Today there are many different gel polishes. However, most of them require an experienced hand. That is why manufacturers have released a single-phase gel polish, which is easier to use and can serve as a good start in using gels. The article describes in detail all the questions that may arise for a beginner who has decided to purchase this type of varnish.
Advantages and disadvantages
Pros:
- The composition of the gels does not contain harmful chemical components that harm the nail plate;
- A huge number of shades for every taste;
- All colors can be combined with each other and applied to each other, creating beautiful designs and patterns;
- Gels are applied in a denser layer than conventional varnishes, which further strengthens the plate and prevents it from breaking;
- Do not chip at the edges;
- The single-phase gel lasts about three weeks and does not lose its presentable appearance;
- The product allows air to pass through well, which allows the nail to breathe.
Minuses:
- Due to the great popularity of this product, there is a risk of purchasing a fake, which will cost the same as the original, but will be significantly inferior in quality. And, unfortunately, even professionals cannot determine the authenticity the first time;
- Despite the simplicity of applying a single-phase gel, it still requires some skill;
- The product is quite expensive even taking into account its cost-effectiveness.
Primer: why you need it, which one to choose, how to use it
Some masters consider this stage optional. But if there are no obstacles (for example, allergies), it is better to use a primer. It acts like double-sided tape, reliably adhering the material to the surface of the nail.
The primer also solves other problems: eliminates excess moisture, prevents the development of infections, degreases, and slightly dries the surface.
There are so-called acidic and acid-free products. In fact, both contain acids, but in the second their content is lower. This option is suitable for treating nails before applying polish.
And before applying single-phase extension gel, nails must be coated with an acid primer. It is important that the material does not come into contact with the skin. The product dries in air, it does not need a lamp. You can begin further stages of coating in a minute. But if more than half an hour has passed since applying the primer, the procedure must be repeated. Therefore, there is no point in covering all 10 nails before starting work.
The best brands
- CND Shellac
Description: The products of this brand were the first to be able to combine the properties of both varnish and gel. It fits easily and simply onto the plate, making it bright and shiny. It does not have a sharp unpleasant odor and, if desired, can be easily washed using a special product.
Price: 950 rub.
- In'Garden So naturally
Description: A very popular brand among both professionals and ordinary fans of this type of coating. The product is famous for its unique formula, which includes a large number of medicinal components. With their help, you can not only decorate your nails, but also significantly improve their quality. Even with non-professional home use, a manicure will not take more than thirty minutes.
Price: From 370 rub.
- Entity Beauty
Description: Quite a well-known American manufacturer of varnishes. The products of this company have a very dense coating, but there are no problems with its application. The varnish dries both with an LED lamp and with UV, but despite the drying method, it retains its durability for two weeks. The collection of shades itself is very rich and has more than 130 coating options.
Price: 750 rub.
- Jessica
Description: Jessica gel polishes are applied easily and simply without preliminary preparation of the nail plate before the coating itself. The wide palette of shades includes scarlet and burgundy tones and the entire palette of pink shades, ranging from delicate pastels to bright fuchsia, as well as dark tones. For lovers of bright, extravagant nails, there is a collection of neon shades. But the company does not stop there and continues to release new colors.
Price: 1150 rub.
- GelColor OPI
Description: The brand offers a palette of more than a hundred shades from the most delicate and neutral to the brightest. The products themselves are elastic gel polishes that are easy to apply, dry quickly even with low-power lamps and last up to three weeks without chipping, scuffing or peeling.
Price: From 1400 rub.
- Harmony Gelish
Description: Premium brand of gel polishes developed in Japan. They appeared on the Russian market in 2010 and won the love of gel polish fans throughout Russia and the CIS countries. Gelish is by far the widest palette, which has about 300 different shades.
Price: 870 rub.
- Just Gel IBD
Description: A company that produces the safest nail products. Thanks to its soft formula, it does not cause allergic reactions and plate delamination. The varnish contains ingredients that help maintain a long-lasting shine of the manicure, as well as prevent chipping and cracking of the coating.
Price: 815 rub.
Review of popular products
Which single-phase gel for nail extension is better? There is no definite answer to this question; each master has his own favorites. But we can highlight several products, the reviews of which are the most numerous.
- RuNail can be called one of the most popular. Available in several shades, it files and presses well, and is well suited for beginners. Course teachers often choose this material: nail extensions with RuNail single-phase gel are discussed step by step during training. It is suitable for professionals with a lot of traffic, and for those who only do their own nails. Low cost is one of the advantages of the product. A jar of 15 grams will cost on average 250-300 rubles.
- Formula Profi is a brand loved by many craftsmen. For a jar of single-phase gel “A-Profi” you will have to pay about 450 rubles. Once polymerized, the gel turns into a very durable monolith. It is easy to file and does not create a large amount of flying dust.
- UV Lina is a product that many craftsmen who are passionate about shopping on Chinese sites have become familiar with. The cost of one jar weighing 15 g is only about 100 rubles. Reviews about this product are extremely contradictory. Some claim that the single-phase gel for nail extension “Lina” copes with the tasks perfectly. But there are also those who warn potential buyers against the terrible smell, poor packaging, and allergic reactions.
- Cosmoprofi gel is available in several shades. It is loved by manicurists due to its comfortable consistency of medium viscosity, average price (350 rubles / 15 g), and good wearability.
- Irisk single-phase gels are praised by many for their lack of odor and large palette of shades. But in reviews, some note a runny texture, due to which the material tends to flow. Not everyone is happy that the time stated by the manufacturer is not enough for polymerization.
How to apply correctly
Despite the simplicity of applying single-phase varnish, it still requires some knowledge and skill:
- The first thing this type of manicure cannot do without is a manicure set, an LED lamp or, directly, the gel itself.
- Before applying, you should do a regular manicure by filing your nails and cutting off the cuticles.
- Then the nail plate is degreased with a special product.
- Apply a layer of gel and place your hand under the lamp. On average, the time it takes for the varnish to dry depends on the product itself, as well as on the power of the lamp, but usually a minute is enough.
- Treat the cover around the nails and cuticles with manicure oil and let it absorb.
Single-phase gel polish is a good help in learning how to make a manicure of incredible beauty and durability on your own. However, you should not focus only on it and over time it is better to dilute your collection with two-phase and three-phase varnishes.
The process of applying single-phase gel polish
Before applying any varnish to the surface of the nail, it must be put in order.
Soak your hands in warm water with sea salt for 15-20 minutes, remove the softened cuticle, treat the nail with a nail file, giving the desired shape. Be sure to dry your hands.
Sand the surface of the nail with a special file - a buff, so that the gel polish adheres better, and be sure to degrease it.
Please note that a UV lamp is required to fix the gel polish!
After the preparatory stage is completed, apply the first layer of the product to 4 nails (except the large one) and send them to the lamp for 2 minutes.
Then we do the same with the thumb. Apply a second layer and cure in ultraviolet rays. You need to keep your hand straight in the lamp so that the gel polish does not drip and lies flat.
By following these simple rules, you can extend the life of your manicure, because you can remove the gel polish only as it grows out, when you are not satisfied with the appearance of your nails or you want something new.
Reviews
Galina : “Recently I have been very lazy in terms of manicure and decided to make my choice in favor of a salon manicure. And since usually a simple polish, even if it is made of very, very high quality, chipped off after just a week and a half, and doing a salon manicure more than once a month is unreasonably expensive, I decided to choose long-lasting Shellac gel. It was recommended to me by the master himself, as the most original and canonical of all types of gel polish, since it was from this brand that fashion began. And indeed, I was more than satisfied with the quality and I wore it for a whole month, and only the length of my nails changed. But for myself, I realized that I prefer unusual varnishes with some kind of twist, and Shellac is more of the “timeless classic” category. Otherwise, I highly recommend this brand.”
Evgeniya : “I cannot call myself an experienced gel master, since so far I have only had the chance to try a few of their representatives, but I can say with confidence that even from this small varnish from the Entity company I fell in love with it for the rest of my life. So far there is only one shade in my modest collection, but it is simply incredibly beautiful! The varnish is not very pigmented and for a sufficiently dense color without gaps it is necessary to apply it in three layers, but I hasten to assure you that, although the number seems large, in reality it looks thin and neat. I wore the manicure for a week and it lasted well all that time, and then the color just became boring to me. The polish is removed with one strip using a special product from the same company, and after that the nails look just great.”
Maria : “I am the type of person who cannot wear the same polish for more than three days in a row. However, there are situations when it doesn’t work out any other way. This happened to me when I went on vacation, and it was not possible to take a whole manicure set with me into my suitcase, which was already bursting with too many things in it. It was then that gel polishes became a real find and salvation for me. As a result, the varnish lasted the entire rest, and this was despite almost constant exposure to sea salt water.”
Features of single-phase coating
The new long-lasting varnishes are perfect for use by professionals and at home. In this case, applying single-phase shellac is quite easy, which means a significant saving of time.
Manufacturers guarantee that nails will remain beautiful for more than a week; according to girls’ reviews, at least 10 days. Beautiful palettes are produced by the famous companies Bluesky, Masura and Patrisa Nail.
You can understand what it is, see the advantages of using it and what advantages the use of single-phase shellac provides from the reviews of craftsmen who work with it:
- The special formula does not require a base coat or sealing, so there is no need to purchase additional bottles from different companies. This significantly saves the master’s budget.
- There is no need to purchase expensive additional nail treatment products and tools, which means a reduction in manicure time.
- Some single-phase shellacs, such as Masura and Patrisa Nail, do not have a sticky layer. Immediately after drying, you can do your usual household chores.
- No need to apply multiple layers to enhance color intensity. Bluesky's dense single-phase shellac looks great after one coat.
- Maximum ease of use, which makes it possible to decorate nails at home.
Why does the gel bake in the lamp?
In reviews of single-phase nail extension gels, you can often find indignation about burning during drying. This occurs due to the fact that the material passes from one state of aggregation to another, crystal lattices are formed. Chemical processes are accompanied by the release of heat.
It is enough to simply reduce the lamp power (if this function is provided by the equipment manufacturer). When working with unregulated lamps, you can simply remove your hand for a few seconds, allowing the heated material to cool slightly. As soon as the gel “sets”, the burning sensation will go away.
It should be understood that this is not a lack of material, but a technological feature.
Useful recommendations from the pros
Materials for nail extensions and coating the plate with colored gel should not be low in cost. After using a low-quality product, you can find unpleasant consequences, so nail industry experts always recommend purchasing only high-quality materials, and not going by low prices, promotions and discounts.
You need to work at home with any polymer carefully, not forgetting about the preparatory procedures. Single-phase products can be applied only after priming the plate, focusing on the protective layer.
It is better to use acid-free primers for the nail bed; they have a more gentle composition. When purchasing, check the ingredients. For natural nails, use gel primer, ultrabond and primers without acid additives.
