Single-phase gel polish: what is it, how does it differ from three-phase, two-phase, step-by-step application and removal technique

Single-phase gel polish is a color coating that is applied in 1 step, that is, without base and top, and then dried in a lamp. It looks good on nails with a smooth surface, without defects, and not very long. Flower beds come in enamel, transparent, dense color, shimmer, mother-of-pearl, and thermo.

Before applying gel polish, it is enough to perform a manicure, buff, degrease and coat your nails with primer. If you follow the technique, the coating will last 2-2.5 weeks. A single-phase product saves time and money, since flower beds cost 170-300 rubles. The best are produced by TNL, Masura, Patrisa Nail, Solomeya, Irisk Professional, RuNail.

Single-phase gel polish: characteristics, what it is

Single-phase gel polish is a three-in-one color polymerizing coating, that is, used without a base and top. Such products have several characteristics that three-phase and two-phase liquids do not have:

Good adhesion. Single-phase nail polishes adhere tightly to the surface of the nails, so no base is applied underneath them.
The ability to protect the plate from pigment penetration. This quality also allows them to be applied to “bare” nails.
Durability. This property eliminates the need to use a topcoat.
Bright shine. The quality also makes applying topcoat unnecessary.

Single-phase gel polish is a product whose usage algorithm is similar to regular varnish. But, unlike the latter, it is dried in a lamp, so the design is worn for up to 2-2.5 weeks.

Single-phase shellac comes in different colors. After applying to the nails and drying, it always has a glossy surface.

Advantages of single-phase gel polish

Single-phase gel polishes are in demand, as their use is associated with many advantages:

The composition of the products is such that it does not harm the nails. It also contains natural ingredients.
No need to buy base and top. This allows you to save money, as well as space on your dressing table or nail technician’s workbox.
Performing a manicure with it will take less time. After all, you won’t need to level and gloss your nails using a finish.
The palette of shades is no less than that of three-phase flower beds. It has pastel and bright colors.
The coating is polymerized under ultraviolet and LED lamps. The drying time is the same as for regular gel polishes; it is indicated on the bottle.
The coating is thinner than when using three-phase devices. This makes the appearance neater, the growth of nails more aesthetic, and also reduces the likelihood of chipping.
The coating is more reliable than when using conventional varnishes that are washed off with solvents. And this makes the plates stronger and less likely to break off.
Flower beds can be used for natural and extended nails. In the latter case, a moderate thickness of the coating will make them more natural.
The single-phase connection is removed easier and faster. It is enough to soak it with a special liquid and remove it with an orange stick.

What criteria are taken into account when compiling the rating?

When compiling a rating of cosmetics, as well as when allocating places in it, our experts take into account many factors:

The consistency of the drug and the degree of its viscosity, convenience and ease of use.
Manufacturer brand reputation.
Availability of the product – availability in brick-and-mortar and online stores.
The time required for one layer of single-phase polymer to harden under the light of a lamp.
Approximate time to wear manicure.
The presence or absence of a pungent odor of the gel.
The presence or absence of substances beneficial for nails in the composition of the product.
Value for money of a cosmetic product.
Packaging volume.
Reviews of women and girls who used a specific single-phase gel at home on their own.
Opinion of specialists, manicurists and nail art specialists.

What is three-phase gel polish, two-phase, how do they differ?

Three-phase gel polish differs from single-phase gel polish in the need to apply a base coat under the first product, and a topcoat on top.

Thus, the manicure is done in 3 stages, not counting the preparation of the nails and the polymerization of each product. The coating consists of 4 layers:

a base that serves as protection and strengthening for the plates, ensuring adhesion of the gel polish to them;
2 layers of flower bed to make the shade brighter and without streaks;
top for protecting gel polish from damage, giving it shine or matte.

Sometimes the first product is applied twice to level the surfaces of the plates. Then there are 5 layers. Each one must be dried in a lamp.

Single-phase and three-phase gel polish means that the first product should be used without a base and top, and the second necessarily requires the application of a base coat and a topcoat. Otherwise, the flower bed will quickly fly off the nails, and before that it will not have that attractive appearance that a high-quality manicure has.

In some cases, applying a three-phase coating is cumbersome, and not only because of the additional waste of time. For example, with strong, thick nails, the coating looks unnatural and unsightly, because layers of products increase the thickness. When built up, a three-phase unit can also look rough and unnatural. And artificial nails do not need additional strengthening. For these reasons, when building up, single-phase coating is more suitable.

Two-phase gel polish requires the use of a finishing agent over it, that is, it is applied in 2 stages. In this case, a base is not needed. The two-phase unit already contains its components. These gel polishes can be applied in 1 or 2 layers for a dense shade. The top is used matte or glossy.

How not to run into a fake

To avoid unknowingly purchasing a low-quality fake, pay attention to the distinctive features inherent in original gel polishes:

1. Labels on product bottles must be stamped neatly and clearly. Curved and blurry images are a clear sign of a fake. Additional protective wrappers or stickers that make it difficult to read the basic information are also a common trick of counterfeit manufacturers.

2. Original varnishes are marked with a laser - it will be difficult to remove such an inscription. On fake packaging, information about the batch number and barcode are printed using conventional printing and are easily erased.

3. On the back of the bottle there must be a sticker with information about the manufacturer, composition and method of use. If a reverse double sticker is provided, then its parts must be connected and not simply stuck on top of one another.

4. Branded products have a light, almost imperceptible aroma. The presence of a pungent chemical odor is unacceptable and is a clear sign of a counterfeit or simply low-quality product.

5. Do not be tempted by the cheapness of the purchased product - the price tag of the original cannot be 2-3 times lower than the average market price.

Problematic distribution and low durability of manicure are not the worst consequences of buying fake gel polishes. Fake products often contain formaldehyde, lead, arsenic and heavy metals. These toxins not only destroy nails, but can provoke serious allergic reactions or cause general poisoning of the body.

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Single-phase gel polish: step-by-step application technique

The step-by-step technique for applying single-phase gel polish is as follows:

Nails are prepared for coating. You need to use a file to shape them, remove the keratinized part of the cuticle and clean the pterygium, and also sand the skin around the plates. If errors remain in this part, it will be difficult to correct them after applying the coating, and the coating may be damaged.
The surfaces of the nails are polished with a buff. It must be even, because a base is not used here, and it will not be possible to correct the depressions and bumps with a flower garden.
The nails are wiped with a degreaser, and after it dries, a primer is applied. This stage cannot be skipped, otherwise the single-phase compound will quickly begin to chip off the nails in pieces.
The bottle of gel polish should be gently rolled in your palms for a couple of minutes. This will give the product a more uniform consistency and make it easier to apply.
Paint the nail with the first layer of gel polish. It should be thin and uniform across the entire plate.
The product is polymerized. The usual time is 30 seconds with an LED lamp, and 2 minutes with a UV dryer. But it can be more, you need to look at the instructions for the flower garden.
Apply a second layer of gel polish. It should also be thin and uniform along the entire length.
All that remains is to polymerize the product. If it has a sticky residual layer, remove it with a cleaner after 1-2 minutes.

After the 5th step, you can use acrylic powder to make the coating more durable and strengthen your nails. The product is poured onto an undried surface using a spatula, allowed to soak in a little and fan the nail with a fan brush. After this, the flower bed is dried, and then its 2nd layer is applied.

It is necessary to work with each plate separately. That is, you cannot paint all your nails at once and then put your hand in the lamp. The varnish will spread and everything will have to be redone.

One-phase UV gel for strengthening and extending nails should be applied almost the same way as a flower garden:

Prepared nails are treated with a buff over all surfaces.
Wipe them with a degreaser.
Apply primer to the nails, including the ends, and let it air dry for a few seconds.
Apply a single-phase gel and distribute it evenly.
The coating is polymerized in an ultraviolet lamp.

Then you can apply colored gel polish or camouflage gel for extensions. Otherwise, the nails will remain natural in color, since the product used is transparent, but will gain shine and strength.

Watch the video about the technology of applying and strengthening nails with single-phase gel polish:

Do I need to apply a base underneath it?

There is no need to apply a base under a single-phase gel, whether we are talking about a flower garden or a transparent strengthening and building product. They both contain components that:

allow you to stay on the nail plate;
protect it from external influences;
do not penetrate into the stratum corneum.

It is only necessary to use an acid-free primer under the colored single-phase gel polish or extension gel. The liquid will slightly loosen the nails, which will make the grip stronger.

How to remove single-phase conductors

Remove single-phase gel polish as follows:

Soak pieces of cotton pad in a remover designed to dissolve gel polish.
Apply them to the surfaces of your nails and wrap them tightly with foil or put on silicone caps.
Leave for 10-15 minutes.
Remove everything and use an orange stick to clean the removed product from the plates.
Wash your hands with soap, apply cream, and apply caring oil to your nails and the skin around them.

If there is no liquid for gel polish, a regular remover containing acetone will also work. But you may have to keep it on your nails a little longer.

It is permissible to cut a single-phase wire with a hardware cutter or manually. But this requires great care and experience due to the thinness of the coating, as there is a risk of injuring the nails.

Varieties and brands

There are really a lot of brands producing single-phase gel. The new trend was picked up by many, and by the end of the year TNL, Bluesky, Masura and others released this product.

The ultra-modern polymer can be easily divided into main types of gels: colored and transparent. The single-phase system is used even when extending artificial nails. The material also acts as a base, base layer for plate modeling and a glossy finish.

Among the manufacturers of single-phase gels, I would like to note several brands whose nail products deserve attention.

Iris

The Irisk brand produces materials for nail and eyelash extensions. High-quality polymers, including single-phase gel materials, are often used by home craftsmen and beauty salon specialists. The coating is applied evenly, the nails dry quickly in the ice lamp, but after that it is necessary to remove the sticky layer. The polymers are available in a 6 ml bottle.

Masura

The brand has released a high-quality gel with a single-phase system for its fans. The palette does not yet have much choice, only pink-red colors. The main advantage is the relatively low price. This brand can be called a budget option.

Giorgio Capacini

The brand has created high-quality materials that will be appreciated by both amateurs and professionals. Let us immediately note the small volume of 6 ml, which is enough for a maximum of 15 coloring procedures. Depending on the lamp, drying time varies from 2 minutes to 30 seconds.

The One Step line of single-phase polymers is loved for its durability.

bluesky

This brand has a huge range of products with a single-phase system. The total figure today has exceeded 120 tones, including neon, nude, dark, shimmering shades. Relatively low price and excellent quality - the best combination of polymer in one bottle.

Yoko

This is a new generation gel. The Yoko product does not have a dispersion layer, which does not require additional product to complete the coating.

Today there are 29 rich shades in the palette. They are easy to use and economical to use.

Joy

The Joy company produces a single-phase gel with a good level of durability. Using transparent gels, you can strengthen the plate and remove brittle nails by sealing the end and nail bed.

Types of single-phase nail polishes

Single-phase nail polish comes in several types:

Traditional enamel products. This is a colored coating in bright or pastel shades with a glossy sheen.
Translucent. Used to give nails a natural and healthy look, they have subtle natural shades. Good for a plain manicure or a French manicure.
Mother of pearl. There are juicy and light shades with a pearly shine.
With shimmer. These are gel polishes of different colors with small or large glitter. The shimmer can be silver, golden, or the same shade as the flower bed itself.
Neon. As a rule, these are bright shades that look like enamel in normal lighting. But under the neon lamp they begin to glow.
Thermo. These products change depending on the temperature, so the shades are lighter at the tips of the nails. In the cold the color will also be different than in the warm.

Video

The nail art master recorded a detailed video where she shows and talks about applying and removing single-phase varnish. We recommend listening to her opinion and recommendations.

To understand the effectiveness of these products, you need to try them yourself. From the above material, you can choose the products of the company that suits you best. Share your feedback and observations. Which shellac do you prefer?

Author of the publication

The best single-phase gel polish: review of companies

The best single-phase gel polish should be chosen from several brands:

TNL Professional. These are Korean products that are distinguished by good pigmentation, durability, and thick texture. The line includes many shades to suit every taste. The price of 1 bottle, containing 6 ml, is 170 rubles.
Masura. The manufacturer claims that these products can be applied even without a primer, they have such high adhesive properties. The consistency is quite liquid, but with careful use the gel polish does not run off onto the skin. Another plus is that these products are hypoallergenic. They cost 250-300 rubles. for a 6.5 ml bottle.
Solomeya. This brand also has a huge number of colors. Dark shades can be applied in 1 layer, they are very dense. The products are characterized by a high degree of safety and are worn for a long time without the appearance of coating defects. Cost – 220 rub. for 5 ml.
Irisk Professional. These are Russian gel polishes with a minimum of active ingredients. Therefore, they are very suitable for allergy sufferers. Sometimes they need to be painted in 3 layers. But they are applied thinly, evenly, and are used sparingly. The price of a single-phase unit is 210-230 rubles. per bottle of 6 ml.
RuNail. Products from domestic manufacturers have a high degree of safety, as they are made from European raw materials. Varnishes are distinguished by dense and varied shades, are easy to apply and retain color and shine for a long time. They cost 300 rubles. for 15 ml.
Patrisa N. Also Russian single-phase ones, which have earned high praise from nail experts. They are particularly durable and have a thick, easy-to-use texture. It is better to apply in 2 layers. The price of Patrisa Nail gel polishes is also attractive. She is the most modest of all - 170 rubles. per bottle 5 ml.
Giorgio Capachini. Another Russian brand with a lot of colors. The products are good with a thick texture, a wide comfortable brush, and a density of all shades. These gel polishes have virtually no odor and do not cause pain when drying. Cost – 250-300 rubles. for 7 ml.
MILV. These are thick hypoallergenic products without a sticky layer, made in Russia. They quickly polymerize in any lamp and do not cause burning. There are many shades, all well pigmented. A bottle of 11 ml will cost 400 rubles.

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.”

How to use single-phase gel polish

To use single-phase gel polish for the effect to meet your expectations, you should do the following:

Store at a temperature no higher than 25 degrees, screwing the cap tightly after use. Otherwise, the composition will thicken and deteriorate before the expiration date.
Stir before use. But under no circumstances should you shake it, as this will cause bubbles on the coating. You should roll the bottle in your hands or slowly work a toothpick into the liquid.
Apply in thin layers. If you try to get by with just one thick one, the product will not dry out or will curdle during polymerization.
Dry each nail after applying the composition so that it does not have time to spread. If you work quickly, you can paint and polymerize 2 plates at a time.
Remove the sticky layer with a cloth moistened with a cleanser 1-2 minutes after drying. You need to let the coating cool, then it will last longer. But it should be borne in mind that not all single-phase compounds have residual stickiness.
You can cover the dried gel polish with a matte or glossy topcoat. This will increase the wearing life of the design.
You should not use any decor on a single-phase circuit. This contributes to the appearance of detachments.
You can use this gel polish to create designs on the base coat. Or mix shades to create a new color.

Watch the video on how to apply and remove single-phase gel polish:

Useful tips

Single-phase manicures will become your favorite means for long-term manicure if:

choose well-established product brands;
buy them in trusted stores to avoid purchasing counterfeits;
use for strong nails with a smooth surface, since leveling with a base is not provided here;
Do not apply to thin, bendable, very long or peeling plates;
carry out preliminary preparation of nails in a high-quality manner so that skin particles on them do not provoke detachments;
for 3 hours after a manicure, do not fiddle with your hands in water, otherwise the coating will quickly fade and come off;
in the future, work with gloves so that the design remains fresh longer;
After removal, give the nails a rest for 1 day, only then apply a new coating.

Three-in-one gel polishes help out if you don’t have time for a professional manicure with base and top. They are widespread, you can choose a shade to suit every taste, and apply the coating yourself. But you need to keep in mind that this type of product is not suitable for all nails, and they do not last as long as three-phase ones.