varnishes will be problematic - they dry quickly, but paints, gel polishes, gel paints or colored gels mix easily, which allows you to get a large palette and make the desired design.

I have already talked about how secondary and tertiary colors are obtained by mixing. You can always make a color darker or lighter by adding white and black in different proportions. This way you can get colors from one sector of the color wheel.

It is worth remembering that opposite colors on the color wheel can be used in a design, but not mixed together, as this will result in a muddy color that does not look good on the nails.

Common myths about gel polishes: true or not

After wearing gel polish for a long time, your nails become brittle

This statement is a myth. In fact, gel polish does not affect the nail plate in any way; on the contrary, it helps to grow long, beautiful nails. They can become brittle due to a lack of vitamins and microelements in the body, or when the master does not have sufficient experience and knowledge.

Gel polish is harmful to health

Many women are afraid to use the composition due to its frightening composition. Yes, varnishes are not made from natural components of plant origin, but this does not mean that something terrible will definitely happen after it gets on your nails. Gel polish, of course, if it is of high quality and is not a fake, will not cause any harm to health.

Gel polish should not be used by pregnant and lactating women

There are always a lot of “don’ts” hovering around a pregnant woman. You cannot dye your hair, you cannot cut your hair, you cannot play sports, you cannot cover your nails with gel polish, etc. But we hasten to please you. You can paint your nails. The varnish does not have any negative effect on the fetus, milk or the general well-being of the woman. Nails are dead tissue, and besides, the body’s protective barrier (immunity) always guards our health. The components of the gel cannot penetrate the skin, blood, or dissolve in the body after its application.

You should not do a gel polish manicure too often. You need to give your nails a rest

Believe me, your nails are not tired of painting them. They just don't know how to do it. It is important to understand that nails cannot “breathe,” as many people like to say, and they do not need rest. If you perform a manicure correctly and use high-quality materials, you do not risk being left without nails or spoiling their quality, even with constant coloring.

However, if your technician sees undesirable changes in the nail plate after removing the coating, he may recommend that you take a break. Practicing nail industry experts recommend in such cases to refrain from coloring for up to 105 days. During this period, your nails will be completely renewed.

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About black and white flowers

Black and white colors are not on the color wheel because they are achromatic colors, meaning they are not colored. This also includes sulfur colors and their shades. The beauty of black and white colors is that they harmoniously combine with any of the colors on the color wheel, and you should pay attention to the contrast of the chosen colors, this has already been mentioned above. Black and white, as well as their shades, can be added to any of the previously listed schemes, thus obtaining up to 5 color combinations.

Lighting nuances

When choosing colors for a manicure, you should also remember the effect of lighting on color.

Outdoor daylight gives your nail polish a warmer hue,
When illuminated by a lamp indoors, the varnish will look, on the contrary, colder,
In summer, it is customary to use brighter colors, since daylight hours are longer and natural light predominates; in winter, the opposite is true.

Consider the texture of the varnish or coating

The texture of the varnish can also affect the perception of color. For example, translucent pearlescent varnishes in the sun and in the shade are completely different colors. And if you apply pearlescent varnish over a colored one, it will also change its shade. Thus, it can be used to create new color combinations.

The same works for other textures. A matte surface will dull the color. The sand texture of the varnish works on the same principle.

Versatile nude shades

The natural look trend has remained in trend for more than one season. The universal nude will be loved in 2022. A soft pink manicure is considered as an everyday option. Choose beige, thick or translucent milky gel polish.

Nails of any shape and different length can be safely covered with nude shades.
Nails of delicate colors look stylish if the shade is matched to your skin tone.
The colors are suitable for everyday office work, or for a romantic meeting.

Camouflage gels look natural. Thanks to its translucent shade, the coating imitates the natural color of the nail plate.

Black for the leader

Matte or glossy black is used as a base layer and for mixing with contrasting white, pale pink, and blue.

A matte finish is applied to short, square-shaped nails. The gloss will decorate both medium-length and long almond-shaped nails. Black stiletto nails are especially beautiful. The owner of such a manicure will never be deprived of attention.

How to remove nail polish

The correct answer is using a special nail polish remover. The classic version is a liquid in a bottle, but today this product is also available in the format of cleansing wipes, as well as in the form of a special sponge soaked in nail polish remover. But what to do if you don’t have any of this at hand?

A product with a high alcohol content will help remove polish. The best way to do the job is with medical alcohol: place your nails in a bowl of alcohol and wait a little.

© essie
Read also: Why nails turn yellow after shellac and what to do
In some cases, toothpaste can help you out, but it will take some effort. It is better if the toothpaste is whitening, it will cope better with color pigments.
Try also using vinegar and adding a squeeze of lemon. This is not the most beneficial composition for the skin, so this method should only be used as a last resort.

© essie

How to dilute nail polish

As a rule, the shelf life of varnish ranges from six months to three years (depending on its composition). But what to do if your favorite varnish thickens ahead of time? We know several ways to save him!

Place the tightly sealed bottle of polish into a bowl of hot water and wait a couple of minutes. Under the influence of heat, the texture of the varnish will become more liquid, and you will be able to do a manicure without problems. However, before the next use this action will have to be repeated.

Add some micellar water

Add a couple of drops of micellar water to the bottle of polish and shake it well. But please note: the product should not contain oils!

Use a special thinner

Most often, the varnish is diluted with a liquid to remove it, which, if you think about it, is quite pointless. Instead, use a special thinner. Yes, you will have to spend money, but with its help you can save more than one polish.